In this guide — 6 sections
An architecture service package in Chennai typically bundles scheme drawings, elevation renders, elevation detail drawings, structural drawings and working drawings. What separates tiers is the service drawings — electrical, plumbing and flooring. Buildiyo offers three tiers at indicative rates of ₹29, ₹49 and ₹69 per sq. ft. Choose based on project size, design complexity and how much construction-stage coordination you need — not on the rate alone.
Most people comparing architecture firms in Chennai end up comparing the wrong thing. They line up headline rates, pick the lowest, and discover halfway through construction that the electrical and plumbing drawings were never part of the deal. The rate matters far less than what sits inside the package. To discuss your requirement directly, Buildiyo’s design team is on +91 70921 66366, +91 70921 66266 and +91 70921 66177.
What Is an Architecture service package?
A defined bundle of design deliverables, quoted at a fixed basis, that takes a project from concept to a drawing set a contractor can build from. It specifies which drawings you receive, how many revision rounds are included, and where the architect’s scope ends. A package is a scope document first and a price second.
The distinction matters because a drawing set is not a single object. A home needs plans, sections, elevations, structural details and services layouts, and each of those can be delivered at very different levels of resolution. An architecture company in Chennai quoting a low rate may be quoting a genuinely smaller set of drawings — which is not dishonest, but is only comparable if you know it. You can see how we approach design across the city on our top architects in Chennai page.
What Architecture Packages typically include
Six deliverable groups make up almost every residential package. Check each one against any proposal you receive.
Scheme drawings
The concept stage — site study, zoning and the floor layouts that fix how your home actually works. Efficiency decided here cannot be recovered later. See the floor plans we offer.
Elevation renders
Photorealistic views of the exterior so you approve the appearance before construction, not after. Review our 3D rendering service to benchmark output quality.
Elevation detail drawings
The dimensioned, buildable version of the render — material callouts, projections and finishes your mason can actually execute. See our building elevation designs.
Structural drawings
Foundation, column, beam and slab details. These respond to your soil condition and carry the building’s safety, so they are never an optional line item.
Working drawings
The dimensioned construction set — the document your contractor builds from daily. Incomplete working drawings are the most common source of on-site improvisation and cost creep.
Electrical, plumbing and flooring drawings
Switch and point layouts, water and drainage routing, and flooring patterns with material schedules. This group is where packages diverge most sharply.
Look at what the tiers actually differ on. Scheme, renders, elevation details, structural and working drawings are in every package at every price. The entire spread between the cheapest and most expensive tier comes down to group six alone — electrical, plumbing and flooring. Which means a rate comparison between two firms is only ever meaningful if you know how each of them treats that one group. Everything else is the same drawings at a different number.
Ask for the Drawing List, Not the Price List
We will send you a schedule naming every drawing in scope — so you can put our proposal in the same table as anyone else’s and compare row by row.
Buildiyo Architecture Packages compared
All three tiers deliver the core structural and working drawing set. The difference is how completely the service drawings are covered and how much construction-stage coordination comes with them.
Swipe or scroll to see the full table →
| Package feature | Basic | Essential | Comprehensive |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design fee (indicative) | ₹29 per sq. ft | ₹49 per sq. ft | ₹69 per sq. ft |
| Scheme drawings | Included | Included | Included |
| Elevation renders | Included | Included | Included |
| Elevation detail drawings | Included | Included | Included |
| Structural drawings | Included | Included | Included |
| Working drawings | Included | Included | Included |
| Electrical drawings | As applicable to scope | Included where relevant | Included |
| Plumbing drawings | As applicable to scope | Included where relevant | Included |
| Flooring drawings | As applicable to scope | Included where relevant | Included |
| Best suited to | Straightforward plots and simple layouts | Most independent homes needing a construction-ready set | Larger or complex builds needing full service coordination |
Indicative rates
The rates shown are indicative and quoted per square foot of built-up area. Final fees are confirmed in a written proposal against your actual plot, drawing requirement and revision scope. Statutory approval drawings, liaison work and government charges are quoted separately and are not included in these package rates.
How to Choose the right package
Five factors decide the tier. Work through them in order rather than starting from budget.
Project size and design complexity
Built-up area drives the fee, but complexity drives the tier. A compact rectangular home on a regular plot needs far less coordination than a multi-level house with cantilevers, split levels or an irregular boundary. If your design has unusual geometry, expect to need the fuller drawing set regardless of area.
Which drawings your build actually needs
Be honest about who is building. If you have engaged an experienced contractor who handles service routing competently, a lighter package may suffice. If you are managing the build yourself or working with a smaller crew, detailed electrical, plumbing and flooring drawings prevent expensive guesswork on site.
Construction-stage support and budget
Design fees are a small fraction of total project cost, but the drawings they produce govern most of the rest. Under-specifying at design stage to save a few rupees per square foot regularly costs more in rework than it saved. For a fuller breakdown of how design fees sit within overall project cost, see our architecture cost per sq. ft page.
