Process
Good buildings come from a clear process. Here is what we do, how we work, and what it costs to engage the studio.
What we do
New residential architecture
We design new houses from a blank site, working from your brief and budget toward a building that suits its place and the way you live. We take the project from the first concept sketches through to a complete set of construction documents.
Included. Site analysis, concept design, design development, planning permit if required, full construction documentation, and support through the build.
Renovations and extensions
Most of our work involves an existing house. We are experienced at adding to and reworking homes so the result feels whole rather than bolted on, and at knowing when to keep what is already there.
Included. Assessment of the existing house, concept and design development, structural and consultant coordination, documentation, and build-stage support.
Interior design
We design interiors as carefully as we design buildings, whether as part of a larger project or on their own. Joinery, materials, lighting, finishes and furniture, resolved into one coherent home.
Included. Spatial planning, joinery design, material and finish selection, lighting design, and a furniture and fixtures schedule.
Heritage and town-planning support
We work regularly in heritage overlays and through the planning system. We can prepare and lodge planning applications, respond to council, and design new work that respects protected fabric while being honest about its own time.
Included. Planning advice, heritage-sensitive design, application preparation and lodgement, and liaison with council and consultants.
Documentation and build-stage support
A design is only as good as its drawings and the way it is built. We document our projects thoroughly and stay involved through construction, reviewing the work on site and answering the questions that come up on every build.
Included. Tender documentation, builder selection support, contract administration, regular site visits, and resolution of detail during construction.
How we work
Five stages, from the first conversation to the keys in your hand.
- 01
First conversation
We meet, on your site if there is one, and talk about what you are hoping for, your budget and your timeline. This first conversation is free and carries no obligation. By the end of it we can usually tell you honestly whether we are the right studio for the project.
- 02
Concept design
We study the site, the brief and the constraints, and return with a concept: sketches, a physical model and a clear direction. This is the most important stage, where the project finds its shape. We test ideas here, on paper and in model, where changes cost nothing.
- 03
Design development
We resolve the concept into a considered design, working through the plan, materials, structure and the consultants the project needs. By the end of this stage you know what the building is, what it is made of, and what it will cost to build.
- 04
Documentation and approvals
We prepare the detailed drawings a builder needs to price and construct the project, and we manage any planning and building approvals along the way. This is the quiet, careful work that decides how well the building goes together.
- 05
Construction
We help you select a builder, administer the building contract, and visit the site regularly through construction. We stay until the project is finished and you have the keys. The studio that started your project is the studio that hands it over.
Fees and engagement
We believe in being plain about money. Our fees are a percentage of the construction cost, typically between 10 and 15 per cent for a full architectural service from concept to handover, depending on the size and complexity of the project. Interior-only projects are quoted as a fixed fee or an hourly rate, depending on scope.
For most new houses and significant renovations, the realistic minimum build budget we work with is around $600,000. We will always give you an honest indication of likely cost early, before you have spent much, so you can decide whether to proceed with clear eyes.
We take on a limited number of projects each year so that each one gets the attention it needs. If we are not the right fit, or the timing does not work, we will tell you, and where we can we will point you toward someone who is.
Ready to start?
Tell us about your site and what you have in mind. The first conversation is free, and we will give you a straight answer about whether we can help.
Start a conversation