What Do You Want, and is it Possible?

Every Project Begins with Two Questions

Defining the Client Brief & Feasibility Study

Identifying needs, budget, and project goals through early analysis and site evaluation

Before a single line is drawn, every successful project begins with one fundamental step:

understanding what needs to be built and why. In architecture, this process is captured in two key phases:

the Client Brief
the Feasibility Study

These early stages form the backbone of any design process, setting the tone for decisions, timelines, and budgets that follow.

Too often, clients rush to the design stage without clearly identifying their needs or understanding site limitations. But investing time in this groundwork can save months of revisions, cost overruns, and design conflicts later on.

Step 1: Identifying Needs and Goals

The client brief is essentially the project’s roadmap. It defines the purpose, users, functions, and expectations of the building.

For example, is it a family home that will grow with its occupants, a commercial space seeking flexibility, or an educational facility encouraging collaboration? Each has unique functional and emotional goals.

A good starting point is to ask:

Who will use this space and how?
What are the essential functions and priorities?
What level of quality or image should it project?
Are there future expansion or sustainability goals?

Architects then interpret these needs into measurable objectives such as room sizes, performance standards, and spatial relationships. This process ensures that the project is tailored to both the client’s vision and practical realities.

Tip: A clear brief doesn’t limit creativity; it gives it direction.

Step 2: Establishing the Budget

©Karola G

Once needs are identified, it’s time to talk about numbers. A realistic budget is not just about construction costs, it includes land value, design and consultancy fees, approvals, and contingencies. Clients often begin with a “wish list,” but aligning that with financial feasibility early on helps avoid disappointment later.

Quantity surveyors play an important role here, offering cost estimates and value engineering to keep ambitions grounded in reality. The goal isn’t to cut quality but to ensure that the project scope matches the financial framework.

Architect’s insight: It’s better to design within a defined budget than to trim costs after design development, a process that often compromises both function and quality.

Step 3: Early Site Visits & Feasibility Study

© Mikael Blomkvist

No two sites are the same. An early site visit allows the design team to study natural conditions, access points, orientation, existing vegetation, and services. A well-conducted feasibility study combines this on-ground observation with regulatory research and technical analysis.

© Carlos Bedoy

At this stage, key aspects assessed include:

Physical characteristics: soil conditions, topography, flood zones, and drainage.
Legal and regulatory constraints: zoning, building setbacks, fire regulations, and environmental guidelines.
Accessibility and infrastructure: road connections, service lines, and utility networks.
Contextual influences: neighboring buildings, noise levels, and community character.

Authorities such as the Urban Development Authority (UDA), Department of Land Reclamation, Fire Department, and Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) (where applicable) may also be consulted to ensure compliance and identify early risks.

For instance, a seemingly ideal plot might later reveal unstable soil or flood risks, issues that could add millions to the construction budget if discovered too late.
An early feasibility study acts as a reality check, saving both time and cost.

Step 4: Turning Findings into a Project Roadmap

The insights from the client brief and feasibility study form the foundation of a project roadmap, a document that clearly defines scope, timeline, and strategy.This is where the architect, engineers, and consultants collaborate to confirm whether the project should proceed, pause, or be re-scoped.

The roadmap also becomes the key reference for: Design development, Authority submissions, Budget approvals, Tendering and construction planning.

It’s the bridge between vision and execution, aligning everyone involved around the same goals.

A Strong Foundation for Design

In architecture, creativity thrives on clarity.
Defining the client brief and conducting a feasibility study might seem like administrative steps,

but

they are, in fact, the most strategic phases of any project. They reveal possibilities, highlight risks, and ensure that every rupee spent is purposeful.

Whether you’re a homeowner, developer, or student of architecture, remember this:

A project’s success isn’t decided on-site it’s shaped long before the first line is drawn.