Pattern book of housing design

Faster development

Pre-designed solutions cut the time and effort needed for the design and planning stages of housing projects. 

Developers who use the endorsed pattern-book designs will have an accelerated approval pathway. This means builders can get on site faster, and people can move into new homes sooner. 

More flexibility

Pattern-book developments are often easier to maintain and adapt to changing needs. This is because the design intent and building typologies are well-defined. 

A pattern book can promote consistency in design, but developers can also tailor it to meet a specific community context. This could include: 

• following local building practices
• considering environmental factors
• maintaining neighbourhood character. 

Community involvement

Creating a pattern book means we can also involve the community in the housing designs. 

Sustainable, cost-effective design

Sustainable design principles also tend to be more cost-effective, encouraging: 

• the use of energy-efficient materials
• green building techniques
• water-conservation measures. 

Pattern books are not new. They were behind many of inner Sydney’s Georgian-era terraces and Art Deco apartments. 

They’re used around the world, including Australia. Victoria’s Future Homes initiative allows developers to use ready-made architectural designs for small apartment buildings. It has a purpose-built planning process to get them built faster.

The Government Architect NSW is leading the process. We are working with the best minds in the development and construction industry, the planning and architecture profession, and councils. 

The pattern book will include:

• low-rise housing (terraces, semis, manor houses)
• apartment buildings of up to 6 storeys. 

The contemporary home designs will:

• be for NSW’s climate
• allow for natural light
• aim to include community spaces for shared meals and neighbourhood activities.   

To help us source designs for desirable homes, we’ll run an international housing design competition. We will invite Australian and international architects to design a Sydney terrace and mid-rise apartment for the 21st century. The winning, best-practice designs will feature in the pattern book.

We will announce the details of the competition in early 2024.

Our households are changing, and we need to build more housing to meet these changing needs.  

Did you know? 

• Single-person households are the fastest-growing type in the country. They currently make up 25% of all Australian households. 
• More than half (56%) of households are home to one or 2 people.

But while we want more housing choices close to cities and services, the numbers of townhouses and small apartments are declining.  

People want the opportunity to stay in their communities through the various stages of life. They also want family and friends to be able to afford to live nearby.  

This requires more choice of housing where we live now. Many of our old suburbs already have this diversity: think of Wollstonecraft, Waverton, Erskineville, Newcastle, or Kiama. They have apartment buildings near train stations and town centres. They also have small apartments, terraces, and townhouses near shops, high streets, and parks.

We will make several templates available for architects, building designers and the building industry. They can use these to accelerate their developments through the planning approval process. 

While this pathway will be attractive for some developers, it will not be compulsory. Builders and their architects can still custom design developments for the regular approval pathway. 

We’re aiming to complete the proof of concept in mid 2024. We expect the first stage of the pattern book to be available for use in early 2025.

Once we have the proof-of-concept and have consulted stakeholders, we'll have a better idea of the cost.   

We are yet to confirm if there will be a fee to cover licensing agreements with contributing designers.

We will be seeking stakeholder input on this to achieve the best outcome.

Developments using the pattern book will have an accelerated approval pathway.

We are currently working through the details of this, including the consideration of a complying development pathway for low-rise housing.

Government Architect NSW is currently developing a proof-of-concept for a pattern book. We will consult the community about the proof-of-concept so they can give feedback on the designs.

We expect to have the proof-of-concept available for feedback in early to mid-2024.

We will also consult councils throughout the process and as the designs are finalised.

We want to make sure the process doesn't create more assessment work for councils. We also want councils and their communities to give feedback, so we deliver the best outcomes.

Government Architect NSW has been working closely with the:

• Property Council
• Planning Institute of Australia
• Australian Institute of Architects.

We're also in regular discussions with peak body organisations on this and other ways to get housing moving faster. These bodies include the:

• Master Builders Association
• Housing Industry Association
• Urban Development Industry of Australia.