Frequently asked questions · CONIKA
Rendering and visualization
What is an architectural rendering?
A digital image showing how a project will look before it is built. It is not an edited photo or a drawing: it is a 3D recreation with its own light, materials and surroundings.
What is architectural visualization?
The craft of showing a project before it exists: renderings, animations and walkthroughs. It is not the decorative part of a project, it is what gets approved, sold or presented.
How much does an architectural rendering cost?
In Colombia, between COP 500,000 and COP 2,500,000 per image, depending on the project, the level of detail and the studio. The price depends less on size and more on how much judgement the image carries.
How much does CONIKA charge for a standalone rendering?
USD 125 per image, with a minimum of six. If the project is already under way with us, one extra image costs USD 100.
How long does a rendering take?
A single image usually takes 3 to 10 working days; a package or an animation, longer. Urgency can be paid for, but rushing a rendering almost always shows.
What is a rendering for?
So that someone can understand and feel a project before it is built: to sell, to present to a client, to enter a bid, or to settle the design.
What is the difference between a rendering and a physical model?
A model shows form and scale. A rendering shows the light, the materials and how the space would feel lived in. For selling, the rendering says more.
What do I need to have a rendering made?
The drawings or the model of the project, references for the style you are after, and what you will use it for. The clearer you arrive, the better it comes out.
Does a rendering look like reality?
A good one does, but its job is not to copy reality: it is to show the best real version of the project, without inventing what will not be built. Promising something that later does not exist is the fastest way to lose a client.
Why do some renderings cost more than others?
Because what you pay for is decisions: the time of day, the light, the materials and the judgement behind the image. That is what separates a generic image from one that sells.
What is a virtual walkthrough or an architectural animation?
The project in motion: a video showing how the space is walked and lived. It costs more than a still image because it takes more work, and it communicates a great deal more.
Do renderings help sell a real estate project?
Yes, and usually they are the first thing that sells it. The buyer decides in the sales room with the image, months before the project exists.
Can I use a rendering for a bid or tender?
Yes. Whoever evaluates chooses what they can picture; a clear rendering helps them understand your proposal instead of letting it go unnoticed.
What software is used to make renderings?
It depends on the stage: modelling (ArchiCAD, Revit, Rhinoceros, SketchUp), rendering (Blender, D5) and post-production (Photoshop, Premiere Pro), with AI support for textures and realism. But the software does not make the rendering, the person who knows what they are looking at does.
How do I choose a rendering company?
Judge the portfolio, not the list of services: look at whether the images differ from one another, how many revisions are included and who directs the project. Be wary of anyone promising the cheapest and the fastest at the same time.
Is 3D rendering of a house the same as an architectural rendering?
Yes. "Rendering", "3D rendering" and "3D image" are different names for the same thing: a digital recreation of the project, made before building it.
What is the difference between a rendering and a BIM model?
BIM is the model of the project with all its technical information: dimensions, materials, structure. The rendering is the final image drawn out of that model, meant to show, not to build from.
Can I order only the rendering if I already have an architect?
Yes. Visualization is handled independently: you send us your architect's drawings or model and we make the rendering without touching the design.
Do I need drawings to order a rendering?
Yes, or at least a model or a clear sketch. Without that, any rendering is an invention rather than a representation of your project.
How much does 3D modelling cost if I already have drawings but no model?
USD 250. It is the step before rendering when you only have two-dimensional drawings and need the three-dimensional model.
How many images does my project need?
It depends on the use. A house is resolved with few; a project for a sales room needs several. More images is not better; the right ones are.
Are revisions included in a rendering?
They should be, and it is worth asking before you pay. A set number of adjustments is included; changes that rewrite the project are quoted separately. It is agreed from the start.
What is the difference between exterior and interior renderings?
The exterior shows the facade and the surroundings of the project. The interior shows the spaces lived in from within. A project meant to sell almost always needs both.
What is a photorealistic rendering?
