Tetragon,
Its a bit disheartening to see your reluctance about approaching an architect, but unfortunately this is a common enough perception.
For when you have gathered your thoughts and you feel ready to engage with a design professional, I'd like to offer a few words on architects.
Yes, there is the whole "give me a brief and let me do my thing" side to some architects and I've posed only the other day advising about the dangers of issuing too-restricitive a brief if you want the best design.
But in reality, architects don't all arrive with a Grand Design as a
fait accompli - they will spend a lot of time listening to their client, visiting the site and developing the brief before beginning to design.
Some of the programs on the T.V. at the moment are a bit misleading - "Drama is life with the boring bits taken out" as Hitchcock said - because you only see an edited version of this process.
If architects find their clients thoughts are too regimented they may try and stimulate them by exposing them to designs they know about and maybe arrange site visits for them.
Equally you should be aware that a picture is worth at thousand words to an architect and cuttings and photos as well as a list of properties you like will be very useful.
At some point architects may try provoking clients to think a bit more deeply about what they want, by producing an off-the-wall sketch design.
This isn't intended to intimidate the client or "blow them away with brilliance" - its just to shake out the cobwebs!
Don't be afraid to say "no" if its too much, because the design should be a reflection of your needs.
Equally, allow yourself become stimulated and judge your needs against this explosion of design.
Alternatively clients sometimes arrive with their thoughts unclear, partly because design is new territory for them.
If so, they should try to describe their needs generally, but highlighting any specific or unusual needs.
Also:
Being good with numbers and text doesn't mean you will excel at graphics and vice versa.
Don't be afraid to tell your architect that you cannot read plans if that is your position.
Not everyone can read two dimensional plans, elevations and sections.
3D views, Models, Perspectives and Setting Out on site with chalk dust and ridge poles are important methods of communication with the client and your architect should be a master of all of them.
In this country they spend a minimum of 5 years standing up in front of their Yearmasters and Studiomasters presenting their work, so they should have developed some skill at this stage.
Design is a chicken or egg process so be prepared to put the time in.
Don't be afraid to agree limits for costs for preliminary design work.
Consider seeking an architect who offers a free first consulation.
HTH
ONQ.
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