At Reddog Architects, we specialise in residential homes (new builds, renovations, heritage), public & educational buildings (schools, community centres), commercial projects (offices, mixed-use), multi-residential dwellings and interiors. Whether it’s a new build, a renovation or an adaptive reuse, out focus is always on creating spaces that respond to people, place and purpose.

Our process is structured yet flexible. It generally follows these stages:

1. Initial Consultation – to understand your goals, budget and site.
2. Schematic Design – exploring options and ideas.
3. Design Development – refining the preferred design.
4. Contract Documentation – preparing drawings for approvals and construction.
5. Construction Phase – working alongside you, the builder, and consultants to deliver the project.

We guide you through each step so you always know what’s happening and what’s next. Each phase is tailored to your brief, site, budget and timeline. You can read more about our design process and working with us here: How We Work With You.

The earlier, the better. Engaging us at the outset allows us to help shape the vision, understand your needs, and navigate planning or approval processes before major decisions are locked in. This often saves time and cost down the track.

Architects bring a combination of creativity, design expertise, technical knowledge, and regulatory experience that goes beyond the scope of many building designers. While both can create functional plans, architects are trained to think outside the box and consider the broader context of your project, including aesthetics, sustainability, spatial efficiency, and integration with the surrounding environment. Architects are also licensed professionals who can navigate complex planning approvals, coordinate consultants, and ensure compliance with building codes, giving you greater confidence in both the design and the final outcome. Simply put, working with an architect ensures your project is well-designed, safe, and future-proofed, while reflecting your vision and lifestyle.

It’s helpful to bring any site information (such as survey plans or title documents), examples of spaces you like, and a sense of your budget. Most importantly, bring your ideas — even if they’re just rough thoughts and inspiration images. That’s where we start the conversation.

The brief will evolve over time and with further conversations and discussions there will be other items that will come to fruition. We understand circumstances may change or your brief may change. It is important to be honest and transparent about your needs and requirements and for us to maintain an open level of dialogue.

The schematic design phase usually takes 3–6 months, depending on project complexity, site conditions, and how quickly decisions are made. No project timeline is the same so we will discuss the potential timeframes for design development, documentation, council approvals and construction early in the design process.

We listen to your needs and will design a home for you. We design homes that are responsive to the region’s climate, maximise natural light and ventilation, connect indoor and outdoor living and embrace the landscape. Our approach balances sustainability, functionality, and the creation of memorable spaces.

Our fees are tailored to the scope, complexity, and site conditions of each project. For private residential projects, fees are typically based on a percentage of the construction budget for each stage. We provide a clear fee proposal upfront, so you know the scope of service, the deliverables and the costs before work begins. From the start, we discuss your budget openly and design strategically to achieve the best outcome within it, providing opinions of probable cost at key stages and collaborating with quantity surveyors and builders to align the project with the budget.

Absolutely. We see every project as an opportunity to create environmentally responsible spaces. This might include passive design strategies, material selection, energy efficiency measures and integration with landscape. Our aim is to create buildings that are not only beautiful, but also resilient and future-focused.

You can read more about our commitment to sustainability and how sustainability can be achieved in architecture here: Sustainability at Reddog

At Reddog Architects, quality and quality improvement is at the heart of everything we do. We follow a structured, audited, quality-assured policy and processes that includes careful planning, rigorous checks, and continuous review at every stage of a project. Our team adheres to industry standards and best practices, and we regularly assess our workflows to identify improvements. This means that every deliverable you receive from us is carefully vetted for accuracy, consistency, and excellence. Simply put, our quality assurance processes are designed to give you confidence that you’ll receive work you can trust, every time.

The type and number of approvals required depend on your project’s brief and location. Some projects may need a Development Approval, which is part of the town planning process and can vary between councils. At Reddog, we can prepare the necessary documentation, lodge applications with local councils, and liaise with consultants such as town planners and engineers to help streamline the approval process.

Yes. We have strong relationships with a range of reputable builders and can recommend contractors suited to your project’s type, scale, and complexity. We can also assist with tendering, builder interviews, and contract negotiations to ensure you choose the right construction partner. Of course, if you already have a builder in mind, we’re happy to work with them as well.

Yes. We can coordinate planning approvals and manage the broader consultant team (engineers, surveyors, certifiers and others). This streamlines the process for you and ensures all requirements are met.

Yes. We can manage tendering, contracts, site inspections and defect checks. We can administer the building contract on your behalf. This ensures the built outcome aligns with the design intent and gives you peace of mind throughout the construction process.

You can read more about our design process and working with us here: How We Work With You.