Category: Building Design

Hiring a building designer is a novel idea to many homeowners, however, designers like those hired at ES Design, have a wealth of knowledge about residential architecture and interior design for homes in Sydney. Building your new home is a massive construction project that requires more than just a little conceptualisation and financing. Whether you’re planning for your new residential property to be a forever home or a steady form of income in your later years, clever and effective design is a necessity.

Regardless of the size or purpose of your building project, most people benefit from a building designer’s services and often regret that they did not hire them sooner. Building designers offer more than the solutions, they ensure that the needs and wants of clients, even those that are unknown, are met.

What makes building designers so important?

An effective design is invaluable to the lifestyle, profitability and comfort of a resident. While furnishings and aesthetics are what clients tend to focus on more, in reality, the design of a home is what primarily affects a client’s overall satisfaction. Remember, furnishings and decor can be easily and affordably changed, however, the design of a home is more complex and costly to alter.

With that being said, hiring a building designer is just another cost piled on top of a number of other services needed to construct a home. So what makes a building designer valuable? Why should people invest in ES Design’s building design services?

4 reasons that will convince you to hire a building designer for your project in Sydney

You’ll save time

Have you ever realised how many decisions you have to make when it comes to the design and construction of your property? Do you know what requirements your design needs to be up to the current code?
Deciding how many bedrooms you’ll need is not the only major decision you’ll have to make. Additionally, new construction techniques and technology enter the market frequently, making it difficult for you to keep on top of. Staying updated with all of this takes time and energy – something most homeowners severely lack.
A building designer will be able to help you with all of these decisions, guide you to the right solution and help you navigate the construction and design world. Your building designer is equipped with the knowledge needed to come to the right solution for you, preventing you from spending time when really, you should be looking at paint colours.

You won’t have to fork out extra money to repair your oversights

Without design expertise, it can be easy to make a mistake that goes far into construction. For example, you may have realised that your living room does not face the view that you have access to. When this happens too late into construction, it can be extremely costly to adjust or fix.
A building designer would easily help you to avoid making costly mistakes like this. In an initial meeting and through several meetings, one of our building designers will work with you to determine how to capitalise on your land space as well as what to include in your design so that your home fits your lifestyle.

Benefit from their expertise

At ES Design, our designers do more than just interpret your needs and present you with a professional plan for your project. Our designers will guide you through the building process, help you determine what certificates and approvals you need for your specific projects and assist in the hiring of other contractors/parties needed to complete your project. In an industry that’s notoriously overwhelming and complicated for anyone who is not familiar with it, this aid is invaluable.

Designers can communicate with other parties in the construction industry

Our building designers have been in the industry for decades, which means that they have formed an impressive circle of trustworthy contractors. For your project, our company is not the only contractor that you’ll need to hire. Construction projects need builders, plumbers, electricians, interior designers and more.
It can be difficult to wade through the saturated market and select the contractor that meets your needs, is reliable and produces a quality product/service. Our building designers have formed relationships with many companies in this industry and would be glad to recommend contractors to our clients based on their needs, budget and expectations.

Contact ES Design for your next build!

If we’ve managed to convince you that building designers are worth the investment, then contact our team. At ES Design, we work with you to ensure that you get exactly what you want from your property. We know how important the design and layout of a project is and the costs of running it, especially if your livelihood depends on it, and thus, will work to ensure that we provide you with the best advice and guidance possible so that your development potential is maximised.

To find out more about our services, call us on 0460 000 000.

In 2021, we’re seeing a great shift in home design trends that have forced architect firms in Sydney, as well as draftsmen, to reconsider their approach. According to realestate.com.au, the top five features in new homes and renovations which are of greater importance now include allowing for more natural lighting; larger living spaces; greater outdoor entertaining areas; and accounting for a home office space. Optimising the area and emphasising wellbeing, these considerations are causing an inevitable shift now, and in future.

Finding the right fit to design your dream home

It is essential to understand that architecture and design is an art form in itself that should be valued and appreciated. With so many skilled professionals in the industry, how do you find the right fit?

