Category: Residential Design

Australia’s design industry is amidst a complex legal and regulatory landscape in commercial and hospitality projects. However, when building a new residential property or starting a major renovation, there are still many hoops to jump through when complying with the rules and regulations of building in NSW, as well as your local council.  Before you begin, ensure you are taking all the necessary steps in the design phase. After all, the cost of compliance is cheaper than a re-build. 

Here, ES Design looks at compliance and the steps needed before starting any building project.

What is a Development Application (DA)?

A DA is a formal application for development that requires consent under the NSW Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EP&A Act). This application is generally submitted to your local council and consists of standard application forms, to scale architectural plans, owner’s consent form and technical reports.

With over 25 years of experience, the team at ES Design can help you maximise the chances of a successful Development Application with our streamlined process. We work with the council and all relevant certifiers to create a design that aligns directly with your specifications and all planning requirements for a smoother process. 

New legislation for residential apartment buildings

Firstly, what is a residential apartment building? This is a group of apartments used for residential use. However, apart from a DA, a residential apartment building comes with its own rules and regulations. The apartment building design must comply with the NSW Department of Planning’s Apartment Design guide, which provides consistent planning and design standards for apartments across the state. The NSW Government recently introduced new legislation that tackles the issues with building residential apartments – The Residential Apartment Building (Compliance and Enforcement Powers) Act 2020 (NSW). Developers must now submit an Expected Completion Notice along with an Occupation Certificate. We welcome these changes. Quality developers, designers, contractors and suppliers have been competing against dodgy developers who have been cutting corners for too long. At ES Design, we keep you updated with the latest information and key planning and design regulation changes. 

Why is the residential building designer important?

The design process is far more complex than most people realise. Apart from the owner/developer’s needs, the property’s purpose, the various state and council regulations and the specific site all play a part in the design and must be considered during the planning process. 

Here are a few specific reasons why the design process is so important:

• To ensure that it reflects the owner’s specific needs
• To guarantee compliance with the BCA, Australian Standards, Building Fire Safety regulations and council requirements
• To scout the site and ensure that the design plan is suitable
• To ensure the best chance of Development Application (DA) approval

5 stages of the design process with ES Design

Stage 1: Project brief

We meet with our clients to discuss your proposal and explore the smoothest way to meet your objective for the property. Our design team suggests different options, and you may require a NSW Title Search, Deposited Plan, sewer diagram, survey or Section 10.7 Planning certificate before the design team begins.

Stage 2: Site visit

Depending on your site, some things may not be possible because of geographical limitations or council requirements. If the design project is a renovation, a drawing of the existing building will be done before starting on creative solutions.

Stage 3: Design brief and preliminary design

After creating a comprehensive summary of what is needed for your plan, sketches are produced, edited and amended and then finally, a preliminary design is sent to you. Any changes needed must be made at this stage.

Stage 4: Design Approval

Once all amendments have been, our team will document and detail the plans. They will also begin getting quotes from engineers, stormwater consultants and accessibility construction consultants.

Stage 5: DA lodgement

Your final plan will be lodged with the necessary documentation for DA approval. We also act as the applicant on your behalf to relevant local government authorities, and we are happy to talk to your council regarding your development or the application itself to help the process move along smoothly.

We are a dedicated and transparent team of industry professionals that are always available to answer your questions. If you’d like to find out more, navigate our website or call 0460 000 000 to speak to one of our experts for advice or information or to book an appointment.

Like many things, the design of residential buildings has adapted to our modern lives post-pandemic. Various trends in design have emerged in projects over the last three years with no signs of slipping away any time soon, thanks to the new norm.

What is a residential building?

Residential building types include single-family, mobile, duplex, semi-detached, and apartments.

A residential building is “buildings that contain one or more dwellings, intended for the provision of long-term accommodation.“

Whatever the scale, the impact of Covid has undoubtedly impacted their construction, namely the planning and design phase.

