Versatility in North Shore residential architecture

Sydney’s North Shore offer a kaleidoscope of architectural interpretations. Each council has a distinct personality and style, from grand heritage and federation properties to contemporary and bold dwellings, residential complexes, and dual occupancy opportunities.

As the premier architectural firm on the North Shore, we have developed an appreciation for the individuality of the local communities. Our versatility in managing projects, from restoration to new builds, throughout various municipalities, is one of the many reasons discerning clients choose us for their residential projects.

Some North Shore homes lie in heritage conservation areas, so they demand a careful touch. Our approach is to honour the original character while updating the home for modern living, a balancing act that requires close collaboration with heritage officers and a deep understanding of conservation rules. Often, we begin with a pre-DA consultation to get council feedback early. In one case, this helped us secure approval for a heritage redesign in just four months.

A Northbridge project in the Willoughby council saw us convert a 1930s bungalow. The facade was refurbished, retaining its natural appeal. At the same time, the rear of the property was demolished and reimaged into a modern lifestyle home featuring contemporary styling, bold glazing, and clever spatial planning to create a home that feels elegant and deeply practical.

As the clients shared:

“Playoust Churcher Architects achieved our goals, and the end product was a fantastic likeness to our original vision. We found their work to be of a very high standard, detailed and thorough, plus they were a great group to work with as a team.”

We embrace the challenge of heritage constraints, finding creative solutions that satisfy the strict controls and our client’s needs.

North Sydney is also home to many new custom builds, from beachfront modernist residences to hillside retreats. Designing a new home here means making the most of the coastal setting while obeying council planning controls. A project we completed in North Curl Curl in the Northern Beaches Council zone typifies a contemporary build that captures the panoramic views of Curl Curl beach with the architectural vision expressed through a series of ‘tubes’, structural forms that hold living and bedroom spaces, each framing its own curated view of the ocean, beach, or lagoon.

Freshwater on the Northern Beaches. The brief for this project was to create a quintessential Hampton-style beach home in the Northern Beaches Council for a growing family within the constraints of a small, corner-site property. The challenge lay in accommodating a generous spatial brief across three levels while meeting strict council setback and flood-zone controls.

Playoust Churcher Architects approached the design with science and creativity, ensuring every metre of space was maximised. The resulting home captures light, air, and a sense of openness, characteristics essential to coastal living. Carefully considered architectural detailing gives the residence warmth and character, while thoughtful privacy solutions ensure seclusion despite the corner location.

An outstanding project was to design a flexible modern holiday home on the slopes of Palm Beach in the Northern Beaches Council for a Sydney-based client. The brief called for a beach retreat that comfortably accommodated extended family holidays or smaller gatherings with young adult children and their friends. The design approach needed to embrace the site’s natural assets, west-facing views over Pittwater, eastern sunlight, and the existing Australian flora. The architectural intent was to maximise transparency and natural light, blending indoor and outdoor living.

Sustainability was a key objective, and careful material selection enabled visual integration into the landscape. Located in the Northern Beaches Council, the design team was aware of and responded to this precinct’s multiple LEPs and DCPs.

We’re also experienced in dual occupancy projects. Our design-led approach to these “smart density” developments ensures that adding a second dwelling never compromises design quality or neighbourhood character. Of course, dual occupancies come with extra planning criteria. Still, we handle all that, from lot sizing and parking to privacy and landscaping, so the outcome feels like two high-end homes rather than an overdeveloped block.

An example of our versatility is Queenscliff, a multi-unit residential development in the Warringah Council. The existing building was a vanilla block of 4-one one-bedroom apartments in a lovely part of Queenscliff in the Sydney Northern Beaches. The Warringah Council building regulations are strict, particularly on bulk and view corridors. The challenge of updating the apartment block was overcome with a detailed architectural process and a thorough understanding of the council’s building codes and DA mechanism. The result was a masterful upgrade that blended into the streetscape, doubled the living space, and created a view avenue that inhaled ocean vistas and warming sunsets.

As one of the unit owners, Scott said after the project.

“Playoust Churcher designed a fantastic-looking building with an additional room in a roof concept that was technically a floor higher than was allowed. Warringah council staff agreed that if the design proved architectural merit, they would consider it. Our consultant planner was not confident when we had a pre-DA meeting, but the council staff said it looked fantastic. We had no complaints from neighbours; it sailed straight through the Council. Equally impressive is that we had four unrelated unit owners, and all applauded the design.”

Our versatility extends to seniors housing developments under the State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP). In one example of our work, the team at Playoust Churcher worked closely with the client and undertook a comprehensive feasibility assessment for a unique parcel of land in Beacon Hill, Sydney.

Looking to maximise yield, we determined a quality SEPP Seniors development comprising 10 individual dwellings would be the most appropriate option, providing the client with the utmost return on the land’s potential.

The site proposed several challenges that informed the development decision. Situated in an area characterised by single and double-storey residential homes, the approach required was sensitive to the existing streetscape and its landscaped environment. The development needed to be visually appealing to potential buyers while respecting neighbouring properties. Our proposal presents two buildings to the street frontage, maintaining consistency with the surrounding residential character. All three building elements incorporate pitched roofs to harmonise with the architectural language of nearby dwellings, despite representing a different building typology.

Our in-depth knowledge of local regulations is consistently applied in all our projects. We view planning rules not as obstacles, but as a guiding framework for creative and compliant design. By “speaking the language” of the North Shore Councils, engaging planners early, and respecting each suburb’s character, we consistently deliver homes that satisfy our clients and the community. That’s the versatility we bring to every project, and that’s why we can successfully provide diverse homes across Sydney’s northern suburbs.

Playoust Churcher Architects is Sydney’s North Shore’s most respected architectural firm. We have been integral to the area’s architectural fabric for over thirty years, designing and supervising the construction of some of the area’s most esteemed renovation and new-build projects.

An integral part of your journey with us is our comprehensive process approach, tailored to meet the demands of our clients and council regulatory frameworks. Our team is well-positioned to maximise your financial return and is committed to delivering value that minimises risk and ensures projects stay on schedule and within budget. We specialise in Federation and heritage projects and invite you to view our projects.

Contact our team for a comprehensive consultation on your project.