Design supervision is the designer's control over the works – the architect or interior designer visits the site and checks that everything is built exactly to the design. They answer the contractors' questions, solve unforeseen problems on site and approve samples and details. That way mistakes are caught before they become expensive. It differs from construction supervision, which controls the legality and safety of construction.
The best design can fail in execution. The contractor puts the socket “a little further along”, the tiles are laid from the other end, the kitchen turns out 3 cm wider than the niche. Each of these small mistakes costs money and time. Design supervision is the way to turn the design into reality exactly as intended.
Design supervision is the monitoring of the works by the author of the design – the architect or interior designer. They know every detail and why it was solved in a certain way, so they are best placed to judge whether the work is right and how to solve a problem without spoiling the concept.
| Design supervision | Construction supervision | |
|---|---|---|
| Who carries it out | The designer – architect or interior designer | A licensed construction supervision company |
| What it controls | Compliance with the design – look, details, quality | Legality, safety, structure, documents |
| When it is mandatory | For buildings under the Spatial Development Act – at the client's discretion for interiors | For buildings requiring a permit, according to the category |
The number of visits depends on the scale of the renovation. In a full apartment renovation the key moments are:
More about the stages in the article Apartment renovation: the right order of stages.
For buildings that require a building permit, design supervision is mandatory under the Spatial Development Act. For an interior apartment renovation it is not mandatory, but it is strongly recommended for a full renovation, custom furniture and complex details.
“The design is a promise. Design supervision is how we keep it.” – Arch. Katerina Taneva
See in detail what is included in design supervision at DOMO and how we work from the first meeting to moving in. If you are planning a house, read also about house design.
The designer's control over the works – site visits, checking against the design and solving problems on site.
It is not mandatory for an interior renovation without structural changes, but it is strongly recommended for a full renovation.
It depends on the scale. For a full apartment renovation there are usually 6–8 visits at the key stages.
It is usually agreed separately – as a fixed fee or according to the number of visits.
Design supervision checks compliance with the design, while construction supervision checks the legality and safety of the construction.
Want the renovation to look exactly like the design? We take on the supervision too.
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