Turnkey Construction

February 17, 2023

Most of the projects we undertake here at Barefoot are delivered under what we call a ‘traditional’ contract – this means that we produce a design which is then tendered and constructed by an independent company.  

This approach has its advantages – it means we can work on a project in any location, work with any builder (taking advantage of their expertise) and therefore specify a wide range of construction methods that are specific to a unique site and design. This flexibility does however come with its drawbacks. If you don’t know who your builder is going to be, costs can only be estimated until the project is tendered.

An alternative approach which is growing in popularity is design and build. This is also known as ‘turn-key contracting’ – the theory being that it's a one-stop-shop and you don't have to go anywhere else until the contract is complete; just turn the key in the door.
 
Companies offering this service have both a design and a construction arm, and often use off-site construction technologies. The advantages of this approach are simplicity (the client only has one appointment) and greater/earlier cost certainty. The downside is less flexibility, and the company is limited by its skill set. The design is likely to be more generic, because unlike a traditional architect's design, they tend to have a set way of building so they often take the easy/well-trodden path. This might produce a less ambitious result.

In summary, there are pros and cons to both. If creative freedom and flexibility are a priority, traditional contracting might be appropriate. If, on the other hand, cost certainty and a hands-off approach is what you are looking for, turnkey might be an alternative worth looking into.
 
Barefoot are currently looking into developing a turnkey offering as a spin off from our Back Garden City project. This would allow us to deliver small Passivhaus homes aimed at enabling multi-generational living. Watch this space to find out more!