Once you've decided to work with an architect, the next decision matters just as much: which one. The right architect shapes far more than how a building looks. They influence what gets approved, what it costs, how smoothly construction runs, and how well the finished building works for the people who use it.
This guide explains how to choose an architect in Australia, with a focus on New South Wales. It covers what to prepare before your first meeting, how to confirm you are dealing with a registered architect, what to look for in experience and portfolio, and which parts of the written agreement deserve close attention.
Defining Your Project
The best architect relationships start with a clear picture of what you want to achieve. Before your first meeting, think about how you will use the building, your rough budget for construction, your timeframe and any non-negotiables. You don't need to have answers to design questions. That is the architect's job. But a clear sense of purpose and budget helps them give you realistic advice from day one.
Gathering key site documents early will also save time. These typically include the Certificate of Title, any survey of the site, existing plans if the property has been built on or approved before, and a planning certificate from council (often called a section 10.7 certificate). The planning certificate tells you the zoning and identifies constraints such as heritage listing, bushfire or flood risk.
It also helps to be aware of the controls that apply in your area, without needing to master them. A heritage conservation area, such as Haberfield in Sydney's inner west, can significantly shape what can be built, and councils' local environmental plans and development control plans set rules on height, setbacks and character. For specialist building types, such as childcare Centres, additional frameworks apply, including the National Regulations and the NSW Child Care Planning Guideline. A good architect will work through these with you, but knowing they exist helps you ask the right questions.
Determining Who You Need
Architects, building designers and drafts people can all prepare drawings, but their training, regulation and scope are different. In NSW, the title "architect" is protected under the Architects Act 2003. Only people registered with the NSW Architects Registration Board can call themselves architects, and they must meet minimum education, experience and examination requirements and comply with a Code of Professional Conduct.
Building designers provide design and documentation services, often for houses and smaller projects, and are not required to be registered architects. Drafts-people generally prepare technical drawings from someone else's design or for straightforward work. Both can prepare drawings for council applications, and for a simple alteration that may be all you need. Some building types carry their own requirements, however: residential apartment buildings in NSW require a design verification statement from a registered architect, and design work on Class 2 apartment buildings also falls under the Design and Building Practitioners Act 2020.
As a project becomes more complex, the value of an architect increase. Constrained or sloping sites, heritage areas, larger budgets, commercial and childcare buildings, and projects likely to face objections or detailed council scrutiny all benefit from an architect's training in design, regulation and contract administration. An architect is also trained to manage the whole process through construction, not just to produce drawings for approval.
These professionals do work together. An architect will often coordinate a team of consultants, including structural engineers, surveyors, planners, hydraulic and services engineers, landscape architects and certifiers. In most cases, you engage one lead design professional, and they help you identify and coordinate the other specialists about your project needs.
Verifying Your Professional Architect
Before engaging anyone, who calls themselves an architect, check out the public register on the NSW Architects Registration Board website. It takes a few minutes and confirms that the person is registered and entitled to practice. Engaging an unregistered person who presents as an architect means you lose the protections that come with registration, including the Code of Professional Conduct, the obligation to maintain professional indemnity insurance, and access to the Board's complaints process.
It is worth understanding the difference between the two organisations you will often see mentioned. The NSW Architects Registration Board is the statutory regulator. It maintains the register, sets professional standards, and handles complaints. The Australian Institute of Architects is a voluntary professional body that architects can choose to join. Membership signals a commitment to ongoing professional development, but registration with the Board is what legally entitles someone to practice as an architect.
Becoming a registered architect is a long process. It typically involves completing an accredited architecture degree (usually five years of university study at bachelor and master level), logging a period of supervised practical experience, and passing the Architectural Practice Examination. That combination of education, experience, and examination is what the protected title represents.
Looking at Your Chosen Architect's Experience
Architecture is a broad profession, and experience in your building type matters. At ArtMade, we work across residential, commercial and childcare architecture, and each carries its own regulatory landscape. Residential architects in Sydney need to navigate council development controls and BASIX sustainability requirements, while commercial work involves more complex fire safety, access and building classification requirements under the National Construction Code.
Childcare is one of the most regulated building types. Its design must satisfy the Education and Care Services National Regulations, the NSW Child Care Planning Guideline, and the National Construction Code at the same time. There is no separate qualification for childcare architecture, so experience is the best measure of capability. An architect who has taken several Centres through approval will understand where applications commonly stall and how to design those issues from the start.
These disciplines overlap more than people expect. The National Construction Code applies to every building; accessibility requirements apply to most commercial and childcare buildings, and acoustic, traffic and amenity issues come up across all three. An architect with experience across several building types often brings useful insights from one to another.
Mixed-use buildings combine these challenges. Shop-top housing, apartments over retail, and childcare Centres within larger developments require an architect who can resolve different building classifications, fire separation, separate entries and different planning controls within one design. If your project combines uses, ask specifically about the architect's experience with that kind of building.
The building type also affects how long approval is likely to take. Childcare applications often involve more detailed assessment of traffic, parking, noise and site suitability than an equivalent commercial project, and supporting reports are almost always needed. A residential alteration may move much faster, particularly if it qualifies a complying development pathway. An experienced architect will give you a realistic view of your approval timeline from the start.
