Projects

Houses do not exist in isolation. The character of a place emerges from the relationship between buildings, landscape, materials, objects, furniture and the people who inhabit them.

For this reason, not everything shown on this website is architecture in the conventional sense. Some projects are furniture pieces, objects, installations or material explorations. Although different in scale, they share a common interest in how things are made and why we are drawn to them.

These projects are included because they inform the same design thinking. An understanding of materials, craftsmanship, proportion and detail developed through one discipline often enriches another. Together they reflect an ongoing interest in creating things with warmth and character. This is often tied to the intuitive process of finding and repurposing second-hand materials, which can bring a sense of individuality and charm.

  • A residential house with a metal roof, solar panels, a striped awning, surrounded by a small garden with bushes and trees, a blue picket fence, and a sidewalk in front.

    Georgetown

    Alterations to weatherboard cottage in Georgetown, NSW.

    Works included internal joinery and wet area alterations, new windows and doors and external ‘Garden Room’ over existing deck.

    Also read section called ‘Serendipitous Door’ in RECYCLED MATERIALS.

  • A house patio with wooden flooring and white walls, partially covered by a roof with transparent panels, and a white drain pipe.

    “I cant thank Ashley enough .
    I would recommend him in a heartbeat.
    I feel so lucky. Ashley’s design was just so right for my little house.
    He has created a very calming space, the perfect vibe/fit for me and I can't wait to build a garden around it. The doors he sourced and up-cycled are perfectly imperfect and I could not imagine the space without them.
    From now on the way I live in and experience my home has been improved 10 fold. Thank You Ashley!”
    - Fiona McKinlay
    Garden Room

  • A wooden patio with white framing and partial wall, with a ceiling of metal panels and a sliding wooden door.

  • A wooden deck attached to a house with sliding glass doors and a partially enclosed porch area, supported by a white pole, with a clear sky in the background.

  • Architectural design Newcastle. Drafting and house plans and approvals.

  • Front view of a light-colored house with a raised porch, stairs, and a driveway with two gravel strips, surrounded by trees and a sidewalk.

  • Timber doors altered and refurbished for project
    - New track and roller added to make fixed panel a slider.
    - Sanded and oiled the timber and installed new fly screen mesh

  • View of a residential outdoor deck area with sliding glass doors and a translucent roof. The deck has wooden flooring and the house exterior is clad in light-colored siding. There are trees and neighboring houses visible through the glass doors.

  • A technical architectural drawing of a building section. It shows various structural elements, roofing details, wall construction, and measurements, with annotations and specifications for construction and design.

    Construction drawings in sectional view.

  • Architectural drawing of a proposed outdoor pergola with a sliding screen, including structural details, dimensions, and annotations for construction.

    Construction drawings in plan view.

  • A small wooden house on a trailer parked on the side of the road next to a leafy tree with peeling bark. The house has light-colored horizontal wood siding, small decorative windows, and a sloped roof. The sky is blue with some scattered clouds, and trees and a car are visible in the background.

    Tiny House 2022

    Tiny House built through the Bower Reuse & Repair Centre’s Annual Tiny House Construction Course in 2022.

    Fitout completed using recycled materials.

    See Tiny Houses for more.

  • Interior of a cozy wooden dining area with a hanging stained glass light fixture featuring fruit and grape designs. There is a wooden dining table with a green glass vase and a small clear glass. There are wooden chairs, one with a pink pillow, surrounded by framed artwork and a window showing a garden outside.

  • A cozy interior scene with a large leafy green plant, a framed Vincent van Gogh Sunflowers painting on a white wall, a stained glass ceiling lamp with grape and fruit designs, a window with a sign saying 'The Bower,' and a beige curtain tied back on a wooden beam.

  • A wooden kitchen with a table set with a pink mug, a plate, a bowl, and a tray. The kitchen has wooden cabinetry and a green wall with windows.

  • A corner of a wooden cabinet with a glass door, bookshelf, and shelves, with a plant and a terra cotta pot on top.

  • The image shows an empty shower area with a wall-mounted shower head and faucet. The enclosure is framed with wood, and the walls are white with some visible screws. The lower part has wooden paneling and the floor is also wooden.

  • Cozy bedroom with a bed, pillows, and blankets next to a small wooden window with a mug on the window sill, overlooking a street view.

  • A cozy room with wooden walls and ceiling, a small dining table with chairs, plants, decorative items, and a large window showing two people outside.

