Design & Build glossary

    Clear, plain-English definitions of the terms you'll hear across architecture, interior design and construction projects — so you can read a quote, brief or proposal with confidence.

    Turnkey
    A project where a single firm designs and delivers a space end to end and hands it over ready to use, so the client deals with one accountable party instead of coordinating multiple vendors.
    Design-and-build
    An arrangement where one firm is responsible for both the design and the construction/execution of a project, giving the client a single point of accountability from concept to handover.
    Specification (spec)
    The act of selecting a particular product for a particular use, with its size, finish, grade and technical properties confirmed and compatible with the rest of the build. When an architect or designer 'specifies' a product, they create downstream demand for it.
    BOQ (Bill of Quantities)
    An itemised list of the materials, parts and labour required for a project, with quantities, used to price the work and compare contractor quotes on a like-for-like basis.
    MEP
    Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing — the building services that make a space function, including HVAC, electrical wiring, water supply and drainage. MEP coordination ensures these systems work together and fit the design.
    Fit-out
    The work of making an interior space ready for use — finishes, partitions, ceilings, lighting, furniture and services — typically after the base structure is complete.
    FF&E
    Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment — the movable and loose items in a space (furniture, lighting, soft furnishings, appliances) as distinct from the fixed building and finishes.
    RCC
    Reinforced Cement Concrete — concrete strengthened with steel reinforcement, the primary structural material for slabs, beams and columns in most Indian construction.
    Snagging
    The final inspection before handover, where defects and unfinished items ('snags') are listed and fixed so the space is delivered to the agreed standard.
    Built-up area
    The total constructed floor area of a space including walls and usable area, commonly used to size projects and quote per-square-foot fees and rates.
    Mood board
    A visual collection of images, materials and colours that communicates the intended look and feel of a design — a fast way to align a client and a designer on style.

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