Knowledge of design and the role of the architect
A few articles about how we design, what guides us, and what it’s like to work with our studio.
What the design process for a single-family home looks like—from the first meeting to final inspections and a photo shoot
Every project begins with a conversation. Before we put pen to paper, we want to understand how you live, what you expect from your home, and the realities of the location where it will be built. This is the starting point for everything that follows.
Preliminary work — before we start designing
The first step is a briefing —an interview with the clients—a structured conversation during which we work together to define the home’s functional program, expectations regarding the architecture and interiors, the site’s potential, and the project’s constraints. This is an active phase—we listen, ask questions, and take notes. The result is a design brief agreed upon by both parties, which serves as a roadmap for the entire process.
At the same time, we commission the preparation of a map for design purposes, geotechnical studies, extracts from the local zoning plan, and any additional expert reports that may be needed—ranging from landscape surveys to hydrological analyses. We coordinate this part on your behalf. The preliminary work typically takes two to four weeks.
Conceptual design — the house is taking shape
The conceptual design phase is the most intensive stage of our collaboration. We work dynamically—using drawings, 3D models, sketches, and mock-ups. We meet regularly, either online or in the studio, and each meeting brings us closer to a solution that is uniquely yours, rather than a generic house from a catalog or an AI-generated design.
At this stage, we determine the building’s form and volume, the functional layout of the rooms, and the design of the garden and fencing. We establish material guidelines and preliminary interior design concepts—so that the architecture and interior form a cohesive whole from the very beginning. The conceptual design phase typically lasts three to four months—though this varies greatly from project to project—and concludes with the finalization of the concept and the creation of visualizations.
Construction design — permit documentation
Based on the approved concept, we develop a multidisciplinary construction design in accordance with the requirements of building regulations—including a site development plan, architectural and structural design, and technical design. We collaborate with specialists in various fields: structural engineers, MEP contractors, and low-voltage systems specialists. We coordinate the entire process.
Once the documentation is complete, we submit an application for a building permit on your behalf and handle the entire administrative process—from liaising with the Department of Urban Planning and Architecture to responding to any requests for additional information. This stage, including the administrative procedures, takes four to five months.
Technical design — construction drawings
The final stage of preparing the design documentation is the technical design—detailed documentation necessary for the proper construction of the building. It includes drawings, descriptions, and specifications that the contractor needs on-site. We carry out this stage either concurrently with the official approval process or immediately after obtaining the building permit and before construction work begins.
Construction — we won’t leave you to handle the project on your own
Thomas Reid wrote in the 18th century: “The rules of navigation never navigated a ship. The rules of architecture never built a house." A design—even the best one—is merely a starting point. A house is built on-site, in the face of materials, weather, contractors, and hundreds of decisions that must be made on the fly. That is why we believe that handing the design over to the client without further architectural supervision does not guarantee success in the form of a finished, well-executed building.
Once the building permit has been obtained—at a time agreed upon with you, as construction can begin immediately or at a later, more opportune moment—we take on either design supervision or general contracting, depending on your needs and the arrangements made. We stay with you until the final inspections. We monitor the progress of the work, ensure compliance with the design, resolve issues before they become costly mistakes, and coordinate contractors and suppliers. We are present on-site when our presence matters.
Landscaping, gardening, and inspections
Construction concludes with final inspections. As part of our design supervision or general contracting services, we conduct final inspections before the District Building Inspector (PINB) and ensure that all documents required for legal occupancy are obtained. Prior to that, we implement the landscaping plan—garden, terrace, driveway, fencing, and plantings—so that the house and its surroundings are ready at the same time.
Finally, once the house is finished and furnished, we return one last time—with a photographer. We document every project with a professional photo shoot. This is our work, and we want it to be showcased exactly as it deserves.
The entire process—from the initial consultation to the photoshoot
A comprehensive single-family home design project—from the initial briefing to the complete set of construction documents—typically takes eight to ten months. The construction process and its duration depend on our mutual agreement. From the first meeting to the photo shoot, building a home involves several years of collaboration—it’s worth having someone by your side who cares about this project just as much as you do.
Why You Should Work with an Architect When Designing Your Home and Interiors
The question of who should design a house and its interiors arises sooner than one might think—even before choosing a lot, a contractor, or a “style.” The answer isn’t obvious, because the market offers many options: architects, interior designers, and finishing companies with in-house design departments. Each of these choices has its merits. We want to explain why, for us—and for many of our clients—combining both of these areas of expertise in one place, at the ANNA THUROW studio, has proven to be key.
