Architectural Design, House Plans & Elevations
An elevation that was drawn before the plan was settled is a picture, not a design — and it will not survive contact with the structure.
Free site visit for Architecture
Measured survey, 3D concept and an itemised quote — at no cost.
What architecture actually involves
Plenty of elevation drawings circulate online, and they are genuinely useful for working out what you like. What they cannot do is account for your plot — its orientation, its setbacks, the local development control rules, and where the structure actually needs to go.
An elevation is the outcome of a plan. Settle the plan first — rooms, circulation, light, structure — and the elevation follows from it honestly. Do it the other way round and you end up with a facade propped onto a layout it does not suit, usually with a column in the middle of a room to make it work.
Our approach
We work plan-first. Plot survey and development control rules confirmed, then a floor plan developed with you over two or three rounds, then structural coordination, and only then the elevation in 3D. Drawings are produced to municipal submission standard where you need approval, and we coordinate with the structural consultant so that what is drawn is what can be built. For interior-only projects, the same discipline applies at a smaller scale.
Common problems we are called for
- An elevation chosen from the internet that cannot be built on the plot's setbacks
- A plan that ignores orientation, leaving the main bedroom facing west in a hot climate
- Structural columns landing mid-room because the structure was coordinated after the layout
- Drawings that are not to municipal submission standard, so approval stalls
- No coordination between the architect's drawing and what the contractor actually builds
What you get from doing this properly
Plan before elevation
Layout, circulation and structure settled first, so the facade is an outcome, not a wish.
Registered architects
Drawings signed by a Council of Architecture registered architect where approval requires it.
Structurally coordinated
Columns and beams agreed with the structural consultant before the plan is frozen.
Submission-ready
Municipal submission drawings prepared to the local authority's current format.
How we run a architecture project
First consultation
Plot details, your brief, budget range and approval requirements — at no cost.
Site and rules check
Plot measured, setbacks, FSI and local development control rules confirmed in writing.
Floor plan development
Two to three rounds of layout, worked through with you until circulation and light are right.
Structural coordination
Column and beam positions agreed with the structural consultant against the frozen plan.
Elevation and 3D views
Facade developed from the settled plan, presented in 3D before drawings are finalised.
Working and submission drawings
Full drawing set issued, plus municipal submission drawings where approval is needed.
What goes into the specification
We name every material by type and grade in the quotation, and hand over documentation at completion. No unbranded line items.
Many projects need drawings, not an architect
If you are renovating inside an existing flat and not touching structure or the facade, you do not need an architectural appointment. A good measured drawing set and an interior layout will do the job at a fraction of the cost. We will tell you at the first consultation which of the two situations you are in, and we are happy to take on the smaller scope.
Architecture services we provide
Front Elevation Design
An elevation is the outcome of a plan. Chosen before the plan, it becomes a facade propped onto a layout it does not suit.
Read more →House Plan Design
A plan that has not been structurally coordinated will put a column somewhere you do not want one.
Read more →3D Elevation Design
A 3D view is a decision tool. It is worth the most before the drawings are frozen, not after.
Read more →What clients say
We came with an elevation we had saved from Pinterest. They explained in the first meeting why it would not sit on our plot's setbacks, then worked the plan through with us for three rounds before drawing any facade at all. The final elevation is better than what we brought.
Mahesh PatilPlot development, PanvelArchitecture — frequently asked questions
Do I need an architect or can I just buy a house plan?
If you need municipal approval, the drawings must be signed by a registered architect — a downloaded plan will not get you a sanction. If you are not seeking approval and not touching structure, a drawing set alone may be enough. The first consultation is free and we will tell you which applies to your project.
How long does a house plan take?
Plot survey to a frozen floor plan is typically three to five weeks, depending on how many rounds of revision you want. Elevation and 3D views add about two weeks. Submission drawings depend on the authority's current format and are usually another two to three weeks.
Can you design the elevation only?
We can, but we will be honest that it is the weaker approach. An elevation developed against a plan we have not worked on will need adjustment once it meets your structure. If you already have a plan you are committed to, send it across and we will tell you whether an elevation can be developed from it cleanly.
Do you handle municipal approvals?
We prepare the submission drawing set to the authority's format and coordinate with your liaison consultant. The application and the follow-up remain with a licensed liaison agent, which is how approvals work in Maharashtra — we will tell you honestly that anyone promising to guarantee an approval timeline is overselling.
What is included in the drawing set?
Dimensioned floor plans, all elevations, a minimum of two sections, door and window schedules, electrical and plumbing layouts, and a finish schedule. The structural set is coordinated separately with the structural consultant and issued alongside.
Related services
Interior Design
The design is not what blows the budget. The site conditions nobody surveyed are what blow the budget.
Read more →Home Renovation
In a 1980s Mumbai flat, the renovation budget is decided by what is behind the walls — and nobody finds that out by looking at the floor plan.
Read more →Waterproofing
Water rarely enters where the stain appears. Treat the stain and you have bought one monsoon.
Read more →Painting
Paint failure is almost never the paint. It is the surface underneath, and the number of coats that were actually applied.
Read more →Architecture across Mumbai and beyond
Every area page sets out the local building stock and the conditions that actually drive the work there.