FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
We usually meet on your site in Hermanus or nearby. We walk the plot, talk about how you want to live there and look at the views, slope and wind. We also discuss budget and timing.
Afterwards we send a written fee proposal setting out each design stage for you to review.
Fees depend on the size and type of project and the stages you need. A full service runs from sketch plans through council approval and working drawings to site inspections.
Some clients only need plans for approval and appoint the builder themselves. We set out the stages and amounts in a written proposal before design work starts.
It varies with the size of the project and how busy the Overstrand Municipality is at the time. A simple alteration can move faster than a new house, and sites in heritage areas or near the coast may need extra reviews.
We check the zoning, building lines and title deed conditions before we submit, which avoids most delays. Once plans are lodged we follow up with the council and keep you updated until approval comes through.
Yes. Many of our projects are renovations and additions to older homes and fishermen’s cottages. We start with measured drawings of the existing house, then look at what can stay.
We then plan the new layout, light and storage, and prepare the plans for council approval.
No. Our studio is in Hermanus, but we work across the Overstrand, including Onrus, Vermont, Kleinmond, Stanford and Gansbaai.
For projects further away, such as Cape Town or the Winelands, we do the first meetings by video call, then plan site visits around key stages. Call us on 028 555 0142 to talk through your plans and where your site is.
