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Unlocking Excellence –
A specific process tailored to meet your project needs.

Our suite of core services offers tailored flexibility to ensure that the individual, and very specific, requirements for the creation of your home will complement the intricacies of your design programme, budget, timing, and site demands.
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Core Services.
A solid framework to enable a creative methodology. 

Whether you're wanting to create a home in the city, bush, or beach; new, add or adapt an existing home or building, or something in-between, this suite of services enables a seamless methodology to enable the dreams, design, document, and building of your new home.

Concept Design

Concept Design – Predesign

Research and information gathering of site, site context, and controls which will affect the design, timing, or other controls.

Analysis of project brief.
Analysis of project site.
Analysis of statutory overlays.

Concept Design – Design

Briefing, liaison and coordination of preliminary consultant(s) input.

The Concept Design.

Deliverables.

Return brief.
Program analysis.
Site analysis.
Budget analysis.
Primary project strategies.
Project concepts of site and program.

 

Developed Design.

Test and develop the approved Concept Design into a more comprehensive level of investigation, design detail, scale and representation.

Design consideration of form, structure, and construction systems and technology.

Liaison with, and coordination of, relevant consultants.

Deliverables.

Plans, preliminary sections, and elevations at scale.
Preliminary site layout.
Preliminary interior layout.
Preliminary selection of exterior materials and colours.

Town Planning Application.

Preparation of drawings, reports, and consultant input required for Town Planning Application (VIC) or Development Application (NSW).

Depending on the project site and your project requirements, this stage may include Report and Consent application process.

Liaison with, and coordination of, relevant consultants for this stage and application(s).

Deliverables.

Drawings required for town planning application (or R and C application).
Liaison with consultants.

Design Documentation.

Test and develop the approved Design Development stage into a comprehensive design resolution, including creation and coordination of construction drawings, construction details, kitchen and wet areas interior design, drawn at scale.

Comprehensive specifications and schedules of fittings, fixtures, materials and colours. 

Liaison with, and coordination of, relevant consultants for project documentation.

Deliverables.

Plans, sections, elevations and details.
Interior design plans, internal elevations of kitchen and wet areas.
Selection of primary materials and colours.
Coordination and collation of schedules to summarise selections of primary fittings, fixtures, materials and colours.

Builder Selection.

Prepare project design documentation for pricing.

Respond to any questions arising from tenderers.

Assess, evaluate, and report on tenders received at the close of the tender period.

Deliverables.

Tender report.

Contract Administration.

Contract signing between owner and builder (contractor).

Organise and attend regular progress meetings.

Respond to any questions arising from site conditions, contract documents, or client.

Monitor conformance with the agreed project documentation scope of work.

Assess and verify any variations from the agreed quality, and any variations of cost or time.

Deliverables.

Administration of the Building Contract between the owner and selected builder (Contractor).

Formal communications provided to contractor and owner during the construction period, including:

  • Architects Instructions.
  • Progress certificates.
  • Cost or time variation certificates.

“Cathi and her team were incredibly organised, professional, strategic, and considered all details.

They had great vision for our renovation project.

Cathi guided us through ideas that we would never have thought of ourselves (and are now delighted with!).”

Linda.
Brunswick West, VIC.

"Cathi put some concepts together for us 20+ years ago for a rural site that we wanted to build a family home on. Cathi’s passive solar design made the most of the north facing aspect and wedge-shaped block.

The resulting home has been a delight to live in and we could not imagine living anywhere else. This home is part of who we are, and we have evolved together over the years.

The house is a testament to how well Cathi was able to understand and interpret our needs…"

Phil.
Koroit, VIC.

“We have collaborated with Cathi Colla Architects on a number of projects.

We have found Cathi and her team considers all aspects of the design – from idea, to design, through to construction.

With clear communication, and a willingness to sift through ideas before they become problems makes our job easy.”

Angus.
Site Foreman.

Sometimes a Project Sits Beyond the Norm, or Isn’t Yet Fully Formed.

Occasionally core services don’t quite fully fit the needs of a client or project scope. Sometimes a project’s requirements are not quite fully formed, are misaligned, or need rationalising for funding. And sometimes, there’s simply more information needed before a project takes off.

That’s why we provide additional services, so that any further information, alignment or other circumstances can be achieved.

Explore our non-core services HERE.

Feasibility Study.

A typical study will review yield (what fits the site and its planning envelope), versus how much it will cost.

