Step 1: Pre-Design
Before we even sketch a line, we test if your dream is legally, technically, and environmentally possible.
➔ CAN I SKIP THIS STEP?
Some clients may choose to skip Pre-Design if they’ve already done their own groundwork. However, this stage is crucial for assessing project feasibility through studies like a Feasibility Study and a Building Code Review—skipping it can make planning mistakes almost inevitable.
Depending on the site, the Local Government may also require additional reports, such as an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) or a Fire and Life Assessment Report (FALAR).
In our lean design methodology, it’s normal to return to the Pre-Design stage—especially for EIA and FALAR—once design schemes are finalized and costed. This ensures all requirements are met while keeping your project efficient and on track.
➔ WHAT ARE THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH SKIPPING THIS STEP?
Skipping pre-design means building on shaky ground. Without proper site studies, zoning checks, and code reviews, you risk costly redesigns, permit rejections, construction delays, or even legal issues. Pre-design prevents those headaches by making sure your project starts on a solid foundation.
Feasibility Studies
Think of this as a reality check for your project. We look at your site, explore market opportunities, and see if your ideas are practical and achievable.
Doing this early helps you avoid surprises and make confident decisions.
Building Code Review
Before you build, we make sure your project follows all the rules—like building codes, zoning laws, and permit requirements. This keeps your project legal, safe, and smooth to approve.
Environmental Impact Assessment
We check how your project might affect the environment. From natural resources to local ecosystems, we assess potential risks so your design is responsible, sustainable, and compliant with environmental laws. This is a pre-requisit for an ECC (Environmental Compliance Certificate)
Fire and Life Safety Assessment Report
This is your building’s safety blueprint. Created by architects and fire safety experts, it looks at fire protection systems at three stages:
PART 1: Planning (Pre-construction)
PART 2: Building (Construction)
PART 3: Upkeep (Post-construction)
FALAR is required for permits and ensures your building is safe for everyone who uses it.
Step 2: Ideation
We co-create with you through moodboards, sketches, and schematic layouts that turn vague inspirations into clear possibilities. You’ll see how your dream space can take shape before committing to any single path.
➔ WHAT IF I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WANT YET?
That’s normal. Ideation helps you clarify your vision.
➔ DO I NEED TO DECIDE EVERYTHING HERE?
No. This stage is about exploring options, not committing.
Design Conceptualization
This is where your project’s overall design concept comes to life and sets the foundation for all subsequent schematic and technical design work.
What's Included?
Archi-Typing - The exploration of architectural styles, forms, and character for your project. It helps define the overall look and identity of your building, guiding design decisions and ensuring the style aligns with your vision and context.
Moodboarding - A visual tool that captures the style, atmosphere, and design direction of your project. It includes colors, materials, finishes, textures, and imagery to communicate the overall look and feel before actual designs are developed.
Architectural Programming - The process of identifying and documenting your project’s functional needs, lifestyle requirements, and spatial priorities. It helps guide the design concept so that layouts and spaces work intuitively for how you live, work, or use the building.
Site Analysis
Study your lot’s natural and built environment to ensure your project responds intelligently to its surroundings and avoids costly oversights. Key elements include:
• Sun Path & Shade Study – Maximize daylight and minimize heat gain.
• Prevailing Winds & Ventilation Mapping – Capture breezes for natural cooling.
• Noise & View Corridors – Protect privacy while framing the best outlooks.
• Topography & Drainage – Work with slopes and prevent water issues.
• Surrounding Context – Evaluate neighboring buildings, roads, and vegetation.
• Regulatory Overlays (Zoning / Setbacks) – Ensure early alignment with city planning rules.
Flow and Spatial Mapping
We study how people will move through and use your space, including circulation patterns, room adjacencies, and spatial relationships. This ensures your layouts are efficient, intuitive, and functional, avoiding bottlenecks or awkward transitions.
Space Management Studies
We evaluate how every area is allocated and used, both indoors and outdoors. The goal is to optimize functionality, efficiency, and adaptability so your spaces work well for your lifestyle, operations, or future changes.
Phased Financial and Construction Planning
We provide a preliminary cost analysis and outline a phased construction plan. This helps you make informed design decisions, manage your budget, and anticipate challenges before construction begins, reducing surprises and delays.
Step 3: Creation
Explore possibilities and refine your vision. We generate multiple concepts, sketch layouts, and test solutions in real time—helping you identify what works best for your space, budget, and lifestyle.
➔ WHY IS THIS NECESSARY?
Creation is where our architects take all the ideas from Ideation and transform them into tangible designs. It’s essential because it lets you see layouts, 3D models, and material concepts come together before construction, ensuring your vision is feasible and aligned with your goals.
