The Planning Process

The process begins with a conversation with you, to study your unique way of life, needs, demands, and visions of the home you are about to build. You fill up a structured questionnaire, which organizes the issues to take into consideration. I create a joint picture folder for us to learn about your taste and style. In this folder, we shall save pictures that reflect the desired ideas.

Visiting the lot and studying its TPS (Town Planning Scheme) complete the picture and defines the limitations of the design and the frame in which we will fulfill the vision.

I consider myself a person that realizes your dreams of home, responsible to collect different information and fantasies and brew the composition to paste all those components into one unique entity that is tailored to you. Each house is unique and there is no house that resembles another.

I bring several design alternatives on every stage, to examine the various option and ideas that might arise, and allow you to choose between them and better understand your priorities between the essential, the irrelevant, the ideas/stories that make you tick, everything is possible on paper.

The positioning of the house and its components: Parking, entrance door, gateway, public entrance floor, yard, pergola, swimming pool. How are they placed on the lot, concerning the street and the neighboring lots. Each option has its story and a different way to experience the house.

Divisions to zones inside the house – how to divide the house into zones? What is the relation between each zone and the yard? The entrance? Daylight? The positioning of the sun? What do you see as you enter the house? How many open zones are there and how many closed rooms?. As soon as we agree upon the main floor, we continue to the next floor and the parallel connection between the levels, which add richness to the internal space of the house and the relations between its different zones. At this stage, we determine the positioning shape of the stairwell.

3D model: When the plans are more or less agreed upon and complete, we can add another dimension to the design. A 3D design model is an essential tool for the understanding of the building and its internal and external design, as well as to create a unique volumetric idea. Usually, we need to return and change the plans after the 3D design is applied.

Building permit: as soon as the design concept is complete, we need to transform it into a construction permit. This is a technical stage that requires editing the building sketches according to the head pf planning’s instructions and submit them for the approval of the local committee including the relevant documents and authorizations. This is an administrative procedure that has become online in recent years, using a system that is built and improved constantly. This procedure requires authorizations from various professional entities to validate that the building follows the relevant standards and prerequisites. The editor of the request needs to be experienced, stubborn and creative to deal with the

observations and to preserve the original design ideas. At this stage, I use the following planning consultants: construction engineer, plumbing, acoustics, etc. upon need, I coordinate the work with the consultants.

BEEDING: as soon as there is a principal approval from the local committee, the detailed planning phase begins. The plans’ scale is increased to 1:50, the sketches become plans with data per term. It is now that the schematic ideas materialize and acquire shape and character. The initial declaration of intent is thoroughly examined to render it executable. I tend to consult with professionals and suppliers to reach the easiest and most efficient way to realize the abstract idea. I also keep myself updated with technological innovations.

I draw the construction and plumbing plans, the electricity and lighting schemes as well as the flooring design for each level. Details include meeting with suppliers to choose cladding materials, lighting fixtures, sanitary ware, doors, and windows.

The kitchen, bathrooms, and stairwell are detailed on a 1:25 scale accompanied by the deployment of the rooms’ walls. The deed is accompanied by a specifications list detailing the nature of work to be performed as well as the bill of quantities.

The deed file is transmitted to the constructors for pricing and is used for comparison between the different bids.

Execution: The moment arrives and we start to build the house. All along the construction period, I physically supervise the activities on the field and make sure the plans are clear and understood while receiving relevant feedbacks to improve them. Before critical phases such as lifting internal walls, beginning of plumbing or electricity work, I follow the marks of the professional and verify that all is clear. At the end of each supervision meeting, I issue a written report with comments and specifications. We choose the materials and accessories together by examining samples I preorder from the professional in due time.

I believe that my desire and love for the profession, my longtime acquaintance with the construction procedure, my creative mind, my systematic conduct, and my easy-going nature will transform the described procedure into a clear, accessible and simple one, including a lenient, progressive and organized decision making and mainly full control of the desired product which is your dream home.