Dream, plan... get an expert
— Photo: Bhagya Prakash K.
AMBIENCE THAT APPEALS: Trust the professionals with the nitty-gritty. They know how to improve the `look'.
It is the biggest Indian dream. Owning a house and bidding adieu to the tedium of moving from place to place. With financial institutions ready to lend, it is no longer a dream. But constructing a house is no child's play. The very idea of designing the house, selecting the material and seeing the project through could be quite nerve-racking.
But it can also be most exciting and rewarding experience provided one gets the right guidance. Even with a modest budget one can transform a merely beautiful house into a stunning dwelling. Proper planning is what makes all the difference.
However, the role of architects in transforming the ordinary into extraordinary doesn't seem to be fully appreciated. They are generally considered as those who `draw plans' and then charge high fee. Why not avoid them altogether and do the planning oneself?
Layout
That's what many persons going for individual houses are doing. Right from layout of the house to installation of electrical and sanitary fittings everything is done by the house owners themselves with suggestions from friends and relatives.
Masons also chip in with ideas with the result the end product often falls short of expectations.
On the other hand professional help can bring down the overall cost besides lending an aesthetic touch to the edifice. The biggest benefit is proper utilisation of space.
"Planning a house yourself is like indulging in self medication. You run the risk of spending more money and time and yet ending up with a building you don't quite like," says Sunil Kumar, deputy director, National Academy of Construction.
Architects are trained to size up a problem in a holistic way.
They plan the whole thing keeping in mind budget, building site, lifestyle of the clients and more importantly their needs and wants. But the feeling of architects being impractical and extravagant persists. "In fact by engaging the services of a professional the overall cost will come down by 10 to 15 per cent," says C. Shekar Reddy, vice president, Confederation of Real Estate Developers Association of India. When land prices have gone through the roof why not make the best use of the available space.
Elevation
It is here that a professional architect plays a role. Not an inch of space is wasted. Besides proper ventilation and cross ventilation is taken care of.
Bad planning leads to bad ventilation and this in turn adds to the power bill. Dim corridors and staircases in apartments bear this out. Also some buildings lack in appeal for want of proper elevation. This can be achieved at little extra cost, says Mr. Reddy.
Selection of material
Having several plans to choose from is the biggest advantage of engaging an architect.
Another benefit is selection of material which is an art by itself. The market offers a wide range of products and handling the nitty-gritty of it is not easy.
Guidance
An expert advice can save both money and time. "Steel costs Rs. 30,000 per tonne. Even if one tonne is saved due to proper guidance it is a big amount," points out Mr. Sunil Kumar.
As per the Architects Act, 1972 , an architect offers wide range of services like surveying site, producing drawings, advising on building regulations, selecting material, supervising work and issuing certificates, according to D.T. Vinod Kumar, president, Andhra Pradesh Chapter of Indian Institute of Architects.
And for this generally they charge 3 to 4 per cent of the estimated building cost as fee. But this amount is easily recovered by more efficient use of space and quality material. The greatest gain is getting a more liveable and attractive home. Designing a house on your own has its thrills. But don't forget the spills.
J.S. IFTHEKHAR
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