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Residential Architect & Landscape Architect in the Northern Rivers
New homes, renovations, landscape design and council approvals shaped around your site, climate, budget and way of living.
ARCHITECTURE WORK
Tel: +61 4 5245 2753
Byron Bay, NSW, Australia
Nominated Architect - Nicolas Diaz NSW #12039
Registered Landscape Architect (AILA)
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Services
Residential Architecture + Landscape, considered as one
We help homeowners understand what their property can support, develop the right design and navigate the path from early feasibility through Council approvals and construction documentation. Our core work includes renovations, secondary dwellings, new homes and residential landscape architecture across the Northern Rivers and selected locations along Australia’s east coast. Every project starts by looking at the property as a whole — planning controls, existing buildings, levels, access, landscape, privacy, services, budget and future opportunities — before committing to a design direction.
What we do
We review the site, your brief and the relevant planning controls to identify opportunities, constraints and likely approval pathways early. This can include: Site and planning review Development potential Preliminary building envelopes Setbacks and site constraints Secondary dwelling opportunities Renovation and extension options Likely DA or other approval pathways Early consultant requirements Staging opportunities Initial design and budget considerations A feasibility review can be undertaken as a standalone service or as the first stage of a larger project.
Renovating well is not simply about adding floor area. We first identify what is worth keeping, what is limiting the existing house and where targeted changes can create the greatest improvement. Our renovation work commonly considers: Existing structure and building fabric Internal planning and circulation Natural light and ventilation Indoor–outdoor connection Additional bedrooms and living spaces Kitchens and bathrooms Privacy and overlooking Pools, decks and outdoor living Landscape integration Staged construction Council approvals The objective is to direct the project budget towards the changes that create the most value rather than rebuilding unnecessarily.
A secondary dwelling can create additional accommodation, multigenerational living, rental potential or greater flexibility for a property. The challenge is often not simply fitting another building on the site, but making sure both dwellings work well together. We consider: Planning and approval requirements Positioning on the site Privacy between dwellings Access Parking Existing services Levels and earthworks Private open space Landscape Future use of the main house Construction and staging The result should feel like a considered property strategy, not a building placed in the leftover part of the backyard.
Know what is possible before committing to a design.
Renovations + Alterations
Make more of the home you already have.
Secondary Dwellings + Small Homes Unlock more from your property.
New Homes
Start with the site, not a predetermined floor plan.
We design new homes around the particular opportunities and constraints of the property. Orientation, topography, views, privacy, vegetation, planning controls and outdoor space are considered alongside the internal brief from the beginning. This allows the architecture to respond to the land rather than forcing the site to accommodate a predetermined building.
Landscape Architecture
Landscape is part of the project, not an afterthought.
As both architecture and landscape architecture sit within Plus Studio, the relationship between the building and its external spaces can be resolved from the beginning. Landscape design may include: Site planning Gardens and planting Pools and outdoor living Privacy and screening Levels and retaining Entries and circulation Courtyards Native and subtropical planting Landscape plans for Development Applications Multi-residential and communal landscapes Considering architecture and landscape together can also reduce conflicts between levels, structures, drainage, services, planting and outdoor spaces later in the project.