A rendering made to look like a real photograph, with the light and the materials worked out in detail. Not every rendering aims for that: some are deliberately more schematic.
Fees and pricing
How much does it cost to have an architect design my house?
With CONIKA, between COP 11 and 23 million, depending on the area. A 150 m² house starts at COP 11.2 million; a 500 m² one reaches COP 27.8 million. The Sociedad Colombiana de Arquitectos publishes an indicative fee schedule for the profession; this is ours, exact.
What is the minimum price?
USD 1,000, which covers up to 40 m². Above that, the square metre is added on.
How is the exact price calculated?
A base of USD 1,000 up to 40 m², and from there an average of USD 20 per square metre that comes down as the house grows. The calculator on the site works it out in a minute with your real area.
Why does the price per metre go down on a larger house?
Because the work does not grow at the same rate as the area. Settling the judgement behind a 200 m² house costs nearly the same as a 400 m² one; what grows is the development, not the decision.
Does that price include construction?
No. It is the design fee. The build is separate money, paid separately, and in the vast majority of projects we do not carry it out ourselves.
So how much does it cost to build the house?
We hand you the exact quantity of materials so you can get it quoted, and as a reference: in Colombia, in 2026, finishing a house runs from COP 2.4 million per m² in a basic build to over COP 4.8 million in a high-end one.
Why do you publish the price when no one else does?
Because price is the first question anyone has, and hiding it only draws out the conversation. We would rather you know if it fits before we talk.
Is the price negotiable?
No. It is published and it is the same for everyone. What changes the number is scope, not negotiation.
Is there a discount for deciding quickly?
No. Lowering the price for a fast decision would defeat the point of publishing it.
Do you charge a percentage of the construction cost?
No. We charge per square metre of design, with a base fee. A percentage of the build rewards a more expensive build, and that does not sit right with us.
How is it paid?
50% to start and the rest on delivery. It is all in the contract, and you see the contract in your portal.
Do you ask for an advance?
Yes, 50% on signing. That is what reserves your slot for the month.
Can I pay in instalments?
The standard scheme is 50/50. If you need something else, it gets discussed on the call.
What currency do you charge in?
The fee is set in dollars and invoiced in pesos at the day's rate. That is why the peso price is reviewed every month.
Does the price include VAT?
It is spelled out in the quote, which you see in full in the portal before signing anything.
What happens if the project grows partway through?
If the area or the scope grows, the increase is quoted before it happens. A charge never shows up that you have not already seen.
Do you charge for the first meeting?
No. It is thirty minutes on a video call and you walk away with your exact number.
Do you discount for several identical units?
Yes, and it is a strong one: the first unit at 100%, the next four at 40% each, the following five at 30%, the next ten at 20%, the following thirty at 10%, and 7.5% from there on. Sixty identical units cost what ten do.
Is your price expensive or cheap for the market?
The published reference fee for architectural design in Colombia in 2026 is around COP 23 million, and fees in Bogotá and Medellín tend to run higher. Our band starts at 11.
Why are you cheaper than a studio in Bogotá?
Because we operate from Pasto and work remotely. The cost structure is different, not the judgement.
If you are cheaper, are you worse?
Thirty houses designed with the same process. What comes down is the cost of operating, not what you get.
What you get
What exactly do I receive?
Your house drawn room by room with measurements, the images of how it will look inside and out, the 3D model to walk through it, and the package your builder or foreman needs to put it up.
Do I get drawings I can build from, or just pretty pictures?
Drawings you can build from, with measurements. The images are part of the deliverable, not the deliverable itself.
Does it include engineering?
Yes. We deliver plumbing and electrical inside the package, ready for your engineer to sign.
Does it include structural engineering?
No. The package delivers architecture, plumbing and electrical. In Colombia, structural is quoted separately; outside Colombia we do not do it at all.
And who signs off the engineering?
Your engineer. We deliver it fully developed for them to review and sign. In Colombia we can also quote you those signatures if you do not have anyone.
