Involving a professional architecture studio is the only way to make sure that your investment in a building is a good investment. This applies to new buildings as well as renovations. The role of the architect is a lot more extensive than people realize, and the architect oversees the process from beginning to end. Although some firms provide you with design drawings and a building permit and leave the rest up to you, a good architecture studio is your trusted partner throughout. This means you can be sure to get the building you planned for and that costs are carefully managed.
At ZEST architecture we kick start the design process with a Feasibility Study. This means that we carefully analyse your wishes, the opportunities and limitations of the site, and the applicable regulations. With this we produce a report that also contains a conceptual construction budget and an overview of all the other costs involved in the build. As a result, before you even sign a contract with your architect, you will already know what the project will cost.
Typically, an architecture studio charges a percentage of the projected building costs to cover the costs of the design and project management. These costs depend on the size and complexity of the project as well as the level of service offered. As a result, percentages for architectural design work can differ wildly. It is safe to say that if the architect charges less for their work, they will also do less work. So it’s useful to discuss with your potential architect which services will be included. Some architects will only serve you with simple drawings and a building permit. Whereas other firms may provide turnkey services and will be your trusted partner throughout the entire project. This bears a cost but it also means there is full quality and cost control.
ZEST architecture is a full service firm, offering turnkey projects for residential, office, hotel and public architecture. This means that we manage every part of the process from start to finish, obviously including all permits and construction documentation. Apart from architectural design, we also offer landscape design, interior design, structural engineering & quantity surveying, and project management. Sometimes our work starts with helping the client find the plot to build on or the property to restore, or researching the feasibility of a particular project.
Managing building costs is one of the most important aspects of supervising the execution of a building project. At ZEST architecture, our process has been carefully tailored to help control costs. Because we analyse carefully what needs to be designed from the start, we avoid the necessity for costly changes to be made at a later stage. Before the project goes out to tender, our Quantity Surveyor draws up the Bill of Quantities. This detailed document which describes exactly what is going to be built, will be the basis for the contract with a builder. This means our client knows the cost of the tiniest detail in advance of starting the work. Only things that the client may add later (and this does happen sometimes) can cause the contracting sum to change.
ZEST architecture builds all over Spain, including Mallorca, but we are also active in the Netherlands and Portugal. The main office of our architecture studio is in Barcelona, but our clients are from all over the world. We have a thorough and proven process of communication with our clients. But we also successfully lead the team of professionals that works on the execution of each project. These teams include contractors, engineers and other local professionals. In order to make sure we provide the top quality we are famous for, our documentation is precise, complete and rigorous.
At ZEST architecture we specialize in using materials that integrate well in their surroundings, age beautifully and even contribute to your health where possible! Often we use natural materials such as stone, clay, rammed earth, wood, lime plaster. We love how those materials have an aspect that means you never tire of looking at them. Natural materials acquire a patina over time. This means that a building made with natural materials becomes more beautiful over time.We are also extremely aware of the CO2 footprint of the materials we use. We are one of the few firms already prepared for a net zero carbon future.
We also take into account the fire safety of both the building and façade, using insulation materials such as cork, that are non-flammable.
That’s a great question. At ZEST architecture we believe that a sustainable building has a minimal CO2 footprint, throughout its useful life. This means it must use a minimum of energy for heating/cooling/lighting. But we also need to make the building from materials that are a responsible environmental choice. And lastly, we need to design this building in such a way that itages well and can have a lifetime of over 100 years. We are engaged in constant research to update our knowledge of materials and processes. Where necessary we undertake to educate those involved in executing our work. This means we are constantly adding to our knowledge about sustainability and passing it on. In this way we strive to improve the sustainability of the construction industry.
ZEST architecture specializes in high end residential architecture, boutique hotels and any architecture that needs a “think outside the box” approach. We also in deliver buildings with an extremely low CO2 footprint. Our designs are extraordinary, and we always aim to create something truly special. But we always do this with respect for the planet.
Yes, we also have a property finding service. We work together with the best real estate agents, in order to offer clients who are abroad the option to locate the property that best suits their needs.
ZEST architecture takes care of everything. This means we do indeed handle building permits and licenses. But is also means we provide not only design work but also project management. This means we help you throughout the building process with every tiny detail. This may include the selection of items such as tiles, kitchens and even furniture. But we also get you connected to mains water and electricity, and organize your renewable energy. We can even enroll your children in the local school for you. We love making things easy for our clients.
Yes, at ZEST architecture we take pride in the precision and care with which we make sure the contractor executes the design. We work only with the best builders and craftsmen, and supervise the works from the moment we break ground until the moment you move in. When we deliver a house, we make a meticulous overview of all the little details that still need seeing to or adjusting. Our contractors will resolve these before you move in.
We do indeed offer a property finding service to those clients who are abroad and/or find it hard to communicate with local real estate agents.
At ZEST architecture we have a very comprehensive team. It includes architects, interior designers, landscape designers, structural engineers, HVAC engineers, Passivhaus engineers, and quantity surveyors.
We have designed the gardens of award winning projects. We specialize in the design of waterwise gardens. This means that our gardens contain species that can survive the local climate, without much care or water. We also develop Master plans for agricultural facilities, and know a lot about Permaculture and Agroforestry.
We do indeed. We make an inventory of candidates suitable to build your project early on in the design phase. You will have the chance to meet different contractors and see their built projects. All contractors we work with provide contracts that include comprehensive guarantees for our clients. Our contractors base their construction contracts on the Bill of Quantities drawn up by our Quantity Surveyor. This avoids cost overruns because every single detail is clear before we start building.
Certainly. We make simple 3D visualisations that are like a 3 dimensional drawing, but also images that are like a photo of the finished project. We can even make a video walk-through. This allows you to walk through the building and really see what it feels like.
The actual build of a house typically takes about 12 months. There are ways to speed up the process, such as the use of certain construction systems. These are Cross Laminated Timber, Timber Frame and Prefabricated Concrete. We have used all of these systems, and they have the advantage of faster building and higher cost control. Apart from the time it takes to build, you need time for the design and the license process. Typically it takes 3-4 months to design, another 3-8 months to get the building permits. The latter depends mostly on the local municipality. Lastly, you need to add some time for the tender and contracting process. Count on count 3 months.