Frequently asked questions

Architects' fees in Spain are normally calculated as a percentage of the construction cost and vary with the scope commissioned: planning documentation alone does not cost the same as the full package of design, licence and construction management. For high-end private houses the percentage sits within a range we confirm in writing in the proposal, always as fixed fees per stage so you know what you are paying at each point.

It depends on the quality of finishes, the difficulty of the plot and market conditions. In practice the total is made up of construction cost, professional fees, licences and municipal taxes, utility connections and furniture. A reliable estimate is only possible after seeing the plot and defining the brief; any figure before that is indicative.

Three periods add up: design, the major works licence process and construction itself. The licence stage carries the most uncertainty because it depends on the town hall. That is why it pays to submit a complete file from the start: requests for further information are the most common source of delay.

Buildability is the maximum floor area the planning code allows on a plot, normally expressed as square metres of floor per square metre of land. Together with maximum footprint, height and setbacks it defines the possible volume. It is the first thing we check: it sets the real ceiling of the project, above any wish in the brief.

You can, but it is the most expensive mistake we see. Before signing, check the land classification, the available buildability, any constraints (easements, watercourses, protected trees, power lines) and whether the plot has all urban services connected. That preliminary report costs a tiny fraction of the purchase.

The planning set defines the architectural solution and code compliance; it is what is submitted for the licence. The construction set develops structure, services, construction details and quantities, and is the document actually used to build and to obtain contractor prices.

For major residential works, yes: a construction management team formed by the architect and the quantity surveyor is required. Without a completion certificate signed by both, the first occupation licence cannot be obtained.

Yes. A large share of our clients live outside Spain. All relevant documentation and meetings can be handled in English, and we keep a regular site reporting routine for clients who cannot visit.

It is the municipal document certifying that the finished house matches the licence granted and is fit for residential use. Without it you cannot contract permanent water and electricity supply, and the new-build deed and any later sale become complicated.

Yes, on request. We develop interiors, fitted furniture, lighting and material selection coordinated with the architectural project, which is how you avoid the usual inconsistencies between two separate teams.