Consultation
- Consultations are free. Fill out the inquiry form or give us a call.
- You don’t have to provide documents for a consultation, but any information on your site or building is useful. Even photos or sketches of what you have in mind will help.
- Also helpful will be information on your budget, proposed schedule, and photos of architectural and interior designs that you like.
- If you are located at a distance, we can also visit you for a consultation. Please note that we may ask that you pay for our travel costs.
Our expertise
- We can design not only houses, but also shops and other commercial facilities.
- We cover everything from new construction, to renovations, extensions, and interior design.
- We can also provide expert advice on finding a site.
- And we can offer ingenious solutions to create an attractive space even if it is an irregularly shaped lot or site where building may be difficult, as well as cost-effective ideas for tight budgets.
Construction Budget
- We will make every effort to seek out cost-effective ways to create a rich and comfortable space while also staying within your budget.
- Whether your budget is large or small, we will work closely with you to ensure that we can make a proposal that will come as close as possible to what you envision.
Design Fee
- Our design and construction management fee is 12% of construction costs for a new house.
- We will provide you with an estimate based on your detailed requirements.
- Transportation costs may be charged separately when the construction site is distantly located.
- Our design fees for renovations, events, temporary structures and spaces, and diverse other products and services will be decided in consultation with you.
Please note that the following costs are NOT included in the design and construction management fee:
- Survey costs: site survey, subsurface exploration, etc.
- Application and registration costs: Building permit application, in-process and completion inspection fees, other various fees
- House/building registration fees
- Structural calculation costs (Due to revisions in building codes, many new construction and renovation plans require the submission of structural calculations. The estimated cost of a structural calculation is approximately 15% of the design fee.)
- Energy conservation design costs (If the new building is of a certain size, energy conservation design costs must be submitted to various government agencies.)
Workflow
1Consultation
- Tell us what kind of building you want, how large or small, and your budget.
- We can give you professional advice on the selection of land, surveys, and other necessary details in advance of the design process, so don’t hesitate to contact us.
2Drafting a proposal
About 1 month
- We will draft a provisional plan based on the information you have given us and the results of the site survey.
- We will convey our ideas using 3-D models, computer graphics, and sketches.
3Design and construction management contract
- When you are satisfied with our proposal, we will ask you to sign a design and construction management contract so that we may proceed with the drafting of a preliminary architectural design.
At this point, we will ask that you pay us one-third of the design fee as a retainer.
4Drafting preliminary architectural design
About 3 months
- Based on discussions with you of our proposal, we will prepare a general design drawing, computer graphic images, 3-D models, and other such materials for review of the architectural plan and structural design, and the selection of materials and facilities.
5Drafting final architectural design
About 3 months
- A final architectural plan will be drafted based on continuing discussions of details.
6Estimates and building permit application
About 2 months
- We will ask for estimates from around three construction companies and appraise each one to check that their fees and costs are appropriate. When necessary, we will request changes in the estimate items to reconcile the costs with your budget. An application for a building permit will be made after construction costs have been finalized.
At this point, we will ask that you pay us one-third of the design fee as an interim payment.
7Construction work and construction management
About 6 months
- Once construction has begun, we will oversee the work to ensure that it follows the agreed-upon design. At the appropriate stages, we will bring in a structural specialist to inspect the work that has been done. Procedures may change depending on the nature of the construction.
8Final completion inspection and closing
About 6 months
- Once construction is completed and completion and fire inspections have been carried out, closing will take place and the building will be handed over to you.
- At the time of closing, we will give you the keys to the house and explain the workings of the installations, as well as future maintenance requirements.
- We will also photograph the completed building at this time.
You will be invoiced at this point for the remainder of the design fee.
9Follow-up
- Around one year after the closing, we will carry out a thorough inspection of the house to confirm that there are no problems due to degradation or deterioration.
- Regardless of this one-year inspection, feel free to consult at any time if you find problems or have questions.