ENGLISH SPEAKING ARCHITECT IN MEDELLIN?

kenblanquito says on Mar 7, 2009, 12:44:

What do you need or what are you going to have done? Is the project complex?
I would not think that there will be too many of those here but I could ask around. Give me a few days and if I can find one, I will PM you.
I know a good Colombian one, perhaps him in conjunction with a good translator?

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davidslc46 says on Mar 7, 2009, 12:58:

Just a contemporary house design that I pretty much have the vision for. I just need someone who can create the plan.

Thanks

David

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CakeDesigner-wannabe says on Mar 7, 2009, 13:02:

Davidslc......... hiring architect is one thing.... but to build it is another matter. Poor project management will cause disaster, so make sure you hire the righr project manamgement too

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kenblanquito says on Mar 7, 2009, 16:05:

A really good architect will manage the project too. They base charges on a percentage of the value of the project, 10% I believe. Well worth it for the security of having a watchful eye! One should also ask about insurance/professional indemnity but I do not know enough about the system here to be certain about this.

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davidslc46 says on Mar 8, 2009, 06:19:

Thanks Bro,

I appreciate all your insight.

Fortunately I have the workers and the management / administration down. Just looking for more formal plans than the ones I create.

I just realized that if that is the case I can use any architec anywhere.

David

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kenblanquito says on Mar 8, 2009, 07:34:

I was referring to one that I know and he is honest! Some are, you know!
As for the quantity surveyor, best to do that yourself if you are worried. They will buy the materials for you and add their "handling charge". Also, one can watch out for materials that "walk", rather than all of them arriving to your project.
Builders will always want money up-front for materials and you can guard against them mis-using or mis-directing your money.
Budgets are OK but wherever you are, they can go over due to inflation and other problem factors encountered during the construction. Look at the New Wembley and Millenium Dome projects in the UK! Best to get the estimates, then add an imaginary 20% for variations in design due to unknowns.
Did davidscl46 have a site investigation to determine foundation design, for example? Depending on ground conditions, instead of conventional foundations he may find after provisional excavations that he may need piles, to ensure the structure remains stable and he will not have future problems with the integrity of the building, like subsidence. This information should be obtained before starting the project so there are no nasty "surprises". It is all down to keeping things under control!

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CakeDesigner-wannabe says on Mar 9, 2009, 13:09:

I used to work as an architectural techinican 20 years ago LOL I forgot how things work in the architect world !!! LOL Yes I do remember the 10% thing

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