JBN
It took half a year to make peace — the difference between one contractor and two in Bishkek
· 5 min read
It took half a year to reconcile the designer with the builder: the project was split up to save money, but both ends up having to be paid extra. On the second building, everything was entrusted to a single contractor, saving time and nerves
How it usually goes
Sanzhar ordered the design from one company and the construction from another, because it came out cheaper that way. The first discrepancies showed up at the foundation
The designer said the building wasn't going up to the drawings. The builder said the drawings couldn't be built as they were. Sanzhar spent half a year going back and forth between them and ended up paying extra to both
For the second building, he handed everything to a single contractor. There was no one left to argue with — and that turned out to be the biggest saving
What people come to us about
People ask if they can order just the design. They can, but the design is done with an eye toward who will build it and how
If this sounds like you
- Do you only do design, or construction too?
- Can I order just the design?
- Do you already have a design? We could work out an estimate
How it works
The sequence is: concept, architecture, structural design with calculations, working documentation, construction, and site supervision
The stages run under a single contract. There's no handoff point between them where decisions usually get lost and the question of "who was supposed to do this" comes up
How to prepare
A plot of land, the building's purpose, and the desired area are enough. Everything else gets worked out at the first consultation
Most frequently asked questions
How much does design cost?
For commercial buildings, the benchmark is $12 to $15 per m². Across projects overall, the range is $7 to $20 per m²
Is the initial consultation paid?
No. The first consultation and preliminary project assessment are free — you can meet at the office or go through the task online
Source of this case study — JBN's correspondence with people who reached out, and the company's publications. The story is compiled from similar inquiries: the name is fictional, details have been changed
The case is real — compiled from JBN's publications. The client's name has been changed
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