What's a typical timeline to design and build a house?   #ArchitalksIE

Winkens Architecture approach:

This is based on our experience and relates to building a off-House. The time estimates given below are average based on building a bespoke 4 bedroomed, block work dwelling, approx 150 to 200sqm, in Co. Wexford with a general contractor.

First Contact

After an initial contact with the architect, e-mail best with description of project intended, a meeting face to face will be scheduled to talk about various aspects of the build. 1 to 3+ weeks.

Pre-planning

It is usually advised to have a pre-planning meeting with the County Council to see if there are any specific issued with the site chosen. This can help to establish the brief. 6 to 8+ weeks. 

Soil testing will be needed if there is no mains sewer available, if it fails another site may have to be chosen.

Design

Once an agreement in place and the brief is established it usually takes about 4 to 6 weeks for the first proposal is presented with Floor plans, elevations and 3 dimensional views. Incorporating complexity of brief and site conditions.

The client then has to think about the proposal. This can take 2 to 4 weeks or longer depending on the client’s schedule. The next round of amendments or changes can take 2 to 4 weeks.  This proposal/amendment cycle might be repeated usually with shorter intervals. This is an important process, as changes after planning permission may need a retention permission and could be refused.

Planning

Once the design is set the planning application documents can be prepared. 2 to 3+ weeks.

From the day of the planning submission to the planning departments first response usually takes 7 to 8 weeks. If there is no further information requested, a positive decision with be given. The grant will be issued 4 weeks later. But if further information was requested it will  slow down the process considerably, depending on information requested. 2 to 8+ weeks.

Tender

After planning is secured, the planning drawings need more detail to become working drawings. Detail drawings showing key sections of the building and an outline specification have to be prepared to enable to get tenders in for the dwelling, 4+ weeks. This can be done after a positive decision while waiting for the Grant to come through.

The tender quotation is returned in 3 to 4 weeks. Meeting with clients to discuss the tender, meeting with the chosen contractor, perhaps re-quoting some elements of the tender. 3 to 4 weeks.

Pre-build

The builder may have a lead in time before they can start. Can be 4 to 6 weeks+. With the commencement notice lodged the build must start between 2 to 4 weeks.

Build

Bungalows take between 40 to 48+ weeks to complete. Weather can play a big role depending on the time of year. Once the roof is on and windows are in a good builder will steady progress until completion.

Some elements of the build have lead in time, most noticeably the outside windows and doors. Roof trusses also my cause delays.

Conclusion

In our experience from the day of the agreement with an architect to the day you move in realistically will take about 1 and a half to 2 years, longer with unforeseen delays as outlined above. Quality takes time.

#ArchitalksIE

This is my third contribution to a shared discussion among architects practicing in Ireland, where we will discuss aspects of our services and the profession, under the Twitter hashtag  #ArchitalksIE

By using this hashtag on twitter, or links provided within each blog itself, you can connect to the other architect’s blog on the same topic. Our blogs will be posted synchronously on the same time same day. We hope you will enjoy this format and benefit from the broad professional views and different approaches to the same issues.

Read my colleague's blogs on the subject:

Mark Stephens Architects link:
Mark Stephens Architects approach

The PassiveHaus Architecture company link:
The PassiveHaus Architecture company approach

Twitter:   Zeno the Architect @winkenswexford

House scrappage scheme in Wexford

U&W Builders from Wexford started taking garden sheds as trade ins on dwellings in a new Housing estate in Curracloe Co. Wexford. 

Sheds can be timber or steel. The new small homes are timber built and A rated. 
First time home buyer that do not have a garden shed, may ask parents to offer their garden shed to help them climb the property ladder. If proven successful the builders may consider Camper vans as trade ins as well. 

More at: http://www.1stAprilBuilders.ie

Year in Review - 2018 Winkens Architecture

The year began with a completion of a BER A2 Bungalow in Bunclody, Co. Wexford in January.


We continued to concentrate on the  residential sector.

In June the office purchased a MAVIC AIR Drone.

Aerial photos are great to get a bird’s eye view.