Do you deliver in BIM?
Yes, we work in BIM. That is what keeps the architecture and the engineering coordinated with each other.
What formats do I get?
DWG, PDF and IFC. IFC is the open BIM format: any professional can open and follow the project without depending on us or on a particular program.
How many images does the project include?
It depends on the package; the quote states it exactly. If you want more, each extra image costs USD 100.
Can I order just the images, without drawings?
Yes. Standalone renderings at USD 125 each, minimum six.
Do you make video walkthroughs?
The standard deliverable includes the navigable 3D model. Video is quoted separately.
Do you do interior design?
The project defines spaces, measurements and general finishes. Decor and loose furniture are discussed separately.
Do you do landscaping?
It is discussed project by project. It is not in the base package.
Do you help me choose materials?
Yes. The project defines finishes. What we do not do is buy them or manage the purchase.
Do you give me quantities and a construction budget?
We deliver the quantity of materials, without prices. With that list any builder or hardware store can quote you within a day, and you can compare between several. We do not put prices on it because they change by city and by month, and an outdated budget from us would push you into a bad decision.
Design and construction
Is it worth hiring an architect?
If you are going to build once in your life, yes. It is not an aesthetic expense: it stops you paying for a house that later does not work for you.
How do I choose an architect?
Look at whether their work shows a way of thinking or just a set of good-looking projects. Talk to them before hiring. And pick someone who tells you what you need to hear, not only what you want to hear.
Should I buy a house or design one?
Designing gives you a space made for the way you live; buying is faster and more predictable. Neither is "better": it depends on what you are putting first, time or fit with your life.
What mistakes do people make when building a house?
Deciding out of fear, copying the neighbour, choosing finishes by fashion, and leaving visualization for the end. Most mistakes are not technical, they are failures of judgement.
Can I see my house before it is built?
Yes. That is what visualization is for: renderings and walkthroughs that show the project with its light and its materials before a single brick is moved. It is the cheapest way to correct.
What is exposed concrete?
Leaving concrete as the final finish, uncovered. It is not a way to save: doing it well costs more, because every imperfection stays in view. Done well and kept well, it ages well.
What is schematic design?
The first formal version of the design: plans, elevations and volume, before the definitive drawings. It exists so decisions can be made and adjusted before investing in technical detail.
What is the difference between an architect and a civil engineer?
The architect designs the space and how it works. The civil engineer calculates the structure holding it up. On a serious project, the two work together.
What is an architectural renovation?
Changing an existing building in its layout, its finishes or its structure, without starting from scratch. It requires understanding what is already there before proposing the change.
Do I need an architect or an interior designer?
The architect designs the space and its structure; the interior designer works on what goes inside a space that is already built. If the project starts from zero, begin with the architect.
Process, timing and remote work
How long does it take you to design a house?
Four weeks. That is about two weeks of our continuous work plus the revisions with you. With a date in writing from day one.
How long does it take to design a house, in general?
With CONIKA, four weeks. In the profession, one to several months depending on complexity and how settled the decisions are. Rushing the design is the most expensive way to save time.
Why do others take months and you take four weeks?
Because we take on two projects a month, never more. The slot is what makes the timeline possible.
Can it run longer?
Yes, and it is on you: the meetings you push back and the progress you take a while to approve. Our work is four weeks.
How many projects do you take on a month?
Two. Each one is about two weeks of continuous work, so two fill the month.
What does the process look like, step by step?
We talk for thirty minutes and you leave with the exact price. We survey the lot or the existing building. We design, with two revisions with you. We deliver drawings, images and the 3D model, with a date from day one.
How many times can I change the design?
Two revisions included, at no cost. It is in the contract.
What if I do not like what you propose?
That is what the revisions are for. And the process happens in stages: you will not see the finished house all at once, you watch it take shape.
When do I see the first image?
Within the four weeks, not at the end. Progress is visible on the portal.
Do I have to visit your office?
