Services
We can provide any Building Design or Building services separately or as a complete package
What we can offer
You’ve found a block or house you love but now the real task begins; finding a talented designer, who also has unsurpassed building skills and who understands your vision and has the flair, dedication and knowhow needed to make your dream build reality.
Welcome to Hawksley Developments: A Building Designer with unsurpassed aptitude and competence. Phillip Hawksley will personally work with you to ensure the home you want achieves the vision you had when you chose your unique block of land or existing house and he will plan every minor detail to get the most out of your special spot in the world.
From the day-to-day details such as when you’ll be spending the most time on your deck, with how many people, or where you’ll want to hang family photos, right up to the big vision, such as where the carport will go when the kids start driving, how many bedrooms, size of the living area, how many basins in the ensuite and ergonomics of the kitchen. Following our initial interview, it will all be designed to suit your individual style and needs.
We won’t charge you for cookie cutter designs, already paid for by previous clients, a typical ploy of some designers or developers offering set floorplans and low-level finishes. Our designs are unique, to suit your particular requirements.
We also don’t just design custom houses or renovations. If you’d prefer, we can build them as well and we’ve been doing this successfully for over 40 years. If you’re thinking of making a tree or sea change or would like to renovate or extend your existing house, already in your ideal location, we would love to get to know you so we can start planning a special and unique home, built around you.
Now is always the best time to start planning your build.
Contact Phillip today: 04 1934 2244
Or continue to wander through our website for more information.
Building Design
A concept design, based on your preferences, can be produced for your approval. Once you are fully satisfied, a preliminary contract will be presented and a 3D design can be prepared. The 3D design provides a much easier way for you to imagine exactly how your completed project will look, both externally and internally. When you are happy with the final result, we will prepare detail designs and other regulatory requirements.
Consultants and Approvals
Trusted consultants will be engaged to prepare any necessary regulatory designs and reports including; Surveying, Engineering design, Energy Efficiency report, Bushfire Assessment, as well as any other requirements to ensure full compliance.
All statutory forms will be prepared and submitted to the local authority for planning and building approval.
Construction
Once approvals have been received our team can commence construction. Throughout the build, any latent conditions or requested variations will be documented for your approval. Considering we can provide both the design and construction, unlike many other builders, we will not charge for any design related variations.
Once your new project reaches practical completion, if required, we will prepare a detailed punch list and hand over the site to you. At this time, we will also provide you with a comprehensive Maintenance Manual and commence a 12-month maintenance period.
We can also offer project management, consultancy or advice on any method or style of design or construction
F.A.Q.
All projects vary greatly in requirements but indications and answers to most of your questions can be provided following our initial interview.
This will depend on the size and complexities of your project, the amount of work we have at the time and availability of trades and materials.
We will provide you initially with a preliminary estimate of timeframe and, at contract stage, a more accurate Gantt Chart with expected completion date of each phase.
A design or a construction project will differ greatly to a product you can buy off the shelf for a set price. An estimate based on a square metre basis is not always accurate and can be way off the mark, depending on fixtures, fittings and finishes. Add to this the complexities in the design and the build. It will also depend on whether the site is sloping or reactive and cost is also highly dependent on the site location. We would prefer not to mislead you or your bank with a guestimate but we can provide you with an approximate informal estimate following our initial interview and an accurate quotation before going to contract.
You can naturally expect to pay more if you require a top end finish or a complex design. If you prefer something more modest in design and size then, of course, your outlay will be less expensive. Architects or building designers on a percentage basis of the total build cost are vested in up-designing your project and some builders will come in with a cheap quote and then make their money later with design related variations. Considering we typically provide both the design and the build we do not charge for design related variations.
Always undertake your due diligence and select your designer and builder based more on your needs and not just the cheapest price but, most importantly, choose someone you feel you will get on well with and can trust to make the right decisions in your best interests.
There are some excellent architects and some excellent building designers. In Tasmania, an architect must have a degree in architecture and a building designer must have a diploma in building design. An architect may have more academic experience whereas, a building designer often has more practical on-site building experience.
Before your project can proceed through the Local Authority, it must be designed by either a licensed architect or a licensed building designer. Both an architect and a building designer must be accredited and hold the relevant insurances and ‘Consumer, Building and Occupational’ license to be able to operate in Tasmania. An architect must also be registered with the ‘Board of Architects’. Whether you choose an architect or a building designer will largely depend on budget and who you believe can offer what you require but, more importantly, someone you feel most comfortable with.
The advantage of choosing us to design and build your project is that we can do both.
We can handle the entire process, working closely with you from concept to handover. The risk of disagreement between builder and designer and design related variations is also mitigated. We can more easily arrive at practical solutions in your best interest so your finished product is exactly as you imagined.
Phillip Hawksley (Hawksley Developments Pty Ltd) is licensed, through the Department of Justice Tasmania, as both a builder and a building designer. You may review this at any time on this link. https://occupationallicensing.justice.tas.gov.au/Search/onlinesearch.aspx
Licence Number CC7103
Builder – Open. Building works on all classes of buildings
(We are licensed to undertake any type of building work on all classes of buildings.)
Building Designer – Limited. Architectural design and documentation of Classes 1 and 10 buildings, and Class 2 – 9 buildings of up to 2 storeys with a maximum floor area of 2000 metres square.
We are required to undertake mandatory CPD training and hold all necessary insurances to maintain our annual licence renewal, e.g., professional indemnity insurance, contract works insurance, public liability insurance, etc.
We can forward a portfolio of over 40 written references received during the many years we have been in operation.
We also have projects in progress and are certain the clients would welcome sharing their positive experience with you.
Phillip Hawksley will personally undertake your building design. Qualified professional consultants will be engaged to complete the engineering design, surveying and other reports necessary to achieve approvals.
We employ our own carpenters. Phillip Hawksley is also a qualified carpenter.
Our sub-contract trades and suppliers are carefully selected based on project location, workmanship, cost and expertise in relevant methods.