  • Interior of a wooden room with hanging light fixture, a small stained glass window, and a colorful wall panel with a geometric design.

  • Aerial view of a lakeside neighborhood with houses, trees, and dock structures along the waterfront. A red outline highlights a specific property.

    Cheero Point

    New dwelling in Cheero Point, New South Wales.

    Difficult constraints with roads on 3 sides of the property. Project required intentional design with respect to unavoidable planning control non compliance.

  • View from a balcony overlooking a lake surrounded by green hills and trees, with power lines and a utility pole in the foreground.

    View towards water from completed northern facing deck.

  • Sketch of a house floor plan with labeled rooms, furniture, outdoor landscaping, and notes on design details.

    Preliminary ground floor plan sketch design.

  • Hand-drawn architectural floor plan of a house, showing various rooms, outdoor areas, and surrounding landscaping, with a north arrow.

    First Floor Plan preliminary sketch design.

    The 3 roads to the bottom, left and right of drawing required setbacks from primary building mass. Narrow first floor proposed away from these boundaries to reduce impact.

  • A hand-drawn architectural sketch design of a modern residential building with multiple levels, large windows, balconies, and a landscaped garden with trees and shrubs.

    Preliminary streetscape elevation.

  • Construction site with a partially built two-story house, green framing, brick walls, construction materials, and equipment, with a hillside and trees in the background.

    Under Construction

  • A small wooden porch attached to a house with large glass sliding doors, surrounded by lush green trees and plants, with sunlight casting shadows on the porch.

    Rusty Cabin

    4m x 5m Exempt Development cabin built using primarily recycled materials.

    Owner supplied second hand windows and doors.

    Timber and cladding (tin and weatherboards) sourced around the local neighbourhood.

  • Side view of a house under construction with corrugated metal walls, wooden window frames with stained glass, and a ladder outside.

  • Painted wooden planks placed on the back of a pickup truck. The planks are reddish-brown, weathered, and appear to be used for construction or repair work. The truck has a yellow license plate from New South Wales.

  • A house under construction with a wooden frame and a concrete porch with stairs, surrounded by construction materials, on a partly cloudy day.

  • White Toyota Liteace pickup truck parked on the street loaded with wooden planks in a residential neighborhood.

  • A small flatbed truck carrying several long wooden planks strapped down with blue cords, parked on a concrete street.

  • Wooden planks, a hammer, and a screwdriver on a workbench outdoors, with a bicycle in the background.

  • Close-up of a wooden post and part of a construction site in the background with a ladder and trees

  • A kitchen area with a wooden countertop, hanging coffee mugs, a glass jar, and a large vase with a bouquet of pink and white flowers. There is a decorative tiled backsplash and a framed picture with landscape art.

    Apartment Fitout

    Fitout of very small 30m2 apartment in “The Moorings” in Newcastle.

    Joinery units made from repaired and reshaped cupboards and various bits of recycled timber and tiling.

  • Artistic furniture Newcastle. Unique and artistic Kitchen.

  • Unique Bathroom fitout Newcastle. Hippy bathroom. Warm colourful bathroom.

  • Home renovation Sydney. Draftsperson. Architect. Recycled windows and materials in renovation. Alterations and additions.

    Narraweena Renovation

    An eccentric renovation designed and approved working alongside fantastic artist and creative home owner.

    Lots of lovely objects intentionally made space for within the drawings / design. Reused windows, doors, chandeliers etc.

  • Interior of a bright living room with a chandelier, a round dining table with chairs, blue and white decorative vases, a red and black patterned rug, large windows with greenery outside, and a loft area with books and a glass railing.

  • Interior of a bright living or dining area with large windows, a chandelier, potted plants, and decorative blue and white ceramics.

  • A cluttered room with windows, furniture, boxes, and various household items scattered around.

  • A multi-level house with an outdoor balcony and stairs, surrounded by lush green trees and plants, under a clear blue sky.

  • Older woman standing indoors near artwork, holding a book, wearing black athletic pants and a black short-sleeve shirt, smiling.

    “I thoroughly recommend this business. I am extending my home in Narraweena and Ash worked with me to draw up a beautiful space and take it through to council. He was punctual, a good listener, understood what I needed and wanted, didn't squash my dreams and always followed up quickly and responsibly. He made the whole process most enjoyable. A true pro”
    - Sandy

  • Architectural Design and Drafting Newcastle

    Ground Floor Plan

  • Lower Ground Floor Plan

  • Wooden community food pantry with a green sign, located outdoors near a black metal fence and some plants, under a clear blue sky.