No. The whole process is remote.
How many meetings are there?
As many as needed, all by video call. The first one is thirty minutes.
How do I know where my project stands?
In your portal. That is where you see the phase, the quote, the contract, and you have a chat with us.
Do I have to stay on top of it all the time?
No. But every week you take to approve progress is a week your date slips, not ours.
Can you design my house if I live in another city?
Yes. Designing does not require being on site: it requires the right measurements and talking with you. Both are handled remotely.
How do you survey the lot if you are not there?
With the topographic survey or the property documents, plus photos and video you send following a guide. If needed, we coordinate someone on the ground.
What if it is already built and needs to be surveyed?
That is the as-built survey: USD 4 per m², from USD 350. It is the step before any renovation.
Is it not risky to hire an architect I have never met?
That is why everything is written and visible: the quote, the contract and the project phase are in your portal from day one, not in a lost email.
How do I know you will not leave me hanging?
You see your project's phase whenever you want and you have a direct chat with us right there. You never have to ask where things stand.
Do you sign a contract?
Yes, and you see it in full in the portal before you pay anything.
Can I reach you on WhatsApp?
Yes, and we answer ourselves.
What are your hours?
Colombia time. If you are in another time zone, the video call is coordinated around it.
Licences, signatures and permits
Do you sign the drawings?
Yes, we sign the architecture in Colombia.
Are the drawings I receive signed by an architect?
It depends on where your project is. In Colombia they are: the final architectural drawings are signed by Sofía Solarte, architect and co-founder of CONIKA, with a current professional licence, and that is included in the price. Outside Colombia they are delivered unsigned and unstamped, because a Colombian licence has no validity in another country; there you need a professional licensed where your project is to review and sign them.
Do your drawings work for getting a building permit?
In Colombia, yes: we sign the architecture and deliver the engineering for your engineer to sign.
Who signs the plumbing and electrical?
Your engineer. We deliver it developed and coordinated with the architecture. In Colombia we can also quote you those signatures if you do not have anyone.
Do you handle the permit application for me?
We deliver the complete package ready to file. The process before the local permitting office is handled by whoever you designate.
How much does the permit cost?
It is a separate cost, charged by the permitting office or authority, not by us.
What if I am outside Colombia?
We design all the same. But the signature that files a permit has to belong to a professional licensed in that country: we design and your local professional signs. We say it upfront because it is the part no one else spells out.
Can I build without a permit?
That is not our call to make, and we will not recommend it. Our job is to hand you the project that can actually be filed.
Do your drawings meet seismic code?
The design is made to meet the code in force, and the structural engineer of record signs off the calculation.
Renovation and remodelling
How much does it cost to have an architect design a renovation?
Between COP 6 and 14 million, depending on the area. It is the design fee; your foreman still does the build.
Why does a renovation cost less than a new house?
Because the structure, the envelope and the siting already exist. A 25% reduction applies to the design fee.
What is an as-built survey and why is it charged separately?
It is measuring and drawing what already exists, with the real measurements and not the ones on the drawing you were given. USD 4 per m², from USD 350. Without it, you cannot design over the existing building.
What if I already have drawings?
We work from yours and the adjustment is smaller.
Can I renovate just one part, like the kitchen?
Yes. The base fee covers up to 40 m², which is enough for a targeted intervention.
Does this work for apartments?
Yes. It is in fact the most common case in Bogotá and Medellín.
Do I need a permit to renovate?
It depends what you touch. If structure or the facade is involved, almost always yes. We tell you before starting.
Can I keep my own foreman?
Yes, and it is what we recommend. He knows how to put up a wall; we tell him which one. It works out better for both of you.
Am I not taking work away from my foreman?
The opposite. You take away the guesswork and leave him the build, which is what he actually knows how to do.
About the lot and the land
I do not have a lot yet, can I start?
We can help you check whether a lot works before you buy it. But the project is designed against a defined lot.
Do you help me choose the lot?
