MY WORK IN FRANCE 
The Scope of my Services
I work in all parts of France. I act as agent to English speaking clients in a wide range of matters connected with design and construction. I undertake commissions for renovations, conversions, and refurbishments as well as for new building work. I translate a client's requirements into a design, I produce construction drawings and specifications, apply for permits, and manage the building work. Personal service is fundamental to the way I work.
I am totally bilingual in French and English (French was my first language). I have an intimate knowledge of French building techniques and administrative procedures. I also have considerable experience of working in France. Therefore I am in an ideal position to respond to the wish of clients for a British architect to act on their behalf in reconciling their needs and expectations with the executive requirements of a French building project.
Although I am a British architect, I am registered to work in France. Apart from anything else, this allows me to submit building permit applications in connection with properties whose floor area exceeds 170 sqm. (currently the law in France requires that schemes whose floor area exceeds 170 sqm must be designed by an architect who is registered in France).
Why a U.K. based architect for a project in France?
The quality of the relationship between an architect and his client and of the lines of communication between them are essential ingredients to the successful outcome of an architectural project. My particular qualifications and experience put me in a better position than most of my French counterparts to have both an implicit and an explicit understanding of my English speaking clients' instructions and aspirations, and to interpret and translate them into the French context. Also, I am better able than most of my French colleagues to report matters to do with the project in France which may require not only translating but also interpreting in such a way as to be intelligible to a client used to different ways of operating.
Nowadays transport to all parts of France is rapid and efficient. My London base offers the advantage of being readily accessible to clients based in Britain. This is particularly valuable in the preliminary stages of a project when direct personal contact and clear communication are so important. It also allows easier and more direct contact to be maintained during the course of a project.
London is widely regarded as a stepping stone to Europe by many English speaking people from around the World. Therefore my London base is a useful port of call for overseas clients planning to build, restore or convert a property in France. Being bilingual I am also in an ideal position to act as their agent.
Communications with the builders, the statutory authorities and other operators in France are very easily and efficiently maintained by means of the telephone, the fax machine, and the modem, as supplements to personal visits to site. Depending on the circumstances and on the budget I sometimes work in conjunction with a local technician / cost consultant. His specialised knowledge of local costs and construction practices, and his quasi-permanent presence on site can be valuable.
Approach to Design
I believe that buildings should be simple and yet sophisticated shelters within which activities can be staged. Therefore, one of my main objectives in tackling a design problem is to distil the complexities of the brief into a simple concept. Far from being simplistic, the resulting solution presents an ordered framework within which activities can best be organised, and offering the repose necessary to best appreciate the quality of the architecture. I seek to satisfy the client's practical needs and to create a spatial environment which enriches the experience of those who use it and of those who just observe it. I tend to steer away from the relative and temporal values of style and fashion, and towards a more basic, elemental, fundamental approach. Architecturally this translates into simple forms and regular geometry and the play of natural light on the surfaces of a small number of carefully selected, crafted and assembled materials. I am not interested in the ambiguous the ephemeral and the enigmatic, approaches which have gained favour in the more ethereal circles of architectural design. In my view a wall is a wall and a staircase is a staircase.
Special heed is paid to the cultural and climatic context. The overall design and the details strive to reflect local design and building traditions and to use local materials. This is not a romantic emulation of passed values; it is the recognition and use of principles and standard practices developed refined and proven over a very long period in response to local conditions. Consequently the materials which are specified tend to emanate from renewable sources, and their process of production and means of procurement are economical in their use of energy. The design also takes account of the potential use of energy in the running of the building, and endeavours to reduce wastage. Scientific and technical advances also make a significant contribution, particularly in the fields of environmental comfort and economy of construction, and this potential is fully exploited in tandem with the traditional values.
The Execution of Projects
My concern for the aesthetic and technical qualities of the design necessitates and is matched by the interest which I have in the processes by which it is implemented. During 30 years of practice I have acquired an expertise in the fields of both building science and technology and of the good management of building projects.
Throughout the design and the building process I devote rigorous attention to the quality of the details and of the finishes, both in their conception and in their execution. I also ensure that the contractual agreements between my client and the builders are properly respected. My basic aim is to make sure that the work is carried out in accordance with the specifications, that it is completed on time, and that it does not exceed the budget.
The sequence of operations which I usually follow when I undertake a commission is as follows:
- Preliminary discussion with the client to establish his requirements, to advise on how to proceed, and to agree the scope of my services.
- Initial visit to the site to appraise the situation and identify opportunities and constraints. Do a measured survey of the existing buildings, and compile a photographic record.
- Liaison with statutory authorities (Mairie, D.D.E., etc), and with the suppliers of public services (Water company, Electricity company etc...).
- Outline proposals and costings.
- Permit application(s) (Building/Demolition Permit, Septic Tank Permit etc).
- Detailed design
- Construction drawings, schedules, and specifications.
- Invitations to contractors to present tenders. Appraisal and report to client.
- Drafting and issuing of building contract(s).
- Administration of the terms of the building contract(s) including site visits, the ironing out of problems and the issuing of interim and completion certificates.
Fees
Depending on the nature and scale of the commission my fees are charged either as a percentage of the cost of the work (7 to 12% for new work. 10 to 15% for work to existing buildings), or on a time basis. In any case the basis and the level of the fees are agreed with the client in advance.