This one near Kilmuckridge, Co. Wexford.

The last 6 dwellings designed or completed in 2018 are low energy designs, 
2 with BER A1 and 
4 with BER A2’s.
All are nZeb compliant.

This one is a BER A2 Bungalow on a hill in Bunclody, Co. Wexford.

Passive House Plus published our second Certified Passive house with a BER rating of A1 in their Issue 27 2018. 

This photo was taken in December 2018. Dormer with a preliminary BER of A1 with 4kw of Photo voltaic and a Battery system.

We could not do what we do without good clients who trust our expertise. We have been very fortunate having clients that choose us to design and supervise their builds.

We look forward to continue designing low energy dwellings in 2019 and beyond.

Twitter:   Zeno the Architect @winkenswexford

Read my colleague's blogs on the subject:

Mark Stephens Architects

Paul McNally Architect, The PassivHaus Architecture Company

#ArchiTalksIE
By using this hashtag on twitter, or links provided within each blog itself, you can connect to the other architect’s blog on the same topic. Our blogs will be posted synchronously on the same time same day. We hope you will enjoy this format and benefit from the broad professional views and different approaches to the same issues.

Code of Conduct

#ArchiTalksIE
A Code of Conduct for Contractors & Clients  
The Royal Institute of Ireland’s motto is : 

Architects design, guide, manage, and advise.

The RIAI have a Architect's Code of Conduct that we members must adhere to. Broken down into three principles. 

1 General Obligations

2 Obligations to Clients and Employers

3 Obligations to the Profession

The guide can be downloaded on the RIAI’s website:
RIAI Code of Conduct

Winkens Architecture approach:

This is based on our experience and relates to building one-off-Houses. Commercial projects are even much more complex.

Clients

We usually are employed by our clients to provide a full set of architectural services.  From our first meeting to the day they move in, to the day of the retention release, we are there to guide and advise our clients with knowledge that we have built up over a few decades.  Even before the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) kicked in on the 25th May 2018 we kept our clients' information confidential.

Information given to us in writing or in conversations helps us to customise /streamline our service given.  We have a very detailed written agreement outlining our services, broken down into different parts and several stages each. This is the basis of our relationship.

Contractors

We try to have a good working relationship with Contractors. These are the steps we take to reach construction of a dwelling.

The tender package of working drawings, details and outline specification is usually started after a positive planning permission decision. We are aware that more information Contractors are given the better the tender received will be. We believe that it is our responsibility to ensure contractors have a detailed idea of the dwelling and work to be costed for. The tender package includes structural engineers’ drawings and a preliminary BER that should be achieved by the specifications we provide.

The tender is sent out to a limited number of contractors for a set time. The next day of the tender return we go through the tenders to make sure there no mathematical errors.

The clients are shown all of the tender documents received and a recommendation is given as to which builder we should consider. We then talk to the contractor to ascertain if the project is fully understood.  The successful tenderer is asked to sign a building agreement with the client. We also remind them of their Project Supervisor Construction (PSCS) Stage duties.

  

Build

After the nomination of a Contractor, our duty is to be the go-between of client and the contractor. We convey information between them and make sure both are treated fairly.

Form the onset (design stage) we advise our clients to keep changes to a minimum. Our site visits are in line with progress made on site.  Once the contractor puts in a payment claim we visit the site to see if progress is in line with the claim and try to issue a payment cert swiftly, as Banks are quite slow these days with their stage payments.

Variations or extras to the original agreement are best called out as they happen to avoid a big surprise at the end.

At the end of the build the final builders claim usually is settled with a meeting between the clients, contractor and ourselves.

A 2.5% retention of the final payment is kept on completion and released after six months, to cover any eventual items that need sorting.

With the release of the retention from client to Contractor our involvements with them both ends, for this project.

