Modern public building planning
The planning and construction of a quality public building at the appropriate standard is a complex task that requires carefully selected specialists and a team that works together efficiently and demands high standards in all fields.
But what is apublic building precisely?
Public buildings are those buildings that fulfil community functions; their main characteristic is serving society.
Such buildings include:
- commercial buildings (markets, shopping centres)
- catering facilities (hotels, restaurants)
- administrative buildings (offices)
- education buildings (day-care centres, kindergartens, schools)
- cultural buildings (theatres, libraries, cinemas)
- healthcare facilities (hospitals)
- sports facilities
Planning a modern public building is a serious, complex task involving lots of work and must be a thoroughly thought-through process.
Green public buildings
Apart from taking the client’s requirements into consideration, we find it especially important for the buildings we design to represent sustainable, environmentally oriented architecture with a well-reasoned, coherent and clear design.
We devote great attention to energy-efficiency, the creation of a healthy living space as well as low operation costs.
A fashionable concept used today in connection with public buildings is covered by the expressionGreen building, in which the word “green” does not refer to the plants in the building and its environment, but instead refers to the building being environmentally friendly.
The expectations about Hungarian building energy regulations (energy efficiency) and the well-known passive houses include the reduction and minimisation of energy consumption during the operation of the building.
Here, however, the purpose is to consume the smallest possible amount of the earth’s resources during the entire lifecycle of the building, i.e. the excavation, manufacture of building materials, planning, construction, use, operation, as well as demolition and the disposal of the construction-demolition waste.
Primary aspects when planning a ‘green’ public building:
- energy efficiency: reduction of the use of heating and air-conditioning with natural instruments, use of the sun and the wind
- protection of natural resources: rational use of resources through the planning and construction of the building and through the selection of building materials
- back to nature: emphasis on harmony and integration with the environment
Several countries have set up various green building classifications. The classification systems most commonly used in Hungary include LEED, BREEAM, DGNB and EU-Green Building:
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a green building assessment system introduced in the United States of America in 1998 and is now internationally recognised.
New or even existing buildings may be graded in various categories and on the basis of the number of points awarded the project may be classed as Certified, Silver, Gold or Platinum.
BREEAM (Building Research Establishment (BRE) Environmental Assessment Method) is the world’s fits environment-conscious building classification system, set up in the United Kingdom. The classification consists of two parts; first, the building is classified during planning, then after the construction work has been completed.
Classification may be: pass, good, very good, excellent, outstanding.
DGNB (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Nachhaltiges Bauen) is the classification system of the German Sustainable Building Association, which is one of the youngest, launched in 2009; this, it is not so widely used in Central Eastern Europe. It is well thought through and is based on the DIN German standards. Here bronze, silver and gold grades can be achieved.
EU-Green Building classification was created by the European Union and is a much more flexible and less strict requirement system than those listed above.
We work with excellent engineering specialists and attested specialist companies. In all cases, we examine the feasibility of the use of renewable energy and endeavour to use innovative technologies and quality building materials.
The acquisition of any green classification may make the given public building much more attractive on the property market for investors, owners or tenants.
Comprehensive planning, guaranteed quality
It is both in the client’s and our interest for our carefully drawn up plans to result in the quality buildings that were conceived on the plan sheets. In the interest of this our office follows all the phases of the planning and construction of the house, starting from the selection of a suitable plot to the handing over of the keys:
- we undertake the planning of the house as general planner so ensuring suitable collaboration between the statics engineer, the electrical and building engineering specialists and the landscape designer,
- we perform the selection of the appropriate building contractor,
- we select the appropriate technical inspector who guarantees your interests and quality.
Only with this comprehensive service are we able to ensure a high level of quality.
Relying on our wide experience, we offer the planning of the most varied of contemporary public buildings, including:
- shopping centres,
- markets,
- office buildings,
- authority offices, local authority buildings,
- hotels,
- schools,
- sports centres,
- museums,
- health centres.
Design tasks, services
Plot selection
Optimally, the planning of a public building starts with the selection of the plot. Our services include consultation before purchasing a plot, during which we assist you in selecting a construction plot that fits in best with your ideas.
