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APPROACH

Simple, energy-efficient design.

I have honed my working methods and architectural design skills over more than 20 years in practice. My approach focuses on good communication and delivering high quality buildings which perform as intended and meet the expectations of the client. I combine a practical, hands-on approach with a high level of personal attention to projects.

HELPING YOU TO VISUALISE YOUR PROJECT BEFORE IT IS BUILT

Architects traditionally communicate their ideas using 2D floor plans, elevations and sections. These are useful but it can be difficult to fully understand a design proposal using these drawings alone, particularly for clients who have never done a building project before.

As part of my architectural approach, I develop a 3D computer model in SketchUp for all my projects which allows the proposal to be viewed from any angle, inside or outside.

The software allows details such as materials and finishes to be incorporated and allows fixtures such as bathroom fittings and electrical fittings to be accurately represented as part of a fully coordinated model. It is even possible to view your project yourself using the free SketchUp Viewer app on your smartphone or tablet from the comfort of your armchair.

Often architects will charge an additional fee for this, but because this is central to my workflow for every project, this is available as standard for all projects.

Credentials

I am registered with the ARB (Architects Registration Board). In addition to Joint Chartered Membership of both the RIAS (Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland) and the RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects), I am also a part of the Passivhaus community through his membership of the Passivhaus Trust and the AECB (Association of Environment Conscious Building).

providing high quality, buildable information

I pride myself in the quality of my drawings and the clarity of the information which contractors use to make your project a reality. Experience has taught me that good quality information directly influences the quality of the end product – your building.

“Really like working with Graeme. The drawings are clear and well thought through. When we build it on site it fits together perfectly.”

Gary McKeand, GM Construction

“Graeme’s plans are great with plenty of detail.”

John McShane, John McShane Joinery

View my projects

striving for the highest standards of energy efficiency

We are in the grip of a climate emergency and energy crisis, which is why energy efficiency is a key consideration for all my projects. Building on my previous experience of delivering a number of low energy homes, I completed the Certified Passivhaus Designer course in 2022 in order to take my work to the next level.

You can find out more about Passivhaus and what it involves in the guidance section.

Guidance

Testimonials

“If you've never built a house from scratch before, our advice is to engage a local architect. We appointed Graeme in this vital role, and it was the best thing we did. Graeme brought a sense of calm and professionalism to what can be a daunting experience. We found Graeme to be approachable, flexible, and very patient. Graeme's excellent working relationships with the main contractor and local trades kept our project on budget and on time. You can't hope for better than that.”

- Rob and Anna

"For our project, we were impressed by Graeme’s attentive and efficient approach. Technically and aesthetically he is a very good designer and wears his expertise lightly.

Graeme is also an extremely good listener, chairing site meetings in a pleasant and professional manner, and taking care over our wishes and concerns at every step.

Graeme is also an excellent communicator: he regularly fed back to us with summaries and updates, and organised and stuck to our budget. He liaised with the builder and other trades, and was quick to respond to any matters arising on-site."

- Patti and Risto

"The renovation and extension of our community owned building, Heughan House, was a daunting undertaking. Our choice of Graeme as architect for the project was a decision well made. He guided us throughout the project, establishing clear lines of communication between us, him and the builder. Our project was delivered on time and on budget and we wouldn’t hesitate to work with him on future projects."

- Dorothy Anderson and Anne Williams - Auchencairn Initiative

“We approached Graeme as we needed an Architect to design an extension to our small holiday home to allow use to live there comfortably on a permanent basis. There was limited space to work with, but Graeme listened to our requirements and produced plans which completely matched our needs. We felt very much that it was a joint project, working together with Graeme, using his expertise and our ideas, which he was fully prepared to accommodate. The whole project has been a total success and we have no hesitation in fully recommending Graeme Ditchburn.”

- Anne and Peter

“From our first meeting it was obvious to us we had made a good choice. Graeme listened carefully to what we wanted to achieve. With Graeme’s advice we decided to contrast the old house with a modern looking extension and we are really happy with the result. It just works. Thanks Graeme.”

- Derek and Wendy