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FAQ
FAQ
Muse Architects offers a range of services including architectural design, interior design, urban design, 3D visualisation, building regulation, and project management.
Here are few FAQ questions we had from Clients over the years.
Planning Permission:
If your project is contentious, seeking pre-application advice from the council will help speed up the decision-making process for your case and increase your chances of success. We will work cooperatively with your planning officers to justify your proposal in a structured way and negotiate a positive outcome.
We will also find the chance to make amendments and improvements to your proposal prior to submitting your full planning application. By doing this, your officers will be more supportive of your proposal than they might otherwise have been.
If you have a larger project or one where the important thing is to establish the principle of what you want to do as quickly as possible, then the outline planning option could be the way to go. As the name implies, you need to provide fewer details than a full planning application, which means we can get your project designed and have your application completed in less time.
Outline planning applications are for you if you want to get planning permission and then either sell the land or raise more money for the construction stage. We will work with you to decide which elements of the scheme are important for the council and need to be decided at the outline stage.
Please note, though, that an outline application might not be the right option if the appearance of the buildings is important, for instance, many Green Belt projects or a development in a conservation area.
If you do submit an outline planning application and are granted permission, then you will have to follow it up with one or more reserved matters applications within three years of the council’s decision. These fill in all the details that were not in the outline application and will need to be settled before you can start building.
A reserved matters application needs to be taken as seriously as any other planning application – just because a local authority has given you outline permission does not mean they will automatically wave the reserved matters through. We will make sure that the details of your scheme are of a high standard and that there will be no avoidable delays in getting consent.
For many projects, you will need full planning permission. That means you will need to show the council that what you are proposing complies with all the relevant national and local policies, taking into account a range of factors that can include transport, flood risks, air quality and possible harm to wildlife. We will guide you over all the hurdles of the process, if necessary liaising with specialist consultants to make sure you get all the expert advice you need.
At the same time, we will be collaborating with you to come up with a design that fulfils your wishes and needs while being acceptable to the council. And after the application has been submitted, we will work with the planning officers to dispel any doubts they have about project, so that they are happy to grant consent.
When the council grants planning permission, it can include conditions to make sure that some key details are finalised by you and approved by the planning department before building can begin. These conditions often, for example, involve the external materials to be used in the building, or the exact arrangements for cycle or waste storage.
We pride ourselves on the care we take in every application we submit, and will make sure that approval of details goes smoothly so that your project doesn’t have unnecessary delays at this late stage.
Unfortunately, not every planning application gets approval from the local authority. In some cases, for instance, when the council’s decision-making has clashed with their own policies or precedents or is out of step with national policy, it can be worth appealing. We have a strong record of success with planning appeals – we will let you know if we think you have a good chance of getting the council’s refusal overturned by the Planning Inspectorate and put together a thorough and clearly argued case so that your project ends up with the planning permission it deserves.
Architectural Design:
Our design process begins with a thorough analysis of the site's history and physical properties. We gather information from surveys and discuss your specific goals and objectives with you to create a detailed project brief. During the concept design stage, we work to translate your existing space into a design that meets your aspirations. This is a collaborative process where we brainstorm ideas and provide ongoing feedback to turn your vision into a reality. Our goal is to create a design that aligns with your brief and meets your desired outcomes.
During this stage, we brainstorm ideas and give ongoing feedback to ensure that our designs meet the requirements of the design brief and accurately reflect your vision. We also consider applicable planning policies and conduct the necessary research to identify the potential scope of the project.
To make the most of your existing space, we create layout plans, elevations, sections, and 3D visuals. As we progress through the concept design stage, we continually review and refine the design brief to ensure that the project is feasible. Once the concept design is complete, we prepare the necessary planning drawings to apply for planning permission.
During the technical design stage, Muse Architects will ensure that all aspects of your project are carefully planned and designed to meet your specific needs and preferences. We will provide detailed and accurate building regulations drawings and create a comprehensive set of tender and construction documents, including specifications for materials, finishes, fixtures, and fittings.
Additionally, we will create a 3D computer model of your project to give you a better understanding of how the space will look and feel. By the end of this stage, we will have invited builders to submit bids for the construction of your project.
