The Australian capital city of Melbourne is a renowned for its architecture with an accumulation of buildings dating from the early years of European settlement through to modern day. This juxtaposition of old and new has helped give the city a reputation for its eclectic nature.
Building Design is an area of architectural study that encompasses all aspects of planning and designing a building including its layout, structural elements, materials, finishes, equipment, fixtures and fittings. It is an extremely broad field that can be studied through a number of pathways, such as through a Certificate course through TAFE or a Bachelor degree at a university.
A Building Designer is a member of the building industry who is responsible for planning and designing a building from its concept stage through to completion, ensuring that all the components work in conjunction with one another. The career options for a Building Designer are varied, and can include working in both residential and commercial projects.
In Australia, a Diploma of Building Design is the minimum qualification needed to work as a Building Designer, and this course takes between 18 months and 3 years depending on the institution. This course includes a range of units, such as drafting and design, which can be taken in addition to classroom learning or purely online.
You can also obtain a Graduate Certificate of Building Design through TAFE or RTO, which will take around 2 years to complete and will allow you to become a Registered Architect. A Graduate Certificate in Building Design is a good option for those looking to pursue a career in the construction industry without having to do an extra degree, and you can gain valuable practical experience with this degree.
This is the stage of the project when the design is developed and all the key components of the building are identified. At this stage, the design should be sufficient to be submitted for statutory approvals such as building regulations approval and planning permission.
The design should include drawings and schedules of all the main components of the building as well as any special details that require specialist input or early choice of manufacturer. SI Designs specifications, including a schedule of finishes, Building Design ,Residential Building doors, Commercial Fitout and ironmongery, sanitary fittings, room numbers and signage.
It is also necessary to develop and define the construction process for the entire project, with an outline of phases if the building is to be phased. This can include a breakdown of the project into stages, such as the construction stage and a handover stage to a contractor, as well as specifying all the services that will be required, such as electricity and water supply, gas, sewerage, waste management and drainage.
A SI Designs must be able to understand and interpret the client’s brief, as well as being able to explain their own ideas in an appropriate way for the project. They are also accountable for delivering a high quality finished product that meets all requirements.