Residential Architect DC

Residential architects specialize in designing homes, apartment complexes and condominiums.  These professionals work with clients to determine their preferences, needs and budget and work to create a home around those elements.  If you are building or remodeling a home, a residential architect is a crucial member of the team because they are experts in both style and functionality.

All the important information a residential DC architect needs comes from understanding their client’s style and specific requirements.  For this reason the architect must be extremely versatile as their clients are all different and these differences are reflected in the blueprints of every dwelling.  For example, a residential architect may be called upon to design a set of apartments where most of the features would be identical.  Alternatively, the architect would be called upon to build or remodel a private standalone home where the architect’s focus would be placed on spending a lot of time with the owners to determine their personal tastes, style preferences and budgets.

For the homeowner, the biggest consideration is the aesthetic appeal of the home.  When remodeling an existing home there are so many styles one can consider. The architect must determine what the owners expect the exterior of the house to look like.  Perhaps it is something as easy as adding some nontraditional fixtures like shutters to a newly painted home.  Maybe the homeowner wants something more elaborate like to add a second story with a Victorian style turret, bay windows and a wrap around porch.  Some instances, like the latter, would require much more effort on the part of the architect. This is where the bulk of the work is required.

When adding one or more storeys, porches, balconies or even backyard decks, a residential architect needs to investigate the zoning requirements of the neighborhood to ensure no building codes are broken. Once this administrative work is taken care of the architect will draw up the blueprint to be approved by the homeowners.

During the construction of the additional aspects of the house, the residential architect is also responsible for the design of the finer modifications of the remodeled house such as heating/cooling systems, electrical and plumbing fittings. Many architects, being so involved with many of the aspects of construction will be a part of the project throughout the process working with the construction team and overseeing the finishing with an interior designer.  It is best when short listing a residential architect that you find one willing to oversee the whole project so that their vision controls, guides and holds steady the project from beginning to end.

There is a wealth of options available to homeowners seeking to distinctly remodel their home. The good thing is that whatever style you seek, there is bound to be a residential architect DC that has the necessary know how to meet your unique requirements.