Architecture Republic is an award-winning architecture and interior design studio. We work in Country NSW on rural properties, farms, bush retreats and in country towns.
Architecture Republic Regional NSW
Live better with beautiful, sustainable architecture
For over ten years, we’ve been working across regional NSW on farmhouses and homesteads, country town homes, bush shacks and rural weekenders.
From heritage renovations to environmentally-conscious new homes, we’ll be a good fit if you:
Love your old place, but it doesn't make sense for your current family and lifestyle
You've found an incredible block that you want to live on, but don't know where to begin
Want to create a more sustainable home that works with our changing climate
Need an architect who knows how to work with the quirks of your regional council
Architecture Republic knows Regional NSW
We draw inspiration from large vibrant cities and historic country towns alike. It’s a privilege to experience the world the way we do. We step into the homes of people across NSW and help them to create uniquely Australian architecture. With a love of the bush and several designers with rural backgrounds, we understand design and construction outside of the big cities. From the heart of historic Bathurst to the top of a windswept hill near Albury, we will help you build your dream.
“My husband and I started working with Tristan and Jess back in 2017 to design a home on our farm on the south coast of NSW. We worked collaboratively with them over several months as our plans came to life. Through the entire process the team at Architecture Republic was always polite, patient and professional in meeting all of our challenges with a great knowledge base and a willingness to problem solve new situations.”
– Yvette & Jamie Taylor
Meet our Regional NSW design team
We take a collaborative approach with every client. We will develop a design that truly works with your lifestyle, aesthetic, site and budget. Every project is unique, and benefits from our diverse range of passionate, skilled designers. Our qualified team of 12 have together designed more than 130 projects in and around Regional NSW, Canberra and Sydney.
Tristan Ryall
Jessica Ryall
Sarah Brown
Anastasia Leonenko
Frequently Asked Questions
Are you a residential architect in Regional NSW and Country Australia?
Yes, our first rural projects were in Southern NSW back in 2015. Since then, we have always made a point of allowing space for regional and rural projects on our books. We have several team members living in country towns and on acreage. We are all too familiar with the challenges (and advantages) of being away from the major cities.
Are you familiar with my local council regulations, the Inland Code and the Rural Housing Code?
Every local government area has a unique set of rules but they all follow similar formats. We work in many rural shires and we’ve found that the goals set by local planners for their communities are all fairly similar. We always see clauses preserving heritage and landscape (and views from the road). Also common is protecting existing land uses (like agriculture and forestry). We are familiar with the challenges of the bush.
Our team has navigated many projects through the complex planning rules of dozens of local councils. We manage heritage regulations, bushfire standards, flood protections, RFI’s and water catchment requirements.
The Inland Code and the Rural Housing code are the same throughout NSW. These legislative frameworks offer an alternative to the traditional path through local Council. We work with these codes every day and know them backwards.
Why regional NSW?
To say we are obsessed is an understatement. Creating an architectural response to the rural landscape is simply a joy. Some of our best work has come from the unique challenges of country Australia. From treeless plains to coastal cliff tops, every site is an inspiration.
Do you work in town or just out on rural blocks?
We do a bit of everything. We work in town and out on rural blocks, designing new homes and renovating existing houses. For projects in town, our goal is to respond to the existing character of the town and the surrounding landscape. Of course, we are also designing a home that suits you and your lifestyle. On rural blocks, we design bush retreats, working farms and renovate older farmhouses. Here, we respond to landscape, climate, orientation, vegetation, heritage and your lifestyle needs.
Do you have experience designing working farms and outbuildings?
Yes. With larger blocks, we begin by looking at potential siting for the homestead and outbuildings. We will look at suitability of access, local climate challenges and solar/wind aspect. Homestead master planning also needs to take into account the running of the business and surveillance of stock. Each family also has their own unique needs for their home. These interconnected functions require careful planning. Our goal is to allow for seamless operation of both home and business.
Can you design sustainable homes off the grid?
Sustainability is critical to every design and technical decision we make. Especially in a rural context where access to mains power, gas and water may be limited. We have a strong record of achieving homes with outstanding energy efficiency (often +8 stars). We pride ourselves on achieving this without compromising on our clients desired architecture.
Any style of house can achieve great solar passive aspect, insulation and thermal performance. You can read more about how sustainability works in our Low Energy Houses article. We work with our energy efficiency consultants throughout the design and documentation process. We will ensure the best outcome for you and the goals you have for your home.
My property has local climate challenges. Can you help me build on bushfire/flood-prone land?
Definitely. We can assist with preliminary BAL-ratings, site analysis and flood-mapping research. This will help us to establish the safest spot for your home. We then work with you to meet any RFS or flood-prone land requirements from your local Council. Meeting the regulations here is only the beginning. These are really only minimum standards. There is a huge range of common sense and technical approaches to safeguard your home.
We’ve written an article about building on Bushfire-prone land. This was in light of the Black Summer bushfires of 2020. Our recommendation remains to limit risk where possible. We recommend avoiding building on BAL-FZ (flamezone) prone land where possible.
How do I contact you?
You can call us (02) 5326 0707, email us (regionalnsw@archrepublic.com.au) or submit an enquiry right here on our website. We’re excited to work with you on your project. If you have any questions, please contact us for a chat. We look forward to hearing from you.
