Passionate about architecture:

At Artichoke, we don’t push our services and for some projects, Building Regulations information is enough, where the client has both experience and a competent builder. Sadly, sometimes we get that call from a client after things have gone wrong. Recently, a lovely client of ours generously agreed to share her experience of undertaking a “relatively simple” extension without: • Detailed production drawings • A formal tender process • A proper building contract • An architect acting as Contract Administrator Her story isn’t about blaming anyone. It’s about process - and why it matters. Q&A Q: What made you decide not to appoint an architect to manage the build? Client: We felt it was a straightforward project — kitchen extension, some internal changes. We thought we could save money by not having full architectural drawings or someone overseeing the build weekly. The builder seemed confident and experienced and had been recommended. Looking back, we underestimated how complex even a “simple” project becomes once work starts and just how many things there are to actually tie up. Q: When did you first feel something wasn’t quite right? Client: Delays started early. Windows were months late. The skylight was boarded over for weeks. The house was insecure at times. But what really concerned us was when we started reviewing the finish — we realised it wasn’t just snagging. There were things unfinished, incorrectly installed, or potentially unsafe. Q: What kinds of issues arose? Client: There were dozens: • Appliances not secured properly • Sink only held in place with silicone • Hob extracting into a cabinet and wall cavity • Boiler flue incorrectly fitted • Faulty air admittance valve (not compliant with Building Regulations) • Cladding not finished properly • Drainage incomplete • Roof drain missing • Skylight not installed There were also safety and security concerns — the house left open, heating turned off without notice, keys left accessible. What we thought would be a short snagging list became a long schedule of incomplete and unacceptable work. Where Process Would Have Helped 1. Detailed Production Information Without full construction drawings: • Appliance housing dimensions weren’t properly coordinated • Extract ventilation routes weren’t clearly defined • Drainage details weren’t fully resolved • Cladding interfaces lacked clarity • Boiler clearances weren’t formally checked Production drawings remove ambiguity. They define responsibility. They reduce interpretation on site. When drawings are light, site decisions fill the gap – and those decisions aren’t always coordinated – or compliant.

This marks a huge milestone in what has been one of the most exciting, challenging, and rewarding projects our practice has ever worked on. An Opportunity and a Privilege When we were first approached by Step Property almost five years ago, it was immediately clear that Manor Farm was a once-in-a-career project — a historic farmstead with five Grade II listed buildings, a sensitive Conservation Area setting, Green Belt & flood plain constraints, a struggling commercial yard and collapsing historic buildings that all urgently needed a coherent long-term vision and a strategy to achieve that. To be entrusted with leading the design and coordination of such a significant site has been a genuine privilege, one which we have not taken lightly.