frequently asked questions

every project moves through five clear phases:

1 — getting to know each other + groundwork — first conversation, site, budget frame, brief.

2 — preliminary design — concept, variants, one clear preliminary design with model or visualisation.

3 — submission — planning permission drawings and the full journey through the authorities.

4 — execution — construction drawings and details.

5 — site supervision — artistic direction through to handover, if you wish.

you always know where the project stands — and you decide how far we accompany you.

the first conversation is free and without obligation: we listen — site, wishes, budget, timeline. you get an honest first assessment of what is possible and what the next steps would look like. easiest via the chat window ("let's talk") or by email to office@sedomini.at.

as a rough guide: from first sketch to submission usually a few months; the permit itself lies with the authority and varies by municipality; planning and construction together typically take one to two years. after the first conversation we can give you a serious estimate — depending on site, scope and procedure.

yes — conversions, extensions and refurbishments are a natural part of our work. existing buildings often hold the greatest potential: we first assess what is worth keeping and build on it.

climate-resilient building means designing a house to cope with a changing climate — with heat, heavy rain, drought and wind. we rely on passive means first: orientation and shading against summer heat, thermal mass, green roofs, infiltration and retention of rainwater, robust materials. so it stays comfortable with little technology — and stays that way as the summers grow hotter.

the greatest savings lie in the design, not on the building site. a smart concept decides almost everything: a compact volume, a clear structural grid, the right dimension instead of expensive special solutions. every idea invested early saves a multiple later. that is exactly why good planning pays off — it is the biggest lever for your budget.

there is no serious flat answer — the fee depends on scope, complexity and depth of services. we work transparently: after the first conversation you receive a clear offer, structured by service phases — from preliminary design to submission, and beyond if you wish. you decide which services you need and keep the costs in view.

ziviltechniker are state-certified and sworn planners — the licence is granted in austria under strict requirements. they are bound to independence, supervised by the chamber (arch+ing), and are the only planning profession authorised to issue public deeds. for you this means: certified qualification, liability and independent planning free of sales interests.

that depends on the project and the province — the building codes distinguish several procedures, from a full permit to exempt measures, and the rules keep changing. early on we clarify with the municipality which procedure your project needs and handle the entire process with the authorities.

competitions are our passion — and we like entering together: as partners on equal footing with other offices, from concept to submission. we bring design strength, visualisation and ai-assisted tools; the collaboration is agreed clearly up front (services, credits, continuation in case of award). just write to us — usually a short conversation is enough.

kindergartens and schools are a core focus of our office — from competition entries to modular, scalable concepts. for municipalities and private operators we also develop educational buildings as direct commissions: from the brief through feasibility and cost frame to submission. our modular systems (e.g. the natur[kinder]garten wolkersdorf) adapt to site and number of groups.

we use ai where it makes the design better: exploring variants, testing briefs, visualising atmospheres — always as a tool, never as an autopilot. the design decisions are ours; the responsibility as chartered architects stays with us.