Custom home design tailored to your plot and lifestyle

Stages of design

Stage 1 — Preliminary design (PD)

It consists of floor plans, elevations, sections and a site placement scheme. A preliminary design is usually enough to obtain a building permit. Price: $3–10/m².

Stage 2 — Working design (WD)

This is a detailed instruction for builders, made of the architectural and structural sections. It includes drawings of the foundation, floors and roof, plus material specifications with an exact quantity take-off. Price: $7–20/m². See drawing examples in the project composition section.

Important: the design area is calculated by the building's outer perimeter, including basement, terraces, balconies and porches.

What the price of a custom project depends on

• Architectural complexity. A simple-shaped house costs less. Classics with columns or minimalism with cantilevers and panoramic glazing take more time and cost more.
• Area. The smaller the house, the higher the price per m²: the design time for 100 m² and 300 m² is very close.
• Engineering systems. Heating, water supply, sewerage and electrics are calculated separately.
• Terrain and soils. Difficult soils, high seismicity, a sloping plot or a high groundwater level raise the cost of the structural part.

When to choose a custom project

• The plot has a complex shape, a steep slope or difficult terrain.
• You have specific layout wishes: a workshop, special zoning or a double-height space.
• You need an exclusive look not found in standard catalogues.

Expert advice

Do not start designing without a topographic survey and geological investigation. Without the "geology", the structural engineer puts an excessive safety margin into the foundation — you overpay for concrete a sum that far exceeds the cost of the project itself. Without the "topo survey", you risk breaching distance norms to neighbouring buildings, which causes problems with the building permit and commissioning. More: about the foundation and how to place a house on the plot.

FAQ

Can a house be built from the preliminary design only?
In theory yes, if the builders are highly experienced. In practice it leads to errors: wrong reinforcement, frozen joints, material overruns. The working design (AR+SR) is your insurance against wall cracks and extra costs.

How long does a custom project take?
The preliminary stage usually takes 2–3 weeks. A full working design with all calculations takes 1.5 to 3 months, depending on architectural complexity, area and the client's approval speed.

Is interior design included in the architectural project price?
No, these are separate services. The architectural project covers the house "shell", its strength and appearance. Interior design is ordered separately once the room volumes are clear.

Can changes be made during construction?
Minor ones (moving a non-load-bearing partition) — yes. But changes to load-bearing walls, floor heights or floor material require recalculating the structural section, otherwise it can be dangerous.

Which is cheaper: a ready-made project or a custom one?
A ready-made project is 3–5 times cheaper on paper. But a custom project is adapted to your soils and budget, which often saves 15–20% on materials and works.

Ready-made house plans

The full catalogue of house plans