The Art of Bringing Designing & Building Back Together Again
This past year alone we’ve had the privilege of completing a couple of projects that really drove home the magic of the design-build approach. At Box™, we’re always championing the concept of “The Architect-Builder” — but what does that really mean?
If you’ve never built a house before (and let’s face it, most people haven’t!), it can be hard to grasp why our way of working produces better results than the typical model used in the architectural profession. So, let’s break it down.
The graphic below shows the extent to which our build team gets involved in the design process, and the design team involved in the build process. Having worked like this for a number of years and seen the benefits, it’s difficult to see why you would do it any other way!
The Way It Used to Be… and Could Be Again
Here’s the funny thing: our approach isn’t new at all. For centuries, the architect and builder were one and the same. The grand cathedrals of Europe? The simple stone cottages dotting the countryside? They were conceived and crafted by master builders who wore both hats.
But in the past few decades, there’s been a steady march towards specialisation. Nowadays, architects design in one silo, and builders execute in another. It’s efficient on paper, but in practice? It’s often a game of “He drew, they built.”
At Box, we’re bringing those roles back together, and the results speak for themselves.
Collaboration at Its Core
Take this house in Wolleys Bay as an example. Perched on a steep site, it could have easily become a budget-busting project.
Renovations: The Real Test of Teamwork
Renovations are the ultimate proving ground for the architect-builder model. Unlike new builds, they’re full of surprises. Hidden structural quirks, unexpected decay, or tricky carpentry? This beautiful home on the North Shore saw a few of them.
These challenges demand instant problem-solving. Who better to tackle them than a united design and build team? At Box, our collaborative approach ensures that issues are addressed efficiently, sensibly, and always with the client’s best interests in mind.
Back to the Future
We’re convinced that the Architect-Builder approach is the future of construction — or perhaps, a return to its roots. Today’s buildings are more complex than ever, making seamless teamwork between design and construction essential. Why operate in silos when complementary skill sets can amplify each other?
If I were starting a design practice today, I’d seriously rethink the traditional design business model. Designers and architects often gravitate towards high-end projects because it’s easier to make the finances work. But if we want architecture to be more accessible and less of an elite sport, we need to embrace models like Architect-Builder. Not only does it benefit architects and builders, but more importantly, it can deliver better value to a greater number of clients.
Designing for Life
Christopher Alexander, the renowned architect and theorist, captured the essence of this approach in ‘The Nature of Order: Book 1 – The Phenomenon of Life’. He wrote, “The split between designing and building has led to an industrial approach to construction, where life is stripped out of the buildings we create.” At Box, we’re determined to bring that life back.
We design homes for living, not for glossy magazine spreads. By eliminating the traditional tension between architect and builder, we can deliver beautiful, functional spaces more efficiently, affordably, and collaboratively. And when designers and builders share both the risks and the rewards, the end result is something truly remarkable: a home that works for the people who live in it, built by a team who worked as one to create it.
