Archive for the ‘Architectural Advice’ Category

Going With The Flow

Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010
It's important to let air flow through your home

It's important to let air flow through your home

Often when we talk about designing your home or renovation, we discuss the merits of making the most of natural elements. Typically the number one natural element we consider in South East Queensland home designs is that of cool summer breezes.

But how exactly do you take advantage of this form of natural cooling?

Well to better understand this, we need to understand how air-flow actually works.

Try this simple test. Take an empty milk bottle and blow into the spout. What happens? You can feel the air blowing back against your face. That is because there is already air inside the milk bottle, which forms a barrier against the air that you’re trying to blow in. Just inside the milk bottle the air will be circulating, but further towards the back of the bottle there will be very little air movement at all. (more…)

Value Only an Architect Can Add

Friday, April 23rd, 2010
Only an architect can unlock your homes true potential.

Only an architect can unlock your homes true potential.

It costs more to work with an architect than it does to work with a drafts person. In fact, it can costs more to work with Dion Seminara Architecture that it would to work with some other architects.

We’re not the cheapest; we prefer to focus on being the best and putting our energies into ensuring that our clients receive the very best product within their budgetary constraints. But for those of you who like to look straight at the bottom line when assessing quotes, are you really comparing apples with apples?
 
Have you factored in the added value of working with Dion Seminara Architecture when comparing quotes?

At Dion Seminara Architecture we add value in many ways. By added value I mean that our quote includes many benefits that other lower quotes don’t and can’t. But don’t just take my word for it; instead let’s have a look at just some of the many ways that we add value to our clients projects. (more…)

Backyard Property Developers Have the Right Idea

Friday, April 23rd, 2010
Building behind your existing home can be very profitable.

Building behind your existing home can be very profitable.

So you want to be a property developer, but don’t know where to start? Well how about in your own backyard?

Most people think that they need to purchase a separate property, or block of land, in order to become a property developer, and yet many people have the opportunity to simply build a separate dwelling on their existing house block.

And it actually makes a lot of sense to do so.

Providing your block of land is large enough, is the right zoning and it’s possible to get the relevant approvals, building something like a townhouse in your backyard can be hugely profitable, with less risk than might otherwise be the case. (more…)

Property Development: Maximising Your Profits

Thursday, April 8th, 2010

Property DevelopmentProperty development and architecture might seem unlikely bedfellows, but there are times and particular investments when the two fit together like a hand in a glove.

To fully understand the benefits of architectural design in property development, we first need to understand that there are varying kinds of property developments.

The hard core property developer looking to make a quick dollar on refurbishing units may not see a need for using an architect to design their plans. Their idea is to keep costs down and turn property over quickly. However even in these situations there are times where high quality designs will actually make them more money by adding further value to the property when it sells. (more…)

You’re not going to sign that are you?

Wednesday, March 31st, 2010

Building ContractThere are many property owners who will happily sign a standard building contract in the belief that it will offer them enough protection if anything goes wrong. But do you really know what you’re signing? Is it really offering you the protection you need?

Most of my clients have me advise them on their building contract prior to signing, and then administer the contract on their behalf. By that I mean that I ensure that the builder sticks to the terms and conditions of the contract and that the owners’ best interests are protected. (more…)

Bigger Is Not Always Better

Friday, March 19th, 2010

Small houseRecently I was at a party where a friend of a friend was talking to me about the new home they were building. She explained to me that she would have loved to use my services, but that she couldn’t because her house was only small; not the size of home that an architect would design.

This got me thinking, that perhaps there are many people out there with the same misconception. So I thought I should set the record straight.

Yes architects work on very large projects, from large family homes to commercial developments, but that’s not to say that an average sized family home, or even a smaller home, can’t benefit from the services of an architect. (more…)

The Time to Invest In Your Property Is NOW

Friday, March 12th, 2010

Take a moment to gaze into the crystal ball with me to see where the property market in Southeast Queensland is hProperty Prices Set to Riseeaded.

Currently there is a chronic undersupply of new housing in the Southeast corner. The rental market is more competitive than ever. Yet more and more people are moving to Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast. High migration coupled with the government’s attempts to restrict urban sprawl, will only lead to the housing crisis getting worse. (more…)

Connection or Isolation; the Importance of Balance

Friday, March 12th, 2010

Areas of isolation

You will often hear architects, including myself, talk about ‘connection’ when discussing home designs. But what does it mean exactly, and how does it apply to your home design?

Areas of Connection

When we discuss ‘connection’, we mean that various areas within your home should be linked in a pre-planned way. For example, in the old days houses were designed with lots of walls, doors and hallways. You passed through a door, along a hallway, then through another door and into the next room. (more…)

Granny flats

Monday, February 8th, 2010
Carefully planned granny flats can add real value to your home

Carefully planned granny flats can add real value to your home

In this day and age it has become increasingly common for extended families to live together on the one property. The savings offered to grown up siblings moving back in with their parents, or visa versa make this an attractive proposition for more and more Australians.

If you have elderly parents or in-laws who either live with you or are going to move in some time in the near future, you may like to consider the idea of a “granny flat”. Of course it could be that your grown up children are moving back in with you.

While granny flats may in fact be used for adults, guests or even teenage children, the term implies that this is living accommodation that is suitable for an elderly person, typically a parent. If this is the case, your motivation for building a granny flat may be because your elderly parents or in-laws feel unsafe living alone, or because they need assistance and don’t want to live in any type of old age home. It may also be because they don’t have the available finances to continue to live alone. (more…)

Outdoor storage solutions that don’t involve your garage

Monday, February 8th, 2010
Proper planning can avoid clutter like this

Proper planning can avoid clutter like this

As people build bigger and bigger homes on smaller blocks of land, there is less and less space for storing things we don’t want in the house, like tools, gardening equipment, and even sports equipment.

Garages are perhaps the most common storage solution. Designed for cars and other vehicles, in the absence of other storage facilities, they often become workshops and storerooms for any type of equipment ranging from lawn mowers and wheelbarrows, to golf clubs, tennis and squash racquets, even paddle skis and smaller water craft. And whilst a larger-sized garage might happily cope with your nebulous storage needs and still provide space to house a car and possible bicycles, this is far from ideal. (more…)