Step by step
- Consultation and site visitI look at the plot, discuss your brief, budget and timing, and establish what the local development plan and townscape regulation allow. Only after this can I quote responsibly.
- Concept designSketches, massing studies, plan layouts and, where useful, a 3D study. The decisive questions are settled here: massing, orientation, the relationship between the main spaces. I iterate until the solution feels like yours.
- Permit or notification documentationPreparing the drawings required by the procedure, the townscape consultation, where necessary a meeting with the municipal chief architect, and submission through the ÉTDR system.
- Construction drawingsDetailed, dimensioned drawings for the builder: junctions, build-ups, schedules, plus the engineering disciplines — structure, mechanical services, electrical installation and the energy calculation.
- Support during constructionTender documentation, comparison of contractor quotes, design supervision on site, and answers to the questions that inevitably arise.
How long it takes
The ranges below are based on experience with commissions of average scale. The actual schedule goes into the contract, because site conditions and the length of the official procedure can shift it considerably.
| Stage | Typical duration | What affects it |
|---|---|---|
| Consultation and contract | 1–2 weeks | Availability for meetings, obtaining data on the plot |
| Concept design | 3–6 weeks | Number of review rounds, how settled the brief is |
| Permit / notification drawings | 4–8 weeks | Type of procedure, townscape opinion, authorities involved |
| Construction drawings | 6–12 weeks | Complexity, number of disciplines, bespoke structures |
These stages can partly overlap. What cannot be accelerated is the statutory deadline of the authority and the time needed for townscape and chief architect consultations.
What the documentation contains
The mandatory content is set by Hungarian legislation and differs by procedure type. A set of architectural drawings typically includes:
- Signature sheet and drawing register, evidencing the designer's licence.
- Site plan showing the existing and proposed situation.
- Dimensioned floor plans for each storey.
- Sections showing structural heights and the connection to the terrain.
- Elevations with materials and colours indicated.
- Technical description covering structures and regulatory compliance.
- Further items required by the procedure: street elevation, setting-out plan, energy calculation, structural and mechanical drawings.
I agree the exact scope at the start, because requirements differ for residential, agricultural and tourism buildings.
What a Balaton Uplands location changes
Much of the region is a protected landscape and appears on Hungary's tentative World Heritage list. In practice, expectations for massing, roof pitch, materials and colour are stricter than usual, and townscape review is a genuine professional filter rather than a formality.
I work with these constraints from concept stage. The resulting design is not only permittable but usually works better: massing and materials that suit the landscape tend to mean simpler structures and lower running costs.
What I need from you
- The plot's land registry number, a title deed or map extract.
- A few sentences on what you want to build and who will use it.
- Your budget and intended timeline, even approximately.
- Any existing drawings, land survey or soil investigation report.
If some of this is missing, that is not a problem — I can help obtain it. It is worth knowing that it affects the schedule.