It’s aim is to understand the economic viability of a particular project brief and site parameters, ultimately to verify whether an achievable outcome is feasible.

Record Documents.

Any project that requires alterations to an existing building, will require a  measure up, photographic survey, and drafting of the building(s) and site to create “Record Documents”.

This process is essential to understand scale, feature, conditions and services before any design can begin.

Passivhaus.

Enjoy the benefits of a comfortable, quiet, healthy, conditioned home or other building type.

This innovative approach means that you’ll waste less energy, allowing you to live, love, and play happily and more healthily.

Contact.

If you're looking for an architect to help with your project, this form is the best way to reach us.

Contact us here...

"Cathi put some concepts together for us 20+ years ago for a rural site that we wanted to build a family home on. Cathi’s passive solar design made the most of the north facing aspect and wedge-shaped block.

The resulting home has been a delight to live in and we could not imagine living anywhere else. This home is part of who we are, and we have evolved together over the years. The house is a testament to how well Cathi was able to understand and interpret our needs…"

Phil, Koroit, VIC.
New Home, country Victoria.

“I could see Cathi understood where we were at.

I knew how I wanted it to function but I didn’t know how I wanted it to look, or how it could look.

That is where Cathi came in.”

Donna, Thornbury
Sunseeker

“We could not have been more pleased with the end result of our renovation designed by Cathi Colla Architects. It achieved all our goals within our limited budget, giving us greater indoor space, bringing much more light into our home and creating spacious outdoor living area.

The renovation has significantly increased the potential sale value of our home by much more than it cost us (to build). Cathi introduced us to an excellent builder who was easy to work with, and managed the project exactly according to the estimated time line.

We have no hesitation in recommending Cathi Colla Architects to others planning to renovate their homes.”

Linda, West Brunswick
Existing Home Renovations + Extensions, West Brunswick, VIC.

“It was during construction that their (Cathi Colla Architects) value shone through for me.

I remember the first site meeting. They were asking questions that I would never have dreamed of asking at the time. They were able to nip a couple of issues in the bud – issues that would have become crises had they not been worked through early.

They dealt with the issues in a calm and constructive manner with the builder.”

Ciara, Brunswick East
Light Source, Brunswick East, VIC.

“Thank you for your professionalism, dedication, decisiveness, and committed nature to which you conducted your role as a superintendent on this project.

Having now completed a few projects, it is becoming easier to recognise the architects who can combine their attention to detail, creativeness, and architectural style with a practical approach to building.

I would most definitely be happy to work with you again in the future..”

Angus (Project Coordinator), Richmond
Existing Home Renovations + Extensions, Brunswick East

This project displays a thorough understanding of the aesthetic and functional subtleties of residential space, and skilfully revitalises this prosaic mid century suburban house.

It manipulates outlook, function and circulation to create a sophisticated contemporary dwelling.”

Jury Comments, Architeam Awards, 2011
Architeam Award – Alterations and Additions to Existing Home, Thornbury, VIC

“I would like to take this opportunity to express both the City of Melbourne’s, and my, appreciation of the effort that your company expended, and the fine architectural result, that has been achieved. I have received nothing but glowing reports on all aspects of the project.

I would like to personally thank Cathi Colla for her involvement, and her assertive point of view, in endeavouring to achieve the results of which she had asked, and we would expect. She was, at all times courteous, and a pleasure with whom to work.”

James A. Jackson, City Of Melbourne (City Projects Division)
Melbourne Tianjin Gardens, Melbourne, Victoria (with Williams Boag Architects)

“When we sat down with Cathi and went through the scheme I was really impressed.

Cathi had listened to our requirements, addressed them, and came up with some really interesting ideas for our apartment. I was impressed with Cathi’s attention to detail and professionalism.

The work she did exceeded my expectations.”

Don, Toorak
Existing Apartment Alterations, Toorak, Victoria

“Thank you Cathi, you were brilliant! After three years of no direction, finally we have a professional.
Thank you for an excellent presentation and clear ideas.”

BH and MD, Owners Corporation (Clifton Hill)
Re-Clad 12 Dwellings, Town Houses, Clifton Hill, VIC

“We found that the services you provided far exceeded our expectations.
We especially appreciated the time and effort you put into understanding our needs, and clarifying the brief. This was very much appreciated, given that we are living on the other side of the world.”

Bernadette H., Vancouver
Existing House + Site Appraisal, North Sydney, NSW
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