Block Podcast Episode 11 - Wear sunscreen - the future is brighter!

Podcast No.11 is finally hear folks.  It's been a while since we recorded the last podcast, mostly down to the fact everyone's been very busy lately - is that a good sign?  On the podcast we discuss lots of topics around the construction industry, especially looking at the current state of the property market and discussing how things are improving on a number of fronts.

BLOCK PODCAST No.11
We are joined by the usual team for the latest recording, the participants are as follows:

• Kenneth Martin, Managing Director, Block Architects 
• Evelyn Laurie, Principal, Red Marketing
• John Stobbs, Director of Operations, Sap Service UK
• Gordon White, Managing Director, fatBuzz Ltd

We've been hearing about signs of recovery in the construction industry for some time but is there now real evidence that things are improving and property is starting to move? On this podcast we hear about real construction projects that are up and running and, we chat about various government initiatives now in place to help property buyers.  We even hear that 100% mortgages are back on the scene and discuss whether or not that is a good thing.

The podcasts covers a great deal, here are some of the main things that come up in the discussion:

• The ongoing challenge of keeping up to date with changing technology
• Changes to the Building Regulations being introduced in October 2013
• The increasing need to bring in specialist consultants - even on smaller domestic projects
• The new water usage guidelines about to be introduced as part of the Building Regulation changes
• Good practice around air tightness testing
• The general public's awareness of renewables - is there a need for greater education?
• Are there too many layers of bureaucracy around government initiatives 
• 100% mortgages emerge again - is this a good thing?
• Remote and home working - is this affecting creativity and collaboration?
• Do modern houses need to be more modular and flexible to cope with the need to change as the users needs change?

We chat about all this and more in this really interesting podcast, if you would like to hear the podcast you can listen using the player below or you can subscribe (free) on iTunes.

Play the podcast here:

Download and subscribe to Block Podcast on iTunes HERE

We would also like to get some feedback from you about the podcast and suggestions for topics you would like us to cover; you can either leave them as a comment here on the blog or, on our Facebook Page.

If you have enjoyed this post or the podcast please use the Facebook, Twitter and Share buttons below to share it with your online community, there's a good chance they will find it interesting too.  Thank you.

Please also remember you can follow Block Architects on our Facebook Page by clicking here.

Scottish Planning Fees Are On The UP

From the 6th April 2013 new planning application fees will be introduced for Scottish planning applications. This marks a staggering 20% increase in fees. Now it is fair to say that many Council's have lost money from processing fees during the recession and it makes sense to try and correct the deficit however a 20% increase does seem a lot. Doesn't it?

New fees can be summarised as,

• Construction of buildings, structures or erections for use as residential accommodation – £382
• The erection of buildings -
• Where no floor space created exceeds 40 metres squared – £192
• Where the floor space created exceeds 40 metres squared but does not exceed 75 metres squared – £382
• Where the floor space created exceeds 75 metres squared – £382 for each 75 metres squared or part thereof.
• The enlargement, improvement or alteration to an existing dwelling -
• Where it relates to a single property – £192
• Where it relates to 2 or more properties – £382
• Erection of a building within the cartilage of an existing dwelling for purposes ancillary to the enjoyment of the dwelling – £192
• Erection of gates, walls or other means of enclosure – £192

If you are currently considering a construction project and would like to find out more about how these price increases might effect you then please do contact us and will endeavour to guide you.

2013 - The Writing Is In The Sand

It is with another deep intake of breath that we start of 2013. Hopefully this year we will get to enjoy some quiet time and actually walk the sandy beach ourselves. That would be nice.

The industry treated us well last year albeit there is a lack of medium to large scale projects to keep the computers hot. We leave 2012 behind with some happy memories of the new clients we have met and maintained and of course knowing that we have continued to culture and grow the relationships that we have with our existing clients. Many new build homes and small commercial projects were completed last year and others are about to start on site in January or February, weather permitting.

Most of our clients become true friends and are in regular contact months, if not years, after their projects have came to an end. We recently undertook an exercise where we considered the investment that we are making on marketing and noted that 80% of our work is from existing clients or referrals from existing clients. Isn't it interesting that in today's digital marketing age most of our clients came from other sources.

2013 sees us off to a great start with the return of Ronnie to the office, following a short departure in the last quarter due to health issues. Our restructuring in 2012, including the closure of the main office in Hamilton, in favour of remote working, has ensured that commercial viability and growth plans for 2013 and beyond are achievable and infact at the end of the last quarter these plans started to show positive business results.

Two of our key 2013 goals will be to develop even further our technical and design capacity and knowledge. We are finding that the 'regulations' are becoming even more demanding and products in the market place are also becoming much more sophisticated such that the demand on our time to produce an exemplary project is becoming ever more increasing.

With that in mind we are also looking at our time/cost ratios for each project. You may find it strange that an Architect is talking so openly about these subjects however it is important for our clients to understand that the production of a building - a finished article - is becoming more complex and in order for us to offer the best possible service, cost effectively, then the team need to have a greater handle on the time/cost issue.

So, there are a few small changes and goals being implemented in 2013 which will see us through another year all in anticipation of the banks lending again which may infact see some of our larger developer clients dusting down their old project files and reigniting the Construction Industry in 2013.

Here's hoping!

Block Podcast Episode 10 - The Changing Role of an Architect, Green Stuff and...Mince Pies!

In Podcast No.10 we revisit BIM and we discuss the changing role of an architect, some green stuff and we share some mince pies!

Joining us on the podcast are regular guests Evelyn Laurie, Principal, Red Marketing, Kenneth Martin, Managing Director, Block Architects and Gordon White, Managing Director, fatBuzz Ltd.  We also welcomed a new guest on the podcast, John Burrow, Director at Archetype Services.

