The designer creates a physical 3D model of the project in the concept design stage.

The 5-Step Architecture Design Process Explained

August 26, 2026•4 min read

An interview with BELO Design founder, Carlos Bethencourt

The architecture design process is the sequence a design team follows to take a project from an empty site to a finished building – typically discovery, design, development, documentation, and construction.

Designing and constructing a residential or commercial project is an intricate undertaking. For Carlos Bethencourt, founder of BELO Design who developed his expertise at high-profile firms, most recently Gehry Partners, the residential and commercial architecture process can be broken down into 5 steps that make the process seamless yet innovative. Here’s an overview of the process based on a Q&A with Carlos.

Step 1: Site Discovery & Feasibility

Discovery is the information-gathering stage, where the designer learns everything possible about the site before any design work begins. The first step for a home architect or commercial building designer is to absorb as much information as possible. We want to learn about the site and anticipate challenges. By visiting the site, taking pictures, and asking lots of questions, we get a lay of the land. To aid BELO Design in its process and to meet regulatory codes, we require a land survey and topographical study. This allows us to obtain precise information about property boundaries, utilities, and topography.

To begin the architectural design process, the team visits and evaluates the site, which includes doing an analysis of the weather – humidity, precipitation, temperature, and sun hours – and and looking at the sun’s path in different seasons. — Learning about the site includes considering the weather: rain, humidity, and how the sun hits the site in different seasons of the year.

Step 2: Concept Design

Concept design is where the client’s vision gets translated into sketches, models, and early design options. We encourage our clients to dream. We listen to their goals, needs, and ideas and consider their sources of inspiration. Then the fun begins, and we start sketching to turn their ideas into something they can see. We also like to build physical models. Models allow you to touch, to take it outside and let the sun hit it, to see where shadows are created. A physical mockup helps you digest the design better. We present clients with several options – some tailored strictly to their goals, and others that introduce innovative designs to challenge assumptions and unlock the best solution. After incorporating customer feedback, we align on a concept.

The designer creates sketches to get ideas flowing as part of the residential and commercial architecture process. — Concept design includes sketching. For this home renovation project, we’re rethinking the entrance to create a formal entry way that also provides some privacy to take in the morning sun.

The designer creates a physical 3D model of the project to help the client digest the design better. — 3D models make the new entry way tangible, to help our clients imagine the proportions, spatial layout, and flow.

Step 3: Design Development

Design development turns the approved concept into precise drawings that account for real world constraints. In the development stage, we set out to make the design a reality. We provide different perspectives of the house or building, think about materials, and imagine usage. Depending on the size of the project, we’ll bring on structural and civil engineers and partners to assist with mechanical, electrical, and plumbing, also known as MEP. And most importantly we continue to get feedback from our clients to make sure the space will work for them. Our best customers are curious, communicative, and willing to trust the process.

During design development, the designer creates precise drawings to make the project more tangible. — In the development step, designs get real. We create precise drawings to account for real world constraints.

Step 4: Permitting, Construction Documents, & Bidding

Documentation is where the design becomes a formal set of instructions the builder can act on. The design team submits these plans to the city and gets the necessary permits for the project to begin. On behalf of our clients, we reach out to contractors and seek bids. While design-build firms may offer convenience, we offer flexibility – to work with the contractor of your choice and at a price point that works for you.

Two drawings on the left exemplify the residential architecture process of design development, showing a realistic design for a home addition. While the two drawings are examples of construction documentation that provide measurements and more detail to equip the construction team. — Design evolution: the left side shows drawings from the design development step, while the right shows more detailed construction documents that the team can use to build the project.

Step 5: Construction Administration

Construction is the final stage, where the design team oversees construction to protect the integrity of the vision and see it through to completion. Many people think our role ends with the selection of the contractor, but we see the project through to the end. It would be like handing off complex Ikea instructions to a contractor then leaving. We support our clients with construction administration; we visit the site, observe progress, and are available for questions to help guide the execution. It culminates with a finished work. It’s beautiful to see something that starts with simple words in the air turn into something that you can see and touch, where people live and have experiences.

From the early learning phases to the construction climax, the architect is the glue that holds it all together. At BELO Design we see our role as a combination of designer, translator, coordinator, and advocate for your project.

Looking for building design services? Reach out for a free consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How long does the architecture design process take?

It varies by project. A small home remodel might take a few months while designing and building a home from a blank canvas could take a few years. It also depends on the goals, complexity, and materials. There are a lot of variables that can make a small project even more complex than a large one. That's why we always treat each project with the same rigor no matter the size.

Do I need a land survey before design starts?

Yes, a land survey and topographical study are recommended during the discovery stage, but we can help advise during our initial consultation.

Do I need to hire a contractor before starting the design process?

No need to find a contractor before the design process. BELO Design typically works under the Design-Bid-Build method, where the design is completed first and then issued to contractors for bidding. BELO Design will guide you through this step of the process.

architecture process

BELO Design team

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