A RESIDENTIAL architecture start-up has taken its first steps towards becoming the Uber of the industry after opening its debut office.
Hoko Design launched the space in Glasgow city centre with a team of six staff after a successful recruitment programme.
The innovative start-up offers clients a free online automated consultation to build an immediate quote which includes all associated fees – significantly reducing costs for the client and architect.
Once a project is underway, clients can view live project updates and track and view drawings. State-of-the-art virtual reality technology also helps homeowners see what the final project will look like at no extra cost.
Now, with the new office and team, designer and entrepreneur Danny Campbell has plans to transform the residential architecture sector which he says is currently “dysfunctional”.
The 28-year-old said: “The customer journey is impeded with risk and inconsistencies. Architects spend a vast amount of their billable time on admin, that’s not efficient. While the current system leaves homeowners feeling confused, we’ve built our company to tackle these problems.
“We’ve identified a gap in the market. There’s a huge demand for residential architecture, because of changes to stamp duty, homeowners see the potential in adding value to their own property, rather than securing more space by moving.
“What we provide is a platform which makes it easier for architects to spend their time doing what they’re trained to do, in a way that is transparent and efficient for our clients. Ultimately, we want to change how homeowners experience architecture, and how architects work. The current model is broken, and we want to fix it.”
With his ambitious plan, Campbell hopes to make Hoko Design Scotland’s go-to firm for residential architecture within its first year of trading.
The start-up already has 15 ongoing projects just weeks after its launch.
Although initially, the business will operate in Glasgow and the surrounding areas, Campbell hopes to grow the client base to more than 250 in greater Glasgow alone, with plans to scale across the country.
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