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Design and construction, on speaking terms
Good design can lose its way between the drawing and the build. Arkhaus provides design and construction support for homes, duplexes and residential developments in Sydney and Melbourne, through approvals, pricing and construction, so decisions stay clear, practical and connected to the original idea.
Where we can help
- before tender, while the documents are being finalised
- during approvals and authority requests
- while reviewing a builder’s price
- when consultants’ information needs to come together
- during construction
- when a project has moved beyond its budget
- when a project designed by another studio needs a second opinion
Everyone on the same page
Good buildings need more than good drawings. Structural engineers, services consultants, certifiers and builders each bring their own expertise; the work is making sure it comes together.
We coordinate consultant information, review documentation, respond to design-related authority requests and resolve conflicts before they become construction problems. Fewer assumptions, clearer decisions.
Changes without the surprises
Design changes are sometimes unavoidable. Expensive surprises are not. From approval amendments and documentation updates to material substitutions and construction-stage changes, we look at the implications for cost, programme, buildability and the design before a decision is made, so what matters is kept.
Smarter structures, better value
Construction cost deserves more than a shrug and a revised budget. Where the structure offers an opportunity, we work with the project’s structural engineer, who remains responsible for structural design and certification, to look at rationalising the structure, simplifying construction and keeping the programme efficient, without losing the design’s intent.
For a project already under cost pressure, our Value engineering and cost review is the focused version, for Arkhaus projects and projects designed by others.
The drawing isn’t the building
Construction raises questions that drawings cannot always anticipate. We provide construction-stage design support: clarifications, detail reviews, site input and coordination with the builder and consultants, so practical adjustments do not quietly compromise the result. Our involvement is tailored to each project and complements the builder’s responsibility for construction and the site.
No mysterious black box
Good coordination is not more paperwork; it is knowing what is happening, what matters and what comes next. We use NOX, our project management platform, to keep decisions and outstanding matters visible, so clients can see what has been resolved and what still needs attention. A little more clarity, a lot less chasing.
Good ideas should get better as they are built.
Send us the project as it stands
No polished brief is needed. Send what you have and tell us what is troubling you. We review it first and tell you whether a useful preliminary response is possible.
Received.
We’ll review what you’ve sent and let you know whether there is enough information for a useful preliminary response. If anything important is missing, we’ll ask before making assumptions.
What does project support include?
Consultant coordination, documentation reviews, responses to design-related authority requests, assessment of design changes and substitutions, cost and buildability input, and construction-stage design support. The scope is agreed for each project.
How is project support different from project management?
We look after the design side: keeping consultants, decisions and documents connected to the design intent. The builder remains responsible for construction, the site and its programme; we work alongside them.
Can you help with a project already under construction?
Yes. We can review the current documentation, identify outstanding design matters and provide construction-stage support, depending on the project’s circumstances and the scope agreed.
Do you work on projects designed by others?
Yes. Not every project needs a new design. We help with documentation reviews, design coordination, construction clarifications and value engineering for projects designed by other studios.
Can you help reduce construction costs?
Often. With the project’s structural engineer, we look for ways to rationalise the structure, simplify construction and improve buildability. We start with your budget and drawings and say whether a detailed review is worthwhile before recommending one.
When should project support begin?
Ideally before tender, when decisions are easier to coordinate and changes are less disruptive. We can also join after approval or once construction has started.
