Crafting a treasured space.
Full service from concept to completion.

Our complete service covers every stage of your project. From early concept and planning through to documentation, approvals and construction. It is a complete, detail-oriented process designed to deliver buildings that perform beautifully, endure for generations and feel deeply connected to their place.

Stacked notebooks, a pen, a calculator, and a laptop on a desk with a blurred microphone in the background.

”Full service means every part of the journey is considered and cared for. From concept to completion, we carry the responsibility so you can focus on the excitement of seeing your vision come to life.”

—Tim Pardoe

5 Stage process.

Our work follows a simple, structured path. Five stages that guide projects from first ideas to finished spaces. It’s designed to keep our clients informed, in control, and inspired at every step.

  • A minimalist black and white line drawing of a face with geometric features inside a square frame.

    1. Discovery

  • Symbol of a light bulb with the orbits of electrons around it, representing science or innovation.

    2. Design

  • Icon of a checklist on a clipboard with a pencil

    3. Development Approval

  • Icon of a pen, a drawing compass, and a ruler within a square border.

    4. Documentation

  • A black and white outline drawing of a hammer.

    5. Delivery

Step by step.

Each phase of the process explained in detail.

  • Every project begins with conversation, understanding and analysis. In this stage we define your vision, priorities and budget, building the foundation for a design that reflects your needs and aspirations.

    • First Contact and Project Information
      An initial conversation to understand your goals, site and project scope. We review any material you can provide such as photos, sketches or inspiration.

    • Architects Fee Proposal
      Based on your information we prepare a tailored fee proposal outlining services, stages and estimated costs for your consideration.

    • Engagement Confirmed
      Once you are ready to proceed, we confirm engagement and the project formally begins.

    • Kick Off Meeting
      We review your Starter Guide questionnaire, clarify goals and priorities and outline the next steps toward creating a clear project brief.

    • Site Understanding
      We assess the site’s opportunities and constraints using available information. A full feature survey by a chartered surveyor will later confirm the data needed for design.

    • Room Schedule
      We define the spaces, functions and relationships that shape your project, from must haves to nice to haves.

    • Scope and Budget Analysis
      We align expectations by comparing project scale, space requirements and preliminary budget.

    • Build Strategy
      We discuss how you wish to approach construction, whether with a preferred builder, through tender, or another method.

    • Project Brief
      We consolidate all findings into a single document that captures your goals, values and budget, forming the foundation for design.

  • This stage moves from exploration to refinement. We begin by testing ideas and possibilities, then develop the preferred option into a resolved design ready for Development Approval. The process is open, collaborative and focused on creating a concept that feels right for you and your site.

    1. Sketch Design
      Up to three options that respond to the brief and site. Simple plans and visuals to explore different directions.

    2. Concept Design
      Development of the preferred option into a clear concept with layouts, three dimensional modelling, and an outline of form, materials and landscape intent.

    3. Budget Review and Alignment
      Compare the concept with your budget expectations and adjust early to keep the project realistic and achievable.

    4. Sustainability and Consultant Input
      Integrate sustainability goals and gather early advice from consultants such as engineer, surveyor and cost planner.

    5. Design Development
      Refine plans, elevations and sections with consultant input. Update three dimensional visuals and develop materials and key details.

    6. Client Sign Off
      Review and confirm the final design before we submit the project for Development Approval.

  • This stage prepares your project for planning submission. We refine the approved concept into a coordinated set of drawings and documents that meet council or authority requirements, ensuring a smooth path toward approval.

    1. Planning Approval Drawings
      Preparation of scaled plans, elevations, sections and site layouts required for development or design approval.

    2. Material and Design Refinement
      Further resolution of the building form, materials and landscape elements to align with local guidelines and your design intent.

    3. Consultant Coordination
      Integration of input from key consultants such as surveyor, engineer and sustainability assessor to ensure compliance and accuracy.

    4. Authority Liaison
      We assist with the preparation and coordination of the planning submission and respond to any requests for clarification during assessment.

    5. Approval Confirmation
      Once approval is granted, we review any conditions and confirm next steps toward detailed documentation.

  • This stage translates the approved design into precise technical information so it can be built with confidence and accuracy. We prepare the drawings, specifications and schedules required for pricing, approvals and construction. These documents form the bridge between concept and reality, ensuring clear communication between builders, consultants and authorities.

    1. Architectural Drawings and Specifications
      Comprehensive plans, elevations and details that communicate the design clearly for construction.

    2. Technical Details
      Fine construction details that protect the integrity of the design and support quality on site.

