Home design and construction in Sydney

Traditionally, renovating an apartment requires hiring an architect to design the space and then tendering that design out to separate builders. This often leads to a disconnect where beautiful designs end up being over-budget or structurally impractical for an apartment building.

By integrating both roles under one roof, we offer an end-to-end, seamless process. We bring architectural vision and design rigour to the early stages, while instantly vetting those ideas against real-world construction costs, strata constraints, and buildability. You get a single point of contact, a transparent budget from day one, and the peace of mind that what is designed is exactly what will be built.

Yes. In NSW, almost all apartment renovations require some level of strata approval. Under the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015, renovations are generally categorised into three tiers:

• Cosmetic Work: (e.g. painting, installing carpet) Usually does not require approval.
• Minor Renovations: (e.g. renovating a kitchen, changing internal doors, reconfiguring non-structural walls) Requires a general resolution approval from the strata committee (over 50% vote).
• Major Renovations: (e.g. structural changes, waterproofing a wet area, altering the external appearance) Requires a special resolution at a general meeting (over 75% vote) and often a specific Strata By-law drafted and registered.

As your architect and builder, we manage this entire process for you. We prepare the highly technical architectural drawings, structural engineer reports, and construction methodologies that strata committees require to grant approval, making the experience stress-free for you.

Strata approval is always required, but depending on the scope of your project, you may also need local Council approval through a Development Application (DA) or a Complying Development Certificate (CDC).

If your renovation involves structural alterations, changing the external look of the building (like windows or balconies), or altering the building’s services, council oversight is mandatory. Because we are registered architects, we intimately understand the NSW planning portals, local Council LEP/DCP controls, and CDC requirements. We handle all planning submissions, ensuring your project is fully compliant with both building codes and local regulations.

Apartment renovations are highly complex logistical puzzles. Unlike standalone homes, we are working within a shared community. We take a highly disciplined approach to managing the "invisible" constraints of apartment building:

• Strata Compliance: We strictly adhere to your building’s specific by-laws regarding working hours, noise restrictions, and lift usage.
• Protection: We fully protect common property (like lining lifts and hallway carpets) and clean up daily.
• Communication: We proactively communicate with your building manager and neighbours to give them advanced notice of high-noise days (like structural demolition), preserving your relationship with your neighbours.
• Deliveries & Waste: We carefully coordinate materials handling and waste removal, utilising specialised equipment suited for tight urban access and high-rise constraints.

If a wall is non-load bearing, it can generally be removed easily, subject to strata's "Minor Renovation" approval. If a wall is load-bearing, it can still sometimes be removed or altered by introducing structural steel beams to transfer the weight. However, this constitutes a "Major Renovation" requiring structural engineering certification, acoustic testing, and a registered Strata By-law. During our initial site assessment, we use our architectural and building expertise to evaluate what is structurally and legally viable for your specific building layout.

Apartments are notorious for hidden surprises once you peel back the plasterboard—such as unexpected structural columns, shared plumbing stacks, or acoustic issues.

Our "design and construct" model is specifically built to mitigate these risks. Because we build what we design, we price your project transparently throughout the concept phase, rather than guessing at the end. Before construction starts, we undertake detailed site investigations (and invasive testing if permitted by strata) to map out services. Because we manage every detail from concept to completion, if an unexpected on-site variable does appear, our architectural team and building team collaborate instantly to solve it without halting the project or hitting you with unfair variations.