Blog
Insights on architecture, design thinking, and the built environment.
Planning
CDC vs DA in NSW: Which Approval Pathway Fits Your Project?
25 September 2026 · 11 min read
How a CDC and a DA differ in NSW, which projects qualify for complying development, how to choose a private certifier, and what changed in 2024 to 2026.
Planning
Section 10.7 Planning Certificates in NSW: What They Show and How to Get One
25 September 2026 · 9 min read
What NSW section 10.7 planning certificates contain, 10.7(2) vs 10.7(5), 2026/27 fees, how to order one, and what they will not tell you.
Design
Architect Who Partners with Local Consultants Across Sydney Councils
6 September 2026 · 3 min read
How Yaxley Studio’s project-architect model partners with local design consultants and town planners matched to your Sydney or NSW council — for residential, commercial, and hospitality work.
Planning
How to Get a DA Approved for a Rooftop Extension in Sydney (NSW Guide)
6 September 2026 · 3 min read
Practical NSW guide to rooftop extension DAs — height, heritage, streetscape, pre-lodgement, and redesign after refusal — with lessons from Yaxley Studio’s 87 Wolfe Street rooftop extension.
Planning
Feasibility Study Before a Sydney Renovation? Start with a NSW Planning Check
6 September 2026 · 2 min read
Before you buy or design a Sydney renovation, separate verified NSW planning evidence from guesswork. How Yaxley Studio’s property planning check feeds real feasibility and DA work.
Architecture
Project Architect vs Hiring a Designer Directly in Sydney
6 September 2026 · 3 min read
Why Sydney homeowners comparing a project architect to hiring a designer directly should look at accountability, council knowledge, and coordination — not just the design fee line.
Architecture
How Much Does an Architect Cost in Sydney?
27 March 2026 · 12 min read
Straight talk on architect fees in Sydney: how fees are structured, what drives the cost, what each stage includes, and how to compare quotes like for like.
Planning
Knockdown Rebuild in Sydney: Costs, Process and Renovate vs Rebuild
25 March 2026 · 15 min read
What a knockdown rebuild costs in Sydney in 2026, how the process and approvals work, and how to choose between renovating and rebuilding.
Architecture
Architect vs Building Designer in NSW: Which Do You Actually Need?
20 March 2026 · 6 min read
The title 'architect' is legally protected in NSW. 'Building designer' is not. Here is what that means for your project, your budget, and your consumer protection.
Planning
Understanding Planning Regulations in Sydney
20 February 2026 · 7 min read
Sydney's planning system has six stages, three planning instruments, and wildly inconsistent council timelines. Here's the practical guide we wish every client read before their first meeting with us.
Architecture
Choosing the Right Architect for Your Project
15 February 2026 · 5 min read
Not all architects are created equal. Here's what Sydney homeowners actually need to know before signing a fee agreement, from costs and credentials to the red flags nobody talks about.
Design
The Benefits of a Design Consultant Model
10 February 2026 · 5 min read
Why more property owners are choosing practices that partner with specialist design consultants instead of large multi-disciplinary firms.
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