When seeking your dream home or duplex designer, it is essential to take into account their:

— Experience

— Solution-focused mindset

— Professional knowledge

— Creative and innovative thinking ability

— Adaptive design application

— Understanding of local council and government regulations

— Flexibility and adaptability

Top 3 trends applied by architect firms and draftsmen Sydney

1 — open living spaces: with people spending more time indoors and/or hosting more in their homes, we are seeing a growing trend in open living spaces. Although open-plan living has been a growing trend for years, now more than ever are people opting for this layout, rather than equipping their homes with more bedrooms, studies, bathrooms and storage spaces.
2 — home offices: in the wake of the pandemic, many individuals and organisations were operating from home, most of which have only now started with staggered returns and/or the option for employees to continue to work from home. As a result, renovation and construction plans are now accounting for this trend with dedicated home office spaces in their plans.
3 — outdoor entertainment areas: outdoor spaces should never be undervalued. Whether in the form of a terrace, patio or even rooftop garden, outdoor living areas are becoming increasingly popular and meeting a shift in behaviour seeing more spending time outdoors. Seamless indoor-outdoor flow also optimises natural light and fresh air.

Working with ES Design is a collaborative process, as we facilitate the design and execution of dream homes coming to life. To find out more about how we can assist with your next project, write to us.

Everyone wants to achieve a cost-effective building design, but not every client understands what this entails or means. Having a small budget or reducing the cost of construction as much as possible is not the only way to be cost-effective with your building design. Instead of just maintaining low-costs throughout the building design, a comprehensive cost-effective building design solution ensures that building development approval can be acquired and that the design reflects the individual’s needs, interests, lifestyle and the objective of the building design.

Why is building development approval important to take into consideration?

When clients start thinking about their budget and cost-efficiency, they also forget that they have to acquire either a Development Approval (DA) or Complying Development Certificate (CDC). while the type of approval you need is dependent on your building, both have specific requirements which cannot be compromised to accommodate cost-efficiency.

One of ES Design’s designers will be able to work with you to prepare a cost-effective building design that is guaranteed to acquire building development approval, but that also reflects the individual’s needs and the property’s purpose.

6 considerations for achieving a cost-effective building design

1. Geographic location

The geographic location you select reflects the revenue, whether rental, commercial or sale, that you can achieve by constructing your building there. Depending on whether your building is for commercial, industrial or residential use, you’ll want to select an area in your city or state that is conducive for its purpose. For example, for a restaurant, you’ll want to be located in the city or near public transportation. For residential property developments, locations near schools, public transportation, cafes and parks are usually attractive to prospective residents. Understand who you are trying to target and research the area.

2. Orientation of your building

Every building is designed according to the sun path of the region. This allows designers to plan dedicated spaces according to where the sun’s path is most ideal. For example, spaces with very little foot traffic are designed to be in the pathway of the sun as this where it is least comfortable. Cooler areas (no sunlight) are dedicated to rooms with a lot of activity.
How does this save on costs? The design is cost-efficient because it requires building owners to use cooling systems (e.g. air conditioning system) which require less energy use and results in a relatively low-cost energy bill.

3. Roof details

The materials used in your roof are very important for determining whether a roof is a sustainable and cost-effective element of your home. We recommend a roof garden for clients interested in long-term cost-effectiveness. While a ‘green’ roof may initially be more expensive, over time, it will reduce your building’s bills by preventing direct solar impact on waterproofing membranes.

4. Wall cladding

The walls of your building can ensure that your building stays cool during the summer months and warm in the winter. This type of wall cladding helps to keep the energy bills of your building at a minimum because less energy is used to operate cooling systems like air conditioning. Many buildings in Sydney have this feature, however, it’s important to remember as it makes a major difference in your operational spending.

5. Interior design

The furnishing and interior design of your building can impact your finances as well. Sticking to basic layouts that are minimalistic and modern will certainly drive down your costs. However, other elements such as the installation of aluminium double-glazed windows or a living wall can also reduce the costs of running your building.

6. Getting helps from an ES Design team member!

Lastly, our final cost-effective recommendation is to get professional guidance and advice from a member of our team. They will work with you, your budget and help you determine what you require from a building and how you can effectively reduce your costs.

At ES Design, we work with you to ensure that you get exactly what you want from your property. We know how important the design and layout of a project is and the costs of running it, especially if your livelihood depends on it, and thus, will work to ensure that we provide you with the best advice and guidance possible so that your development potential is maximised. To find out more about our services, call us on 0460 000 000.