We start the podcast by asking John Burrow about the current situation with the adoption of BIM systems in the architects community.  This follows on from Block Podcast No.9 when we discussed BIM from the development perspective with Prof. Bimal Kumar.

Following on from this opening chat we cover a whole range of issues in the conversation that includes the following:

• Are requests for BIM technology increasing?
• Archetype's integration of BIM technology
• Are Local Authorities requesting BIM at the tendering stage?
• Ownership - Are we any closer to a resolution of this issue?
• Is the timescale for the introduction of BIM in Local Authority tendering realistic?
• Is the role of an architect changing? And, can we learn from the targets set for high speed broadband?
• The evidence that building and construction companies are already finding savings by using BIM
• What type of practices are already using BIM?
• Does the introduction of BIM strengthen the argument for multi-discipline practices?
• How regulations, testing and certification are presenting challenges for the architect
• The increasing challenges presented by upfront planning costs
• Renewable Energy - Is the Scottish model flawed?
• Has the domestic Solar Power market collapsed?
• What are the alternative to Solar Power and why are they not being more widely explored and exploited?
• The need for greater education about energy sources and alternatives.

At the end of the podcast, the team discuss their highlights from 2012 and how social media is changing the sources for new business.  We round the whole thing off with a quick look at what to expect in 2013.

You can download Episode 10 on iTunes or, you can listen to it here on the blog:

Play the podcast here:

Download and subscribe to Block Podcast on iTunes HERE

We would also like to get some feedback from you about the podcast and suggestions for topics you would like us to cover; you can either leave them as a comment here on the blog or, on our Facebook Page.

If you have enjoyed this post or the podcast please use the Facebook, Twitter and Share buttons below to share it with your online community, there's a good chance they will find it interesting too.  Thank you.

Please also remember you can follow Block Architects on our Facebook Page by clicking here.

Block Podcast Episode 9 - Building Information Modelling (BIM) ...and all the issues explained

In Podcast No.9 we discuss Building Information Modelling.

We were fortunate enough to have Prof. Bimal Kumar, Glasgow Caledonian University, School of Engineering and the Built Environment join us to explain the Building Information Modelling.

Also joining us on the podcast are regular guests Evelyn Laurie, Principal, Red Marketing, Kenneth Martin, Managing Director, Block Architects and Gordon White, Managing Director, fatBuzz Ltd

Building Information Modelling is a hot topic but, it is still very much misunderstood, even within the construction industry.  Bimal Kumar provides a very clear explanation of BIM and how it will impact the construction industry in the future.

Bimal takes us through the four levels of BIM and highlights why the achievement of Integrated BIM (Level 3) is still some way off.  Recent legislation states, by 2016 all public sector projects must utilise Level 2 BIM procedures; we explore how feasible this is and, what needs to be put in place to enable it to happen.

There is also some confusion about the adoption of this legislation in Scotland with NHS Scotland currently claiming it does not apply to them.  Recent approaches to the Scottish Government have failed to shed light on this confusion.  Furthermore, it would appear BIM is low on the Scottish Government's agenda; we ask why this may be the case and issue a challenge to them to explain their position on Building Information Modelling.

It's  fascinating podcasts that answers lots of the questions people are asking about BIM, we strongly recommend you listen to this podcast because BIM implementation will change many aspects of the construction industry in the future.

You can download Episode 9 on iTunes or, you can listen to it here on the blog:

Play the podcast here:

Download and subscribe to Block Podcast on iTunes HERE

CONFERENCE - Building Information Modelling: The Path to 2016

Building Information Modelling (BIM): The Path to 2016 Implementation conference, which will be held on 4th October 2012 at the Hilton Grosvenor Hotel in Glasgow at a cost of £150 plus VAT.

Organised by Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU), Building Information Modelling (BIM): The Path to 2016 Implementation is a full day conference programme featuring industry and academic experts.

We would also like to get some feedback from you about the podcast and suggestions for topics you would like us to cover; you can either leave them as a comment here on the blog or, on our Facebook Page.

If you have enjoyed this post or the podcast please use the Facebook, Twitter and Share buttons below to share it with your online community, there's a good chance they will find it interesting too.  Thank you.

Please also remember you can follow Block Architects on our Facebook Page by clicking here.

The FREE Consultation

What to do about the FREE Consultation? I read an interesting Blog Article by a fellow Architect who mentioned that he did investigative works, following a free consultation, to establish the planning potential of a house.

Following his investigation, which probably took and hour or so online, the potential client decided not to purchase a property all for the right reasons.

So where does this leave the Architect? Perhaps 2 hours down for travel time and a 1hr meeting and then an hour or so of research online. This may well have amounted to £200 - £250 of his time, unpaid!

Is this right or wrong?

I know that we certainly offer a free consultation simply as a way to show our potential clients about the issues that face them if they do embark on their project but there is no doubt that this time out of the office mounts up during the course of a year. So how do we stop it?

I don't have the answer but it surely needs to be something across the industry. It needs to be a 'mechanism' which is policed from on high and ultimately sets a basic fee level for this 'free consultation' process.

Alternatively, we just charge for it and agree to spend 2-3hours with the client and maybe even provide some on site sketches and ideas allowing them to understand in more detail what is or is not possibe.

We will win some appointments this way but the fear is that we will lose more appointments that we win and we need as many appointments as possible in today's economy to secure the confidence of as many clients as we can.

Is there a right or wrong answer to this one?

Please post your thoughts below.

If you've found this post interesting please use the buttons below to share it with your online communit, there's a good chance others will find it interesting too.

We have moved office

This is just a quick post to let you all know of our change of address and telephone number

We have moved to 18 Cairnryan Crescent, Hamilton, G72 0JJ

Telephone No: 01698 824333