| A significant number of people believe that they can | | | | value by creating a property that stands out, which |
| create the ideal home by adding improvements such | | | | can include unique structures like bespoke |
| as bespoke conservatories to their property. | | | | conservatories and organgeries. |
| Research by housing charity Shelter and the Royal | | | | Moreover, 51 per cent of people who said they were |
| Institute of British Architects (RIBA) revealed that | | | | not planning to use an architect felt that their project |
| the majority of homeowners were more interested | | | | was too small to warrant one. |
| in building an idyllic living environment compared to | | | | President of the RIBA Ruth Reed said that |
| simply increasing the value of their house. | | | | homeowners may want to employ the skills of an |
| According to the study, 73 per cent of homeowners | | | | architect if they are planning to create complex |
| have a specific house improvement project in mind | | | | installations such as bespoke conservatories and |
| and for 74 per cent of people their main motivation | | | | orangeries. |
| is to make the most of space and improve the look | | | | "Architects can add a huge amount to any home |
| of their property. | | | | improvement project, however big or small. Whether |
| The survey also found that installing bespoke | | | | it's knocking down a wall or creating a new |
| conservatories was the second most popular | | | | extension, only architects can give the bigger picture, |
| improvement for homeowners, which narrowly came | | | | offering design inspiration, knowledge of the latest |
| behind kitchen extensions but ahead of attic | | | | fixtures and fittings, and advice on everything from |
| conversions. | | | | planning regulations to energy efficiency," he added. |
| Shelter chief executive Campbell Robb said: "This | | | | Shelter and RIBA released the research to coincide |
| survey reveals that homeowners are almost ten | | | | with the launch of Architect in the House, a |
| times more likely to want to create a better home | | | | fundraising initiative, in which architects nationwide |
| than merely increase its value, showing that home is | | | | offer free hour-long consultations to the public in |
| so much more to people than just a financial asset." | | | | return for a donation to Shelter. |
| Furthermore, the investigation discovered that 28 per | | | | An investigation by insurance firm LV found that a |
| cent of people surveyed said they would consider | | | | worrying number of homeowners confessed to |
| using an architect to help them transform their | | | | having unwisely completed construction work on their |
| property into an ideal home. | | | | property despite not being properly qualified and |
| In addition 49 per cent agreed that architects add | | | | without professional help or guidance. |