Frequently Asked Questions

We know that planning a building project raises a lot of questions, especially if you have not worked with an architect before. Below you will find answers to the questions our Melbourne clients ask most often. If your question is not covered here, please get in touch and we will be happy to help.

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 Getting Started

  • It begins with a free initial consultation. Send us your site address, a summary of your goals, and an idea of your budget, and we will arrange a time to talk. During this conversation we outline likely permits and constraints, discuss the best path from feasibility through to construction, and explain how our staged process works. After the consultation, we provide a tailored fee proposal and programme so you know exactly what to expect before committing.

  • We provide end-to-end architectural services for residential and multi-residential projects in Melbourne. Our services include site feasibility studies, concept and schematic design, town planning applications, detailed construction drawings, sustainable and Passive House design advice, interior architecture and FF&E selection, and construction management with contract administration. We coordinate engineers, surveyors, energy assessors and other consultants, and manage approvals so your project moves smoothly from first sketch to handover. You can engage us for the full journey or for individual stages depending on your needs.

  • Dadirri Architects is based in Brunswick and covers inner Melbourne, the northern and eastern suburbs, and projects across greater Melbourne and regional Victoria. We also take select projects in NSW where the brief and logistics align (we hold mutual registration in both states). For every project, we confirm local planning controls early and assemble the right consultant and builder team for the location.

  • We practise regenerative, site-responsive design. That means every project starts with a deep understanding of your site, your climate zone, and your lifestyle before we put pen to paper. Our process is structured in clear stages so you always know where you are, what decisions are coming, and what things will cost. We are budget-aware, collaborative with builders, and focused on durable, low-energy outcomes that feel great to live in. As a sole-practitioner studio, you work directly with the principal architect from start to finish.

Costs & Fees

  • Architect fees vary depending on the size, complexity, and scope of services your project requires. For residential projects in Melbourne, fees for full architectural services typically range from 8% to 15% of the construction cost, though this varies with project type and the level of involvement you need.

    At Dadirri Architects, we tailor fees after understanding your brief and site. We typically offer staged, scope-based fees and can discuss fixed-fee, percentage-based, hourly, or hybrid options depending on your project’s complexity. You will receive a transparent fee proposal outlining inclusions, exclusions, and payment milestones before any paid work begins. We believe there should be no surprises when it comes to fees.

  • Budget management starts at feasibility, not during construction. We use early cost checks with quantity surveyors or builders, value-engineering to simplify structure and services without compromising design quality, efficient building envelopes that reduce both construction cost and running costs, and a competitive tender or negotiated pricing strategy to secure the best value from builders.

    We prioritise spending where it matters most: thermal performance, natural light, spatial quality, and durable materials. We simplify where it does not add value. This approach means you get a better home for the same budget, not an expensive home that has been cut back to fit.

  • Passive House construction typically adds around 8% to 12% to the project cost compared to a standard build that meets minimum NCC requirements. The additional cost covers higher-performance windows, increased insulation, improved airtightness detailing, and heat-recovery ventilation.

    The long-term benefit outweighs the upfront investment. Passive House homes have significantly lower heating and cooling costs (often 80% to 90% lower), better indoor air quality, and greater thermal comfort year-round. We can model the cost and performance trade-offs for your specific project so you can make an informed decision about the level of performance you want to target.

The Design & Build Process

  • Timelines vary depending on your site, project scope, and the approvals required. As a general guide for residential projects in Melbourne:

    Feasibility and concept design typically takes one to three weeks. Town planning applications, if required, add two to six months depending on the council and whether advertising or objections are involved. Design development and detailed construction documentation typically takes eight to sixteen weeks. Construction for a typical home runs six to twelve months or longer, depending on scope, site conditions, and builder availability.

    We provide a realistic programme at the outset and update it as the project progresses. We will always be upfront about what is taking time and why.

  • This is one of the most common questions we hear, and the answer depends on your specific situation. Factors include the structural condition of the existing building, planning overlays and heritage controls, your sustainability goals, and your budget.

    Building new can sometimes be more cost-effective per square metre, but renovating an existing home often delivers lower embodied carbon, retains neighbourhood character, and avoids the full cost of demolition and new foundations. We test both paths early in the feasibility stage, comparing cost, planning risk, and design potential so you can make a confident decision based on evidence rather than assumptions.

  • Yes. We have experience designing on sloping, narrow, and constrained sites across Melbourne. Our approach starts with a thorough feasibility study including sun and shadow testing, level strategies, and geotechnical assessment. We use stepped floor plates, cut-and-fill management, and envelope modelling to meet amenity and height controls while capturing views and natural light. Complex sites often produce the most interesting architecture when they are approached with care and creativity.