Architecture, interiors, and the garden are all part of a single design, not two separate ones
A house is created as a whole—from the building’s form and facade, through the layout of the rooms, to the finishing details and choice of furniture. If these design aspects are handled by several independent individuals or firms, the boundaries between them become apparent. Different proportions, different approaches to materials, different interpretations of light. It’s not a matter of any party lacking competence—it’s a matter of lacking a common language.
From the very beginning, ANNA THUROW Architecture and Interiors has pursued these areas in parallel. Architectural design, interior design, and landscape design are developed as a single process, by the same architects, at the same time. Decisions regarding window proportions, ceiling heights, wall textures, and the selection of finishing materials are made together—not one after another.
Not every architect designs interiors—and vice versa
This is an important distinction that is rarely discussed explicitly. An architect with a building license can design a building that complies with the law, obtain a building permit, and supervise its construction. However, this does not automatically imply experience in interior design—in optimizing functional layouts, selecting finishing materials, designing custom furniture, or composing spaces on a room-by-room scale...
On the other hand, an interior designer—even a very talented one—cannot sign off on a construction plan or handle the formal building permit process on their own.
At the ANNA THUROW studio, both architects—Anna and Krzysztof—have been working in parallel in both fields for years. Anna Paszkowska-Thurow, a graduate of the Szczecin University of Technology and the Copenhagen School of Design and Technology, is a lecturer in the Department of Interior Architecture at the Academy of Art in Szczecin, in the Interior Architecture Design Studio. Her architectural diploma was awarded by the Mayor of Szczecin. Krzysztof Paszkowski-Thurow holds RIBA membership—a designation from the Royal Institute of British Architects—as well as full Polish architectural licensing and a postgraduate diploma from the Warsaw School of Economics in the management of real estate development projects. This combination is rare in the Polish architectural market.
This project is just the beginning
A design—even the best one—is a map, not a destination. A house or an interior takes shape on the construction site and during the building process, as we grapple with materials, construction decisions, and hundreds of choices that must be made at the right moment.
That is why we do not simply hand over the completed documentation to our clients. When building a house, after obtaining a building permit, we assume the role of design supervision or general contractor—depending on the needs and agreements—within the timeframe agreed upon with the client. We are present on-site during the foundation phase, the shell construction phase, the installation of woodwork, the finishing of the facade, and key stages of interior finishing. We verify that the work complies with the design, approve materials and alternative solutions, and resolve issues before they become costly mistakes.
The same applies to interiors and gardens. An interior design plan—even the most detailed one—only becomes a reality in the hands of the contractor, within a specific space, using specific materials. We manage interior projects as a project management service: we solicit bids, negotiate with contractors, oversee progress, ensure compliance with the design, and settle accounts with contractors on behalf of the Client. For gardens and landscaping, we accompany the client all the way through to final acceptance—so that the house and its surroundings are ready at the same time, as a cohesive whole. The client’s involvement at this stage is minimal—ours is maximum.
Architectural supervision is not a mere formality—it is the conscious safeguarding of architectural integrity throughout the construction process. Its purpose is to preserve proportions and compositional principles, ensure material consistency, and maintain precision at critical points where different trades intersect. The client gains the assurance that the design does not remain merely a concept, but becomes a fully realized, refined space.
Comprehensive coverage as investment protection
The decision to choose an architect who will oversee the project from the initial briefing through to the photo shoot is not merely an aesthetic consideration. It is, above all, an organizational and financial decision.
Investing in a single-family home—especially a large house or mansion—is a long-term process that requires a significant financial commitment. Any change made late in the process costs many times more than one made during the conceptual phase. Any decision made without the input of an architect who is familiar with the entire project may compromise its integrity in ways that will only become apparent after construction is complete.
Over the course of fourteen years in business, we have completed fifteen custom architectural designs for homes and residences, as well as over sixty interior design projects. Most of these have been physically realized—with our active participation in the construction and finishing process, at least in the form of design supervision, which is essential for the final quality of the space. Comprehensive architectural and interior design projects are complex, rich in detail, and interdependent. A contractor’s misinterpretation of them can undo months of design work. That is why we stay with our projects until the very end.
As a development contractor, we have completed nearly 1,800 square meters of high-end private interiors. This experience on both sides of the process—design and construction—directly translates into the quality of every subsequent project.
When is the right time to start talking to an architect?
The most common mistake is waiting too long to consult an architect—after purchasing the lot, after choosing the construction method, and sometimes even after accepting a ready-made catalog design. Each of these decisions narrows the range of possibilities.
The ideal time is before or immediately after purchasing a plot of land—before decisions are made that would be costly to change later. The earlier an architect is brought into the process, the more value they can add to the project.
Every project starts with a conversation. For inquiries regarding quotes, please contact Krzysztof.