ISC DESIGN ARCHITECT
EXPERIENCE THE ARCHITECT EDGE™ Quality Design | Complete Drawings | Fast Approvals
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The ARCHITECT EDGE

Architecture shaped around courtyards—where timeless design meets everyday living with beauty and purpose. In a crowded field of designers and drafters, ISC Design Architect stands apart with degree-certified, board-registered qualifications, chartered integrity under the Architect’s Act, timeless design thinking, mastery of space and form, and complete documentation ready for approval, construction, and future-proofing. In addition to our architectural expertise, ISC Design Architect offers a full suite of services including site feasibility studies, measured building surveys, sketch and concept design, development applications (DA), complying development certificates (CDC), construction certificates (CC), heritage advice, and carbon-neutral strategies. We work across a wide range of project types—from new homes, alterations, and additions to duplexes, townhouses, apartments, retail spaces, childcare centres, and more—ensuring each design is tailored, compliant, and built for lasting value.
Designing buildings that balance with nature for a reduced carbon future..
Always creative. Always beautiful..
Always maximising R.O.I..
Always integrating with the street..
Designed to respect the context history..
Urban housing specialists..
Designing vast spaces to work..
And spaces to dwell..
and spaces to BREATHE.

Process

Step 1: SITE Research
Detailed site analysis to understand the planning & environmental matters on the site where the building will be. The research informs the design & approval strategy.
Step 2: Initial CONSULT
An initial obligation-free, thorough consultation, allowing homeowners to express their vision, outline their budget, and detail any specific needs. Advice and quoting offered.
Step 3: Concept
The concept design phase begins with a selection of ideas and one or more layout options that respond directly to the client brief.
Step 4: DESIGN DEVELOPMENT
With the fundamentals in place, we progress to developing and refining the design, balancing functionality with visual appeal. During this phase, floor plans, façade concepts, and interior layouts begin to take form.
STEP 5: DOCUMENTATION
Preparation of comprehensive drawings and specifications required for approval and construction. This includes architectural plans, technical details, and material selections, ensuring that every aspect of the design is clearly communicated.
STEP 6: APPROVALS
The necessary approvals are obtained through the appropriate channels, such as Development Application (DA), Complying Development Certificate (CDC), or Construction Certificate (CC). These approvals ensure the project meets local planning regulations and building codes.

DESIGN AROUND COURTYARDS

COURTYARD HOMEPICNIC POINT
COURTYARD HOME EAT RYDE
COURTYARD HOME FARIFIELD WEST
COURTYARD HOME PICNIC POINT
SUnny Courtyard Lilyfield Boarding House

DESIGNING WITH PURPOSE: THE POWER OF THE COURTYARD

Designing buildings around courtyards creates a powerful architectural focal point that brings light, air, and life into the heart of a home. A well-designed courtyard offers a seamless connection between indoors and outdoors, enhancing natural ventilation, privacy, and thermal comfort. It becomes the lungs of a building—drawing in fresh air and circulating it through internal spaces while also allowing precious sunlight to reach deep into the floor plan.
More than just a technical feature, a courtyard offers emotional and sensory richness. A beautifully composed space—with a single tree, still water, or a framed view of sky—can become a calming centrepiece visible from multiple rooms. The changing light, rustling leaves, and seasonal colours invite pause and reflection. This sensory depth grounds the home as a peaceful, inward-looking retreat.
In many cultures—including Islamic, Mediterranean, East Asian, and Indigenous traditions—the courtyard holds profound functional and symbolic meaning. It embodies sanctuary, family connection, and harmony with nature. Often centred around a tree or water feature, these spaces offer beauty and purpose: shielding residents from the elements while nurturing reflection, cultural rituals, and social gathering.
Here in Australia, where climate, light, and landform shape every experience of space, the courtyard is a timeless response to both environment and culture. It allows architecture to breathe, to centre itself, and to connect with Country—quietly and respectfully.
At ISC Design, we have designed and delivered many fine courtyard homes, duplexes, and public buildings. We have seen first-hand the serenity and wellbeing that flow from spaces designed to invite nature in. Whether you're imagining a calm green pocket in the inner west, or a sunlit garden in the hills, we can help you shape a home that centres life around light, landscape, and meaning.
Let us show you how.
Contact us