We can review the ones you are considering and tell you what fits on each. It is one of the conversations that saves the most money.
What documents do you need for the lot?
The deed or certificate of tradition, and the topographic survey if it exists. If it does not, we tell you how to get one.
My lot slopes, is that a problem?
No. It is almost always the opposite: a well-resolved slope is what gives the house a view instead of a neighbour looking in.
Do you design country houses?
Yes. It is a significant part of what we do.
Construction and the build
Do you build?
No. The build is always carried out by a builder, whom you hire and who answers for it. In Pasto we offer Design + Site Accompaniment: we design and we also go to the site, review materials and make decisions there, to protect the intent of the project while it is built. Outside Pasto, we hand over the finished design and you coordinate the build with your own builder.
Why don't you build with your own crew?
Because doing both, design and execution, forces a choice between the design and the construction margin. We would rather our only interest be that the project turns out right. Where we offer it, site accompaniment is architectural: we protect the intent of the design on site, and we do not profit from how the build goes.
Can you recommend a builder?
We can tell you what to look for in a construction quote. Who carries it out is your call, except in Pasto, where we can also direct it ourselves.
Do you do construction oversight or supervision?
No. Construction supervision and technical inspection are separate roles, with their own legal liability, and the client hires them. What we do offer in Pasto is architectural accompaniment: we go to the site, review materials and make decisions there to protect the intent of the project.
What if the builder does not understand the drawings?
That is why the package includes what is needed to put it up without guessing. If a technical question comes up, it gets resolved.
What if the build blows past budget?
That is why design comes first, and why we hand you the quantity of materials: you can get the whole thing quoted before you buy the first bag of cement. What sends a build over budget is starting without knowing how much is needed.
CONIKA
What does CONIKA do?
We design architecture for clients who are going to build their house, and we do architectural visualization (rendering, animation and walkthroughs), which can also be ordered on its own. In Pasto, we also accompany the construction through Design + Site Accompaniment.
Is CONIKA a marketplace of architects?
No. We do not list architects and we do not broker between parties. We do every project ourselves, from beginning to end, as a studio and not as a platform.
Does CONIKA only work in Pasto?
We are based in Pasto, but we work remotely, so we design projects in Colombia and worldwide regardless of the city. The only thing exclusive to Pasto is directing the build on site.
Does CONIKA have architects in Pasto, Nariño?
Yes, the studio was born and operates from Pasto, Nariño, but we work remotely on projects across Colombia and the world.
How many projects have you done?
More than thirty houses designed.
Why don't you show photos of finished construction?
Most of our projects are built out of our sight, with each client's own builder, so we do not always have the record. On projects in Pasto, where we accompany the construction, we can show you real progress.
Are the images made with artificial intelligence?
No. They are our own architectural visualization, built on the project's real 3D model. It is one of the studio's services and we also sell it on its own.
Who are you?
A studio of architecture and visualization in Pasto. Names, licence and years are on the site, and on the first call you speak directly with whoever is going to design.
Are you professionally licensed?
Yes, and that is why we can sign the architecture in Colombia.
What does the process look like once I hire CONIKA?
First a call to understand the project, then El Compromiso is signed (scope, timing and payment terms), and the project moves in phases with a clear notice at each one.
Can I follow the progress of my project?
Yes. Every project has its own private portal where you see which phase you are in, the documents and the dossier as it grows. From there you can also walk through your house in interactive 3D and in its virtual walkthrough, before it exists. Nothing has to be asked for, the status is always in view.
Does CONIKA sign a contract? What guarantees are there?
Yes. Before starting, El Compromiso is signed, an agreement setting out the scope, the timing, the figure and the payment terms. It is what backs the project for both sides.
Who owns the drawings and the renderings, me or CONIKA?
