Starter Tools for Clarity.
Beginning a custom project is a big commitment, and the choices made early will shape the whole journey. To support the early stages, we offer a set of free tools. They share the processes behind our work. From shaping your brief to understanding budgets and the steps ahead.
Simple to use and free to access, these tools are designed to inform your planning and bring confidence to your ideas. Our aim is to make bespoke architecture approachable and to connect with clients who want to create thoughtful, enduring homes.
Please note: This is a new feature we are testing, so bear with us. If you find these tools useful, or would like to share feedback, we would love to hear from you. Our goal is to keep improving them so that the world of custom builds becomes accessible and transparent to more people.
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BUDGET CALCULATOR
See how size, quality, and ambition translate into a realistic ballpark budget.
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CLIENT'S JOURNEY
Step by step booklet sharing our full process, engagement options, and design approach in one clear PDF. (This information is already on our website, but the the PDF is Coming Soon)
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THE STARTER GUIDE
A set of focused questions to help early stage clients shape their ideas into a “vision document” . The first step toward a full Project Brief.
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FACE TO FACE MEET
An open conversation to discuss your ideas, answer questions, access compatibility and outline the next steps.
Step 1.
The Starter Guide Questionnaire
A comprehensive and interactive set of questions that aligns your vision, budget, and priorities. In just 30 minutes you can create a clear “vision document”. The first step toward a definitive Project Brief.
Step 2.
Budget Calculator
Enter your budget and see how it divides across construction, design, approvals, fees, and contingency. This is a guide only intended to illustrate how design fees compare. From traditional structures to the fixed concept design fees we offer.
| Budget breakdown & fees | Traditional Architect | Foundation Design | Vision Design | Holistic Design |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BUILD COSTS | € — | € — | € — | € — |
| Preliminaries (9%) | — | — | — | — |
| Building Shell (36%) | — | — | — | — |
| Building Fit-out (19%) | — | — | — | — |
| External & Siteworks (18%) | — | — | — | — |
| Contingency (1%) | — | — | — | — |
| Builder’s Margin (17%) | — | — | — | — |
| ARCHITECTS FEES | ||||
| Stage 1: Discover (0%) | € 0 | € 0 | € 0 | € 0 |
| Stage 2: Define (0.5%) | — | — | — | — |
| Stage 3: Design (3.5%) | — | — | — | — |
| Stage 4: Document (3.5%) | — | € 0* | € 0* | € 0* |
| Stage 5: Delivery (2.5%) | — | € 0* | € 0* | € 0* |
| Architects Fees (total) | — | — | — | — |
| ESSENTIAL CONSULTANTS | ||||
| Site Survey | — | — | — | — |
| Engineer | — | — | — | — |
| Energy Assessment | — | — | — | — |
| Private Certifier | — | — | — | — |
| Quantity Surveyor | — | — | — | — |
| FEES + APPROVALS | ||||
| Development Approval | — | — | — | — |
| Building Permit | — | — | — | — |
| Variations (€1k/variation) | — | — | — | — |
| TAX (GST) | ||||
| GST (10% of budget) | — | — | — | — |
| CLIENT CONTINGENCY | ||||
| Client contingency | — | — | — | — |
| GRAND TOTAL (must equal budget) | — | — | — | — |
* Fixed-fee options cover Stages 2–3. For Stages 4–5, drawing sets can go directly to a builder, or via a draftsperson with optional architect checking during documentation/delivery. Additional costs may apply depending on your path.
Step 3.
Let’s Talk
If you’re serious about moving forward with a project, we offer an obligation-free meeting to talk through your ideas, answer early questions, and outline the way forward.
Coming Soon!
Step 4.
Read “The Client’s Journey”
A downloadable PDF guidebook gives new clients a clear picture of what it’s like to work with an architect. It’s divided into two parts:
The Process:
A step-by-step outline of each project stage: Discover, Define, Design, Document, Deliver. It shows what happens when, what’s included, and how fees and engagement options fit in.Joshua Brook Approach:
The values that guide our work. Sustainability, care, and character. How we think about materials, space, and detail to create architecture that feels personal, lasting, and true to its context.