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Process
Every project starts with a conversation, not a blank form. This page walks through what actually happens between that first conversation and the day you receive a coordinated set of architectural and structural documents — what we need from you, when, and who else is involved along the way.
Nothing needs to be finished. A conversation is enough to start — if you have any of the following, it helps, but none of it is required.
The site — where the home will go
How you intend to use the home
The rooms you need, and roughly how many
Your priorities — what matters most to you
Whether a loft interests you
Reference images, if you have any you like
Rough sketches, if you've made any
Any Smiling Woods Yurts system information you already have
Every project moves through the same five stages, each one building directly on the last.
Then, for 12 months after delivery: Construction Support — not another design stage, but continued availability once building begins.
Materia Studio develops the floor plan and architectural organization of the home.
This covers the layout of living spaces, kitchens, bathrooms, and lofts — their size, location, and circulation, and how they relate to each other and to the round structure itself. It also includes window and door placement, and the location of major appliances and plumbing fixtures.
Cabinetry design, detailed interior design, furniture selection, and product specification are not part of this stage — the layout established here gives a cabinet designer, manufacturer, or contractor the framework to build from later.
Materia Studio presents the evolving design and works through your feedback. A revision round is one consolidated set of feedback submitted after reviewing a design package — the Base Design Package includes three.
Does not consume a round
Consumes a round
Additional rounds beyond the three included are available at our standard hourly rate or under separately defined scope.
Once the architectural direction is approved, Materia Studio produces the complete architectural drawing package — the A-Set.
Floor plan
Exterior elevations
Roof plan
Foundation plan
Window and door schedule
Building section
One exterior architectural rendering
Together, these make up the architectural drawing package that supports permitting. The rendering is a visualization tool, not a construction document.
Once your A-Set is complete, it moves to your structural engineer. Materia Studio coordinates that process from submission through to a final, aligned document set — we don't perform structural engineering ourselves.
Once your architectural drawings are complete, we submit the full A-Set to your structural engineer.
Your engineer reviews the architectural design and begins the structural engineering work specific to your project.
Depending on what the engineering reveals, your engineer may recommend modifications to the architectural drawings.
We review each recommendation and incorporate the resulting revisions into your architectural drawings.
Your engineer prepares the final, stamped structural documents.
Materia Studio performs a final architectural review to confirm your architectural and structural drawings are fully aligned before delivery.
Involved: Materia Studio, your structural engineer.
The result is one coordinated architectural and structural document package, ready for permitting and construction.
This describes how that package comes together, not what happens after you submit it. Materia Studio does not promise permit approval, code approval, contractor pricing, a construction start date, or a fixed project timeline — each of those depends on your local jurisdiction, your contractor, and factors outside our role.
Delivery of your final documents isn't the end of Materia Studio's involvement.
What it is
For 12 months after delivering your final documents, Materia Studio remains available for reasonable construction-related architectural clarification.
What's included
During those 12 months, we're available to:
Answer contractor questions about the drawings
Clarify architectural intent
Provide missing dimensions, notes, or details
Make minor updates that improve communication of the approved design
Coordinate with your structural engineer when needed to keep the sets aligned
What this isn't
Construction Support is not construction administration, site supervision, contractor management, inspection of workmanship, redesign, or design of new structures. Support beyond the included period or scope is available hourly or under a separate agreement.
You don't need a finished plan — just a starting point.