Swift Architectural Design

Sep 16th, 2016

As a carpenter and building contractor I have to price jobs and work from them on a day to day basis. I have come across swifts drawings a few times now and each time i have had issues with the scruffy drawings and lack of detail. A few issues ive had most recently, the lack of detail on a roof plan that was supposed to have 2 valleys. 1 was supposed come beneath a dormer window. Miss measuring or no measuring at all of the existing roof meant the valley had to be replaced with a lead lined box gutter costing the customer a lot more than originally quoted. no detail in specification or drainage. A complete guess at ceiling height meant the kitchen designer had to remove all the extra tall units from the kitchen. Measuring doesn't seem to be a strong point. When i called and asked for more detail on a flat roof, i was told they didn't like to tell builders how to do there job! i just don't think swift really want to do theirs properly. I will not be working on or pricing any more jobs designed by swift architecture. I would advise anyone looking for an architect to seek out another company.
Sep 26th, 2020

Im a building contractor and currently building an extension designed by Swift Architecture. The drawings are less than basic, lack any detail and the specification is limited. Swifts knowledge and understanding of building practices seems to be limited, in fact, what has been drawn simply cannot be built. After Swift told myself and the client that we would have to redesign the roof we decided to seek advice from Building Control, who were very obliging. Swift fails to include any drainage layouts, existing or proposed. A necessity for most builds. I can only assume this was because the drainage layout was particularly tricky to work out. Structural steelwork- lacking in thought. 10 minutes spent looking at the opening and we had produced a better alternative. Plenty of incorrect measurements on the drawings and also forgot to include a cavity in one of the outside walls. There are plenty of good architects situated locally, I suggest using them instead. A few words of Wisdom from the great architect, John Ruskin- It's unwise to pay too much, but it's worse to pay too little. When you pay too much, you lose a little money - that's all. When you pay too little, you sometimes lose everything, because the thing you bought was incapable of doing the thing it was bought to do. The common law of business balance prohibits paying a little and getting a lot - it can't be done. If you deal with the lowest bidder, it is well to add something for the risk you run, and if you do that you will have enough to pay for something better.
Feb 23rd, 2020