From Brief to Built — How the Process Actually Works
Most clients have never run a building project and do not know what happens between “I want to build” and a finished building. The good news: a real architectural practice moves through defined, approvable stages, so you always know where the project is, what you are approving, and what it costs. This guide walks through those stages as they work in Ghana.
A registered, process-led practice since 1984. Book a design consultation: +233 23 063 0038.
Work Stages — RIBA-Style, Adapted to Ghana
The process follows RIBA-style work stages adapted to Ghana, so the project moves in clear steps. At each gate you see and approve the work before the next begins.
Stage 1 — Brief & Feasibility
We agree what you want, read the site, and test what the budget can realistically deliver — the plot, the orientation, the regulations, and the constraints. For diaspora clients this happens by video call. This stage sets the scope, and so the basis of the fee.
You approve: the brief and the feasibility direction.
Stage 2 — Concept Design
We develop concept options — the spatial idea, the form, and the African-identity language — so you can see and shape the building before it is detailed. This is where the building first becomes real to you.
You approve: the concept you want carried forward.
Stage 3 — Developed Design
We develop the chosen concept with the engineer — layouts, structure, materials — into a coordinated design ready to be drawn for permit and construction. Registered engineering input (GhIE) comes in here where the project needs it.
You approve: the developed design before it is documented.
Stage 4 — Permit Drawings
We prepare the drawings for the building permit, submitted to the District Assembly with a Lands Commission-approved site plan, so the project is approvable and construction can lawfully begin. See The Building Permit and Drawings Process.
You approve: the permit submission.
Stage 5 — Construction Documentation
We produce the detailed drawings and specifications a contractor builds and prices from — the document set a quantity surveyor measures into a Bill of Quantities (BoQ). This is the set that turns a design into an accurate price and a real building.
You approve: the documentation, and the resulting BoQ.
Stage 6 — Construction
The building is built — by your own contractor with our site reviews, or delivered by us as a design-build commission under one accountable team. See Architectural & Construction Integration.
You see: progress against the documented design, with reporting.
Where the Fee and the Building Cost Fit
Two separate numbers run alongside the process:
| What it is | When it’s set | |
|---|---|---|
| Architect’s fee | The cost of the design service | % of construction cost (GIA scale as guidance) or a staged fee, agreed at the start |
| Building cost | The cost to construct the building | A Bill of Quantities measured by a quantity surveyor once the design is set |
The architect’s fee is for the design work across stages 1–5; the building cost is a separate number produced from the construction documentation. We do not quote a flat percentage or a per-m² rate up front — the honest figure depends on the project, and we agree it with you. Read more in Architect Fees & the Design Process.
Why the Stage Gates Matter
Approving each stage before the next begins protects you in three ways:
- No surprises — you shape the building early, when changes cost nothing, not on site when they cost the most.
- A real price — the BoQ comes from documented drawings, not a guess, so the construction cost is grounded.
- Control — you always know where the project is and what you are paying for.
Designing From the Diaspora
The whole process runs remotely. We run the brief and stage reviews by video, share drawings for your approval, handle the permit, and can manage the build with progress reporting — so you design and build in Ghana from abroad without flying back and forth. See Designing a Home in Ghana From the Diaspora.
Registered & Accountable
- Works within the Architects Act 1969 (NLCD 357) and the Architects Registration Council / Ghana Institute of Architects (GIA)
- Registered engineering input (GhIE) where required; BoQ within the Ghana Institution of Surveyors (GhIS) framework
- Designs to L.I. 1630 and the Ghana Building Code (GS 1207:2018); permit drawings and EPA permitting (L.I. 1652) handled as part of the service
- Established 1984 — a real practice with a portfolio, shared on request
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the design process work, stage by stage? RIBA-style work stages adapted to Ghana: brief and feasibility, concept, developed design, permit drawings, construction documentation, then construction — each approved before the next begins.
When do I find out what the building will cost? The grounded building cost comes from a Bill of Quantities, measured by a quantity surveyor once the construction documentation is set — not from a blog estimate at the start.
Can I make changes during the process? Yes — and the earlier the better. Changes at concept stage cost little; changes on site cost the most. The stage gates are designed to capture your decisions while they are cheap.
Can the whole process run while I live abroad? Yes — video briefs and reviews, drawings shared for approval, the permit handled, and the build managed with progress reporting. See Architects in Ghana.
Talk to Us About Your Project
We will walk you through the stages as they apply to your project, so you know exactly how it will move. Book a design consultation: +233 23 063 0038.
Related Reading
- Architects in Ghana — design and design-build, end to end
- Architect Fees & the Design Process — fees and stages in depth
- Design-Build vs Traditional Procurement — choosing how to deliver
- Architectural & Construction Integration — design through to build