Skip to content Designing a custom home is more than picking finishes and chasing Pinterest boards. It’s about shaping a space that supports how you actually live — now and in the future. The layout, orientation, materials and detailing all impact your comfort, utility bills, lifestyle and long-term value.
At Urban3, we build high-performance custom homes across Adelaide and South Australia. While we don’t have in-house architects, we collaborate closely with the architect you choose to ensure the design is practical, affordable, and ready for construction.
This guide isn’t about limiting creativity — it’s about equipping you to have smarter, more productive conversations with your architect. The more clarity you gain up front, the fewer surprises down the track.
Your home’s orientation on the block plays a major role in how it feels to live in — from light quality to temperature regulation.
In Adelaide’s climate, orienting your living spaces to the north allows for passive winter heating and helps keep interiors cool in summer. Natural light can reduce your reliance on artificial lighting and mechanical heating and cooling.
Discuss with your architect:
Urban3 Insight: Good orientation can save thousands in annual energy costs — and makes your home feel better to live in, every day.
Future-Proofing Tip: Ask your architect if they’ve modelled the sun path for your actual site. Site-specific modelling beats general rules.
A great custom design reflects your daily rhythm — not just what looks good on paper. Consider how you cook, work, relax, and entertain. These habits should shape your spaces.
Key questions:
Urban3 Insight: Clients often regret not planning for flexibility — whether that’s future extensions, multigenerational living, or growing kids.
Pro tip: Walk through your daily routine, hour by hour, and sense-check the layout’s flow.
South Australia has a patchwork of planning overlays that affect what, where and how you can build. From BAL (Bushfire Attack Level) ratings to heritage restrictions, ignoring them early can cost you later.
Ask your architect:
Urban3 Insight: Hills face suburbs and infill blocks can carry hidden complications. Check before drawing up anything detailed.
Future-Proofing Tip: If in a BAL-rated zone, ask how design choices (e.g. window types, decking, cladding) can meet compliance without killing the look.
Energy ratings are a baseline, not the benchmark. Real comfort comes from smart passive design: insulation, thermal mass, window placement and ventilation.
Questions to ask:
Urban3 Insight: We regularly see designs where small tweaks — moving a window, changing insulation — would drastically improve comfort at little cost.
Pro tip: Push your architect beyond 6-star compliance. Ask what 7 or 8 stars could look like and cost.
Some designs look brilliant on screen but become costly or complex in real life. The earlier your builder is involved, the more likely your dream home is buildable within budget.
Check in about:
Urban3 Insight: Collaborative projects — where architect and builder engage early — are always smoother, faster and more cost-aligned.
Tip: If you’re working with us, we’re happy to review early designs and provide input — no obligation.
The cladding, finishes and materials your architect specifies affect not just the look of your home — but how often you’ll be maintaining or replacing them.
Discuss together:
Urban3 Insight: High-maintenance materials on upper floors or awkward elevations can create long-term frustration.
Pro tip: In hard-to-access areas, always opt for durability over beauty.
These elements are subtle — but critical. They affect how your home feels on a cloudy winter morning, or during a summer heatwave.
Explore with your architect:
Urban3 Insight: Mood, comfort and wellbeing are directly linked to these elements. You won’t know what’s missing until you live in it.
Often overlooked early, thoughtful storage and joinery can make or break daily functionality.
Work through:
Urban3 Insight: Don’t leave storage to the interiors stage. It’s much harder — and more expensive — to retrofit later.
Building sustainably isn’t just ethical — it’s strategic. Adding rough-ins now for future upgrades can save thousands down the track.
To plan ahead for:
Future-Proofing Tip: Even if you don’t install now, rough-in conduits and power points. Retrofitting is costly.
Urban3 Insight: We recommend future-facing infrastructure for every custom home — especially solar, battery and EV readiness.
Not all architects offer the same level of service when it comes to council approvals or detailed documentation. Don’t assume — clarify.
Understand upfront:
Urban3 Insight: Detailed documentation reduces variation costs and delays. It also makes pricing more accurate.
Custom homes involve hundreds of decisions. Many of these happen during the build — unless they’re resolved early. Clarity on who decides what, and when, avoids project delays.
Key things to clarify:
Urban3 Insight: Delayed decisions — like tapware or tile selections — can stall entire phases. Be ready early.
You don’t need to be a designer or builder. But you do need to stay engaged, informed, and responsive.
Best practices:
It’s okay to not understand every detail — that’s why you hire experts. But what your architect and builder need most is timely clarity. The longer you take to decide, the more likely it is that delays, price variations or rework will creep into the process.
Urban3 Insight: The most successful builds are partnerships. Your clarity, curiosity and decisiveness are vital.
Even the best architects can only work with the brief they’re given. One of the most common issues we see is that clients don’t always provide clear, prioritised direction at the start. This can lead to designs that look great, but don’t function well or miss the mark entirely.
Common missteps to avoid:
You don’t need a perfect brief. But you do need a considered one. Even a one-page document that outlines your priorities, lifestyle patterns, preferred materials and budget range can go a long way.
Urban3 Insight: If you’re unsure how to structure a brief or what to include, we can review what you’ve got and suggest a builder’s perspective to help align vision with real-world delivery.
Not all architects are created equal — and not all are right for every project. Choosing the right person or firm for your home is about more than beautiful folios. It’s about trust, process fit, and local experience.
Here’s what we recommend considering:
There’s also a distinction between building designers and registered architects. Both can be excellent depending on your project’s complexity — but be sure you understand the difference in qualifications, capabilities and scope.
Urban3 Insight: We don’t endorse specific architects, but we’re happy to point you toward local professionals who are familiar with the Urban3 build process and documentation standards. Having the right people at the table from day one makes all the difference.
Your architect brings your vision to life. Your builder brings it to reality. The most successful custom homes in Adelaide are those where clients are informed, architects are engaged, and builders are involved early.
At Urban3, we’ll help you bridge the gap between design and delivery. We don’t design your home, but we’ll help ensure it’s buildable, beautiful, and within budget.
Need help reviewing your plans or coordinating with your architect?
Reach out — we’re here to support you.
What should I ask an architect before starting a custom home?
Cover site orientation, overlays, lifestyle needs, energy performance, and realistic budget alignment. This guide is your checklist.
Can my architect and builder work together?
Absolutely — and it’s highly recommended. At Urban3, we encourage joint design reviews to avoid cost or constructability issues.
Do I need an architect?
For complex sites or higher-end homes, yes. A registered architect offers more detailed documentation, design thinking and risk management.
What if my design goes over budget?
Request a value-engineering review or consider staged construction. Early involvement from your builder helps manage this.
Can Urban3 help me find an architect?
We don’t endorse any specific firm, but we’re happy to connect you with professionals who align with your goals and budget.
Our experienced team are ready to put our best foot forward and walk you through our proven process to deliver outstanding custom homes at any budget! Enquire below to tell us about your project!
