The nature of a floor can influence the reflection of a home.  The design and material can dictate the feeling of the room.  A typical example of this is the Wide Pine Floor which offers a country look and feel.  Do you know that having different floor levels can make a significant change to the...Read More

In Dominica and probably other places in the world there seems to be a large percentage of persons interested in living in the city despite it’s over crowdedness and noise pollution.  We boast about the natural beauty of our country Dominica but are we really enjoying it?  If you travel a bit around the country...Read More

With outdoor living gaining a lot of popularity, people all across the globe have now started constructing outdoor domestic spaces, which can be used for several purposes.  Depending upon the availability of the space, there are various types of spaces, which can be constructed.  These include porch, balcony, veranda, patio and deck.  However, people tend...Read More

Canadian architect, Etienne Gaboury, once said, “Architecture is space structured to serve man & to move him.” “To serve man” implies that architectural design creates a useful living space, while “to move him,” refers to the art of the design, which makes a particular building unique, colorful, and worthy of living inside. A trained architect...Read More

Give considerable thought to the individual or business you will hire to perform your construction or related projects. Pay particular attention to contractors offering their services at a considerably lower price – while you may save a few dollars at the time, you may end up paying a lot more over the life of the...Read More

On many properties there is valuable living space that is left under-utilized, and it’s typically found outside. Often the outside area that could be converted into a creative living space is larger than the largest space inside the home.  Maximizing the comfort of your home includes the use of available outdoor space. When someone visits...Read More

Development of urban areas often leads to degradation of natural green space and wildlife habitat and open space is being lost at an alarming rate. The addition of a green roof to an unused area on a building can help preserve the green space and is beneficial to the surrounding environment. There are also social, economic...Read More

We’ve been hearing the terms “green building” and “going green” in the realm of architecture for a while now.  Building material and equipment suppliers and construction service providers in the U.S. often boast the environmental friendliness, efficiency and economy of their products and services.  But what is green architecture really, and how does it affect...Read More

Listening skills. Architects need to listen carefully to the wants and needs of clients, since this will be the basis upon which the project will be developed.  A project is never really complete unless the customer is satisfied.   Communication skills. Architects must have excellent communication skills and be able to discuss with clients, builders,...Read More

With outdoor living gaining a lot of popularity, people all across the globe have now started constructing outdoor domestic spaces, which can be used for several purposes.  Depending on the availability of the space, there are various types of spaces, which can be constructed.   These include porch, balcony, veranda, patio and deck.  However, people...Read More

A quantity surveyor or cost estimator can keep your project on budget and avoid unpleasant surprises.   An architect draws a plan and makes initial calculations of the cost of construction (the cost plan) in reflection to the client’s budget.  However, if there is no one to keep an eye on finances, construction projects have...Read More

Steel buildings are metal structures constructed with steel for internal support as well as exterior covering. They first gained popularity in the early 20th century and have become more popular today, not only in the commercial sector but for residential buildings as well. They offer a wide range of advantages over other more commonly used...Read More

A half bathroom is a bathroom which has a sink and a toilet, but no shower or tub. Such rooms are sometimes known colloquially as “half baths” or “powder rooms.” Many larger homes include a built in half bath, typically in a public area of the home so that it is readily accessible to guests. Especially...Read More

The building materials used when building affects the extent of damage sustained by infrastructure during and after natural disasters like earthquakes, hurricanes and floods.   Concrete Reinforced concrete is one of the most practical and preferred building material in the world. Why? Because it has the ability to regulate the strength required at specific points...Read More

It is not economically viable to design an earthquake, hurricane or flood proof building which is guaranteed to resist all possible scenarios.  However, it is possible during your design and construction process to select the appropriate materials (to be discussed in next week’s article) and to incorporate a number of disaster resistant features by applying...Read More

Are you currently searching for a piece of property to build a home for you and your family? We receive many inquiries from individuals searching for flat land because the fact is that flat land is a bit easier and less costly to build on (depending on the location and design of the home to...Read More

The traditional approach by home owners to building a home is to develop an idea or plan of what they want their home to look like, then hire a contractor to execute the plan.   Building a home calls for a lot more than just that.  A significant amount of time, financial and material resources...Read More

In our previous articles: Basement Conversion Ideas Part 1 and 2 we took a look at some uses for basement space that are uncommon in Dominica. Today we look at the benefits of a space that is not found in the average Dominican home, the attic.   The attic is the space found directly below...Read More

Deciding between building a one, two or three storey home can be a difficult choice. In a previous article “7 Advantages of a Single Storey Home” we discussed a few benefits that building a single storey home can offer homeowners. Today, we look at the advantages of building with additional floors. Size: One of the...Read More

Torn between constructing a single storey and multi-storey home? Today we offer you with seven (7) advantages of remaining at ground level rather than moving up. 1. It is cheaper to build flat. Fewer materials are used when building a single storey home compared to one with additional floors. Labor costs and professional fees are...Read More