Design guides support the implementation of the Government Architect NSW's policies. The Government Architect NSW has collaborated with state agencies and local councils to develop approaches specific to scale, typology and condition in support of the Better Placed policy.
Manuals provide instructional ‘how to’ content for specific issues, typologies, or conditions.
Advisory notes provide practical assistance on design related tasks and tools.
Explore the various areas in design guidance
![Green space at Westmead Hospital. Credit: Brett Boardman / Government Architect NSW](/sites/default/files/2023-10/design-guide-for-health-1200x800.jpg)
![Award-winning Paddington Reservoir Gardens in the Sydney Eastern Suburbs. Credit: Brett Boardman / Government Architect NSW](/sites/default/files/2023-10/design-guide-for-heritage-1200x800.jpg)
![Children in a classroom at Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Primary School. Credit: John Gollings / Government Architect NSW](/sites/default/files/2023-10/design-guide-for-schools-1200x800.jpg)
![People socialising out the front of a social housing development. Credit: Fiora Sacco / Government Architect NSW](/sites/default/files/2023-10/good-design-for-social-housing-1200x800.jpg)
![Person walking in a park opposite a row of terrace houses. Credit: Government Architect NSW](/sites/default/files/2023-10/greener-places-design-guide-1200x800.jpg)
![Aerial view of Parramatta Pool, designed by Grimshaw and ABA. Credit: Peter Bennetts / Government Architect NSW](/sites/default/files/2023-10/implementing-and-evaluating-good-design-1200x800.jpg)
![Located in Central Maitland, Maitland Levee precinct offers a range of businesses. Credit: Simon Wood / Government Architect NSW](/sites/default/files/2023-10/urban-design-for-regional-nsw-1200x800_0.jpg)
Good design
Good design is for everyone involved with the design of the built environment in NSW.
This includes government agencies who are planning new facilities and infrastructure, building owners and managers, developers, planners, engineers, urban designers, landscape architects, architects, building designers and communities who contribute to the design of their environments – whether as decision-makers, service providers, clients or end users.