"Free house designs from City Hall" — many people planning to build their own house search for this phrase. It's natural: money saved on the design goes into construction. In this article we explain what a ready-made or standard design means, what you should check and when it's worth ordering a bespoke design.
Do free house designs from City Hall exist?
In the past, Tbilisi City Hall held competitions for individual house designs, and the selected designs were handed over to applicants free of charge. The terms and availability of such programmes change over time, so if you plan to use a City Hall design, check the current information directly with Tbilisi City Hall or your municipality.
The key thing to know: a free or ready-made design is an idea and an architectural solution, but it is not yet construction-ready documentation for your plot.
Why you can't build straight from a ready-made design
Every plot of land is different. A house design has to match:
- the plot's K1 and K2 coefficients — how much floor area is allowed;
- the zone and building conditions set by City Hall;
- the plot's size, shape and terrain, and the setbacks to neighbours and the road;
- the ground — the foundation is calculated from a geological survey;
- the sun's orientation — where the light comes from and where the bedrooms should go.
A ready-made design can't take all of this into account, because it was created for another plot or in general.
What a ready-made design needs before you can start building
Even with a ready-made design, a building permit usually requires:
- a topographic survey — accurate initial data for the plot;
- a geological survey — checking the ground for the foundation;
- adapting the design to the plot — adjusting the plan, height and position;
- a structural design — calculating the load-bearing frame and foundation for your ground;
- approval of the design with City Hall and obtaining the building permit.
This work is almost always done by an architect and an engineer, so a "free design" rarely means a completely free process.
Ready-made or bespoke — which to choose?
A ready-made (standard) design may suit you if:
- the plot is flat and of a standard size;
- the design's layout fully suits your family;
- you're ready to pay separately for adaptation, structural design and approval.
A bespoke design is better if:
- the plot is sloped, irregular in shape or has strict K1/K2;
- you want the house laid out exactly around your lifestyle;
- you want one team to do everything — from design to permit.
A bespoke design often costs much less than people think, while many don't foresee the cost of adapting a ready-made one.
How we help at Asymmetry
Since 2019 we have created more than 1,000 projects. Send us the plot's cadastral code — we'll check the building conditions for free and tell you what size and type of house you can build. If you already have a ready-made design, we'll help adapt it, do the structural design and obtain the building permit. If not — we'll create a bespoke design at an affordable price, with the price and timeline fixed in the contract.
Architect services — a custom design →Private house design →Plot check, K1 and K2 →Getting a building permit →Contact us →
Contact: +995 571 14 14 69 · connectasymmetry@gmail.com