COSTING IN

ARCHITECTURE
Space planning 2
HOW DOES COSTING AFFECT SPACE PLANNING?

01 02 03
Affects the size Affects the Affects the
of area of a finishes systems used in
project. a project.
ARCHITECTS- CLIENTS
USUAL DILEMMA
WHEN IT COMES TO
COSTING OR BUDGET
Situation 1: “ I want to have this and that for my house,
but I only have this budget”

01 02 03
Client would House would be House would be
have an constructed but constructed on
unfinished not on desired phase by phase
house finishes basis
 Situation 2: “ I have a budget.”

01 02 03
Area could be Design would House would be
smaller than be based on the constructed on
expected project phase by phase
basis
 IMPORTANCE OF
LETTING COST BE A
FACTOR OF DESIGN
Importance of letting cost be a factor
of design

01 02 03
Client is aware Architect can Adjustments
of the possible help client in will be done
project cost meeting the during
client’s budget schematic
phase
Two types of
computation of cost:
1. Detailed estimate
2. by parametric cost
PARAMETRIC COST/
AREA METHOD
Parameter cost is the cost of a project per
area. It usually depends on the category of
finishes and the per square meter rate in
an area.
 Types of finishes

01 02 03
Rough Finish Conservative Elegant Finish
Finish
Rough finish:
a. no plastering
b. no kitchen cabinetry
c. basic quality fixtures installed
d. basic flushed door installed
e. steel casement windows installed
f. no stone cladding
g. no covered garage
h. basic plumbing fixtures installed
i. basic electrical fixtures installed
j. basic roofing material installed (G.I. corrugated roof)
Conservative finish:
a. paint finish
b. with kitchen cabinetry
c. quality fixtures installed
d. solid wooden doors installed
e. powdered coated casement windows installed
f. with stone cladding
g. with covered garage
h. quality plumbing fixtures installed
i. quality electrical fixtures installed
j. quality roofing material installed
Elegant finish:
a. textured paint finish (stucco) with accent walls and
claddings
b. high end quality kitchen cabinetry
c. high end quality fixtures installed
d. customized doors installed
e. customized windows installed
f. with stone claddings
g. with covered garage and automatic gate
h. high end quality plumbing fixtures installed
i. high end quality electrical fixtures installed
j. high end quality roofing material installed (ceramic etc.
Determining the cost using Area Method
1. Identify the total floor area of the project.
2. Identify the type of finish desired by the client.
3. Multiply the total floor area of the project to the
per square meter cost.

For example; the total floor area of a house is 128

sq m. In the location of the project the
parametric cost for each finishing are as follows :
(a) rough finish = PHP 15 000 ; (b)
conservative finish = PHP 25 000 ; (c) elegant
finish = PHP 40, 000
Determining the area based on the client’s budget
1. Identify the client’s budget range.
2. Identify the type of finish desired by the client.
3. Divide the parametric cost to the total budget in
order to get the range of the floor area.

For example; the client has PHP 5 Million

budget for his house. In the location of the
project the parametric cost for each finishing
are as follows : (a) rough finish = PHP 15
000 ; (b) conservative finish = PHP 25 000 ; (c)
elegant finish = PHP 40, 000
THE BIGGER THE BUDGET, THE QUALITY OF
MATERIALS GETS HIGHER
THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN
DESIGNING FOR A CERTAIN BUDGET
1. Having a knowledge on the basic unit cost and
classification of what materials is expensive or not.
CHB VS GLASS CHB PRICE = PHP 10 per piece (.2mx.4m)

WINDOW PRICE = PHP 4000 per square meter

THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN
DESIGNING FOR A CERTAIN BUDGET
2 .
Knowing the different construction systems and how these materials
are applied. It is not only the unit cost of a material that affects the
budget of a project; but also, the construction process, duration and
other overhead cost.
THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN
DESIGNING FOR A CERTAIN BUDGET
3. Another material implication is knowing the source of the
material, the delivery and shipping fee adds up on the costing
of the building project.
THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN
DESIGNING FOR A CERTAIN BUDGET
4.A material has a certain life span. Throughout the years it
will deteriorate due to exposure such as unfavorable weather.
Designers must pick a material that will last longer and will
give the owner less maintenance.
Familiarity to bldg. materials
Flooring Materials
Granite tiles – semi elegant – elegant
Ceramic tiles – conservative finish
Laminated flooring (for bedrooms
– semi elegant – elegant finish)
1.Familiarity to bldg. materials
Roofing Materials

Asphalt shingles – expensive than gi roof

Tile Span long span– expensive than rib type
Rib type long span- conservative
Gi corrugated roof (fixed dimension) – budget friendly
Familiarity to bldg. materials
Glass window
Upvc frame – expensive than aluminum
Upvc frame (wood print) – expensive than plain
Aluminum – conservative
Jalousie window – cost less
Casement Windows – cost less
Familiarity to bldg. materials
Glass window -For upvc and aluminum frame
Awning/ Casement – expensive than sliding
Sliding – expensive than fixed window
Fixed window – cost less
Familiarity to bldg. materials
Kitchen Counter
Marble slab – high end
Italian granite slab – for high end
China granite slab – cost less than Italian granite slab
Tiles – cost less
stainless – expensive for industrial or restaurant