Step-by-Step Building Design Process
We review your site, brief, budget and planning controls before developing the design and preparing drawings for the appropriate DA, CDC or Construction Certificate pathway. Consultant coordination and NSW Planning Portal lodgement are managed where included in scope.
01.
Site Information Before Design
Before your design consultation, we usually ask you to obtain a current site survey and Section 10.7 Planning Certificate. These confirm key site details such as boundaries, levels, easements, zoning and planning controls, giving the project a proper starting point before design work begins.
02.
Design Consultation
Your project starts with a detailed consultation to understand your lifestyle, budget, design goals and approval requirements. We discuss what you want to build, how the home needs to function and the most appropriate approval pathway for the project.
03.
Site Review & Planning Constraints
We review the planning controls and site conditions that may affect what can be built. This can include setbacks, building height, floor space, solar access, privacy, parking, stormwater, BASIX, NatHERS, bushfire, heritage and council-specific requirements. See how planning and approval constraints were resolved on Wheeler Heights House.
04.
Design Strategy
Once your brief and site constraints are clear, we develop a design strategy that balances lifestyle, planning compliance, buildability, sustainability and long-term value. The approach will vary depending on whether you are planning a custom home, renovation, extension, duplex, dual occupancy or more complex site.
05.
Concept Design
The concept design stage turns your brief and site review into an initial design solution. This is where floor plans, room relationships, external form, rooflines, elevations, street presentation and outdoor areas are developed.
06.
Design Review & Refinement
Once the initial concept is prepared, your design is reviewed and refined before detailed drafting begins. This is the time to adjust layout, room sizes, windows, materials, circulation and outdoor areas before the project moves into technical documentation.
07.
DA, CDC & Approval Documentation
Once the design direction is resolved, we prepare the drawings and documentation needed for your DA, CDC or Construction Certificate pathway. This may include site plans, floor plans, elevations, sections, shadow diagrams, BASIX coordination, NatHERS coordination and supporting documents for council, a certifier or the NSW Planning Portal.
08.
Consultant & Approval Coordination
Many residential projects need input from consultants such as certifiers, engineers, BASIX or NatHERS assessors, heritage consultants, bushfire consultants, surveyors or stormwater consultants. We help coordinate this information so the design and approval documentation stay aligned.
09.
Construction Certificate & Building Documentation
After DA approval, further plans and documentation are generally required for a Construction Certificate before building work can commence. Where a CDC applies, planning and construction approval are combined, so a separate Construction Certificate is not required.
10.
Construction Support
Your project may still need design clarification during construction. Where required, we can assist with builder queries, drawing updates, site conditions and documentation support. We do not build homes. Our focus is building design, architectural drafting, documentation and the approval pathway.
PRACTICAL PLANNING ADVICE
Understand your site, planning controls and likely approval pathway before design work begins.
BUILDABLE DESIGN
Design advice that balances lifestyle, council requirements, construction costs and buildability.
CLEAR DOCUMENTATION
DA, CDC and Construction Certificate drawings prepared with the right level of detail for the next stage.