Our Sydney Architect Studio’s promise: Striking yet sustainable designs for a healthy future.
Brancatisano provides architectural and interior design services, underscored by our mission to create healthy homes.
We take the time to understand why you are undertaking your project and what you hope to achieve, providing a tailored approach to meet the unique needs of our clients.
We are a Registered Architectural Practice with the NSW Architects Registration Board, and abide by the NSW Architects Code of Professional Conduct, which can be found here.
Residential Architecture
Residential architectural design responds creatively to the ways the occupants live and the context of the site. Alterations and additions, as well as new build projects both provide opportunities to design unique homes which can improve the health of the occupants and improve outcomes of sustainability. Houses of all types and scales from terraces to heritage houses and warehouses, can provide progressive outcomes for their owners.
Working with consultants such as town planners, heritage consultants, landscape architects, structural and civil engineers, a collaborative approach is adopted from the outset of a project to achieve these aims. Residential design comprises elements of passive design and interior design specific to each unique site, and may include a retrofit strategy if working with an existing house.
Considerations in residential design include:
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Placement of the building on the site taking into account orientation, prevailing winds and any slope or incline of the natural ground
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Understanding council and state legislation including (but not limited to) height limits, setbacks, floor area and landscape area restrictions
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Optimising the layout to create both a functional and efficient home but also a home of delight with places to gather, retreat and relax
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Creating opportunities for visual, social, acoustic and climatic connection through void or double height spaces
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Selection of quality, durable and sustainable materials that will have a timeless affinity with the specific site
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Designing facades to satisfy pragmatics such as window placement for cross ventilation as well as aesthetics such as proportions and alignment
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Integrating landscape design to create a holistic environment which foregrounds nature through planter boxes and garden design
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Respecting the neighbouring buildings in the street and adopting materials and designs which work with the local context
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Ensuring the house respects the natural environment in terms reducing its impact on the natural ground, existing trees and landscape and overland flow of water
Sustainable Passive Design
Passive design principles work together to create a home that functions in harmony with natural, site specific conditions to achieve thermal comfort, i.e. the optimum balance of feeling neither too hot nor too cold when inside the home. A home based on passive design principles is understood as the opposite of a home that relies solely on active mechanical systems such as air conditioning to achieve this thermal comfort. The design is optimised to harness the local climatic conditions and weather patterns (which differ vastly across Australia) and aid the home in moderating its thermal load through passive heating and cooling techniques. This reduces the reliance on artificial heating and cooling, ultimately creating an efficient, healthy home that lowers carbon dioxide emissions.
Many elements of passive design need to work together to achieve this aim, including:
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The way the house is sited in relation to the sun
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Encouraging natural breezes through the house
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Reducing air leakage while ensuring fresh air can enter via specific mean
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Retaining heat inside in winter and preventing heat inside in summer
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Construction materials absorbing, storing and releasing heat
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To carefully located windows, doors and skylights
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Restricting solar gain in summer and allowing solar gain in winter
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Encourage cooling microclimates through transpiration
Retrofit
Retrofitting entails modifying an existing building to aid it in functioning more efficiently, reducing its energy usage and improving its performance. There is a growing movement to prioritise retrofitting existing buildings over demolition where possible and practical. Existing houses are assessed to determine a retrofit strategy, including understanding their existing functionality and performance, which then informs the overall design concept of the project.
Retrofitting can lead to healthier outcomes, including improving indoor air quality and thermal comfort. Energy bills are often reduced due to the increased efficiency of the house.
The many components of a retrofit strategy will differ for each project, and may include:
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Disconnecting from gas with all energy for cooking, heating, cooling, water heating and lighting being provided through electricity
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Providing renewable energy to power the all electric home
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Installing electric heat pumps as an alternative to gas or electric water heating systems
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Installing water efficient fittings and collecting rainwater for reuse on site
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Installing electric and efficient appliances such as cooktops, washing machines and refrigerators
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Creating a fully insulated envelope to the house including walls, roof and sub-floor, and sealing any gaps to reduce air leakage
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Replacing existing windows with double or triple glazed thermally broken windows
Interior Design
Interior design that seamlessly integrates with architectural elements creates a holistic home. Responding to the occupant’s brief about how they envisage inhabiting the space, interior design combines both aesthetics and functionality. Every interior space, such as the kitchen, is thoroughly considered on a detail level but also in how it fits into the overall feel of the home. Efficiencies in circulation as well as creating flexible spaces aid in maximising the usable floor area of the design. Materials are selected for their longevity and quality. Fittings, fixtures and appliances are specified based on a balance of aesthetic, functionality and budget.
Wellbeing is prioritised as it is widely accepted that interior spaces can influence mental and physical health.
Considerations of interior design include:
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Strategically locating windows and skylights to allow maximum natural light into the space
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Minimising excess artificial lighting and utilising in select modes such as task lighting
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Selecting sustainable sourced natural materials where possible including timber and stone
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Specifying low-voc paints without fumes or odours
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Regulating noise and creating acoustic comfort
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Creating opportunities for nature inside
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Maximising space by creating built in storage and furniture
Our Process
01. Initial Meeting and Feasibility
We identify key opportunities in discussing the site, brief, budget and your desired outcomes for the project.
02. Concept Design
We develop design concepts based on these opportunities, layered with information presented by the site and surrounding context, town planning and the functional requirements of the brief. We present the design concepts in sketches and visualisations to communicate the potential look and feel of the project.
03. Schematic Design
We work with you to progress and refine the selected design in conjunction with the consultant team for this stage which may include town planners, heritage advisors and landscape architects. Importantly, we ensure that the plan is functional and practical, and that sustainability and healthy home initiatives are integrated into the design from the start.
04. Development Application
and Authority Approvals
We finalise the architectural drawings and documentation, including the design and selection of materials for the exterior of the building, coordinate with the consultant team and submit the application to council or approval authority. We can liaise with the council which may include a site meeting during the approval process.
05. Design Development
Once the project has been granted approval, we develop the design further in conjunction with the consultant team for this stage which may include structural engineers, landscape architects and quantities surveyors. We work with you to make selections in relation to the materials, fittings and finishes as well as the design of key spaces such as the kitchen and bathrooms. This is the most detailed stage of the process, allowing the cost plan for the project to be developed.
06. Construction Documentation
We finalise the detailed architectural documentation to ensure that the project is ready for construction, including architectural drawings, materials and fittings schedules. We coordinate with the consultant team to ensure their work is integrated into the architectural documentation. We can be involved with the tender process and contractor selection, and also liaise with the certifier and others to obtain the construction certificate.
07. Construction Services
We liaise with the contractors on site to ensure that the intent of the architectural design is upheld and defects are identified throughout construction. We attend site meetings and develop solutions for architectural details with the contractors. We can also provide contract administration services.