Good morning,
I am hoping you as a community may be able to help.
I purchased an old house with my French husband, with listed details and a protected garden. We have the patrimonial study, which is expensive yet required. We have narrowed down our architects, however, I have real concerns. They have yet to produce drawings that are at all interesting and I am worried about their nervousness regarding the ABF. We seem to be spinning in circles yet making very little progress.
In England, a house extension is an every day project, however, in France, at least in our region, I cannot find a firm that specialises. While the interior architects and designers have vast experience, finding a firm that is able to design an extension, manage and hire trades that have extension experience is proving very challenging. I fear, the cost is going to go through the roof as well, due to this.
My hope is someone in this community knows of an architectural firm that does extensions or a builder/firm who you have worked with and thrilled with the outcome.
You could always try this website to find someone. No idea if it’s any good. You could also try being more directive with your architects, if you’re doing that English vague hinting thing they probably don’t realise you aren’t pleased with what they are doing.
I know several, but not in the Ile de France. However, have you asked your ABF for any recommendations? Also you could look around your area to see if you can spot a great extension and pop a letter in their letterbox.
But Vero may well be right that you need to be more direct.
(It’s not a vague hinting thing Vero, but just like a different language if you don’t know it, you don’t understand.)
No I realize, but if you aren’t cognisant of the codes you can’t understand. In the UK it’s clear that if you say Oh by the way I’m a tiny bit unsure about XYZ it’s a massive deal, but French people need to hear ah non, on recommence, ça ne va pas du tout, ça ne correspond pas à mes attentes etc
It more a question of finding people with experience doing extensions, in the region. If anyone has used a firm for an extension, I would love to hear.
Surely your French husband speaks French ?? so let him get on with the chat between ABF et al.
some years back, ABF were very helpful sorting out details of what we could and could not do. Helps if you can identify and talk with the person who is handling your file.
They do have builders etc on their “approved” list… might be worth asking them for some suggestions.
Now that is a wonderful idea to ask the ABF for a list of approved builders in our area. My husband does all of the talking, but I do all of the research.
so let him get on with the chat between ABF et al.