Winkens Architecture, Passive House, Bunclody, Co. Wexford

#ArchiTalksIE

This was my first contribution to a shared discussion among architects practicing in Ireland, where we will discuss aspects of our services and the profession, under the Twitter hashtag  #ArchitalksIE

By using this hashtag on twitter, or links provided within each blog itself, you can connect to the other architect’s blog on the same topic. Our blogs will be posted synchronously on the same time same day. We hope you will enjoy this format and benefit from the broad professional views and different approaches to the same issues.

Twitter:   Zeno the Architect @winkenswexford

Read my colleague's blogs on the subject: 

Marks Stephens Architects approach

The PassiveHaus Architects company approach

Overview building a Dwelling under SI 365 2015

1st September 2015 
Building Control (Amendment 2) Regulations S.I.365

BC(A2)R SI365 of 2015 as an alternative, 
in addition to S.I.9 of 2014, came into force.
With the new regulations (SI 365 of 2015) it is possible to Opt out of SI9 2014.
When Building a single house or an extension to a house of more than 40 square metres in area you may opt out of the full S.I.9 process. To avail of this facility you must sign a form of 'Declaration of Intention to Opt Out of Statutory Certification'. No need for a 'Design Certifier' and 'Assigned Certifier' needed for SI9 2014.

A Statutory Obligation, irrespective of whether the homeowner decides to comply with the statutory certification requirements or to follow the alternative process now provided for in the regulations, they must continue to meet their obligation under the Building Control Act 1990 to 2014 to ensure that the design and construction of the building concerned complies with the relevant requirements of the Building Regulations.

Homeowners should appraise themselves of any potential cost or other implications that may arise as a result of choosing to opt out of  the statutory certification process. Prior to deciding on whether
or not to avail of the opt out option, it is recommended that a
homeowner should consult with their solicitor.
Winkens Architecture can also advise about procedures.

Here is a brief guide

Overview building a Dwelling under SI 365 2015

http://tinyurl.com/ave-dwell-si365

Pyrite information page.

My question, is there no regulation on quarries?

Pyrite testing should be done at  the source, quarries.

Surly test intermittently would be better than NO testing at all.

How can builders test on site, before they use filling blockwork?

I have put together a few useful links on Pyrite: 

Department of Environment link on Pyrite  

Pyrite report June 2012

Pyrite Registers of Chartered Engineers

The Pyrite Resolution Board

NSAI publish two new Standards on Pyrite I.S. 398-1:2013 Reactive pyrite in sub-floor hardcore material 

One Private Company specialising in Pyrite problems.

Overview of Regulations for an Average Dwelling

The Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2014 came into effect from 1st March 2014.

This is an RIAI architect's view of what is now needed for a typical dwellings construction, as advice for a Client (Building Owner).

Now more than ever the building of a dwelling is a team effort were various professionals must work together to achieve compliance.

Based on

> Many years of practical experience designing and supervising Home building.

 > The Code of Practice  for Inspecting and Certifying

Buildings and Works Building Control Regulations 2014 February, 2014

> Statutory Instruments S.I. No. 9 of 2014 -

Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2014

> Guide for Homeowners New responsibilities for homeowners under

Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2013

 This Overview  may be reproduced if credit is given to Winkens Architecture.

Down load sheet here:

Overview reg ave dwelling v2.pdf

Winkens Architecture  are delighted  to provide the services of the Dwelling designer.

We would be happy to provide the services of PSDP,  ‘Design Certifier’ and ‘Assigned Certifier’  for projects on which we are involved from the beginning.  

Whatever happed to specialists?

Specialist refers to an expert in a profession. 

Here are three specialists, their definitions I found on the internet.

Architect
An architect is a person trained and licensed to plan, design, and oversee the construction of buildings.

Engineers
a person who designs, builds, or maintains engines, machines, or structures.

Building Surveyor
Chartered Building Surveyors is a type of Chartered Surveyor involved in all aspects of property and construction, from supervising large mixed-use developments to planning domestic extensions

With the new Building Control (Amended) Regulations S.I.9 2014 the building owner now must choose one of the above professional to become an assigned certifier for their project.
I am an architect and as such I love to design spaces to live and work in. More and more red tape and regulations are making my job more difficult. I do not mind responsibility, if it is shared equally.
At this stage I am afraid that good design will suffer. Not with me and my clients but in general. As the paper work seems to take centre stage. For me most important is liveability in my dwellings.
If getting the paper work right is more important than the building being built then that is a sad state of affairs. There more to a well designed building then filling out the proper forms.

