Frequently Asked Questions

Yes—especially for anything beyond very small cosmetic changes. An architect helps you translate your ideas into a safe, buildable design, navigates building bylaws and approvals, coordinates with engineers, and protects you from costly mistakes with contractors. For projects in Karachi and other dense urban areas, careful planning and structural coordination are critical.

ZADS focuses on residential homes, apartments, commercial interiors, offices, and select retail and hospitality projects. We can support you from concept design through to construction documentation and site coordination, depending on your needs and the agreed scope.

Yes. We regularly work remotely using detailed drawings, 3D models, and video calls. For international or out-of-city clients, we typically provide concept and detailed design and then collaborate with a local architect or engineer to handle local codes, authority submissions, and on-ground approvals.

Ideally as early as possible—before you finalise a plot, lease, or contractor. Early involvement lets us optimise layout, orientation, natural light, and services, and often saves costs later by avoiding rework or poorly coordinated decisions.

Our process usually has four stages: 1. Discovery and briefing – understanding your needs, site, and budget 2. Concept design – layouts, mood, and initial 3D views 3. Design development – materials, lighting, joinery, and technical decisions 4. Documentation and coordination – detailed drawings, BOQs, and contractor coordination We agree the exact scope and deliverables with you at the start of the project.

For most projects we present one to two strong concept directions based on your brief, then include a set number of revisions (for example two to three major rounds) within the agreed fee. Additional revisions beyond that are possible at an hourly rate or an agreed extra fee, depending on the size and complexity of the changes.

We do both. For renovations and extensions we review your existing structural drawings (or arrange a site survey if needed), then propose design options that work with existing columns, beams, services, and local regulations. For new builds we help you optimise the layout and structure from the start.

Depending on the scope, we either charge a percentage of the construction cost or a fixed fee per project or package, agreed in advance. We typically take payments in milestones aligned with stages such as concept design, design development, and documentation, so you can plan cashflow clearly.

Yes. We will ask for your realistic budget during the briefing stage and design within that envelope, advising where it makes sense to invest more and where you can save. If the scope or quality level changes significantly later, we will revisit the budget and fee together so expectations stay aligned.

We usually offer a short initial call to understand your project and see if we are a good fit at no charge. More detailed concept work, site visits, or written advice are billable, and we will always confirm this with you before starting so there are no surprises.

For projects in Karachi, we can prepare architectural drawings suitable for submission and, where required, coordinate with your appointed structural engineer, town planner, or other consultants. The exact approval process depends on your jurisdiction, and we agree the required scope and responsibilities at the start.

We can provide varying levels of site involvement—from periodic site visits and online reviews to more detailed site coordination. Many clients choose us to provide design and documentation first, and then engage us for scheduled site inspections during key stages to help check that the design intent is being followed.

Both are possible. We are happy to work with your trusted contractor provided they follow our drawings and quality standards. For some project types we can recommend contractors we have worked with before; however, the contract is always directly between you and the contractor.

Timelines vary by size and complexity, but as a guide: - Concept design: around 2–4 weeks - Design development: around 4–8 weeks - Documentation: around 2–6 weeks Construction duration then depends on the scope, contractor, and site conditions. Once we understand your project, we will propose a realistic schedule.

Depending on the agreed scope, you will receive a set of drawings (plans, elevations, and sections), selected 3D views, material schedules, and, where applicable, details for joinery and lighting. For remote clients we provide digital packages that your local architect, engineer, or contractor can use to execute the design on site.