Home Architecture Talk
is there a program or software that someone with ZERO knowledge of architecture could use to play around with?
house designs and floor plans? me and my fiancee will be building in a year or so and we want to make sure that we have an idea of our dream home and THEN we will make sure we find the right lot for it etc...is there anything out there that will let us do that? or do we just pay an architecture and tell him what we're looking for?
Public Comments
- You can download google sketchup for free here http://sketchup.google.com/download/ and play around a bit to figure out what you like... its free and you don't need much knowledge or architecture. There are also programs you can buy... look here for a list and prices http://home-design-software-review.toptenreviews.com/ but make sure you get something with a 3D component. These will probably be easier to use if sketchup doesn't give you what you want and you can download free trial versions of some. However, the course of action I would follow if I were you is... 1) Take a lot of pictures of houses you like, and note why you like them. This will help an architect learn what your personal style is. 2) Make a list of things you think are important (morning sun in the kitchen --> it should be east facing; you prefer a patio to a porch; etc) 3) Pick a size and budget. You can figure out what you will get for your money by looking at houses for sale... information on the square footage and price will give you a good idea of the size you want and what is an appropriate price for it. Then... choose one of the following methods Option 1: Hire an architect: can be more expensive/usually a better product: Visit several architects and ask to see examples of their work and pick the one you think matches you best, both on a personality basis (you will be spending a lot of time with them and they need to be able to communicate well with you to figure out what you want) and a style basis. Show him/her your photos and notes. An architect can help you pick a good site for a usually small fee or you can purchase one yourself before hand. An architect will do several phases of design, each requiring your approval to move forward, so if you don't like what they are doing, you can say so. You will end up with a beautiful home, tailored to your needs and desires, and usually a very efficient one. Some architects say that though the client has to pay the architect, they still save money because of the knowledge of the architect (the home will last longer, efficient ways to use materials, orient the house well to save money on heating, efficient layout, etc.) The architect can also help you select a builder, and will usually have knowledge on what local companies are good to work with. And because the building industry is doing poorly right now because of the economy, you may get very good rates. Option 2: Buy a book of pre-made house plans. They will not be exactly what you want, but you should be able to find something that that fits your style and list of what you want. Then you would hire a builder to build it. Problems with this are that it is not designed for your specific site, and therefore wont take advantage of natural features and orientation of sunlight, etc... And it wont be designed for specifically you. However, this should be a faster process. You can probably tell I'm a little biased... but I hope its helpful.
