Despite a growing interest in contemporary architecture in Britain, prompted by the prosperity of the last decade, there still appears to be a widespread misconception about what architects actually do. Even programmes such as Grand Designs tend to mention the architect only in passing, conveying little about how a design has come about, concentrating instead on the dramas associated with the construction process - one is sometimes left with the impression the architect is merely a technical functionary drawing up the client’s vision. An equally misleading image is of the architect as a profligate aesthete concerned only with ‘design’.

Neither of these stereotypes is accurate or helpful. The process of getting a building built is inherently complex requiring the input of a large number of individuals – even a humble extension may involve a planning officer, building control surveyor, structural engineer, party wall surveyor, contractor, tradesmen and suppliers, The architect is, first and foremost, a guide and interpreter, providing knowledge of the construction industry and a clear roadmap through the building process. He or she is also, and equally importantly, a designer. This is not just about aesthetics; it is about exploring your needs and aspirations and finding inventive ways of enhancing – or even changing – your lifestyle. Finally, the architect is a synthesiser, considering all the disparate factors at play and transforming them into a set of instructions for a builder with the aim of creating an elegant built solution to your requirements.