Spatial 3D Modelling
Create 3D digital representations of your project—including exterior form and interior layouts—to illustrate overall design intent and functional flow.
• Exterior Schematic 3D Model
• Interior Schematic 3D Model
Step 4: Collaboration
Work side by side with architects, engineers, and consultants. Feedback is integrated continuously to ensure your vision aligns with practical considerations, regulatory requirements, and project goals.
➔ WHAT'S THE PURPOSE OF THIS?
Collaboration reflects our Lean Design methodology and our structured process. This is done through co-creation workshops, where your feedback is integrated continuously and working side by side with architects, engineers, and consultants ensures your vision aligns with practical, regulatory, and project objectives.
Co-Creation Workshop
A live workshop (online or in-person) where you and the architect develop ideas, layouts, and solutions together in real time. Your feedback is incorporated immediately.
Step 5: Synthesis
Combine insights from ideation, creation, and collaboration into a coherent design solution. We resolve conflicts, optimize functionality, and prepare the project for technical documentation.
➔ WHAT IS THIS EXACTLY?
Synthesis combines insights from Ideation, Creation, and Collaboration into a coherent design solution. It resolves conflicts, optimizes functionality, and prepares the project for technical documentation. This is also where you get to improve the design visualization through renderings, 3D walkthroughs, and immersive models.
Immersive Modelling
Detailed 3D models of interior and exterior spaces for design review and validation.
• Exterior Complete 3D Model
• Interior Complete 3D Model
Renderings
High-resolution, photorealistic images showing your design from multiple perspectives, ideal for presentations or marketing.
• Exterior Rendering
• Interior Rendering
3D Walkthrough
A pre-recorded animated tour through the building or space, providing a realistic sense of flow and spatial experience.
Virtual Reality
Explore your building interactively in real-time using VR devices for the most immersive experience of your space.
Scaled Models
A physical miniature of your building or site, built to scale, for presentations, design validation, and stakeholder engagement.
Step 6: Architectural/Interiors Blueprints
Develop precise architectural drawings, including plans, sections, and elevations. These blueprints provide a clear roadmap for contractors and ensure that design intent is accurately communicated.
➔ CAN I HIRE ANOTHER ARCHITECT TO DRAFT THE BLUEPRINTS?
Yes. Architectural Blueprints include detailed plans, sections, and elevations that ensure your design is accurately built. You may produce them in-house with us or through another provider, though a licensing fee applies.
Architectural Blueprints
A complete set of 2D drawings that define your building’s design for construction and regulatory approval. Typically Includes plans, elevations, sections, and details to communicate structure, form, and compliance.
• Exterior Perspective (from 3D model)
• Location Plan & Vicinity Map
• Lot Plan & Basic Site Development Plan (bSDP)
• Floor Plans, Roof Plan, Building Sections & Elevations
• Schedules of Doors & Windows
Arch Interiors Blueprints
Focused on interior spaces, these drawings guide the fit-out and styling of your home or building. They detail layouts, partitions, finishes, furniture, lighting, and built-in elements.
• Furniture Layout, Reflected Ceiling Plan, Floor Finish Plan
• Interior Sections & Elevations
• Schedules of Finishes, Kitchen & Toilet Details
Step 7: Engineering Blueprints
Integrate structural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems. Engineering blueprints guarantee that your design is safe, functional, and buildable, while adhering to local codes.
➔ WHY ARE ENGINEERING BLUEPRINTS REQUIRED?
They integrate structural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems, ensuring your design is safe, functional, buildable, and compliant with local codes.
Structural Blueprints
Prepared by a Structural Engineer, these plans show how your building will stand safely. They cover foundations, framing, beams, slabs, and other critical structural elements, ensuring compliance with the National Building Code of the Philippines.
• Foundation & Floor/Roof Framing Plans
• Structural Sections & Details
• Column & Beam Schedule, Slab Reinforcement Schedule
• Structural Calculations
Electrical Blueprints
Prepared by a Professional Electrical Engineer, these show your building’s electrical layout and capacity. Includes power distribution, lighting, panelboards, and protection systems.
• Power & Lighting Layouts, Single Line Diagram
• Schedules & Load Calculations
Plumbing and Sanitary Blueprints
Prepared by a Professional Sanitary Engineer or Master Plumber, these plans show water supply, drainage, sewer, and waste systems.
• Plumbing Layouts, Water Supply & Drainage Plans
• Isometric / Riser Diagrams
• Fixture Schedule
Mechanical Blueprints
Prepared by a Professional Mechanical Engineer, these drawings illustrate HVAC, ventilation, elevator/escalator systems, or other mechanical elements. Required only if your project includes mechanical systems.