The project is yours to build: once, on your site, with no expiry date. The files are in your hands and you can pass them to your builder, to the engineers and, if you are outside Colombia, to the professional who adapts them to your local code and signs them. Authorship of the design stays with CONIKA, as with any work under copyright: that is why the same design is not built again on another site and is not sold on to a third party. CONIKA also keeps the project in its archive and shows it in its portfolio; if you would rather yours did not appear, that is agreed before signing.
Is CONIKA's design conceptual only, or can it be built from?
We deliver the complete architectural design: plans, sections, elevations and the final architectural drawings. What it does not include is structural calculation or other engineering disciplines (plumbing, electrical), which are contracted separately with specialists, nor the handling of permits with the authorities, which is yours to do.
What happens if I do not like the final result?
The process is built so that does not happen: you review progress phase by phase before reaching the end, and the number of adjustments is agreed from El Compromiso onward. If something does not fit, it gets talked through and adjusted within what was agreed.
How do I start a project with CONIKA?
Write to us with the project you have and what you need it for. We will tell you whether we can help and set up a first call to define scope, timing and payment terms.
Do you do renderings only, for other architects?
Yes. USD 125 per image, minimum six.
Payments
How are payments made?
Payments are processed securely through a certified gateway built into your project portal. We accept credit and debit cards, bank transfer (PSE) and Nequi for clients in Colombia, following the payment schedule agreed in El Compromiso.
Can clients outside Colombia pay?
Yes. International cards are accepted without restriction. The amount is processed in Colombian pesos and the conversion to your local currency is done automatically by your bank or card issuer.
Is it safe to enter my card details?
Yes. The details are processed directly by the payment gateway and are never stored on CONIKA's servers.
When is payment due?
Payment is requested at the point that corresponds to the phase of the project, as agreed beforehand in El Compromiso.
Countries and cities
Do you design houses in Pasto?
Yes. It is our home base: Pasto, Nariño. This is where we sign the architecture, we work just as closely whether near or far, and it is the only place where we offer Design + Site Accompaniment.
Do you design in Medellín?
Yes, remotely. We sign the architecture in Colombia with a CPNAA licence and deliver the engineering for your engineer to sign.
Do you design in Rionegro, Envigado, Sabaneta, El Retiro or the Oriente Antioqueño?
Yes. It is one of the country-house regions where a project built to the lot and the slope pays off the most.
Do you design in Bogotá?
Yes, remotely, and across the savanna too: Chía, Cajicá, La Calera, Sopó, Tabio, Tenjo.
Do you design in Cali?
Yes, including Pance, Jamundí and Dapa.
Do you design in Barranquilla, Cartagena or Santa Marta?
Yes. The climate changes the design (cross ventilation, shade, humidity), not the way we work.
Do you design in Bucaramanga, Pereira, Manizales, Armenia, Ibagué, Neiva, Villavicencio, Popayán or Cúcuta?
Yes. Across Colombia we work the same way: remotely, and we sign the architecture.
Do you design houses in Mexico?
Yes, remotely. In Mexico the permit is processed by a Director Responsable de Obra (DRO) licensed in that municipality: we deliver the project and the images, and the local DRO signs and files it.
In which cities in Mexico?
Mexico City, Monterrey, Guadalajara, Querétaro, Puebla, Mérida, Tijuana, León, San Luis Potosí, Cancún and the Riviera Maya, Los Cabos, Playa del Carmen.
Do I need you to be registered with a professional college in Mexico?
Not to design. In Mexico it is not mandatory to belong to the Colegio de Arquitectos to practise, but several municipalities do require the DRO to be registered with one to authorise construction. Your local professional covers that role.
Do you design houses in Peru?
Yes, remotely. In Peru, membership of the Colegio de Arquitectos del Perú (CAP) is mandatory to sign drawings and any legally binding document: we design and your registered architect signs.
In which cities in Peru?
Lima, Arequipa, Trujillo, Cusco, Piura, Chiclayo, Tacna.
Do you design houses in Ecuador?
Yes, remotely. It is the market outside Colombia that fits us best: it is dollarised, so our fee in dollars reads directly, with no conversion.