    3. Interiors and Joinery Documentation
      Detailed layouts and custom joinery drawings that define key spaces and interior features.

    4. Materials, Finishes and Fixture Schedules
      Documentation of every surface, finish and fixture for accurate pricing and ordering.

    5. Structural and Engineering Coordination
      Integration of consultant input to confirm the design is structurally sound and technically feasible.

    6. Consultant and Specialist Coordination
      Management of all external consultants to ensure every piece of project information aligns.

    7. Planning and Building Compliance
      Drawings and documents that meet regulatory requirements and support the building license application.

    8. Quality and Coordination Review
      A final review of all documentation and consultant inputs to ensure consistency, accuracy and construction readiness before issue.

    9. Cost and Tender Support (optional)
      Engagement of a cost consultant to assist with pricing or tendering, providing accurate comparisons and value assessment.

  • The delivery stage ensures your project is built as intended. We can assist through approvals, builder selection, construction and completion. Our role is flexible and tailored to your needs, from full project support to consultancy only. The focus is always on maintaining quality, communication and care through to the very end.

    1. Construction Strategy
      Define the architect’s role during construction, agree on the preferred pricing approach and outline the builder selection process.

    2. Builder Procurement
      Manage or assist with tendering or negotiation, prepare documentation and support the selection of a trusted builder.

    3. Construction Management and Support
      Oversee progress on site, liaise with the builder and consultants and provide guidance to maintain quality and alignment with the design intent.

    4. Construction Detailing and Drawings
      Prepare additional drawings or clarifications as required to resolve challenges and guide the build.

    5. Completion and Defects
      Inspect the finished work, identify any defects and assist with their resolution to uphold quality and ensure satisfaction.

    6. Handover
      Coordinate final inspections and guide the official handover so you can move into your completed building with confidence.

    7. Photography
      Arrange professional photography and documentation to capture the completed project and celebrate the design journey.

    8. Celebration Drinks
      After an incredible shared journey, we mark the completion of your project with a well-earned drink together.

Close-up view of a window with a wooden windowsill and wooden paneling, showing snow-covered trees outside.
Close-up of a staircase with wooden treads and a white wall alongside the steps.
Close-up of wooden stairs with concrete risers.
Corner of a modern wooden table or cabinet with vertical slats on the side, placed on a light-colored concrete floor.
Close-up of a staircase with light-colored concrete steps and dark wooden paneling on the side.
Close-up photograph of a wooden structure with parallel slats, showcasing the natural grain and polished finish.
Close-up of a corner where a wooden slatted wall meets a light gray concrete floor and a dark wooden floor, showing the textures and edges of the materials.
Close-up of wooden and black furniture with textured black panel in background.
Close-up of a wooden headboard with two pillows, one rust-colored and one dark green, against a white wall.
Close-up of a rubber plant with dark green and reddish leaves in front of vertical wooden paneled wall.

How we fee this process.

The table below provides an approximate guide based on overall project budget. These indicative fees are generally reliable for projects with a budget between $500K and $5 million.

Final fees are tailored to each project and confirmed in a detailed proposal. They reflect the level of detail, complexity and scope of service required from concept to completion.

Typical project fee breakdown

Table comparing project stage costs for new build, renovation, and heritage projects, including discovery, design, approvals, documentation, and delivery, with optional extras for interior, landscape, and custom furniture.
Potted plant with thin, reddish-green leaves on a brick surface in sunlight, next to a white vase and stairs.
A garden area with green plants and bushes next to a wooden fence and a brick pathway, partially shaded by sunlight.
Part of a swimming pool with clear blue water, a beige concrete border, and green plants with round leaves and long pointed leaves beside brick paving.
A window on a brick and stone wall with blurred plants in the foreground.
A swimming pool with clear blue water, surrounded by a brick and concrete patio, and a garden bed with green plants and tall grass.
A close-up of a garden with water plants and lily pads on the left, and a section of a red brick pathway on the right.
A tree with grayish trunk and green leaves, with a wooden structure and a hanging lantern in the background.
Garden with various plants and flowers in front of large glass window reflecting an outdoor pool.
Exterior view of a house with a large rectangular window reflecting plants and a person taking the photo, surrounded by greenery and plants.
Purple ornamental grass with feathery plumes growing in front of a wooden fence.

Additional Services

In addition to our full service architecture, we offer a range of additional services to complete any design.
Depending on the scale and budget, we can assemble a specialised team of consultants such as landscape architects, interior designers, engineers and other specialists, or handle the work within the studio. Every project is different, and part of our role is to discuss the options and help shape the right team for your goals.

