Both are qualified professionals who design buildings and deliver construction projects. Architects typically follow a longer, more theory-led route and are legally protected by title. Architectural Technologists are trained with a strong focus on technical design, construction methods, building regulations, and buildability, while also providing creative, well-considered design solutions. In practice there is significant overlap, and for residential projects, extensions, and self-build homes, an Architectural Technologist can offer a balanced service that combines thoughtful design with robust technical expertise—ensuring projects are both imaginative and deliverable.

Broadly speaking, yes — both refer to a brand-new home built from scratch.

The term self build (now often called custom build) doesn’t mean you have to physically build the house yourself. In most cases, the home is constructed by professional contractors, with the homeowner leading the design and decision-making.

The key difference is control: self/custom build usually means a bespoke, client-led home, while new build often refers to developer-built housing with limited design choice.

In the early stages, we share the design journey with you, meaning we’ll keep exploring ideas and collaborating until we find a solution that feels right. With experience across a variety of styles and spatial arrangements tailored to individual lifestyles, we’re confident we’ll get there. If you’ve chosen us based on our past work, rest assured this process will lead to success.

We often hear from people who’ve started with a local designer but felt frustrated when the process didn’t meet their expectations. This is usually because the designer’s style didn’t quite match what they were looking for or because the service didn’t allow for a deep exploration of ideas. We believe it’s much more important to choose a designer who understands your vision and needs, rather than just focusing on someone local. That’s the key to a successful outcome

As we guide you through each stage, we’ll discuss and agree on the level of support that best suits your needs. This ensures that the whole process is well thought out, helping to avoid or reduce the common issues that can arise in construction projects. When it comes to the construction phase, we’ll be there to provide the right level of support, tailored specifically to your project’s unique requirements.

We understand this concern, and that’s why we regularly review costs throughout the process. This becomes especially important during the technical design stage. Our flexible approach allows us to continually assess both the design and the costs, making adjustments as needed to keep everything on track. This way, we can provide cost certainty before construction begins, giving you peace of mind.

Choosing the right designer plays a huge role in the final outcome. To feel more confident, it’s important to select someone whose design style aligns with your preferences, has a proven track record with similar projects, and operates to professional standards. If they also have solid technical knowledge and experience in the self-build sector, you’re off to a great start and you’ll likely have a much better experience as a result.

Absolutely! It’s all about getting to know you and understanding your specific needs. If you feel we’re a good fit and you like our work, we can definitely tailor our service to match what you’re looking for. Let’s have a chat about how we can adjust our process to suit your project.