an intro to working with barefoot!
by Peta Clark
In the past few years as the practice has grown, we recognised the need to outline a clear process for new enquiries. In accordance with Barefoot's ethical compass, we designed this process to uphold our aim to make architecture accessible – in this case, by providing a transparent guide to the way we work, and also by offering a low commitment, paid consultation to explore ideas before making a decision.
Practice Manager, Peta Clark (me!)
As practice manager I'm the first point of contact for the majority of enquiries, whether via email, over the phone or through our online enquiry form. The first thing I do is to capture basic information (your address, contact details, project outline and budget) so that we can best assess how to help you. I can then schedule the Initial Design Consultation (IDC) for you, or set up a quick call if you're unsure about the benefits of meeting, or the viability of the project in the first instance.
We understand that setting out on your project can be a daunting prospect as well as an exciting one. If you have never worked with an architect before (and perhaps more so if you don't anticipate doing so again in the future), then gathering all the information you need to make an informed decision is no small task and is a high-stakes decision for many.
To all those who approach us with their ideas for exciting extensions, eco homes, community and housing projects, we send a digital copy of the 'Footsteps' guide; a concise, informative document to the RIBA stages of work, which gives you an idea of what we do at each stage and a general idea of costs (our own, and what you might need to budget for consultants or other specialists that could be required).
The below diagram is taken from the Set Foot document. You will receive this on booking an IDC, and will no doubt refer back to it throughout your project's journey. Set Foot expands on the Footsteps guide and goes further in explaining our internal processes, offering – among other things – visibility of the administrative steps I take in the first instance after receiving the go-ahead from you, the client.
My blog post from 2022 goes into what you can expect from the IDC, and it's worth noting that it does in fact form part of the Stage 1 feasibility study and is therefore discounted from the cost of your Stage 1 fee for working with us.
We'd love to hear from you if there's a project you want to explore, and I'll be happy to lead you through the steps to getting it underway!
Call us on:
0117 907 0971 (Bristol)
01803 446040 (Devon)
or email me at info@barefootarchitects.co.uk