    Vege Stall

    A vegetable stall / pantry built out the front of ‘Pocket City Farms’ in Camperdown Sydney.

    Contains packaged and fresh vegetables grown on the bowling green turned inner city farm.

  • Small wooden shack with signs for Pocket City Farms, community food pantry, honesty farm stall, and seed library, surrounded by a garden and wooden fence.

  • Corner of a small wooden and metal shed with a framed sign and a piece of wood as a handle on the door, surrounded by green foliage.

  • An open empty refrigerator with some jars and canned food on the shelves. Several yellow price tags label items: 'Peas Slices $3', 'Raspberries $3', 'Cima di Rapa $3', and 'Lemon Squeezed $1'. A blue note at the top says 'Cashbox to your left'.

  • A small wooden shed with a corrugated metal roof, surrounded by overgrown grass and plants, with a fenced area and trees in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

  • Green signs on a wooden wall at Pocket City Farms. The left sign features the logo and website of Pocket City Farms, promoting fair food, education, and community. The right sign describes the community food pantry, listing items that can be given or taken, including canned goods, dry goods, drinks, pet food, toiletries, fresh produce, expired items, opened products, unpackaged food, homemade food, and clothes, books, toys. Each sign has an arrow pointing to the right.

  • Street view with parked cars in front of a public space called 'Camperdown Commons,' trees, and people walking, under a clear blue sky.

Ashfield Renovation

Alterations to existing dwelling.

  • Backyard patio with potted plants, outdoor seating, and a wooden deck area with greenery and trees in the background.

    Recycled Pergola

    Pergola made from recycled materials.

    Butterfly shaped roof / one corner of roof elevated to hide large house next door, allow a high leadlite window and for a central drainage feature to future grapevine.

  • A house with a partially built wooden deck and a metal roof, surrounded by green trees and plants, with a clear blue sky overhead.

  • View of rooftops with a metal corrugated roof in front, surrounded by lush green trees and a clear blue sky.

  • Partially constructed outdoor structure with stained glass window panels, supporting beams, and a background of trees and blue sky.

  • A wooden deck and pergola with lattice side panels, surrounded by green trees and bushes, under a clear blue sky.

  • Wooden structure with stained glass windows decorated with floral patterns and surrounded by green leafy plants during daytime.

  • An outdoor patio area with potted plants, a vine climbing a post, and a small seating area with chairs and a bench adjacent to a yellow building with a window and door, under a bright blue sky.

  • Interior of a modern home with white walls and flooring, a staircase with wooden steps and metal railing, a large window revealing a backyard, and kitchen area in the background.

    Hornsby

    New dwelling in Hornsby, NSW

  • Hand-drawn architectural blueprint of a house, showing the layout of rooms, outdoor spaces, and landscaping, with annotations and labels.

    Sketch Design

  • Architectural blueprint of a proposed ground floor plan, including a double garage, living areas, kitchen, dining area, bedroom, bathroom, deck with BBQ area, landscaped yards, and detailed measurements.

  • Rendering of a modern two-story house with a backyard garden, trees, and a person standing on the upper balcony.

  • A wooden fence with a gate, rusted corrugated metal panels, greenery, and trees in the background.

    Recycled Fence

    Fence built using materials found on the side of the road. Plant details replicated from owner’s favourite chair.

    Hardwood timber framing from construction site.

    Rusty tin from replaced roof

  • A wooden structure with heart-shaped cutouts in a garden or backyard.

  • An elderly woman with gray hair styled in a bun, wearing glasses, a black t-shirt, and denim shorts, is painting a wooden fence outdoor near trees.

  • A person's hand resting on a wooden or laminate floor, with a large wooden L-shaped piece and a rust-colored striped carpet nearby.

  • A backyard scene featuring a rusted metal fence, a wooden gate, trees, and various plants. Part of a white truck with a yellow license plate is visible on the right.

  • Residential backyard with trees and bushes behind a weathered wooden fence. Several trash cans are placed along the fence, with some stacked and covered with a tarp. Part of a white vehicle is visible in the foreground, parked on a paved street.

    Original Fence

Berowra Alterations

Alterations to existing dwelling.