Below are the additional services we provide.

  • A clear framework for places with many moving parts. We organise buildings, landscape and access so each element works together. The result is a clear plan and 3D model that sets out siting, massing, circulation and stages of delivery. It gives owners, councils and builders a shared picture of how the whole development works together.

  • From the front door “handshake” to the smallest joinery detail, we shape interiors that feel timeless, practical and personal. Interior design synced to the style of the architecture and the people who will use the space.

    Materials, light and textures are resolved together so the rooms work in daily life. Loose furniture, lighting styles and ambiance that tells a story. We coordinate finishes, fixtures and custom elements, and prepare clear documentation so what is built matches the design intent.

    Depending on the project we may suggest a team up with a specialized Interior Designer. This collaborative approach can yield exceptional results.

  • We like to blur the threshold between inside and outside. Landscape design and Architecture working in unison.

    We plan the entire site. Manicured gardens, untouched nature. Courtyards, decks, paths and planting. All considered so the building and landscape support each other. The focus is on climate, water, shade and seasonal growth, with durable materials and simple maintenance. The aim is a setting that matures well and invites people outside.

  • In many of the best buildings in the world, the most memorable spaces are shaped as much by the fixed furniture as by the walls and windows. Custom built in pieces tie architecture and interior together. They give a room its rhythm, hold the storage, frame the views and quietly organise daily life.

    We design stairwells that become bookcases, kitchen walls that carry storage and light, window seats that grow out of the floor and shelving that divides space without closing it. When furniture is integrated into the architecture, spaces work harder. You can often build less, use fewer loose pieces and still gain comfort, character and flexibility.

    Proportion, joinery and material are all carefully considered, and we work with trusted makers to realise each design. The result is furniture that feels rooted in the building, lasts for decades and turns a good space into one that is genuinely treasured.

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  • An image of Greenspacing.

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  • Modern kitchen and outdoor patio with brick flooring, large glass sliding doors, black countertops, and wooden accents.
    Description goes here

How long does it take to design and build?

Every project is unique, and timing can shift with scope, site, decision-making and unforeseen events. A typical project takes between 18 to 24 months. Roughly 12 months for design and approvals, and 12 for construction. Often longer, seldom shorter, but we are open to pushing the boundaries of what is possible.

Project timeline chart showing five stages: discovery, design, approvals, documentation, and delivery, with milestones including first contact, fee proposal, project brief, concept design, final design, development approval, client workshop, document draft design freeze, building license, groundbreaking, and project completion, spanning over a year.

Typical project timeline

  • Most projects require two key approvals:

    1. Development / Design Approval (DA): Confirms the proposed design before Stage 4 “Documentation.”

    2. Building License (BL): Required before Stage 5 “Delivery.”

    Every site is shaped by planning rules, restrictions and caveats. These can be followed closely or challenged within reason. Pushing boundaries may lead to a better outcome but can also add time and cost.

    We ask every client the same question.

    Do you want to follow the rules, or test them?

  • Projects with heritage status involve additional complexity at every stage. Early consultation with heritage officers is essential to understand what development is possible and where flexibility exists. This added complexity also affects architectural fees, which typically sit around 15% but are confirmed based on the specific scope and requirements of each project.

  • Renovating an existing building can be a cost-effective alternative to a new build, but it often comes with hidden challenges. Unknown conditions are frequently uncovered once construction begins, adding complexity to both process and cost. For this reason, architectural fees for renovations are typically higher — around 13% compared to 10% for new builds. We also recommend allowing a larger budget contingency to cover the inevitable “what if” discoveries along the way.

  • Specialist consultants play an important role in achieving a high-quality outcome. Some are essential, such as the surveyor and structural engineer. While others can be engaged as needed, including lighting, sustainability, civil, cost, heritage and graphic consultants. We prefer to engage and coordinate these specialists on your behalf to ensure their work integrates seamlessly with the overall design. Their fees are additional and will be outlined in later project stages.

  • The Studio has successfully delivered multiple projects in Australia while based in Hamburg. The design and documentation stages are managed remotely through clear communication and collaborative digital tools. We partner with trusted local consultants and project administration teams to provide on-the-ground expertise during construction. When project budgets allow, we gladly visit site in person . Maintaining connection, quality and care throughout the process.

Further considerations.

Exploration of ideas during early sketch stages

Keen to explore ideas?

We take on a select number of full service projects each year to ensure every detail receives the care it deserves. If you would like to experience the complete architectural process from first sketch to final handover, reach out through our contact page to begin the conversation.

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