DESIGN PROCESS.
STAGED PROJECTS &
OUR PROCESS.
Preliminary Design DA & BA Working Drawings.
At Formarda, we guide you through every stage of the building design process, from the first concept sketch through to detailed construction drawings. Whether you're planning a new home, renovation, extension, commercial fit-out, or hospitality project, our structured design process ensures your project is thoughtfully designed, compliant, and ready for approval and construction.
OUR PROCESS & VALUES.
Every successful project starts with a clear plan. At Formarda, our structured building design process takes your project from the first concept through to construction-ready drawings. Whether you're planning a new home, renovation, extension, or commercial project, we guide you through each stage to ensure your design reflects your vision, meets your budget, and complies with local council requirements, the National Construction Code (NCC), and Australian Standards.
Our staged approach helps you make informed decisions before investing in detailed documentation. By resolving the design early, you can obtain preliminary builder pricing, reduce the risk of costly changes, avoid approval delays, and keep your project on track.
As experienced Building Designers in Brisbane, we create practical, well-designed spaces that are ready for approval, ready to build, and designed to last.
01
Design Consulttation &
Design Brief
02
Preliminary Design
03
Development Approval
04
Builidng Approval
05
Building Certifcates
06
Project Hand Over
CONTACT.
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2. PRELIMINARY DESIGN STAGE.
Every successful project begins with a well-considered design. Following our initial consultation and design brief, we prepare a set of preliminary design drawings that transform your ideas into a functional architectural concept. During this stage, we explore layouts, room relationships, building form, orientation, natural light, and site opportunities while incorporating our professional design advice.
These concept drawings allow you to visualise your project before committing to detailed documentation. They are also ideal for obtaining preliminary pricing from builders, allowing you to establish a realistic construction budget before progressing to the approval stages.
Our Preliminary Design package may include:
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Floor plans
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Feasibility Studies
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Site plan
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Concept layouts
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Design revisions
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Preliminary square metre calculations.
This stage provides the foundation for approaching builders for basic cost approximations, design ideas into illustrations. And the basis for progressing onto the next stages.
3. DEVELOPMENT APPROVAL STAGE (DA APPROVAL).
If your project requires planning approval from your local council, we prepare a comprehensive Development Approval (DA) drawing package.
Our DA documentation is specifically prepared to satisfy council and town planning requirements, helping streamline the assessment process and minimise unnecessary delays.
We work closely with town planners, consultants, and local authorities to ensure your proposal meets planning requirements before progressing to Building Approval.
Depending on your project and local planning scheme, the drawings may include:
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Resolved site plans.
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Existing vs proposed. Site and floor plans
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Building elevations
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Site constraints
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Building height and site coverage calculations
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Streetscape information
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Planning overlays
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Relevant National Construction Code (NCC) requirements
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Applicable Australian Standards
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Constructions details
4. BUILDING APPROVAL STAGE (BA APPROVAL).
Once your Preliminary Design has been finalised and your Development Approval has been obtained (where required), we prepare your Building Approval (BA) documentation.
This is the most detailed stage of the design process. Your concept is developed into a complete set of construction-ready working drawings that your builder, building certifier, and consultants will use throughout construction.
Our Building Approval drawings typically include:
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Site plan. Setbacks and boundary information
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Detailed floor plans
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Elevations
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Building sections
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Construction details
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Window and door schedules
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Roof plans
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Building notes and specifications
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Square metre calculations
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NCC compliance documentation
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Coordination with engineering and consultant information where required
These fully resolved working drawings form the basis of your Building Approval application and provide the level of detail required for accurate builder pricing and construction on site. At Formarda, we believe quality documentation leads to smoother approvals, fewer construction issues, and a better-built outcome.
1. DESIGN CONSULTATION & DESIGN BRIEF CREATION.
Understanding Your Project Before We Draw.
Our design consultation is the first step in the Formarda building design process. We take the time to understand your project in detail, including your ideas, requirements, budget, site and how you want your home or renovation to work.
Together, we establish a clear set of design objectives and specifications that form the foundation for your project.
A Flexible, Staged Design Process
We break the building design process into four stages, giving you the flexibility to review your plans at each step before deciding whether to continue.
This means you can pause after any stage to discuss the design with your builder for construction costings, or with other consultants such as engineers or town planners. This can be particularly valuable where planning regulations, council approvals or construction costs may affect the feasibility of your project.
Rather than paying for the entire design upfront, you progress stage by stage, giving you greater control over your design, budget and project decisions.