In which cities in Ecuador?
Quito, Guayaquil, Cuenca, Manta, Samborondón, Loja, Ambato, Vilcabamba.
Do you design houses in Chile?
Yes, remotely. In Chile the building permit is filed with the Dirección de Obras Municipales and signed by a professional licensed in the country; a foreign qualification requires recognition.
In which cities in Chile?
Santiago, Viña del Mar, Valparaíso, Concepción, La Serena, Puerto Varas, Pucón, Antofagasta.
Do you design houses in Argentina?
Yes, remotely. In Argentina you have to be registered with the provincial Colegio de Arquitectos to submit any drawing to the authorities: we design and your registered architect submits it.
In which cities in Argentina?
Buenos Aires and Greater Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Rosario, Mendoza, Mar del Plata, Bariloche, Salta, Tucumán, Neuquén.
Do you design houses in Uruguay?
Yes, remotely. Montevideo, Punta del Este, Colonia, Maldonado, La Barra, José Ignacio.
Do you design houses in Paraguay?
Yes, remotely. Asunción, Ciudad del Este, Encarnación, Luque, San Bernardino.
Do you design houses in Bolivia?
Yes, remotely. Santa Cruz de la Sierra, La Paz, Cochabamba, Sucre, Tarija.
Do you design houses in Venezuela?
Yes, remotely. Caracas, Maracaibo, Valencia, Barquisimeto, Maracay, Mérida.
Do you design houses in Panama?
Yes, remotely. Panama City, Coronado, Boquete, Pedasí, Bocas del Toro.
Do you design houses in Costa Rica?
Yes, remotely. In Costa Rica drawings are processed through the Colegio Federado de Ingenieros y Arquitectos (CFIA) and signed by a professional registered there. San José, Escazú, Santa Ana, Guanacaste, Tamarindo, Nosara, Atenas.
Do you design houses in Guatemala?
Yes, remotely. Guatemala City, Antigua, Quetzaltenango, Escuintla.
Do you design houses in El Salvador?
Yes, remotely. San Salvador, Santa Tecla, Santa Ana, La Libertad, El Tunco.
Do you design houses in Honduras?
Yes, remotely. Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, Roatán, La Ceiba.
Do you design houses in Nicaragua?
Yes, remotely. Managua, Granada, León, San Juan del Sur.
Do you design houses in the Dominican Republic?
Yes, remotely. Santo Domingo, Santiago, Punta Cana, Bávaro, Cap Cana, Las Terrenas, Puerto Plata.
Do you design houses in Puerto Rico?
Yes, remotely. San Juan, Dorado, Rincón, Ponce, Mayagüez. The permit is signed by a professional licensed in Puerto Rico.
Do you design houses in Spain?
Yes, remotely. In Spain the project needs the visa of the Colegio Oficial de Arquitectos and is signed by an architect registered there: we design and provide the visualization, and your registered architect visas and signs it.
In which cities in Spain?
Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, Málaga, Marbella, Bilbao, Alicante, Palma de Mallorca, Ibiza, Zaragoza, Murcia.
Do you design houses for Hispanic clients in the United States?
Yes, remotely. In the United States the permit is sealed and filed by an architect licensed in that state; we do the design and the images.
In which cities in the United States?
Miami, Orlando, Tampa, Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Phoenix, Atlanta, Denver, Las Vegas.
I live in the United States and want to build in Colombia. Can you help?
Yes, and it is the case where working remotely pays off the most: we sign the architecture in Colombia and you follow the project from wherever you are, without travelling.
Can I pay you from abroad?
Yes. The fee is set in dollars, so there is no conversion surprise.
Do you work across the whole Spanish-speaking world?
Yes, design and visualization are handled remotely from Colombia. The only thing that changes by country is who signs the local filing.
Do you charge more to design outside Colombia?
No. The fee is the same per square metre. What it does not include is the local signature where one is needed.
Do you find the professional who signs in my country?