Interior Design:
Our holistic interior design philosophy is based on the seamless cohesion of people and place, of form and function, and this is reflected by our expert multidisciplinary team’s interior design and interior architecture approach. We consider the longevity of interior concepts and strive for continuity between interior design and building design. By doing this, we create beautifully crafted, synergistic living environments that suit your particular aesthetic taste and practical requirements.
From the coordination and optimisation of colour schemes, patterns, textures and lighting through to the selection and specification of interior finishes including furniture and cabinetry, fabric and upholstery, paint and wall coverings, flooring, accessories and artwork, we consider all aspects of luxurious interior design, space planning and detailing in order to maximise the potential of exquisitely crafted interior spaces.
To create visually attractive and functionally practical spaces we begin with the conceptual design stage where we formulate a specific brief that will direct our ideas, and once we have a concrete plan of action we then move to the project management stage where your vision will be transformed into a realistic and concrete reality.
At every stage of the design and construction processes, we will painstakingly plan and articulate all the details, as well as anticipate any contingencies. By doing so, we will deliver interiors that promote relaxing and luxurious environments in your home.
Thinking outside of the box is what we do all day long to create spectacular interior spaces, and we are pretty good at it! We guarantee that we will give you the WOW! factor you’ve been looking for. Whether you want to make a bold statement or make subtle changes, we will transform your space into a bespoke place suited to your tastes and needs.
We guarantee that you will have a dedicated interior designer to deal with your project from start to finish. They’ll be able to build a partnership between you and your contractor early on and can head off design mistakes in your overall plan. Therefore we can save you effort and stress by dealing with builders and tradesmen on your behalf.
We listen to you, we understand your aspirations and we design buildings that complement and enhance their surroundings. We undertake every project with pragmatism and ensure that we always anticipate practicalities that can often be overlooked.
It’s important to us that our adaptive, responsive and client-led approach strives for aesthetic refinement and technical excellence. We’ll painstakingly and meticulously go through every detail to ensure that your design is bespoke and unique to your requirements.
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Building Regulation:
The purpose of building regulations is to ensure the safety, health, and welfare of people in and around buildings, as well as to promote sustainable development and energy efficiency. Building regulations set out minimum standards for the design and construction of buildings, including their structural integrity, fire safety, and accessibility. Building regulations also apply to alterations, repairs, and changes of use of buildings. By ensuring that buildings meet these standards, building regulations help to protect the safety of the occupants and the value of the property.
You will need building regulations approval for most structural work, including:
- All new buildings except agricultural buildings.
- Garages (except detached garages under 15 sqm or under 30 sqm and at least 1m from a boundary or built from non-combustible materials).
- All extensions to buildings, regardless of size.
- Loft conversions, roof extensions, balconies, and roof terraces.
- Basement extensions
- All garage conversions, regardless of size.
- Barn conversions.
- Flat conversions (subdividing a dwelling into a number of flats).
- Converting flats back into a house.
- Structural alterations, including works to load-bearing walls and floors
The cost of building regulations drawings varies and can start from 3% of the construction cost. The cost may also depend on the level of service and experience of the provider.
Building regulations plans for new builds should include details on structure, fire safety, sound insulation, ventilation, drainage, electrical design and installations, mechanical design and installations, and energy information.
Building regulations approval typically takes 5 weeks when applying through a Full Plans Building Control application, or up to 2 months if agreed upon by both parties.
Building regulations plans for new builds should include details on structure, fire safety, sound insulation, ventilation, drainage, electrical design and installations, mechanical design and installations, and energy information.
Building regulations plans for extensions should include details on structure, fire safety, sound insulation, ventilation, drainage, electrical design and installations, and mechanical design and installations.
3D Visualisation & Rendering:
They are computer graphics providing a clear and compelling representation of what a new home or property will look like, so that purchasers or the planning authority have a clear understanding of the scheme before it’s built.
The turn around time for every project may vary depending on the scope and requirements and level of details required. Please contact us, so we can provide you with more information.
We are flexible and can work with your budget, we will send you a draft of the words for comments, then finalise production. his way we can work effectively on the first revision period. The second revision period is meant to perfect the previous revision. Normally we find two revisions should be enough to get the best CGI images of property.
