Architect's studio tool area

For many of our clients, it is the first time they have worked with an architect and the process can be a little unknown. There are different appointments we can offer to tailor our services to the project, your budget and your appetite for design.

Working with an architect is a process rather than a product and that means it isn’t as straight forward as choosing a finished item. Architecture is a collaborative process and we cannot always control how long things take. Projects can take a long time so we work hard to foster close relationships with our clients. It is therefore important that the scope of our services is established at an early stage so that the client is receiving an appropriate level of support for their project and budget.

Our fees depend on the size and type of project you are undertaking, the quality of the completed building, and the level of involvement you would like from us. Fees vary based on these elements, but as a professional service, the fee generally reflects the amount of our time required by the project.

Below is a guide on the type of work we take on. You can contact us on 020 8556 9090 for more information, or to discuss your project.

What projects do we work on?

We mostly take on projects with a build value of over £100k, but we will also consider smaller projects that involve furniture design, testing of natural materials, or bespoke retrofit solutions.

Why would you hire an architect?

In the UK, you do not require an architect to make a planning application, design or construct a building. When appointing an architect, you should consider the value that they can add to your project, in conjunction with the fees that a particular practice will charge and the total construction budget. On the small-medium projects that Mike Tuck Studio usually work on, the practice can be most influential in the early stages of a project, and these will involve the most time, and therefore higher fees. However, each project is different, and there will be more complex projects that require more of the practice’s time on site. Therefore, we break our fee agreements down according to RIBA Stages, as detailed below.

How do architects charge fees?

There are three ways that architects tend to calculate fees: a percentage of the construction cost, a lump sum, or a time charge. With each of these methods, the total fee at the end of a project is likely to be in the same region, as the practice is ultimately charging you for its time. While charging a percentage fee used to be the general trend in the industry, these days there is more uncertainty in construction costs, and fluctuations do not always correspond to more or less time from the architect. We usually choose to charge fees on a lump-sum basis, broken down by RIBA Stages, but will sometimes work on a time-charge basis on very small projects or feasibility studies when the size and complexity of the project is not yet known.

Architect's in the studio

Additional services

Outside of architectural design, Mike Tuck Studio can assist with the following services for an additional fee:

  • Joinery design

  • External hard landscaping design

  • Interior design (selecting of interior décor)

  • Contract administration

  • Cost planning

Other considerations

  • Architect’s fees are subject to VAT

  • Specialist consultants and engineers required on the project will be appointed directly and paid by the client, and the architect will not be responsible for their work

  • Often the architect will make payments to others such as the local planning authority on the client’s behalf, and these will be charged to the client

Building Safety Act 2022

The new Building Safety Act usually requires that the architect acts as Principal Designer and take on Duty Holder obligations during the design phase of all projects. For this we will charge an additional fee during the design phase of the project. Any other work in connection with the Principal Designer role required during the construction phase will be charged at an hourly rate

  • RIBA Stage 0-1

    What do I need?

    This stage is not about design but is where you consider and interrogate what your brief for the project is, in line with what your desired outcomes are. This is a crucial part of the project and where the architect can add a lot of value, though it is often conducted through conversations and quick sketches – the aim is to assess options and consider where the project is feasible and is achievable within the various regulatory and structural restrictions. It is also the point where the architect will help you identify necessary consultants.

  • RIBA Stage 2

    What do I want?

    This is where we start to draw! We will start to develop initial options and consider key concepts and ideas that will start to give shape to your brief. These designs will not be sufficient to take to a contractor and build from them, but will allow you to image the size and kind of spaces you want to create. It is also when we will engage with the planning authority for Pre-application Advice, if necessary, and other consultants.

  • RIBA Stage 3

    How does it come together?

    This is where we test the proposals to ensure that they meet the brief. More detailed designs are drawn up to validate the assumptions made in previous stages. This is also when we will submit a planning application, if required.

  • RIBA Stage 4

    How will we build it and who will build it?

    This is where we finalise the construction methods – the materials, structure, and systems we will use. We will prepare technical drawings, and depending on the project, a specification and schedule of works, which will be coordinated with the structural engineer’s designs. The Stage 4 package can then be sent to builders to price the project, and on smaller projects can be taken forward with little involvement from an architect to construct the project directly with a contractor.

  • RIBA Stage 5

    How can we help?

    There are a number of ways we can be involved in the construction of the project, and this will depend on the complexity of the build, the budget, and client experience. A full service would involve administering the building contract on your behalf and carrying out regular site inspections and valuations to certify payments due, issue certificates and Architect’s Instructions and deal with on-site queries. Alternatively we can occasionally visit the site to give advice and respond to queries on a time-charge basis.

  • RIBA Stage 6

    Are we there yet?

    After Practical Completion has been reached, the building is handed back to the client. In the 12 months following, defects should be remedied by the builder, and at the end of this period a Final Certificate is issued. If we have been administering the contract for you, we will continue to do so, in closing it out. This is also when we like to hear from you about how the building is working across the seasons, how you are using the spaces, and what you might have done differently. This is a Post Occupancy Evaluation and one way we like to continually learn how to build better.