Be warned anybody can still submit a planning application but only one of the professionals mentioned can submit a Commencement notice at the start of build and sign a Certificate of compliance at the end of build.

If you already have a assigned certifier in mind look them up:

Is your Architect registered? 
The Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI)


Is your Engineer registered? 
Engineers Ireland (EI) 
The Association of Consulting Engineers of Ireland (ACEI)


Is your Building Surveyor registered?
The Society of Chartered Surveyors of Ireland (SCSI)

International Saint-Gobain ISOVER Energy Efficiency Awards 20th March 2014, Dublin. One Winners perspective.

The Energy Efficiency Awards have been created to reward Europe’s most successful energy efficient building renovation and innovative construction projects, both in residential and non-residential sectors

Every two years, Saint-Gobain ISOVER launches a competition among the building professionals to encourage environmental-friendly construction techniques with substantial energy savings and rewards creativity and expertise through the EEAs. ISOVER welcomes the winners to join the ceremony that takes place in a different European capital for each edition. This year’s Energy Efficiency Awards ceremony was  held in Dublin, Ireland, on March 20th, 2014.

All expenses for this 24 hours celebration were paid including flight tickets !

The luxurious Shelbourne 5* Hotel overlooking St. Stephen's Green  Dublin was the Home of the international Award Winners.

Archie O'Donnell, Zeno & Karen Winkens in the Gravity Bar

All was well organized from the registration to the welcome lunch buffet, architectural Dublin City tour to Departure to the Guinness Storehouse for the evening ceremony. Through the Guinness history exhibition we made our way to the roof top bar. The Gravity Bar was back drop for cocktails and of course Guinness.

This event was a celebration of all Worldwide Saint-Gobain ISOVER Award Winners. There was no overall winner, just 39 winners from 19 countries.

The presentations were slick - Country mentioned with flag, photo of build with name of project, name of winners, awards given, next please. Sile Seoige was Master of Ceremonies.

The award is a lovely brass sculpture on glass base, I shall keep this award next to my 2012 Residential Green Award.

A lovely dinner was followed by live music with plenty of dancing. Our table had two sets of Bulgarian Winners. And our Winning team my wife Karen @MizzWinkens, Archie@Beyondpassive,  Chris @gr8developments and wife Vamessa @vanessaboconnor. Unfortunatly the clients Francis  @fclauson and Brigid @clausonb could not make it.

At the end of the successful night all celebrants got a well produced full colour hard back book 127 pages with all winning projects and teams.

Thank you The ISOVER International Marketing team.

Especially Valérie Saint-Mleux who was very attentive and welcoming.             

The Best of Book 2013 - page 94/95

2013 ISOVER Energy Efficiency Awards Link

Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2014

 The new Building Control (Amendment) Regulation 2014

 S.I-9 (replacing S.I-80) will come into force on 1st of March 2014.

This is in relation to the Commencement notice that needs to be sent in before construction can start.

This is quite a heated subject currently with architects, engineers and building surveyors as all the information on these new regulations are not in yet.

This is not widely publicized yet, but it will have quiet an impact on all in the building process from the 1st of March 2014.

E.G. As a self builder, you will not be able to nominate yourself to be the builder after 1st of March 2014 when the new regulations comes into effect.

Read IAOSB

More info on this forum

And on Linkedin

Safety Guide for Homeowners wanting to build

Have you started on your domestic project & informed the HSA?

There is a guide that tells you what you need to know and do when you
are having construction work done in your home. The Health
and Safety Authority (HSA) developed this guide in light of new
responsibilities for homeowners under the Safety, Health and
Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2013. The regulations
apply to construction work that you pay to get done in your
home. They do not apply to DIY (Do it yourself) jobs.