In Colombia, yes, and we can also quote you the engineering signatures. Outside Colombia, that is on you, and we deliver the project in whatever format they need.
Does the design change by country?
Yes, and that is why it comes up from the first call: climate, seismic risk, setback and height rules. The project is made for the place it will be built, not the place it is drawn.
What language do you work in?
Spanish. Drawings can be delivered labelled in English if the local filing process requires it.
Before you hire
Can I see built projects, not just renderings?
Industry guides recommend asking for this, and here we are upfront about it: on most of our projects, the build is carried out by each client's own builder, so what you can see is the delivered project and what the client built with it. In Pasto, where we accompany the construction, we do have direct records. And we can put you in touch with clients who have already built what we designed.
If you don't execute the build, how do I know your design can actually be built?
Because it is thirty houses designed, and the ones that got built went up with our drawings. A drawing that cannot be built shows up in the first week on site, and we are the ones who answer that call.
Can I talk to your past clients?
Yes. Ask on the call and we put you in touch.
What is NOT included in the price?
Construction, always: even with site accompaniment in Pasto, the builder carries it out and charges for it. Fees and paperwork for the permitting office or local authority. Soil studies and the topographic survey if they do not already exist. Structural engineering. And engineering signatures, which in Colombia we can quote you separately.
Do I need a soil study?
Almost always, yes, to build, and we do not do it ourselves: a lab does. We tell you whether your case needs one before we start.
Do I need a topographic survey of the lot?
If the lot slopes or has an irregular shape, yes. If you already have one, we use it; if not, we tell you how to get one.
How much can a poorly planned project drive up construction cost?
Industry references put it at 10% to 25% in overruns. On a COP 400 million build, that is COP 40 to 100 million, several times what the full design costs.
How do you control construction cost from the design stage?
Through the design decisions (spans, heights, materials, how much earth gets moved) and by handing you the quantity of materials so you can get it quoted before buying. What sends a build over budget is not the price of cement: it is redoing what was already done.
Should I get quotes from two or three architects?
Yes, and that is exactly why we publish our price: so you can compare without having to ask us for a quote first.
What if I already started with another architect and want to switch?
It can be done. You bring what you have and we tell you what holds up and what needs redoing, with the price before we start.
Do you work with energy efficiency, solar orientation and ventilation?
Yes, and not as an add-on: orientation, shade and cross ventilation are design decisions you keep paying for every month on the utility bill.
What if you disappear halfway through the project?
You have the signed contract and the portal where you see the project phase and the chat. There is no email that can get lost.
Can I use the project to apply for a loan?
The drawings and the estimated budget are usually what a bank asks for. The application itself is yours to file.
Is it worth hiring an architect, or is a foreman enough?
A foreman builds whatever you tell him. What he cannot do is decide for you what fits your lot, what it will cost, and how it will turn out. That is what you are paying for.
Isn't it cheaper to buy ready-made drawings?
It is cheaper right up until the drawing doesn't fit your lot, doesn't get the light right, or has to be redone on site. The expensive part is not the design: it is tearing down a wall twice.
What if I change my mind halfway through the design?
The two included revisions are there for that, and the whole agreement is in writing before you pay anything.
How much should my house cost in total?
As a reference, finishing a house in Colombia runs from COP 2.4 to over COP 4.8 million per m², depending on the level of finish. Against that, design is a small share: COP 11 million on a 150 m² house is under 3% of the build.
Why should I pay for design if the real money is in the build?
Exactly because of that. Design is under 3% and it is what decides how the other 97% gets spent.
Are you a real studio, or two people with a laptop?
We are a small studio in Pasto, with thirty houses designed, a professional licence and a portal where you see your project. That is why we take on two projects a month, not ten.
Why should I trust you with my house if I don't know you?
Because we are not asking you to trust us on faith: we show you the price before we talk, the contract before we charge, and the project phase every day. What usually gets asked for on faith, here is written down.