A higher rate that includes service drawings frequently costs less than a lower rate that excludes them.
— Which is why the quotes have to be normalised first
Tell Us Who Is Building and We Will Tell You Which Tier You Need
An experienced contractor handling service routing needs less from us than a self-managed build with a small crew. The honest answer to that question decides the package — not the plot area.
How to Compare Firms and packages
- Write a single brief and send it to every firmPlot dimensions, floors, bedrooms, budget range and timeline. Identical inputs are the only way to get comparable quotes.
- Verify COA registration firstConfirm which registered architect will sign your drawings. This eliminates candidates faster than any other check.
- Ask for the drawing list, not the price listRequest a line-by-line schedule of every drawing included. Vague phrases like “all necessary drawings” are where disputes begin.
- Normalise the quotesPut each proposal into one table with the same rows. A higher rate that includes service drawings frequently costs less than a lower rate that excludes them.
- Check revision limits and overage costsFind out how many rounds each stage includes and what an extra round costs. This is the most common hidden variable.
- Confirm what happens after handoverAsk who answers site queries during construction and whether that support is inside the package or billed separately.
- Get everything into a signed scope documentDeliverables, timelines, revision limits, payment milestones and drawing ownership. A firm confident in its scope will welcome this.
Where Buildiyo Fits and frequently asked questions
We publish package inclusions and indicative rates openly because the alternative — quoting a lump sum and defining scope later — is what produces most of the disputes homeowners describe to us. Projects are led by COA-registered architects, and design support continues through construction rather than ending at handover.
On the build side, we bill against OpenBuild Pro milestones tied to verifiable progress rather than a bulk advance, and costing runs off a detailed BOQ. AI-BlueprintScan checks drawing sets for clashes and omissions before they reach site, and AI-CostTrack keeps spend visible against the estimate. Construction carries 500+ quality checkpoints and a 10-year structural warranty.
Comparing architecture packages in Chennai — what it comes down to
Four points, scope before priceThe best firms are not identified by the lowest rate per square foot. They are identified by a written scope you can hold them to, a drawing list with nothing vague in it, and a willingness to explain exactly where their responsibility ends.
Service drawings — electrical, plumbing and flooring — are where packages genuinely differ. The core structural and working drawing set is common to every tier.
Once three proposals are normalised into the same table, the right choice is usually obvious — and it is rarely the cheapest line.
Decide the drawings your build genuinely needs, then choose the tier that covers them properly. Not the other way round.
What do architecture firms in Chennai charge as design fees?
Design fees are usually quoted in one of three ways: a rate against built-up area, a percentage of total project value, or a fixed lump sum for a defined scope. Buildiyo publishes area-based rates so the basis is visible upfront — ₹29, ₹49 and ₹69 per sq. ft across our three packages. Rates are indicative and are confirmed against your actual drawing requirement in a written proposal.
What is included in an architecture service package?
Every credible package should cover scheme drawings, elevation renders, elevation detail drawings, structural drawings and working drawings. Service drawings — electrical, plumbing and flooring — are where packages genuinely differ: entry tiers include them as applicable to scope, while a comprehensive package includes the full set. Always ask for the inclusions in writing before signing.
Is per-square-foot pricing a fair way to quote architectural design?
It is transparent and easy to compare, which is why many firms use it. Its limitation is that it reflects area rather than complexity — two homes of identical size can demand very different amounts of design work. Treat the rate as a starting basis, then confirm what happens if your project needs more drawings or extra revision rounds.
How do I choose the right architecture firm in Chennai?
Verify Council of Architecture (COA) registration for the architect signing your drawings, ask to see completed buildings rather than renders alone, and request written proposals from three firms against an identical brief. Compare what each package includes rather than the headline rate — the cheapest quote is often the one missing the most drawings.
Do architectural design fees cover statutory approvals?
Usually not. Preparing statutory submission drawings and paying government fees are typically handled as separate line items, and approval timelines depend on your plot category and sanctioning authority. Ask any firm to state clearly whether approval drawings, liaison work and government charges sit inside or outside the quoted package.
Do I need the comprehensive package for a small independent house?
Not necessarily. A smaller home on a straightforward plot is often well served by a lower tier. The comprehensive package earns its cost when a project has multiple floors, complex service routing, or a design that needs close coordination between structural and MEP drawings during construction.
A Written Scope, a Clear Drawing List and a Confirmed Fee
Not sure which package fits your project? Share your plot size and requirement with Buildiyo’s COA-registered architects at Sree Narayana Complex, Velachery, Chennai 600042.
Compare scope, then compare price
The best architecture firms in Chennai are not identified by the lowest rate per square foot. They are identified by a written scope you can hold them to, a drawing list with nothing vague in it, and a willingness to explain exactly where their responsibility ends. Once three proposals are normalised into the same table, the right choice is usually obvious — and it is rarely the cheapest line.
Decide the drawings your build genuinely needs, then choose the tier that covers them properly.