+1 What RKQ has posted and in addition, some old chestnuts you'll see scattered about several posts in AAM.
1. Chose an architect because you
(a) like their work
(b) get on with them
2. Don't shoose your architect primarily because of where their office is located - geography doesn't ensure competence, any more than having multiple additional skillsets beyond the core discipline means they'll do a good job for you.
3. You seem interested in your design and havesome strong ideas about what you want. You seem to have come up against two poles in the profession already; -
(a) the traditional view, which can reflect a preference by choice - and well and good if so - or else a weak design philosophy or ability.
(b) the "profesional view" - you're not givin me enough freedom to express my ideas - wht do you want me for?
I'm at a loss to understand either.
Clients who know exactly what they want but are intelligent enough to know that if you choose an architect, they will bring something of their own to the table can be the best clients on a private house brief - cuts out a lot of waffling.
Any architect worth his salt should jump at the chance to work for clients like you, who seem both interested enough in their design to seek something different and are looking at ways to improve the design by introducing light and amenity.
Yet you have had two luke warm receptions - I don't understand that, particularly in the current economic climate.
My normal advice to people like yourself just staring out would be to find a house or building you like and discover who designed it and do some online research or visit the planning office to see how the aplication progressed and take it from there -
(a) drop in to the house, ask who designed it, ask how they performed for the client
(b) find out online or at the Council, contact the architect and ask for client references.
I have to say the "conservative" person bothers me - architects should be embracing the new technologies at this stage, but in terms of sustainability, a word of caution - they should also be seeking competent specialist professional advice from suitable mechanical and electrical consulting engineers.
There are far too many people waffing on about "sustainability" these days without a comment on "cost benefits" or "recovery time". It costs money to be sustainable today, now, at this point in time - you get pay back over the years - so you have to choose methods that will justify your investment over the life of the house - the mechanical methods all require elements to be replaced over 10-30 years, such as pumps, etc. They don't last forever.
In relation to your own suggestion, I hear that deep geo costs a fortune but may give good consistent returns - I have heard less well about the shallow geo, which is alleged to just freeze your site in the medium to short term. Something a good M&E should be asked on a consultancy basis. Wind is variable and can be difficult to site and get the appropriate height for clear air, while solar is variable and is offering least anually when you need it most. Geo is therefore consistent - 24 hours, all year long - but far more expensive. Cost benefit studies needed on this in the industry urgently.
Back to topic and there are lists of archtiects availabke by area from the RIAI, or the Golden pages. Bear in mind not everyone practising as architects have yet been registered and just because they aren't registered to use the title, doesn't mean they cannot provide a competent service within their comfort zone, many of them specialising in private housing. Also some office offering archtiectural services are not calling themselves architects per se and possibly never will. These shouldn't be discounted out of hand, although your planning may prefer a building designed by a registered archtiect or someone with a track record proven in their functional area.
There are other firms of note like ODOS and A2 Architects or you could look at FKL Architects, but they tend to exist on the extremes of modern design. You may want a mix of modern and traditional elements and so it is important to choose a designer that will embrace what you want and work within and towards this.
Finally I should note there are several posters on AAM practising as architects from whom you could seek an opinion privately on the design without prejudice to your final appointment - the more the merrier. It's just it would be difficult to give an opinion online.
Hope this helps.
ONQ.
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All advice on AAM is remote from the situation and cannot be relied upon as a defence or support - in and of itself - should legal action be taken.
Competent legal and building professionals should be asked to advise in Real Life with rights to inspect and issue reports on the matters at hand.