Planning & Building Permits

  • Yes. We prepare and manage town planning applications for residential projects across Melbourne and Victoria. Our service includes preparing all required drawings (site plans, floor plans, elevations, shadow diagrams), writing planning reports that address relevant policy, navigating overlays including heritage, vegetation, and design and development overlays, liaising with council planners and responding to requests for further information, and coordinating with town planning consultants, traffic engineers, and arborists where needed.

    We also handle ResCode (Clause 55) assessments for multi-dwelling projects and can represent you at council delegate meetings or VCAT hearings if objections arise.

  • Yes. We produce fully coordinated construction drawings for building permit lodgement, including architectural plans, details, schedules, and specifications. We coordinate structural engineering, energy assessments (NatHERS), and other consultant reports required for the building permit package, and we liaise with your building surveyor through to permit issue.

    We resolve details early in the documentation phase to reduce the risk of site variations and requests for further information from the building surveyor.

  • Whether you need a planning permit depends on your council, your site’s zoning, and the type of work you are proposing. Most new homes, multi-dwelling developments, subdivisions, and significant alterations require a planning permit. Some smaller works may be exempt. We assess this during the feasibility stage and advise you on the permit pathway before any design work begins, so there are no surprises later.

Sustainable & High-Performance Design

  • Yes. However we are not accredited and require consultant sign-off. Sustainable design is central to every project we take on. For clients who want to pursue higher performance targets, we advise on Passive House principles including orientation, airtightness, high-performance windows, continuous insulation, and heat-recovery ventilation. We can also design for net-zero energy targets by combining passive design with rooftop solar, battery storage, and all-electric systems.

    We coordinate with energy assessors and Passive House consultants to model performance and guide material and system selection. Whether you are targeting certification or simply want a comfortable, efficient home, we tailor the sustainability strategy to your goals and budget.

  • Not necessarily. Many of the most effective sustainability strategies cost nothing or very little to implement: good orientation, cross-ventilation, appropriate glazing ratios, and thermal mass are design decisions, not expensive add-ons. Higher-performance targets such as Passive House certification may add 8% to 12% to construction costs, but this is typically recovered through significantly lower energy bills over the life of the building. We help you understand the cost and benefit of each strategy so you can make informed choices.


Project Types

  • Yes. We design and document dual occupancies, townhouse developments, and small multi-residential projects across Melbourne. We address Clause 55 (ResCode) requirements, daylight and overshadowing analysis, vehicle access and parking, open space, and BESS (Built Environment Sustainability Scorecard) early in the design process to support planning approvals and deliver marketable, liveable plans.

  • Yes. We confirm eligibility, assess access and services, address privacy and daylight requirements, and clarify the permit pathway for your specific site. We design compact, efficient layouts that feel generous and meet local planning and building rules. Recent legislative changes in Victoria have made secondary dwellings easier to approve on many residential lots, and we can advise on whether your property qualifies.

  • Yes. We take on select small commercial projects such as cafes, small offices, and retail fitouts. We design, coordinate code compliance (including accessibility and fire safety), manage services integration, and deliver buildable documentation within fast programmes and realistic budgets.

  • Yes. Many of our projects involve heritage overlay areas across Melbourne’s inner suburbs. Our approach includes pre-application meetings with council, heritage advice and consultation, sympathetic material selection, and reversible detailing so that contemporary additions respect the original fabric and streetscape while delivering modern comfort and performance.

Working With Dadirri Architects

  • Yes. Dadirri Architects is registered with the Architects Registration Board of Victoria (Registration No. 800040) and holds full professional indemnity and public liability insurance. We also hold Mutual Recognition to practise in NSW. Working with a registered architect gives you the protection of regulated professional standards, mandatory insurance, and accountability through the registration board.

  • Yes. We take select projects in regional NSW where logistics and the brief align. We hold mutual licence registration in NSW and confirm local planning rules and engage local consultants and builders for each project. We are particularly experienced with projects in the New England and North Coast regions.

  • Yes. Our contract administration service includes preparing tender documentation and issuing it to suitable builders, analysing tender submissions and recommending a preferred builder, administering the building contract including progress claims, variations, and instructions, conducting regular site visits to monitor quality and compliance, and managing defects identification and close-out at practical completion.

    This independent oversight protects the design intent and your investment throughout the construction phase.

  • Yes. Architecture and interior design are integrated at Dadirri Architects. We provide spatial planning, joinery design, finishes specification, lighting design, and furniture and fixture selection as part of our service. We balance durability, embodied carbon, and lifecycle cost to deliver interiors that are beautiful, practical, and considered. You can engage our interior design service as part of a full architectural commission or as a standalone service for existing homes.

Still Have Questions?

If your question was not answered above, we are happy to help. Book a free initial consultation and we will discuss your project, your site, and how we can support you from feasibility through to construction.