Financial transparency
The true cost of a bespoke architectural project
When a client asks how much it costs to build a high-quality contemporary home, the honest answer is: it depends – and not in the way you might think. The per-square-metre estimates circulating online are based on an average building, not a specific project.
Bioclimatic design, designed in response to a specific site, using materials selected for the local climate and proportions tailored to the orientation and light, involves a design process that shapes the final quality long before construction begins.
Beyond the price per square metre
The cost of a contemporary architectural project is broken down into distinct categories: the building envelope — structure, energy performance, insulation, windows and doors, and integrated systems; the finishes and interior fit-out, ranging from wall and floor coverings to lighting systems and bespoke furniture; and the design of the outdoor spaces, which, in site-specific architecture, is never a secondary consideration.
In addition to these are the professional fees for design, site supervision, structural engineering and services engineering.
Building well comes at a cost. But building without rigorous planning costs even more, in terms of compromised quality and subsequent remedial work.
How we structure project costs
Cost transparency is not just a formality: it is an integral part of the design process. Right from the start of the project, we break down the cost estimate into distinct, quantifiable components that can be discussed, reviewed and updated as the project progresses.
01
Building envelope
Building envelope, perimeter enclosures, roof, and services. In a sustainable and bioclimatic architectural project, this category encompasses the choices that determine the building’s long-term thermal performance — high-performance insulation, highly airtight windows and doors, ventilation systems with heat recovery, and the integration of renewable energy sources.
02
Finishes
Interior spaces: flooring, wall coverings, bathrooms, solar shading devices, lighting. There is a wide range of options, depending on the client’s objectives and the level of detail required.
03
Exteriors
The design of outdoor spaces. Within an integrated approach to architecture, the relationship between the building and the landscape cannot be improvised: it requires the same analytical rigour as interior spaces, with attention paid to local vegetation, air flow and surface water management.
04
Remuneration
Professional fees — for final and detailed design, planning applications, artistic supervision and site management — which in Italy form an integral part of the architectural brief.
The method
The design process
Every project begins with an idea. The studio’s task is to transform this into a built space, through a process that requires methodological clarity and constant dialogue with the client.
Listening and analysis
Every project begins with a conversation. We seek to understand habits, needs, constraints and expectations. We study the site, the climate, the shadows, the views, the available materials and the regulatory framework. It is at this stage that the brief is defined: the foundation upon which the project is built.
Concept
We translate our observations into a clear direction. The concept is not an image, but a strategy: orientation, light, ventilation, thermal mass, and the relationship with the landscape. We use climate simulations and parametric modeling to test our hypotheses.
Project development
The project takes shape in detail. Floor plans, cross-sections, facades, interior layouts, and services diagrams. Every decision is assessed for durability, thermal performance and compatibility with the surroundings. Construction details, connections between elements and bespoke solutions are defined.
Authorisations
We handle the paperwork ourselves, maintaining a direct relationship with the local council’s technical departments. The planning, landscape and building approval process is an integral part of the project, not a separate formality.
Construction site and construction
The studio’s presence on site is not merely a formality: it is the moment when the design comes face to face with the physical reality. We monitor the schedule, the quality of the work and its consistency with the original objectives. We support decisions made during construction to ensure the design remains true to its original vision.
Professional fees
In Italy, fees for architectural design are no longer regulated by mandatory fee scales. This makes it all the more important for there to be clear and early communication between the practice and the client.
Remuneration structure
Our fees are calculated based on the complexity of the project, the level of service required and the scale of the project.
For new-build and renovation projects involving project management, we generally use a fee structure based on a percentage of the project cost, broken down into phases: each phase is weighted in proportion to the actual workload, with payments linked to the progress of the project.
Payment methods
For one-off consultancy work, research projects or projects with a limited scope, we agree on a fixed fee or an hourly rate before work begins.
In all cases, the fee is discussed and agreed upon before work begins. We never take on an assignment without the terms being clear to both parties.