Reading Your Chosen Architect's Portfolio
An architect's portfolio is one of the best ways to understand how they think and work. Look for completed projects similar to yours in type, scale and budget, and notice whether the work responds to its site and its users rather than simply repeating one style. Browsing our recent projects is a good example of the kind of insight a portfolio can give you, and it may also give you ideas for your own project.
Awards can be a useful signal. The Australian Institute of Architects' state and national architecture awards are the most recognised in Australia, and a project awarded there has been assessed by a peer jury. Keep in mind that some prizes recognise individuals rather than buildings, such as the National Emerging Architect Prize, and that many excellent architects do not enter awards at all. An award is a positive sign, not a requirement.
When reviewing a portfolio, look for real photographs of completed buildings, not only renderings, and ask whether the projects shown were led by the practice you are speaking with. Ask for references from past clients, ideally on similar projects. Publications such as Architecture Australia, Architecture, Au, and The Design Files feature work by Australian architects, and coverage there can be a useful indicator of design quality.
Ask How Approvals Will Be Managed
Approval strategy is one of the most important conversations to have with your architect. In NSW, there are two main pathways. The right one depends on your site, your building type, and how closely your design fits the planning rules.
A complying development certificate (CDC) is a fast-track approval for projects that meet set standards under the state's complying development codes. A CDC can be issued by a registered certifier or council, often within a few weeks, but the design must meet every standard precisely, and there is no room for merit-based discretion. It suits many houses, alterations, and additions on sites without significant constraints.
A development application (DA) is assessed by the council on its merits. It allows for more design flexibility but takes longer, involves neighbour notification, and can attract requests for further information. New childcare Centres, most commercial projects and many residential projects on constrained sites will need a DA. Common causes of delay include incomplete information, non-compliance with council controls and unresolved neighbour concerns, so a well-prepared application with the right supporting reports is the best way to keep things moving. Bringing your title, survey, planning certificate and any previous approvals to your first meeting gives your architect a head start.
Putting the Agreement in Writing
Once you have chosen your architect, the terms of engagement should be set out in writing before work starts. In NSW, the Architects Code of Professional Conduct requires this. A clear agreement protects both parties. It sets out the scope of services, how fees are calculated, payment terms, and what happens if circumstances change.
Intellectual property is a common question. Your ideas, goals, and preferences remain on your own. However, the drawings and documents the architect prepares are generally the architect's copyright. Under most standard Australian architect agreements, the client receives a license to use those documents for the project, usually once the relevant fees have been paid. This means you can build the project you have paid for, but it does not usually allow you to reuse the design elsewhere.
Additional fees are usually triggered by changes in scope rather than surprises. Common triggers include changing the design after a stage is approved, council requests for further information, extra meetings or consultant coordination beyond what was allowed, and legal proceedings such as Land and Environment Court appeals. A well-written agreement will set hourly rates for additional work, so you know how changes will be charged. Discuss likely variations at the outset rather than after they arise.
If the relationship does not work out, most agreements include provisions for ending the engagement by notice. Fees for work done up to that point remain payable, and whether a new architect can use the existing documents depends on the license terms and whether those fees have been paid. You can also discuss timing and milestones before signing. A good architect will explain the agreement; clarify anything you are unsure about and talk through reasonable concerns before you commit.
Talk to ArtMade Architects Today
Choosing the right architect comes down to preparation, verification, and fit. Know what you want to achieve, confirm your architect is registered, look closely at their experience and portfolio, discuss approval strategy, and understand the agreement before you sign.
ArtMade Architects has more than 25 years' experience across residential, commercial and childcare projects in NSW. Whether you need residential architects in Sydney or commercial architects in Sydney, we'd be glad to talk through your project. Get a quote or call us on (02) 8760 9300.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does an architect cost?
Architects' fees are usually calculated as a percentage of the construction cost, a lump sum, hourly rates, or a combination. The fee depends on the project type, its complexity, and the services included. Full services from concept through contract administration cost more than design and approval only. Rather than relying on an average, ask for a written fee proposal that clearly sets out the stages, inclusions and hourly rates for additional work, so you can compare proposals on a like-for-like basis.
How long does it take for an architect to design a project in NSW?
Timing depends on the size of the project, how quickly decisions are made, and the approval pathway. Concept and design development might take a few months. Your architect should provide a project-specific program at the outset, so you can plan around realistic milestones.
What happens if I don't consult an architect for a commercial project?
Commercial buildings involve complex requirements for fire safety, access, building classification, and services under the National Construction Code. Without experienced design leadership, compliance issues are more likely to emerge late, often at the construction certificate stage or during construction, when changes are most expensive. An architect identifies these requirements early and coordinates the consultants needed to resolve them.
What happens if I don't consult an architect for a childcare Centre?
Childcare Centres must satisfy the National Regulations, the NSW Child Care Planning Guideline, and the National Construction Code at the same time. A design that falls short can be refused by council, requires the Regulatory Authority's concurrence, or fail to secure service approval. That can delay opening or reduce the number of children the Centre can accept. An experienced childcare architect resolves these requirements from the first sketch.
