Architecture is like a mythical fantastic. It has to be experienced. It can't be described. We can draw it up and we can make models of it, but it can only be experienced as a complete whole.
Our Process
We designed your space for
In every design task, large or small, we see the potential to create solutions that are beautiful and environmentally responsible. And while building projects tend to be lengthy and complex endeavors, they can also be a source of inspiration and fun. As designers, we collaborate with our clients to achieve buildings that meet their needs in a way that is sustainable and ecologically sound.
Design is where science and art break even.
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01
PRE DESIGN
The first steps of a project are to gain familiarity with the site and understanding of the client’s needs and goals, we call that the “program”. Oftentimes, the program is clarified or refined in this phase, as general expectations and desires are articulated. Other basic parameters are established as well, including code research, rough budgets and time lines. As a firm specializing in ecological design, we pay much attention to the site evaluation, including topography, solar access, wind and weather patterns, water, vegetation, and ecology at large, as well as to qualitative characteristics like light quality and views, or cultural context.
02
Conceptual Design
Typically, several design options get explored and evaluated in the schematic design phase. The purpose is to find the right design concept without getting lost in details prematurely. This process is informed by the site analysis described above, as well as research of local building traditions and materials. Vernacular buildings represent the accumulation of generations’ worth of knowledge of local climate, and are good models for passive solar buildings and design pattern in general. Passive solar design is the backbone of our work, involving the overall shape and orientation of the building, its insulation and thermal mass, the distribution of openings, daylighting and natural ventilation.
Site-specific concerns, combined with our experience with (green) building technology, form the backdrop for the creative process of translating the client’s program and preferences into a coherent design. The project begins to take shape, first as a loose sketch, and later as CAD plans and 3-D models. As constraints are encountered and various possibilities explored, we work closely with the client to focus the goals of the project into an innovative design that merges function, form, environment and budget.
03
Design Developement
The design that emerged out of the schematic phase gets refined, and the structure of the building evolves. There is still plenty of interaction with the client; for example, in optimizing the kitchen layout or discussing furniture placement. In a commercial project, the focus shifts to issues such as space optimization or adaptability. Interaction with consultants intensifies, typically involving structural and mechanical engineering. Larger, more complex projects might require geo-technical and civil engineers, landscape architects and other specialty consultants. Bringing in a contractor early is wise for any kind of project, primarily to help assess costs and allow adjustments while it’s still relatively easy. At the end of design development, all basic parameters of the building are established in plan, elevation and section.
04
Construction Documentation
Construction Documents are time intensive, and the client’s input helps in the selection of finishes, building components such as windows, or reviewing electrical-mechanical layouts. The bulk of the work is to incorporate the structural design and create a consistent plan set with all the information required to obtain a building permit. Often, details go beyond the minimum scope required for permit to ensure the architectural character and structural integrity of the building.
05
Construction Administration
After the project breaks ground, it is the responsibility of the contractor to implement the plans. However, a certain level of oversight is needed to ensure the proper execution of a design, and to make sure that a building reaches its potential. Requests for clarification or additional details may come from the jobsite. Good communication between the contractor and the designer is in the client’s best interest, and regular site visits during construction are of great value.
Would you like to discuss a project?
Projects in all the Rio Grande Valley.
Let’s grab a coffee!
info@3ditstudio.com