Many prospective home owners and first time builders are not too sure about the relationship between architects, interior architects and interior designers and how it can benefit them.
Bruce Rowlands from Architexture Spatial Design puts it quite succinctly and simply. An architect works from
the outside in while an interior architect works from the inside out.
Some people think that employing an interior architect is an additional, unnecessary expense but some of the design work they do overlaps with the architect and can be removed from the architect’s scope of works. They can also save you time and money by avoiding costly mistakes that need to be rectified later, like the positioning of the electrical sockets, switches and lights, as well as decisions about the plumbing requirements. For example, right from the start they can assist with the positioning the kitchen sink, the stove, the bath and the shower so they don’t have to be moved later, incurring additional expense.
They can also liaise with the client and the contractors about details like floor finishes and tiles. They can draw up a budget and a timeline for all the interior finishes so there are no unforeseen expenses. All the materials for the interior finishes can be procured and brought to site so there are no unnecessary delays which speeds up the schedule for the completion of the project and makes the timeline more predictable and manageable. This obviously saves the client time and money. All the major decisions will have already been made and agreed and signed off by the client when construction starts or is in the very early stages.
We spoke to Colleen Edwards from Design House to find out more about the process. She advised that the interior architect should be involved in the project as early as possible – sometimes even before construction begins. Design House can be involved in the design, layout and cabinetry for the kitchen, including the positioning of wall sockets, lighting and plumbing. The same applies to the bathroom design – it’s no use deciding after it’s been installed that the shower should be on the other side of the room, or discovering that the bathtub doesn’t fit, or the shower door opens the wrong way.
They can also deal with the positioning and scale of the furniture, bedroom cabinets, the installation of audio visual equipment, lighting, air conditioning and all the other little details which many architects are not experts at. Design House can also help to tie down the details of the materials to be used and whether they’ll work within the client’s budget. Different timber finishes or floor treatments can save the client a considerable amount of money which can be used for quirky little luxurious additions.
Colleen provides 3D renders of all the spaces including details of the finishes and placement of the furniture. This helps to establish a trusting relationship with the client and is particularly useful for people in the diaspora who are building locally – so they can see and approve the details. Obviously Design House liaises closely with the architect and they also supply detailed working drawings for all the subcontractors. These services are usually deducted from the architect’s fees.
If you’re on a tight budget an interior architect can break your project down into different stages to be done over time, as well as telling you which parts should be completed first and the order in which the rest should follow.
Rowlands points out that once the first fix has been done it’s expensive and time consuming to make changes. He recently worked on a project with Amanda West from InArc Designs where he says her input was very valuable right from the start. InArc had already established flooring options with the client so Rowlands was able to specify the slab thickness and the floor screed for the contractor.
InArc had clarified paint finishes so the contractor could work out which walls needed to be plastered, or skimmed or left as exposed brick. The type of paint also dictated whether the walls needed a primer before painting or whether the paint could be applied directly – not much point painting a primer on all the walls if it’s not needed! Amanda West from InArc Designs said, “We as Interior Architects/designers can provide a key link between
all people involved in the project, Architect, client and contractors. It can be overwhelming for a client who is not adept at building to take on their own project – with our customised software and project timelines we make this process enjoyable.
Utilising both technical and artistic skills throughout the project, we have ability to coordinate the project froMits structural form through to the interiors so that it runs seamlessly through the various stages.”
Rowlands also pointed out that the interior architect can prompt clients to make decisions. However, he said that the architect should be the leader of the project, at least up until the shell is finished. The worst situation for a client is to become the mediator between an architect and an interior architect that are pulling in opposite directions, so the architect should have the final say.
An interior architect, like Kerry van Leenhoff (from Form Studio) who worked on Palm Rivers Hotel, was able to bring the interiors to life with all the little extra touches. While the construction of the exterior of the hotel was complete the rooms needed a lot of attention to detail to bring the hotel up to the point of being ready to open. Form Studio selected all the furniture and fittings from carpets and curtains down to the smallest details. Linens were selected as well as bathrobes, candles, soap and shampoo all specially packaged and branded.
These are details an architect would not usually attend to. According to Kerry, “The earlier the two fields (architecture and interior architecture) begin collaborating on a project the more refined the overall design can be. When working together we always ensure we clearly define from the start which roles we each have the final say over so that the best possible solution can be created together.”
Spacework recently completed the new CIMAS headquarter as well as the offices for a prestigious legal firm. For the legal firm they even supplied and installed the printers, supplied the ink, shelving and even the files. They also ensured that the flow of traffic from space to space was well coordinated and efficient.
Olly French from Office Design (an Interior and Architectural Design firm) said, “As an interior designer, I have had, and continue to have, very fruitful relationships with Architects. When competent and confident professionals understand their roles, and clearly define their strengths, the outcome is generally better than a sole individual charting their own way. Interiors and Exteriors should always work with one another to complement and inform each other. As in other artistic pursuits, such as music or dance the combination of talents and strengths can only add to the holistic end result of a well completed project.
Collaboration is a great enabler of shared ideas and more successful outcomes.”
Interior designers/decorators tend to differ slightly from interior architects although their roles often overlap. Generally, an interior designer or decorator will focus on improving the aesthetics of an existing space, with little change to the fundamental structure of the room. Their scope of work would include curtains, carpets, furniture, accessories and artworks. Usually, they move onto site after the main contractor has moved off.
Liz Howes from Howes and Homes reiterated some of the points mentioned above. “An interior designer knows what new products are out there
and also what looks good – they have seen examples of what they are recommending. Generally, your build or renovation will not be repeated for
a long time to come so it is great to be educated on what will look best in your new renovation instead of making costly errors or having to upgrade again at a later stage. New interesting features can go towards taking your space from an ordinary one to an extraordinary one.”
Landscape architects or landscape designers can also make a big difference to your project. They can speed up the whole garden installation by having their plants on site to be put in place as soon as the building is over so your new home or office doesn’t look like it’s stranded in a muddy construction site, filled with rubble. They can also assist with the siting of your pool, pond or water feature as well as the decking around your pool. On steep sites they can create terraces and different levels to help with water retention and design the garden to suit your exterior. An English rose garden would not really be suitable for an ultra-modern structure, where something more minimalist would look more appropriate. They can advise you on the best paving options for your driveway and parking area. In addition, they can supply and/or fit your irrigation system and garden lighting.
Text by Michael Nott
