The Ultimate Brief (more than high performance underwear)

Although this may sound like a premium pair of underwear, the Ultimate Brief is our client questionnaire. And it goes deep! It transcends the mundane questions about the desired number of bedrooms, bathrooms, and living spaces. We recommend that our clients turn their phone onto aeroplane mode, pour themselves a glass of something cold and delicious and get ready to enter the zone as we take them through 82 thought-provoking questions. The Ultimate brief is thoughtfully filtered into 7 comprehensive topics known as the 7 P's: People, Purpose, Practicality, Place, Performance, Price, and Pride.

People

To enable us to design a home that suits all members of your family, both now and into the future, we need to take into account their personal traits, hobbies & interests, how they work, rest and play. We want to know about your 4 legged mates and if there’s a twinkle in your eye, we need to know that too.

Purpose

Everybody has a purpose. We would love to hear about yours. Please consider what you need today, anticipate what you might need tomorrow, and consider the legacy of your home.

Practicality

We can all get swept up in the design process, however there is nothing more frustrating than an impractical home. It can be a little dry, but we initiate discussions early on to grasp a comprehensive understanding of your household's practical considerations. We examine how you move through the space, how it is organised, and the practical requirements for each area.

Place

We would love to understand a little more info about your location and what you love about your community, plus discuss the site including the existing building and how you integrate with the outdoor spaces.

Performance

We’re going to ask a few questions that relate to your expectations, which in turn sets a performance criteria from which we will develop a construction brief. Our buildings are designed to be High Performance homes as a minimum. With regards to Passivhaus, some clients strive for certification while others find comfort in knowing their homes meet the Passivhaus standard without the shiny plaque on the wall.

Price

Our industry is fraught with projects that never got off the ground because the budget was not fully understood or respected, especially in this current market. We believe in having this discussion openly and early to avoid wasting your time and money. We take clients' financial circumstances super seriously.

You can read about the 8 factors that influence project cost HERE.

Pride

Creating a new home gives homeowners a great sense of pride. We need to know what an ideal outcome would look like, allowing us to incorporate those elements into the design.

Follow our proven methodology, trust in the process, and your house will fulfil your purpose whilst meeting your immediate needs without compromising the needs of future generations.