The most prevalent influence on design is simply due to the extended periods of home isolation forced on us. Pre-pandemic meant many of us were on the go. However, because of isolation and lockdown, Australians spent more time at home—a considerable amount of time to figure out what is wanted and needed in a home.

The pandemic has affected how we work, sleep, live, entertain, and exercise.

For residential designers, this means there is a different list of needs to consider when planning and designing a home. Say hello to the home-centric resident.

Here are some trends in residential building designs, thanks to Covid:

1. Open-plan spaces
   Open-plan design refers to a floor plan that uses large, open spaces while limiting the use of small rooms. Open-plan living spaces have become increasingly popular and preferred layouts in modern home designs because of their increased flexibility and countless possibilities.
   
   Open spaces purposely exclude doors and extra walls to create a sense of connection and interactivity within the home without obstructing minimalistic interior designs. These plans also encourage free-flowing spaces characterised by easy freedom in movement and the ability to style. It also maximises space by implementing multipurpose areas, giving the illusion of a larger area.
   
2. Space allocated to working from home
   Work from home has become increasingly popular post-pandemic. Now, there is a blurred line between work and home, so residential designs must allow for versatility while promoting productivity.
   
   Adding a study nook or a home office caters to this new WFH white-collar persona. Due to the prolonged working hours, home office spaces must have proper ventilation, a flexible layout, and comfortable furniture.
   
   Where a specific space is not allocated for work, new outlooks on common areas evolve to ensure a transformable social space to address living and work modes.
   
3. Access to fitness, post-pandemic
   The pandemic has put a significant strain on the physical and mental health of many. As a result, many used exercise as a refuge to maintain wellbeing. In residential designs, many building designers now encourage active lifestyles (pedestrian/bike-friendly cities, parks, or fitness/sports centres) to increase human comfort and health by including home gyms or home training zones, standing study nooks, more oversized windows to allow for ample sunlight, well-ventilated spaces.
   
   Covid has forced entire countries and cities into lockdowns, forcing new habits to emerge among fitness enthusiasts and generally anyone wanting to exercise. Because of limited access, residential building designers incorporated an active lifestyle in the home.
   
4. Privacy where needed
   The repercussions of Covid on new residential construction argue against a shared space. However, this is not to be confused with open-planning. Big and beautiful open spaces are all the rage. However, privacy is not to be compromised. The separation of guest entertainment and private sleeping areas is becoming a thing. Innovative and improved, the need for dedicated spaces for specific functions is a way for Australians to embrace coziness and solitude.
   

What do residential interior designers charge?

Residential interior designers have a reputation for being expensive. To understand how much it costs for residential home designs, it is essential to take note of exact requirements and needs, including time and budget specifications.

Incorporating elements into a space to make it more functional and fit for multi-purposes will require larger costs. Ultimately, the style, functionality, and materials implemented in designs will incur more costs.  

Our team can advise you and help you design an interior suited to your vision. Get in touch with us today.

A dream home must boast uniqueness, and the Australian residential design industry has evolved to match. Here at ES Design, we’re proud to provide our customers with cutting-edge design, by leaning into your enthusiasm for achieving a house that overcomes challenges building designers face.

Although every assignment is unique, the complex choices made by building designers are common; exhilarating for our team of industry-leading experts. From navigating the ins and outs of planning to legislation and protocols to making your dream tangible, ES Design is here to help you. 

The beauty of building designers, especially in the residential sector, is that we adopt the role of the ‘middle man (or woman)’ on issues that cross daily lives and solve these issues so that occupants can, for the lack of a better term, ‘live’. 

For the resident, owning and designing a home is a big deal, so it’s easy to become overwhelmed with the amount of customisation and decision-making involved. While it can give you a sense of creative freedom, it is undoubtedly better left in the hands of an expert.

Understanding what’s trending in residential house designs post-pandemic

Australians have certainly shifted the ways they interact with their homes. These new interactions result from many things, including the curve-ball known as COVID-19.

