SERVICES.
What we offer
Led by experience JTA offers a complete range of architectural services to plan, design, and manage the construction of your new home or addition. All stages of engagement are flexible to ensure we meet the exact needs of your project.
This level of support means you can be confident knowing everything is taken care of every step of the way.
PROCESS.
How we work
Driven by a desire to understand clients’ aims, needs and desires, we’re committed to a design journey that is smooth, stress-free and cost effective for you.
At JTA, we’re here to guide you through every stage of the journey — making sure you feel informed, supported, and confident, with clear foresight into any potential risks or challenges that may arise.
JTA offers a comprehensive service delivery, structured to achieve project outcomes that exceed your expectations.
While our working process is adapted to your needs, a typical flow of key engagement stages is outlined below:
1. DEFINE THE DESIGN >
We believe great endings are created at the beginning.
During this stage, we lean into the project with a thorough site assessment and discussion about your aims and spatial requirements. More than just a new home concept, we’ll also discuss the important considerations of future building stages too.
This is our opportunity to understand you, and ensure the project progresses efficiently.
2. DESIGN DEVELOPMENT >
There’s no predetermined time frame here. With your vision, the site’s attributes and our experience we’ll produce concept drawings that seek to align with the brief, compliances, timeline and budget. With a focus on exploiting all possibilities, we will then present the options, including some you may not have considered. We will offer you a formal concept proposal and further discussion if required.
After the concept stage has been agreed on, we will engage with the necessary consultants (such as structural engineers and interior designers) to produce the final building.
3. FORMAL DOCUMENTATION. >
The formal design stage drawings and paperwork will be submitted to your local council or building certifier for development approval on your behalf.
Once approval from the council is received, we will commence the detailed construction and planning documentation (final designs, plans, elevations, materials and finishes selections) required for sourcing the most suitable building contractor.
4. PROJECT MANAGEMENT >
We will draw on our professional insight to help with the selection of a builder. For your peace of mind, we will also liaise with them to ensure a fair quoting process and represent you on-site to navigate the construction stages as we planned.
5. POST COMPLETION CHECKS >
It’s not over when it’s over. At the practical completion stage, we scour the finished building exterior and interior for defects, and produce a clear list of any minor rectifications contractually required by the builder to achieve formal handover to you.
FAQ’s.
Frequently Asked Questions
> What’s the average cost of a new home?
Architecturally designed homes vary in cost. At JTA we take time to ensure every home is cost effectively designed and built. This is achieved by identifying any construction challenges early, ensuring efficient design and building time frames.
As a guide, construction costs can range from $5Km2 to $10Km2 depending on whether you require a new structure or addition, the specifics of site conditions and the selection of building materials and finishes.
> How much do you charge for your services?
The initial stage of work (concept design) will be a fixed fee. This is accurately quoted once your requirements have been discussed in detail, and JTA returns a working brief and proposal for your evaluation. There is an initial fee to cover our time investment that is deductible if you proceed with the initial Concept Design Stage with JTA.
The next stages of our partnership are usually based on a percentage of the total construction costs. These include design development, application documents for council approval, formal construction documentation, helping you tender for suitable builders and management of the contract administration during construction.
> Is there a minimum value project you work on?
We don’t assess client partnerships based purely on the investment. We strive to achieve the best possible design outcomes for projects that align with our practice principles. As a guide our clients budget for around $1M for new build or alterations and additions projects, and $500K for interior redesign projects.
> What value will an architect add to my new home?
There are several home design service options out there, not all of which are alike. While we will focus on finding ways to enhance your home living experience, there are several ways to measure return on investment.
Many JTA clients are delighted beyond expectations with the result. We believe this lies in having a full suite of skills to identify and maximise a home’s full potential. To us, value lies in how the new spaces look, feel and function for your specific needs and desires.
It’s your choice, but this can’t be achieved with generic drawings or templated plans.
> Do you have a waitlist?
We only have a select few projects under construction at any one time, ensuring our undivided attention to all. The design and approval stages can vary, so at times there may be a wait time. Concept design work commencement is typically scheduled within two to three weeks of our initial meeting, allowing you time to evaluate the vision and considerations of the next stages.
> How will you keep my project within budget?
This is an important part of the design process. We will take great care to help establish and manage your project investment. Setting an accurate budget informs the size and quality of build that will be possible for you. Often projects may require input from a quantity surveyor who specialise in the preparation of costing construction projects. This is typically a requirement for submissions to local councils for Development Approval.
In addition, we will prepare clear construction documentation to enhance the accuracy of builder pricing and proposed project timelines.
> Will you recommend a good builder?
Absolutely. We have a well developed network of experienced and trusted professionals to call on when the time is right. We only partner with (on your behalf) skilled, flexible and transparent builders on every project. We’ll be there to help you select only the most suitable contractors for your needs.
> How long does the design and build process take?
The typical time frame from finalising your design documentation to council approval takes between three to six months. Depending on your municipality, this may take a little longer. If the project can be submitted under a Complying Development Approval to a certifier, the time frame is considerably shorter. (This type of approval sometimes has advantages, while at other times brings additional constraints to the traditional Development Application to council).
After council approval, the (ready to build) construction documentation can take two to four months to prepare for sourcing a builder. The tendering stage (requesting quotes) usually takes one to two months before securing the best builder for your project.
The construction program typically depends on three core aspects; (1) the size of the project (2) the site conditions and (3) the complexity of the construction. Most of our new home builds take from nine months up to eighteen months.