Our service is flexible to fulfil our clients’ requirements. We deal with both small and large property developments, homeowners and local authorities.
We are here to help
Project Management:
If your project is contentious, seeking pre-application advice from the council will help speed up the decision-making process for your case and increase your chances of success. We will work cooperatively with your planning officers to justify your proposal in a structured way and negotiate a positive outcome.
We will also find the chance to make amendments and improvements to your proposal prior to submitting your full planning application. By doing this, your officers will be more supportive of your proposal than they might otherwise have been.
If you have a larger project or one where the important thing is to establish the principle of what you want to do as quickly as possible, then the outline planning option could be the way to go. As the name implies, you need to provide fewer details than a full planning application, which means we can get your project designed and have your application completed in less time.
Outline planning applications are for you if you want to get planning permission and then either sell the land or raise more money for the construction stage. We will work with you to decide which elements of the scheme are important for the council and need to be decided at the outline stage.
Please note, though, that an outline application might not be the right option if the appearance of the buildings is important, for instance, many Green Belt projects or a development in a conservation area.
If you do submit an outline planning application and are granted permission, then you will have to follow it up with one or more reserved matters applications within three years of the council’s decision. These fill in all the details that were not in the outline application and will need to be settled before you can start building.
A reserved matters application needs to be taken as seriously as any other planning application – just because a local authority has given you outline permission does not mean they will automatically wave the reserved matters through. We will make sure that the details of your scheme are of a high standard and that there will be no avoidable delays in getting consent.
For many projects, you will need full planning permission. That means you will need to show the council that what you are proposing complies with all the relevant national and local policies, taking into account a range of factors that can include transport, flood risks, air quality and possible harm to wildlife. We will guide you over all the hurdles of the process, if necessary liaising with specialist consultants to make sure you get all the expert advice you need.
At the same time, we will be collaborating with you to come up with a design that fulfils your wishes and needs while being acceptable to the council. And after the application has been submitted, we will work with the planning officers to dispel any doubts they have about project, so that they are happy to grant consent.
When the council grants planning permission, it can include conditions to make sure that some key details are finalised by you and approved by the planning department before building can begin. These conditions often, for example, involve the external materials to be used in the building, or the exact arrangements for cycle or waste storage.
We pride ourselves on the care we take in every application we submit, and will make sure that approval of details goes smoothly so that your project doesn’t have unnecessary delays at this late stage.
Unfortunately, not every planning application gets approval from the local authority. In some cases, for instance, when the council’s decision-making has clashed with their own policies or precedents or is out of step with national policy, it can be worth appealing. We have a strong record of success with planning appeals – we will let you know if we think you have a good chance of getting the council’s refusal overturned by the Planning Inspectorate and put together a thorough and clearly argued case so that your project ends up with the planning permission it deserves.
Urban Design:
We’re driven by originality and individuality balanced with vision and foresight. We design strategically: our urban design solutions are sustainable and functional now and in the future. We account for change, flexibility and variety in both use and style while maintaining the identity and integrity of the place; in so doing, we create places that are livable now but with the potential for growth and adaptation.
Every urban design project begins with a two fold investigation: a spatial analysis and a character study. The former explores how spaces interrelate, assesses the physical conditions of the site and any restrictions it may pose, as well as taking account of any views that can be taken advantage of. The latter identifies important buildings and open spaces, character areas, and other factors such as topography, natural features, building types and street types exhibiting local distinctiveness.
Once we have extensively researched the relevant planning policies and reviewed planning history, explored the opportunities and limitations that the site presents, and have a good understanding of what the desired outcome is, we will develop detailed urban design solutions that are entirely bespoke, based upon what is envisioned for the place and tailored to your requests. Whatever the area, whatever the project, our goal is the same: to help define a place’s sense of identity that residents can relate to.
Because we are a multidisciplinary practice consisting of architects, landscape architects, urban designers and town planners, we are able to handle any challenges we may face throughout any step within the development process, whether they arise at the conceptual phases or building stages, whether they to do with planning policies or with building regulations.
As a multidisciplinary team, we are wholly committed and dedicated to each and every project at every stage and we proudly help our clients with everything they need to achieve the best urban design results. Having the bigger picture in view combined with an eye for precision and detail, we evaluate all aspects of the place in terms of commercial, economic, environmental and design criteria, and ensure that every design will suit the activities, goals, and aspirations of the community.