COVID-19 has posed an incredible influence on the way people live. The idea of a post-pandemic dream home is not an isolated thought, and the features of homes are very much a result of this influence. With more and more Australians spending time in the home, residents are increasingly aware of their space and how they use it. 

Working from home:

Perhaps the most significant impact of the pandemic on residential house designs is the inclusion of a workspace. This feature is becoming more prevalent as more and more Australians work from home, meaning what was once considered a luxury in a house, has now become a necessity. 

As building designers, we are responsible for ensuring homeowners’ lives are positively impacted by house design. From minute details such as carefully placed mechanical and electrical provisions are ony one way we industry experts can assist in allowing for the ultimate working from home experience. 

Open plans or improved transition zones:

Mask-wearing and constant hand sanitising during the pandemic can label Australians as experts on hygiene. As a result, there is an undoubtedly increased interest in bettering one’s hygiene and sanitation. 

Building designers now know to focus on optimising spaces and leaning into natural connections between areas, improving functionality and transition from one room to another in the home. Once considered separate spaces in house design, different areas in the home are now seamlessly integrated, meaning ‘open’ but without compromising one’s privacy as more time is spent at home. Consequently, there is a new, modern interpretation of what is known as ‘open spaces’ and building designers know all about how to incorporate this into their designs.

The great outdoors:

The focus on hygiene and sanitation has also increased interest in outdoor spaces and well-ventilated areas, not to mention the realisation that the outdoors is crucial to one’s health and wellbeing. Building designers maximise outdoor spaces by carefully creating areas that can be enjoyed all year round, not only when weather permits. 

The idea of improved external amenities is a consequence of lockdowns during the pandemic, pushing people to value fresh air more than ever before. Now, comfort and functionality outdoors are a must; new house designs reflect this new epicentre of the home. 

What to consider when beginning your residential home design

Armed with the knowledge of the most common and most functional residential house designs in Australia, it can still be a problematic process when choosing the right residential house design. Here is a fundamental list of considerations when beginning to design your dream home:

Land size:

Your dream home design is important, but you’ll need to make sure it works for the block of land you’ve landed on. Knowing your location and scenery back to front can help you choose the right residential design for your home. For example, if you’ve got incredible views, make the most of it with floor-to-ceiling windows. As building designers, ES Design is here to help balance the size of your home design, your land size, zone analysis, local regulations, and your budget.

List your ‘non-negotiables’:

This is important—before you dive into designing your dream residential home, make sure you stop to think about all of the features you’re after. Do you need three or four bedrooms in your home? Maybe you’d like to have a home study, as well as a separate entertainment area where you can completely let loose and relax?

A great way of establishing this is to create a list of rooms you ‘must-have’ in your house. Below is a non-exhaustive list:

• Bedrooms 
• Bathroom/s
• Kitchen/s
• Living room/s
• Storage room/s 
• Workspace
• Garage 
• Exterior spaces

For each of these rooms, it is crucial that you consider the way you live (or want to live), and work around that.

Explore all of your options

While you’re exploring the various house designs on offer, be sure to keep an evolving list of what you like and don’t like. Research is important in this phase, but be sure you’re not falling head over heels for a design before exploring other options. It’s always good to keep a few designs as a backup in case something doesn’t work out.  

Think ahead

Building a home is a big deal, so you’ll want to think about your future and gauge how long you might be living in your new dream home. Of course, life can never be linear, but if you know you’re ready to start a family or add a few more kids into the mix, make sure you choose a design that aligns with your house design.

Hiring the perfect building design team for your house

At ES Design, we take pride in our professional team, and our industry-leading designs are a testament to our 20+ years of experience in the industry. However you go about choosing the residential house design that works for you, you’re in safe hands with ES Design. Boasting over 25 years of experience, we’re here to help your dream home come to life, your way.