AAC Studio Architects and Designers - Tunbridge Wells

Roy P.

We engaged Carlos to work on our full home extension covering all fields of work.
In the introduction we specified the extent of the extension we desired turning our three bed detached into a five bedroom. This required new building to both sides of our property and accordingly we decided to move out for ten months during construction.
As well as appointing Carlos to design our extensions we had him oversee getting the plans through local consent as well as going out to tender.
Once we had selected our appointed builder, having visited two of their previous builds, we instructed AAC Studios to project manage the full build.
Carlos personally conducted full weekly site visits with the builder to ensure quality control and keep us informed of progress.
Yes the project did run over on cost however this was down to our amending details and changing various fittings. It is important to point out that our charges from AAC Studios we’re consistent with our original estimate and we were delighted with the final result.
We have since recommended Carlos and AAC Studios to a number of neighbours who likewise have been delighted with their results too.
I would have no hesitation whatsoever in Reccomending this very experienced architect and his extremely professional company.

James M.

We hired Mr Elsesser to design a garage conversion and interior works for our property. He handled the estimate process for us, told us the price looked about right, but when the project went to tender it cost double what he had advised. The contractor told us this was because the specification for the tender had changed substantially from the estimate. Mr Elsesser did not tell us that these changes, which he recommended, would raise the cost dramatically and make the project unaffordable. His whole attitude to costs was very laid back.

Rather than recognising the role he'd played in creating this mess, and helping us out of this pickle, he instead tried to charge us in excess of £2k to reduce the cost of his own design. We believed this was unethical as he had been leading the project and advising us throughout. When we complained about this, he was haughty and denied any knowledge of our budget (which we found impossible to believe as we had discussed it many times, not least during the estimate process).

We ultimately decided to complain to the Architects Board, who investigated Mr Elsesser and decided he had a case to answer at their Professional Conduct Committee - not something the ARB take lightly. Two of the three charges were found 'proved' at the hearing although he was ultimately found not guilty of unprofessional conduct because, among other things, there was no record of a budget recorded in writing. We had only discussed it in person. However, he did eventually receive a caution from RIBA.

After terminating our agreement with him, we employed a new team of architects who believed his scheme was not cost-effective and nonsensical in several ways. Our advice would therefore be to avoid Mr Elsesser. He initially seemed very professional. However, when the project went wrong, we felt that he was intransigent and showed very little empathy or understanding of how the mess was created. It is best practice, for example, for architects to always establish a budget at the outset and record this in writing so there is no confusion or disagreement later on. His failure to do this most basic thing left us with an unaffordable design which cost us several thousand pounds to put right.

Carlos E.

This statement is submitted in response to Mr. Morgan’s recent review.
Mr & Mrs Morgan engaged AAC Studio Architects to provide a design for the conversion of a double garage into a Family Room and other internal works. Although they were asked at inception if they had a budget, they did not specify one. A year later, when the tenders for the work arrived, they claimed that the tender prices were over their budget and asked for the fees they had paid to be returned. AAC Studio then offered to change the design to bring it in line with the budget sum that Mr & Mrs Morgan said they could afford, but they declined the offer and still asked for their fees to be returned. The work carried out by AAC Studio was properly carried out and approved at every stage in writing by Mr & Mrs Morgan. It was only when the tender prices came in and they said they could not afford those prices that they asked for their fees back. Mr & Mrs Morgan had no valid reason to ask for the return of their fees. Despite this, they made a complaint to the Architect’s Registration Board (ARB). The ARB dealt with the complaint and found that this did not amount to unacceptable professional conduct and threw out the case. Mr Morgan’s statement that AAC Studio did not establish a budget at the outset of the project is untrue. They were asked at inception if they had a budget and they did not respond. It is disappointing that some people resort to social media to vent their unjustified claims.

This statement is submitted in response to a review by Paul Atkins Rugby.
I have not had any dealings with anyone called Paul Atkins in either a personal or professional capacity. I do not know this person or why he has written this malicious review.

Paul A. R.

My only advice is that if you decide to appoint Mr Elsesser that you proceed with upmost caution. We made a very, very expensive mistake.

Daniel C.