Hippo Wood

Not always – but the real question is, do you want to make the most of your investment?

An Architect does much more than produce drawings. We bring expertise in design, functionality, aesthetics, sustainability, and regulatory compliance, ensuring your space works beautifully for your needs while meeting planning and building regulations.

Our role is to think beyond the obvious; considering natural light, energy efficiency, material choices, and long-term value. With our experience, we can help you unlock creative solutions, optimise space, and avoid costly mistakes.

While hiring an Architect is an additional cost, it’s a small fraction of your overall project budget – and one that often pays for itself through smarter use of space, improved efficiency, and added value. As registered professionals with ARB and RIBA, we guide you from concept to completion, making the process smoother, more inspiring, and ultimately more rewarding.

Architectural fees can vary depending on the location, complexity of the project, and the level of service you need. Some architects charge a percentage of the total project cost, while others offer fixed prices or hourly rates.

Our approach is flexible. After discussing your goals and possibly visiting the site, we’ll provide a tailored fee proposal – designed specifically for your project. This allows you to decide how much involvement and value you want us to bring to your project.

Our fees are usually broken down according to the RIBA work stages, from early design concepts to overseeing construction on-site. This gives you the option to engage us for all or just part of the process. As a general guide, our fees often range between 3% and 12% of the total construction cost, depending on the scope of work.

While hiring an architect might seem like a significant expense, it’s an investment in quality, creativity, and expertise. We’re here to ensure your project is thoughtfully designed, functional, and adds lasting value to your property. Get in touch, and we’d be happy to discuss your project and provide a tailored quote.

Before considering a lower quote, it’s important to evaluate what’s included in the other designer’s offer. We’re happy to review any competing proposals to see if we can adjust our services or scope to better fit your budget.

Each Architect brings their own approach, offering a unique experience and set of solutions. We encourage you to choose your designer based on who you feel understands your vision, works well with you, and can guide you through the entire project.

Our focus is on delivering professional service with a personal touch. We aim to fully understand your goals and deliver results that not only meet but surpass your expectations.

Yes! In addition to architectural design, we offer interior design and space planning services, ensuring that every element of your space both inside and out works harmoniously to meet your needs and aesthetic preferences.

Absolutely! Sustainability is at the heart of our designs. We incorporate energy efficient materials, passive design principles, and renewable technologies to create buildings that are environmentally responsible and cost effective to run.

We specialise in designing schemes that meet the requirements of planning departments, no matter where a project is located.

We have found that the appointment of a planning consultant on more challenging sites can improve your chance of success. Planning consultants understand planning policies in great detail and therefore good at communicating with planners on the same level – so can really help argue your case if need be. We have trusted relationships with several planning consultants and are happy to recommend one if we believe it would benefit your project.

We work on a wide range of projects, from one-off bespoke homes and house extensions to major commercial developments. No project is too big or too small, our focus is always on delivering the best possible design solution for your needs.

Yes! We have extensive experience working with developers, commercial clients, and businesses on everything from office spaces and mixed-use developments to large-scale housing schemes. Our commercial expertise ensures that projects are financially viable, market-driven, and efficiently delivered.

Simply get in touch! We offer an initial consultation where we can discuss your ideas, answer your questions, and outline the next steps. Whether you’re at the early concept stage or ready to move forward, we’d love to hear about your project.