Our Services
Residential Architectural Services in London
Envelope provides residential architectural services across London, from technical design and Building Regulations through to tendering, Contract Administration and project management during construction. We can provide individual services or manage the architectural and construction process from detailed design through to completion.
Detailed Design & Detail Drawings
At Envelope Design, we provide detailed architectural design and construction drawings for residential projects in London. We develop the design into the technical information needed to price and build the project, working through construction, materials, finishes and junctions before work starts on site.
This information is brought together in our Design File, combining Envelope’s drawings and specification with relevant information from structural engineers and other consultants to give the contractor a clear and coordinated set of construction information.
The key benefits:
• Efficiency: Clear, step-by-step plan detail drawings save time and minimise errors.
• Clarity & Communication: The detailed drawings clearly show how each component of the construction project fits together, helping to avoid confusion and making it easier for everyone to work together and stay on the same page.
• Cost Savings: Detailed drawings can help prevent costly mistakes or changes during the construction project. By having a clear plan and following it closely, the project can be completed efficiently and within budget.
• Cost Estimates In Advance: Our Design Files can also be supplied with a dedicated digital Cost File which provides a ‘soft estimate’ to give you an initial ballpark cost. The Cost File also allows accurate builders’ quotes to be easily obtained. Our clients say this aspect of the work is often the most difficult to navigate, but our Cost Files help this to run smoothly, and once your project is up and running, the Cost File is used to monitor payments as the work progresses.
What’s a Design File?
Get A Detail Drawings Estimate
Our detail drawings provide the technical solutions required along with an elegant simplicity. We are instinctive problem solvers, and love to collaborate with others. See some problem solving in action in the videos in our Design Shop.
View explainer videos
“Envelope have both a very creative approach to the outline design and feasibility of residential development, together with the skills to produce elegant, considered and highly-buildable working drawings. I was very happy with Envelope’s ability to deliver on time and on budget.”
Thomas (Architect)
London, N1
Get A Detail Drawings Estimate
Residential Project Management
We monitor progress against the agreed programme, helping to identify delays or issues and discussing with the contractor how these can be addressedAt Envelope, our role as as a project manager is to take the pressure off you. We can remain involved throughout construction, helping clients manage the architectural, contractual and practical aspects of a residential building project.
We can act as the principal point of contact between the client, contractor and consultants, responding to technical queries, monitoring progress and costs, reviewing work on site and helping resolve issues as they arise.
Where appointed as Contract Administrator, we can also administer the building contract, assess payments and variations and maintain the formal contractual procedures through to completion
The key benefits:
• Programme & Progress: We monitor progress against the agreed programme, helping to identify delays or issues and discussing with the contractor how these can be addressed.
• Cost Control: We use our cost control toolkit (The Cost File) to work within a set budget, monitoring expenses, and ensuring that costs stay within the allotted budget.
• Communication: To reduce your work load, we can serve as the primary point of contact for stakeholders, and improve communication between consultants, contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, and the client. We find that better communication leads to less misunderstandings and more collaboration.
• Quality Control: Through regular site visits, we review the work against the drawings and specification and identify matters that may need to be addressed with the contractor.
• Contract Administration: Where appointed as Contract Administrator, we administer the building contract, assess payments and variations, monitor progress and help ensure that the contractual procedures are properly followed through to completion.
Get A Project Management Estimate
”Design and sustainability was key for us – we used Envelope to project manage the transformation of a run-down dilapidated house into a family home that we will cherish for ever.”
Helen
London Homeowner
The One Envelope Service
The One Envelope Service is our comprehensive architectural and project management service, taking your project from the initial ideas and design stages, through planning and detailed design, tendering and construction, to completion.
Rather than having to coordinate the different stages of the project yourself, Envelope remains involved throughout, providing a single point of contact and maintaining continuity between the design, consultants, drawings and specification, costs, building contract and work on site.
We coordinate the input of other consultants, deal with Building Regulations and tendering, and can act as Principal Designer and Contract Administrator where required. During construction we remain closely involved, helping to manage the construction process, costs and progress, and dealing with the questions and decisions that inevitably arise along the way.
The aim is to take as much of the complexity and day-to-day management of the project away from you as possible, while maintaining the quality of the design and keeping a close eye on costs and progress from beginning to end.
Get A ‘One Envelope’ Estimate
“Envelope combined incredible attention to detail with a very practical and pragmatic approach – the project couldn’t have happened without them.”
Justyna
North London
Who we work with:
We work primarily with homeowners undertaking alterations, extensions and refurbishments to existing London properties, as well as developers and property owners.
We also regularly collaborate with other architects, interior designers, structural engineers and other consultants as part of the wider project team.
If you would like to obtain a quote, discuss a project or have any other enquiries, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Get An Estimate
Get In Touch
Got Any Questions?
If you would like to discuss a project or have any enquiries, please get in touch with us.