Here is a to do guide you must follow since the 1st of Aug 2013.

Home owner Guide

Best Eco Green Blog Shorlisted 2012.

We are happy to be shortlisted for the Blog Awards Ireland

Best Eco Green Blog 2012.

 

 

Blogawardsireland best-ecogreen-blog-shortlist

Waterless toilet solutions

 

In Dublin there is a companty now offering waterless toilet solutions.
Are problems with septic tanks a thing of the past?

 

>Urine diverting toilets

>Composting toilets - NSF certified >>>>

>Waterless Urinals - for men and women

>Incinerating Toilets - (perhaps not the most eco friendly but waterless none the less !)

>Deep Freeze Toilets

All of the above dispose of human waste without the need for water so a septic tank is not required. There are options that do not require any electricity either.

http://www.toiletrevolution.ie/

 

 

 

 

 

Brazil's star architect Oscar Niemeyer is 104 today, and he still has no plans to retire.

The constant presence, of Oscar Niemeyer on the scene of international contemporary architecture from 1936 until the present time, has transformed him into a symbol of Brazil.

His pursuit of great architecture linked to roots of his native land has resulted in new plastic forms and a lyricism in buildings, not only in Brazil, but around the world. For his lifetime achievements, the Pritzker Architecture Prize is bestowed.

Happy Birthday Oskar Niemeyer, it’s my Birthday too.

But will I still be around at 104? And still working?

Timeslive tribute

Lego Architectural Scale Kits

On a recent trip to Germany I came across a LEGO shop. There were about 13 architectural master pieces ‘to scale’ in LEGO elements. A bit pricy from about € 25 to €300.

Fallingwater House is about €95.

Farnsworth House pictured  below here about €60.

Link to Lego Germany.

The CMG Building and Design Awards 2011

Winkens Architecture has been short-listed to the final four of the prestigious CMG awards Best Architectural Practice 2011.  This is our second nomination is as many years.
The CMG Building and Design Awards 2011 will recognise success in the building, engineering and architecture professions during the past year with a focus on best practice, sustainable design and innovation.
On the 2nd of Dec 2011 in the Four Seasons hotel in Dublin, the winners will be announced.

Click here to see CMG Site

Wasps nick cavity wall insulation!

Check out this video of wasps nicking cavity wall insulated beads from an un-plastered hole that was used to inject the insulation!
Courtesy of Paul Kenny from the Tipperary Energy Agency via Construct Ireland's sustainable building ezine.

Always finish the job!

Wasp Video

Hemp Passive Haus 1st Blower testing

James B. the client (and also the builder) is on track to achieve passive Haus Certification. For several weeks he was taping and sealing the dwelling.

Today Gavin O Se from Greenbuild, Gorey, Co. Wexford did the preliminary door blower testing to see how the build is performing to date.


Gavin also used a thermal anemometer. The air speed is measured at the access points, allowing for comparisons and for the leaks to be prioritised by severity.

He did spot checks around all windows. Gearoid from Optiwin windows was on hand if adjustments were needed.
The preliminary pressure result in under 0.8h-1 at 50Pa. And this is without outside plaster work!

The 0.6h-1 at 50Pa for a Passive Haus should be achievable.

Well done James (with hat).

Greenbuild web site
more Hemp House photos

Small Architectural Practice of the Year Award 2010 Shortlist

We are proud to announce that we are on the shortlist for the ‘Small Architectural Practice of the Year Award’ 2010. We are one of five Nation wide and the only one from Wexford.
The CMG Building and Design Awards 2010 will recognise success in the building, engineering and architecture professions during the past year with a focus on best practice, sustainable design and innovation.
The winners will be announced on the 3rd of Dec 2010 in the Four Seasons hotel in Dublin.
See CMG Building & Design Awards 2010 Shortlist

Sad demise of FBT Poroton

Unfortunately FBT Poroton is no more. After a long time getting established (I was dealing with them since 1998) and receiving the Irish Agreement certificate the company ceased trading. I wish Wolfgang all the best for the future.
There are alternatives on the Irish market now.