Foxdale Design
The Architect has, for many years, been the primary design professional for building work. There is little doubt that many great Architects have contributed much to building design over the years. Architects are trained in the design of buildings, including the study of the classical styles of architecture and of the work of Architects from the earliest times right up to the present day. To a large extent architecture is like art. Recent examples of this are the 'Dome', the Lloyds building and the Millennium Bridge over the Thames.
The irony is that until Victorian times, the vast majority of buildings were not designed by Architects - indeed they were not designed at all in the traditional sense. Most domestic housing was designed by firms of builders to suit their particular needs. Many rural houses were built by the owners and that is arguably why there are such a variety of styles seen in traditional English houses.
Architects today have, in many ways moved with the times but still retain the deep felt need to control an entire project. Their scale of fees, which is laid down by their professional Institute the RIBA, reflects this approach.
Many owners of buildings have need of some of the services offered by Architects such as plan drawing and advice on the planning and building control functions of Local Authorities but do not wish to pay fees established for those who expect to design cathedrals.
In recent years a new breed of professional
advisor has been created to attend to this need - Planning & Construction
Consultants who are experts in the day to day handing of construction work.