Sydney’s North Shore is a region steeped in history and heritage… and for almost 60 years, Playoust Churcher Architects has been a part of that history, designing homes that enhance the region and make it such a wonderful place to live.
The North Shore is more than where we come to work… it’s also the place we call home.
For us, North Shore design and aesthetics are personal. And so is achieving the perfect dream home for each and every client we work with.
Over the decades, we have designed spectacular contemporary homes. We have completed sensitive heritage additions. And our work has stood the test of time through the evolution of design trends.
One thing we have never – and will never – stop doing is listening to our clients.
As North Shore architects we know how to future-proof your home so it will sell in the future… we are able to seamlessly integrate indoor and outdoor living… we are experts at master planning to give you options for the future… but without listening to what you want from your home and incorporating that into your home design, we aren’t doing our job.
Playoust Churcher Managing Director Brett Churcher explains,
“One principle that we really stand by at Playoust Churcher is that we are designing your home, not ours.
In many ways, our longevity as residential architects comes down to the fact that we don’t bring our egos to the table. We are passionate about good design… and when we can combine our knowledge of design principles with what you want from your home, that’s the winning formula for success. We very much partner with our clients to get the results we do.”
Over many decades, we have learned that the best results are achieved when we partner with our clients from the conception of their home design through to the project completion.
Experience really does mean something in this industry… and for our clients it means the home of their dreams.
According to Brett Churcher, this is a crucial difference between Playoust Churcher and other residential architects,
“In the early design stages when our clients tell us about their lifestyle and how their home needs to fit that lifestyle, we use that information to guide the design. Any change that is made once the design is finalised could compromise the flow of the home and how well it suits the needs of the occupants. If changes are to occur then consultation with the architect ensures design integrity.
By working with our clients from conception to completion, we are able to achieve two things. Firstly, we can safeguard the concept of the home so our clients get the home they have been dreaming of. Secondly, we are a constant throughout the project, offering them stability and confidence over a process that can take two or three years to complete.”
In any one day, we could be meeting with a client for the first time to start defining the concept of their home… preparing for documents for a council development application… or visiting a project site to check progress and ensure the quality is of the standard we expect.
And for every client, we are delivering the same service as your partner on your journey to your dream home.
You can’t survive more than 50 years in business without hitting a few bumps in the road. And in our industry, economic downturns hit hard.
Our approach in each of these downturns is to bunker down, to support our clients and lean on our strength, longevity and relationships to ride out the downturn.
And the current downturn – brought about by COVID-19 – is no different. We are well-positioned to manage the crisis and emerge even stronger than ever before. We’ve done it before… and we’ll do it again.
Whether it is staying at the forefront of innovations and trends in architecture or taking our clients one step closer towards their dream home, we are always looking to the future. The history we have – almost 60 years as experienced North Shore architects – is no small feat… and the next chapter will be equally exciting.
With 50-plus years of experience behind us, we are the North Shore architects you can trust to design the home that will perfectly match the brief.
Contact us to discuss your requirements and how our team of experienced architects can turn your vision into reality.
Absolutely. Whether you’re in London, New York, Hong Kong, or elsewhere, Playoust Churcher can guide you through the entire project remotely and deliver the same design excellence as for local clients.
Communication happens via Zoom, FaceTime, or other digital tools. Weekly—or even daily—meetings can be arranged depending on your project stage. Builders can also video-call with you on-site mid-build for fast and clear decision-making.
Playoust Churcher uses 3D modelling, including immersive walkthroughs, to let you explore and impact your home’s design from afar. You can review materials, textures, colours, and layouts virtually—often more deeply than in-person.
The process is proven, structured, and transparent. It handles evolving details, plans electrical and material specifications, and gives remote clients peace of mind—knowing each detail is managed, even without frequent in-person oversight.
Yes—Playoust Churcher can schedule project milestones around your visits. When you’re in Sydney, you can vet materials and interiors in person; when you’re abroad, the team keeps you updated virtually.
The firm can tailor and adjust designs if you’d like to move back into your North Shore home—whether simplifying the DA, planning renovations, or future-proofing your home for a smooth transition.
For nearly 60 years, Playoust Churcher has shaped Sydney’s North Shore—skillfully blending heritage sensitivity with contemporary design to enhance the region’s architectural character.
The firm’s longevity stems from its ethos: prioritise client needs over ego. By deeply listening and adapting design to lifestyles, they build homes that are both beautiful and enduring.
Playoust Churcher guides clients through every stage of a project—from initial concept to completion—providing consistency, stability, and peace of mind throughout years-long renovation or build journeys.
Navigating cycles like the COVID‑19 downturn, the firm relies on its decades of experience, enduring client trust, and design foresight to emerge stronger and continue delivering refined homes.
Managing Director & Nominated Architect
NSW Architect Registration No. 5924
With over 30 years of architectural experience, Brett Churcher leads Playoust Churcher Architects with a rare combination of design expertise and commercial insight. As a registered architect and Managing Director, Brett has played a pivotal role in delivering high-end single residential homes and boutique medium-density developments across Sydney’s North Shore and beyond.
Brett’s unique strength lies in his deep understanding of both architectural design and the Sydney property market. His valuation background enables him to align creative vision with practical feasibility, ensuring each project achieves both aesthetic excellence and financial viability.
At Playoust Churcher, Brett drives the studio’s growth, strategy, and leadership, while remaining closely connected to what matters most: the client. His ability to see the bigger picture from a client’s perspective and to guide projects seamlessly through the design process is at the heart of his role and reputation.
Reach out to Brett to explore how Playoust Churcher can bring it to life—with clarity, creativity and confidence.
Concept: Creating a light, airy, character-filled three-level Hampton-style beach home on a small corner site
Concept: Adapting a beautiful family heritage home in a quiet street on a large site to suit the family’s lifestyle
Concept: Designing a new family home that maximises the views and introduces a sense of open space
Concept: A complex yet successful renovation of this stunning heritage home in a conservation area
Concept: A 1970s build transformed into a bright, open design maximising stunning harbour views
Concept: A complete rebuild of half the property over two levels, whilst also incorporating the property next door
Concept: A majestic holiday home that pushes the design envelop, blending sustainable materials and natural light
Concept: A major ground floor renovation of a large estate with a new three-car garage and 14 metre pool
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We live and work on the lands of the Gadigal people of the Eora nation. We acknowledge their traditional custodianship of the land and pay respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.