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Feasibility Study:
Our expertise in Feasibility Studies is an integral part of our Land Property Development services, which also include site acquisition and assessment, site selection and evaluation, and site layout and design. We work closely with our clients to create a plan that maximizes the potential of the site while also meeting all relevant regulations and guidelines.
The purpose of an architectural feasibility study is to evaluate the feasibility or viability of a proposed architectural project. An architectural feasibility study is an important step in the development process, as it helps to determine the overall viability of a project and identify potential challenges or risks. It is often used to inform decision-making and guide the development of a project from concept to construction.
An architectural feasibility study considers all aspects of a proposed project, including site evaluation, budget, market demand, planning approval, and any other relevant factors.
The process involves site visits, historic site research, planning policies review and meetings with clients or their team to discuss their ideas and needs, an initial site assessment, and the creation of preliminary designs solution. This helps understand the site and its surrounding context, its limitations and potentials. Conceptual designs are then produces, these designs are used to explore the feasibility of the project and gather feedback from relevant stakeholders.
The study can provide a reality check for investors, helping to ensure that resources are not wasted on non-viable projects. It also gathers valuable feedback from relevant stakeholders, such as the planning authority, which can help the client understand any potential obstacles or requirements for the project. An architectural feasibility study can help the client make informed decisions about the project, assess its potential risks and rewards, and understand the potential outcomes of the project. Ultimately, the study can help the client make more informed decisions about whether to move forward with the project.
An architectural feasibility study is typically conducted as the first design stage of the development process, before significant resources are invested in a project. It is an important step in the process of evaluating the feasibility of a proposed project.
Example of Work
Here’s what our clients have to say.
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Before you embark on your property development project, it’s essential to seek clarity and establish whether your project is feasible, viable and commercially sound. For this reason, every Muse Architects project begins with an Initial Feasibility Assessment.
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WHY US
What makes Muse Architects stand out?
OUR PHILOSOPHY
We believe in an architecture that enhances people’s lives, from a city to a small room. We believe in rational design, one that speaks of elegance and style, robust yet delightful; simple and at the same time based on strong philosophical ideas of movement, special images, multisensory, tension and anticipation, space and materials, context centred and environmentally sustainable. We believe in an architecture of elegant contradiction.
OUR TEAM
We are a team of a versatile, analytical, self-motivated designers who are dedicated to learn and adapt to different working environments and challenging projects quickly to deliver the best work we can to each and every client. A creative and determined individuals with a dynamic range of valuable skills gained through working alongside some of the most talented architects, helping manage projects and deliver exceptional standards.
OUR DESIGN PROCESS
We approach each project by asking one important question, how can we inspire you to make the most of your design opportunity? We take the time to research and analyse the requirements. We see the design process as a joint and collaborative journey that continually engages the needs and desires of all parties involved in the process, taking care to maintain a comprehensible vision of daring to inspire.
WE USE BIM - REVIT
At Muse Architects, we use Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology to enhance the design process for our clients. BIM allows us to integrate artistic skills with smart technology, creating an intuitive design process that allows our clients to visualize and understand their projects before construction begins. We believe that BIM is an essential tool for ensuring the success of any project, and we are committed to using the latest technology to provide our clients with the best possible design experience.
WE ARE LOCAL
Our experience allows us to understand your needs and aspirations and measure it against the complexities and challenges and make sense of them. We have a clear understanding of our local communities, our connected outlook and experience give a unique and clear approach. We are flexible, agile and enjoy each new design process, putting you and your needs first to realise your vision, sharing ideas, collaborating and creating design solutions that works for your needs.
WE CAN WORK WITH YOUR BUDGET
At Muse Architects, we believe in transparency and honesty when it comes to our fees. We offer project-specific flat rates to our clients, so you know exactly what you will be paying for from the start. We do not surprise you with hidden charges or extra fees at different stages of the process. When you work with us, you can trust that you will receive high-quality services at a fair and competitive price.
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f you’re interested in hearing more about how our services can help you achieve your goals and objectives, book a 30-minute introductory call to see if there’s a mutual fit!
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