Connection to Country

For any meaningful urban proposition, the landscape must be understood first. The most enduring and memorable places are those that connect people to land with subtlety and restraint—without imposition or unnecessary complexity.
Country is not just land; it is a living, spiritual entity—a source of identity, knowledge, and relationship. For thousands of years, shelter and gathering spaces were created in direct response to Country’s cues: the direction of wind, the path of the sun, the movement of water, and seasonal change. Instead of enclosing space with walls, traditional design was and remains open, fluid, and responsive to landscape.
Sydney is an ancient meeting of land and water. Its deep-time character has been known and respected by First Nations people for millennia. In recent times, however, this connection has often been lost—replaced by a more individualised focus on view, amenity, and private domain.
Architecture is, at its core, about placemaking and belonging. It is a considered response to climate, topography, flora and fauna, and the deep human need for both prospect and refuge. At its best, architecture creates spaces that are beautiful, purposeful, and harmoniously integrated with the land—not imposed upon it.
Our designs offer an alternative: a reconnection between the everyday rhythms of life and the landscape that holds them. Elements such as sunlight, orientation, topography, and the proximity of water shape our decisions. The result is architecture that does not dominate, but rather belongs.

SELECT WORKS

BLAKEHURST BALANCE SPARKLING WATERFRONT GEM
BLAKEHURST BALANCE SPARKLING WATERFRONT GEM
FREDA STREET FLOW BREATHTAKING BUTTERFLY ROOF HOME
MIMOSA ROAD MARVELLOUS GAZING SKYWARD TO THE STARS AND MOON
EAST RYDE ELEGANCE POOL COURTYARD SANCTUARY
QUEENS ROAD QUALITY EMBRACE AND RELEASE
BRYANT PLACE COURTYARD HOME MACHINE FOR MODERN LIVING
BRYANT PLACE COURTYARD HOME MACHINE FOR MODERN LIVING
FLOOD STREET FRESH HERITAGE RENOVATIONS
MOSMAN RENOVATIONS HARBOURSIDE HERITAGE
MOSMAN MARVEL HARBOURSIDE HERITAGE
BRYANT PLACE BAUHAUS PURE MODERNIST HOME
CARNES HILL COURTYARD HOME SUBURBAN SANCTUARY
FREDA STREET FABULOUS SERENE SUBURBAN LIVING
Picnic Point POWER Courtyard Skillion HOME
WEST RYDE WARMTH Suburban Brickwork DUPLEX
BANKSTOWN BUTTERFLY DUPLEX SUAVE ATTACHED DUPLEX
LILYFIELD ECO-LIVING CARBON-NEUTRAL NEW GEN. BOARDING HOUSE
OBERON OPTIMISM REGIONAL URBAN TERRACES
ROCKDALE ROBUST CONTEMPORARY URBAN UNITS
BASS HILL BEAUTY LIGHT-FILLED COURTYARD DUPLEX
RIVERWOOD RATIONAL COURTYARD MODERNIST DUPLEX
HIGH STREET HARMONY 6-COURTYARD MODERN DUPLEX
BEVERLEY HILLS BRAVE POOL COURTYARD WING HOME
WALLACIA WARMTH BEAUTIFUL LARGE TREE COURTYARD DWELLING
RODD POINT RADIANCE FIRST FLOOR GLASS LANTERN
GREENACRE GRACE MODERN RUSTIC COURTYARD DUPLEX
SEFTON SERENE LARGE SUBURBAN LIVING
KYLE BAY KINETIC WATERFRONT SUSTAINABLE LUXURY
BANKSTOWN BEAUTY 3 STOREY LUXURY COURTYARD LIVING
CASTLE HILL CONTEMPORARY LARGE HILLS LIVING
BEXLEY BOLD COMPACT COURTYARD HOME
GEORGES HALL JEWEL CONTEMPORARY WING HOME
BAULKHAM HILLS BLISS SUNNY COURTYARD LIVING
GEORGES HALL GREATNESS CONTEMPORARY WING COURTYARD
REVESBY RADIANCE MODERN COURTYARD DWELLING
GLEDSWOOD HILLS GREATNESS LARGE COURTYARD HOME
GUILDFORD COMPACT SINGLE STOREY BRICK REFUGE
BLACKTOWN BALANCE NEW GEN. BOARDING HOUSE
CARLINGFORD CALM SERENE COURTYARD DUPLEX
MOSMAN MEANINGFUL ADDITIONS RENOVATIONS
RODD POINT HARBOUR ADDITION
PARKSIDE LIGHT-FILLED ADDITIONS
MOSMAN HARBOURSIDE ADDITIONS
NCL LAWYERS OFFICE FITOUTNORWEST BUSINESS PARK
UPPERCUTS BARBER SHOPSUSSEX STREET SYDNEY CITY
ISPA KEBAB CHAIN FITOUTS BATHURST

ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES

DESIGN & DOCUMENTATION
End-to-end design solutions with full council-compliant documentation.We tailor every design to suit your goals, budget, and site conditions—whether it’s a new home, alterations additions, duplex, multi-dwelling, or commercial space. Our comprehensive documentation packages include architectural drawings, reports, and certificates aligned with local planning regulations.
DA, CC & CDC APPROVALS
Professional guidance to streamline your building approval process with councils and certifiers. We are experts in securing fast approvals that are often complex and difficult. 28+ years of experience has taught us how. We manage submissions, coordinate with consultants, and resolve planning issues to keep your project moving. Our deep knowledge of planning controls and compliance standards helps avoid costly delays and ensures faster approvals.
SITE FEASIBILITY
Strategic analysis using our proprietary 68-point checklist to unlock your site’s full potential.We assess everything from zoning and heritage to sunlight and slope—providing a clear picture of opportunities and constraints. This essential first step helps you make informed decisions before committing to design or purchase.
Town Planning & Heritage
We offer expert town planning advice to help you navigate zoning, planning pathways, and policy requirements with confidence—ensuring your development aligns with local and state frameworks. For heritage-listed sites or conservation areas, our sensitive design solutions honour historical character while meeting modern needs, balancing compliance with creativity. We have a passion for heritage.

Frequently asked questions

What types of projects do you specialise in?
We provide full architectural design, documentation, and approval services for new homes, duplexes, renovations, townhouses, apartments, commercial fitouts, childcare centres, and more across Sydney and NSW-wide.
Can you help me get council approval for my building project?
Yes. We guide you through every stage of the approval process—whether it's CDC (Complying Development), DA (Development Application), or CC (Construction Certificate). We also advise on feasibility and help access existing council records if needed.
How much does it cost to design and approve a new home or renovation?
Costs vary depending on the scale and complexity of your project. After an initial consultation, we provide a clear fixed-price fee proposal with progress stages tailored to your needs and local approval requirements as well as a written-guarantee giving assurance.
Do I need to engage an architect for a small renovation or shop fitout?
Absolutely. Even small projects benefit from professional planning. We can help you maximise space, ensure compliance, and simplify approvals—especially for retail or café spaces needing fast turnaround.
What areas do you service?
We work across all Sydney suburbs and surrounding regions, including Western Sydney, Inner West, Northern Beaches, Eastern Suburbs, and South West Sydney. We have done projects in all Sydney councils and work NSW-Wide.
What’s the difference between an architect and a building designer / draftsperson?
An architect is a legally registered professional with university qualifications, extensive experience, and the ability to manage complex projects from design to construction, backed by mandatory insurance and a professional code of conduct. In contrast, a building designer, often TAFE-qualified, is not legally recognised as an architect and typically handles smaller residential projects with limited scope. At ISC Design Architect, clients benefit from working with a registered architect, ensuring expert design, regulatory compliance, and complete project oversight.
If you have any questions regarding our range of services, please contact
Monday - Saturday 07:00 am – 06:00 pm
24 Hour SMS / Whatsapp
Phone: (+61) 0404 459 916 Email: info@iscdesign.com.au
Address: Auburn NSW By Appointment Ib. (Shannon) Conlon Registered Architect M.Arch(UTS) BA Arch(UTS) ADAD(CIT) NSW Registration: 10042 Acknowledgment of Country ISC Design Architect acknowledges the Wangal people of the Eora Nation as the Traditional Custodians of the land in the Auburn area. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present. We also recognise the Dharug-speaking peoples and nearby Nations, including the D’harawal, Gai-maragal, Gundungurra, and Guri-Ngai, who continue to care for this land.
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