Stage 0 -Plan of Work

In order to fully engage with this topic of our new module, our class was split up into 8 groups of two. We went on to divide the task of researching all the stages amongst us, in order to allow more time and dedication to be focused into one topic. I was assigned to stage 0, Strategic Definition.

In this stage, a main relationship that is important all throughout the project has to be made. The client and the architect have to meet eye to eye, to carry key conversations and discussions, to ask all the right questions and to hope for all the best answers. The earlier this happens in the project, the smoother it will run.

In all aspects, the architectural realm deals with one-to-one situations on a daily basis. There will always be professional hick-ups, or unexpected situations that will need to be talked through.

In this stage, the architect will be dealing with a thorough amount of research about all the contextual aspects of the project. The construction team can only begin to work once the client’s definition of what he is expecting is defined and deemed realistic. Based on this, a Project Programme will be established. Afterward, the architect needs to think about the teams that we will need and choose to work with.

The strategic brief is also created in this stage, which explains the purpose and reasoning of this project, in accordance with the client’s wishes and expectations. It will have to be seen through a sustainable point of view as well. This aspect of building is beginning to be implemented rigorously in the industry around the world.

Therefore, even though this stage seems to be more of a thought and process situation, it is a consistent amount of work, crucial to the continuation of the project and to the good relations of the people involved in it.

I am eager to put this into practice, with our new Design Project of the semester.