Our Design Process
For over two decades, Fin has refined the process of translating clients’ visions into reality. He oversees each project from beginning to end, combining architectural experience with sustainable thinking and careful consideration of your budget.
Needs and Opportunity Analysis
Every great design begins with a clear understanding of your aspirations. We start by exploring your ideas, priorities and your property’s potential alongside council requirements, planning controls, bushfire constraints and environmental factors.
Together, we consider what you want to achieve, the likely approval pathway and an early indication of costs. This helps you assess whether your vision is realistic—and where it may need refining—before committing to detailed design and further expenditure.
Mixed-Use Developments
For development projects, this stage also considers commercial potential. Drawing on the expertise of our development management firm, VODE, we can bring planning, design and development insight together to help you assess the opportunity and decide how to proceed.
Concept Design
With a clear understanding of your brief, we develop a range of concepts that explore your aspirations, budget and the potential of your property.
We walk through the options together, discussing how each could work, what it offers and its likely cost implications. If an option extends beyond your initial budget, we make that clear so you can weigh up the possibilities. Your feedback helps us refine a preferred concept into a detailed design.
Architecture from Design to Construction
Our team of architects and interior designers offers a complete service, including detailed design, interiors, construction drawings and specifications, tender documentation and support during construction.
You can choose to engage us for the full journey or a particular stage, with a clear understanding of the services included and what comes next.
FAQs
Is it helpful to send a brief of our ideas when we first contact you?
If you already have some ideas in mind, it would be helpful for us to read through them prior to our first phone call. You are welcome to email a summary of your vision and any design ideas you might have put together on a mood board alongside the address of your property to . Our Studio Manager Anna Murray will then contact you to discuss your plans and first steps in building a relationship with you.
Can you help us with setting a realistic budget for our renovation / building plans?
With over 25 years of experience in architecture, we are able to give you a realistic idea of building cost prior to committing to our design services. Fin also has experience working in residential and commercial property development and understands that financial considerations heavily influence design decisions, requiring a balance between aesthetics, functionality, and cost-effectiveness to ensure project viability and profitability.
How much do you charge for your design?
Our architectural fee proposals are completely customised to our clients’ needs and every design package looks different. Historically, architects have charged a 10 % fee of the total building cost, however at Rockpool Studios we will create a fixed fee solution for our clients once we understand what’s required.