Whether you are already the owner of a plot of land, or perhaps you are interested in a specific plot, we draw up a detailed survey, which includes a capacity check, the precise mapping out of the legal environment and the regulatory indicators. In this way, we make a proposal for the most optimal and economic utilisation of the plot in accordance with the stated requirements.
Specification of the design programme
We will be glad to help you put the design programme together. After precisely determining your requirements and ideas we set up a planning programme, which is an important basis of our collaboration.
You can find the details of the planning process and the precise content of the individual planning phases here.
Concept plan
First of all, development outline plans are drawn up for the plot, these take into consideration the orientation and the environmental features, as well as the development indicators and the authority prescriptions.
By designing residential buildings we focus on efficiency, the use of the available area, energy efficiency and on performing an insolation examination (how much sunlight the building is exposed to).
At the beginning of the planning process, after the planning programme has been drawn up, we create an Concept Plan. According to the planning contract, we draw up 2-3 markedly different outlines or concepts, from which you can easily select the one you find the most suitable.
The purpose of the Concept Plan is to establish:
- the positioning of the building within the plot,
- the space connections,
- the ground plan arrangement,
- and the mass form.
Submittal of the Building Permit documentation is frequently preceded by a townscape opinion procedure the conditions of which are set down in the local building regulations. The opinion procedure enables the mayor to ensure that the buildings constructed in the settlement fit in with the local townscape.
Building Permit Pla
We carry out all the authority administration procedures. This service includes continuous communication and consultation with the competent construction authority and the different authorities.
We draw up the Building Permit Plan on the basis of the Concept Plan and in accordance with the programme agreed to with the Client, in the way and with the content prescribed by law (Government Decree No. 312/2012 [XI. 8.]), and take care of the acquisition of the Building Permit.
Tender Plan
In the case of a public building the Tender Plan serves the purpose of you being able to select the best construction contractor, while in possession of the construction permit plans.
This plan is more detailed than the construction permit plan, but not as elaborated as the construction plan. An important new element as compared to the previous planning phase is the non-priced, itemised bill of quantities, which contains precise names of items, amounts and numbers in connection with all the materials, work processes and technologies to be built into the house:
Working plan
A construction plan is also essential in the case of larger residential buildings (over 300 m2 and three building levels). We undertake to draw up the comprehensive plan documentation required for the construction work according to Government Decrees No. 191/2009 (IX.15.) and No. 322/2012. (XI. 8.). This plan covers all specialist fields and includes technical descriptions and a bill of quantities.
Architectural supervision
Our planning services may also include regular architectural supervision performed as the representative of the Developer, in the scope of which the architect collaborates with the technical supervisor to check the implementation of the architectural plans as experts, consults with the Construction Contractor about the current construction processes, and ensures the quality and professional standards expected by the Client during the construction process.
As-built documentation
After the construction is completed, the precise documentation of the finished building is compiled in order for the building to be put into use, which documentation is also submitted to the Developer. This, in practice, is a construction permit plan, the basis of which is the documentation from each specialist field provided and created by the Construction Contractor and handed over to the Architect.
Marketing plans
We are ready to draw up the marketing plans in connection with the buildings we design, including 3D architectural graphics, presentation materials and, visualisation plans aimed at the effective and spectacular presentation of the building.
With the help of professional partner companies, we can undertake to create moving picture and virtual reality presentations that satisfy every need, even in versions optimised for smartphones and tablets.
BIM model (Building Information Modeling)
“The building information model (BIM) is the physical and functional representation of the facility. The BIM model is a common information source facilitating responsible decision-making, which follows the entire lifetime of the facility, from conception to demolition.”
This, in fact, is a 3-dimensional building model that may contain the plans for all the specialist fields and each element may be given the most varied of detailed characteristics and information. Depending on its degree of detail, the model may be used for a great variety of purposes, starting from construction coordination (e.g. revealing sensitive details, geometrical conflicts, surfaces, precise calculation of amounts of materials), and for almost any purpose during utilisation and operation of a building.
Project management, implementation
We offer project management services related to property investments, including implementation and tendering, in English and German.