Canberra Zoning and Development Guide
A practical starting point for understanding Canberra zoning and development. Explore residential and commercial zones, Crown leases, subdivision, planning controls and realistic site potential.
Insights on Building Design, Planning & Architecture in Canberra and NSW
Practical knowledge and considered perspectives on residential design, development planning, and building documentation across the ACT and NSW.
Written by our team of Masters-qualified building designers
Featured
Discover the Taste of Architecture | Custom Home Design Canberra
Some buildings are seen; the best ones are discovered. Shiraz introduces Discover the Taste of Architecture — a four-part design philosophy for homes that reward attention over time.
Canberra Commercial and Non-Residential Zoning
Planning a commercial development, fit-out or change of use in Canberra? This guide explains commercial, industrial and community zones—and why zoning, Crown lease permissions and NCC building classification must all be checked before proceeding.
Canberra RZ3, RZ4 and RZ5 Zoning Guide
What can you build in Canberra’s medium- and higher-density residential zones? Compare RZ3, RZ4 and RZ5 requirements, including maximum storeys, site coverage, townhouses, apartments, parking and practical development feasibility
Canberra Block Development Potential
Zoning alone does not determine what can be built on a Canberra property. Learn how the Crown lease, block frontage, slope, trees, easements, services, parking and title strategy shape the realistic development potential of your site.
Canberra Zoning Changes 2026
Canberra’s residential planning rules changed significantly on 1 July 2026. Discover what the new RZ1 and RZ2 provisions mean for dual occupancies, townhouses, low-rise housing, subdivision and the development potential of established suburban blocks.
NCC 2025 Commercial Building Changes in the ACT
What NCC 2025 changes for Canberra commercial projects—and why programme, rooftop solar, energy modelling, waterproofing and fire coordination now need earlier decisions.
NCC 2025 Volume Two: What Changes for Canberra Homes?
A practical guide to NCC 2025 for Canberra houses and townhouses, with a focus on condensation, cavities, waterproofing and early design coordination.
How Memory Can Inform the Design of a Home
A room schedule explains what a home contains, but not how it should feel. This practice essay shows how architects can translate remembered places and rituals into precise design decisions.
Architecture as Memory: How Homes Hold Life and Time
Architecture enters the body before it enters language. This essay explores how light, thresholds, materials and repeated rituals allow a home to hold memory without copying the past.
What to Analyse Before Designing a Custom Home in Canberra
Before drawing a floor plan, analyse the site. Shiraz Atelier explains what to check before designing a custom home in Canberra, from orientation and slope to planning controls, privacy, access and passive design.