• Mechanical Equipment Schedule, HVAC Layout, Ventilation & Exhaust Plans
• Airconditioning Layout, Load Calculations
• Elevator/Escalator Plans (if applicable)
Fire Protection Blueprints
These plans cover fire safety systems to comply with the Fire Code of the Philippines.
• Sprinkler Layout, Fire Alarm & Detection Systems
• Fire Hydrant / Hose Reel Layout, Standpipe System
• Fire Pump & Hydraulic Calculations
Auxiliary Blueprints
Specialized system drawings prepared by licensed engineers for safety, security, and connectivity.
• CCTV, Security Alarm, Smart Home Systems (lighting/automation/IoT)
• Emergency Lighting, Cable TV, LAN / Fiber Optic Data, Telephone/Intercom Layouts
Step 8: Estimates
Calculate costs with accuracy and transparency. We provide detailed budget breakdowns, material pricing, and phased cost projections to help you make informed decisions.
➔ IS THIS REQUIRED?
Estimates provide detailed, transparent cost breakdowns and phased projections. They’re essential for budgeting, preparing bid documents, and making informed decisions to avoid cost surprises.
Detailed Estimates
An overall costing of your project that consolidates labor, materials, and other expenses. Estimates serve as the foundation for bid documents and help you make informed decisions about budget allocation, phasing, and value engineering.
Bill of Materials
A detailed list of all materials required for your project, including specifications and quantities. This document is not only essential for planning and procurement but is also a requirement for building permit applications, ensuring transparency and compliance with local regulations.
Bill of Quantities
A tabulated list of all work items, with measurements and quantities for each task. The BOQ provides a precise scope of work, forms part of your building permit submission, and serves as the official basis for contractor bids and cost estimates.
Cost Optimization
Strategic recommendations to reduce expenses without compromising quality. This involves evaluating material and design options, exploring trade-offs, and identifying the most efficient solutions to deliver a project that meets both design intent and budget goals.
Supplier Sourcing
Sourcing of specialty suppliers for unique or high-end finishes. This ensures that the materials and products used in your project are sourced efficiently, meet quality standards, and match the intended design aesthetic.
Step 9: Project Management
Coordinate construction, contractors, and timelines. We oversee every stage to ensure quality, adherence to plans, and smooth execution from groundbreaking to near-completion.
➔ CAN I MANAGE MY OWN CONSTRUCTION PROJECT INSTEAD?
Yes, you can. While our Project Management services ensure quality, coordination, and smooth execution, you may oversee construction yourself. Keep in mind that doing so requires careful planning, contractor coordination, and adherence to schedules to avoid delays or cost overruns.
Timeline Management
We create and oversee a detailed project schedule, ensuring every phase progresses on time and coordinating with contractors to keep your project on track.
Preparation of Bid Documents
We compile comprehensive bid documents, including drawings, specifications, and scope of work, so contractors can provide accurate and competitive proposals.
Purchasing
We manage procurement of materials, fixtures, and finishes, ensuring quality, timely delivery, and alignment with your design vision.
Cost Control and Monitoring
Ongoing tracking of expenses to ensure the project stays within budget, with adjustments and recommendations made in real time to prevent overspending.
Remote Site Monitoring
Track progress from anywhere with regular updates, photos, and reports, keeping you informed and involved even if you’re off-site.
Project Funds Management
We manage project finances, including payments to contractors and suppliers, ensuring transparency, accountability, and smooth cash flow throughout construction.
Step 10: Styling & Handover
Finalize interiors, finishes, and furnishings. We guide styling choices, confirm everything meets design intent, and hand over a complete, move-in-ready space that reflects your vision.
➔ IS THIS NECESSARY?
Highly recommended. This step finalizes interiors, finishes, and furnishings, guiding styling choices and ensuring your space is move-in ready and fully aligned with your design vision.
Post-Construction Cleaning
Final cleaning and finishing touches to prepare your space for occupancy, including removal of construction debris and detailed surface care.
Furniture Installation, Styling & Set-up
We install furniture, décor, and finishes, style your interiors according to the design concept, and ensure every element is in place for a move-in-ready space.
Choose Your Path – Your Goals Define the Starting Point
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PLAN YOUR BUDGET
REQUEST A QUOTATIONShare your project details and requirements, and we’ll provide an estimate. Get clarity on costs and plan your next steps with confidence.
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HOW WE DO THINGS
OUR METHODOLOGYWe balance creativity with clarity—mapping processes, refining solutions, and shaping spaces that feel intuitive and intentional.
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FOR FAMILIES & INDIVIDUALS
EXPLORE LATELIER LABSWe co-create like in a design lab—modeling ideas instantly, tweaking in real time, and proving your home works before you build.
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FOR BUSINESSES
LATELIER INCUBATORWe build venture-ready spaces, modeling fast, planning phases, and shaping designs that attract investment and drive performance.
