Smart Design Studio

The studio’s approach to design is holistic, combining both architectural and interior design. Over the past 23 years, SDS has delivered a wide range of cultural, commercial and residential projects ranging from large-scale master planning to product design. Although varied in size, the projects are united by an ethos of “architecture from the inside out”.

The architecture is frequently masonry-based with sculptural form and dramatic interiors, underpinned by great planning, technical resolution and innovation. This combination of weighty architecture with beautiful naturally lit surfaces creates an architecture that stirs the emotions. It moves beyond functional expression to embrace the notion that “form has a function”.

Smart Design Studio’s buildings have received critical acclaim are renowned for their combination of bold form and attention to detail. Their striking appearance has been underpinned by innovation in sustainability and structural design.

Our Philosophy

The philosophy of Smart Design Studio (SDS) can be distilled into three simple words: excellence, innovation, and collaboration.

1. Excellence - stands for a quality of design and construction that is about being world-class.
2. Innovation - pushes us to move beyond our tried and tested designs and details to invent new ideas and embrace new technology.
3. Collaboration -with the whole project team including client, builder, specialist consultants and approval authority - is the method by which a great project is delivered.

The SDS team consists of 40 staff. We have been operating for over 20 years as a successful practice and have the capacity and experience to undertake a broad array of projects. Our efforts focus on getting great buildings built: we apply our experience in design and documentation to each project we undertake, whilst striving to introduce innovation and new concepts to continually invigorate our work. This approach creates a unique quality for each project and encourages continual growth in the Studio.

Our work rests on an understanding that design, as a process, does not start and end at the surface of a building, but is fundamentally related to site and context, function and purpose. Synthesising this information, we respond to the key drivers at the heart of each project; simply put, our architecture is designed from the inside out and then from the outside in. We respond best to challenges; to design a building, or a boat, or an object that solves the inherent problem with an elegant solution.

At the core of our buildings is a simple idea or a bold form. Augmenting the over-arching concept are layers of richness and complexity that come from embracing the environmental opportunities of the site, honestly expressing structure and services, and connecting to the surrounding landscape, fused with a love of beautifully executed details and craftsmanship. Our architecture is functional, grounded, rational and rigorous, yet maintains a feeling of elegance and a sense of delight.

Serving not only the practical requirements of the brief, our designs assume a responsibilty to the wider community - a balance between restraint and indulgence, candour and artistic expression. We work to make our projects sustainable by incorporating ESD principles and technologies and through imbuing them with a timeless quality. We understand our buildings are part of the physical, social and economic landscape they inhabit and our process facilitates clear and efficient dialogue between the many participants in any project. The result is architecture with greater value and increased longevity.

Our work is recognised for this contribution, both through awards and through clients who return to us with their next project, responding to the clarity, consistency and attention to detail in our methodology and our portfolio. We enjoy building these relationships and actively seek to collaborate with anyone who shares our passion for beautiful, functional and timeless buildings.

2021

• AIA National Harry Seidler Award Winner Commercial Architecture Smart Design Studio
• AIA National Emil Sodersten Award Winner Interior Architecture Smart Design Studio
• AIA National Award Winner Sustainable Architecture Smart Design Studio
• AIA NSW Sir Arthur G Stephenson Award Winner Commercial Architecture Smart Design Studio 
• AIA NSW Milo Dunphy Award Winner Sustainable Architecture Smart Design Studio
• AIA NSW The Aaron Bolot Award Winner Res Architecture Multiple Housing Newmarket
• AIA NSW Architecture Award Winner Res Architecture Houses (AltS + Ads) Lena
• AIA NSW Award Winner Interior Architecture Smart Design Studio 
• AIA NSW Architecture Award Commendation Interior Architecture Arbutus 
• WAF Inside Category Winner Workplace (small) Smart Design Studio
• Architecture Masterprize Winner Commercial Architecture Smart Design Studio
• Architecture Masterprize Winner Medium Size Firm of the Year Smart Design Studio 
• Design Anthology Winner Sustainability Smart Design Studio
• Sustainability Awards Winner Best Adaptive Reuse Smart Design Studio
• Sustainability Awards Highly Commended Smart Building Idea Smart Design Studio
• INDE Award Winner The Design Studio Smart Design Studio
• INDE Award Winner The Work Space Smart Design Studio
• INDE Award Winner The Multi Residential Building Pipi
• INDE Award Honourable Mention The Building Smart Design Studio
• Architizer A+Awards Office Winner Low Rise (1-4 Floors) Smart Design Studio Architizer A+Awards Winner Office Interiors Smart Design Studio
• World of Interiors Winner Studios, Coworking, Home Office Smart Design Studio
• AIDA Winner Workplace Interiors Smart Design Studio
• AIDA Winner Best of State Commercial Smart Design Studio
• Think Brick Horbury Hunt Award Winner Commercial Smart Design Studio 
• Think Brick Horbury Hunt Award Commendation Commercial Bathurst 60
• IDEA Winner Commercial over 1000sqm Smart Design Studio
• Belle Fanuli Interior Design Awards Winner Best Residential Bathroom Design Lena
• UDIA NSW Crown Gp Awards Excellence Winner Urban Renewal/ Adaptive Reuse Smart Design Studio
• UDIA NSW Crown Gp Awards Excellence Winner Sustainability and Enviro Tech Smart Design Studio
• UDIA NSW Crown Gp Awards Excellence Winner Design Nautilus
•  Gaggenau Kitchen of the Year Awards Winner Best of Northern Region Kitchen Hall 20
• Master Builders Association of NSW Winner Plunge Pools $100,001 & Over Indigo Slam

2020

• Randwick City Urban Design Award: Winner Best Conservation Project Newmarket 
• Randwick City Urban Design Award: Winner Best Urban Project Newmarket Randwick
•  City Urban Design Award: Winner People’s Choice Award Newmarket

2019

• Think Brick Horbury Hunt Award Winner Commercial ROC Think Brick Horbury Hunt 
• High Commendation Multi-Unit Residential Arlington Grove AIA NSW Architecture
• Award Commendation Multi-Unit Residential Arlington Grove AIA NSW Architecture
• Award Commendation Commercial ROC

2017

• INDE.Award Winner The Luminary William Smart
• AIA NSW Architecture Award Winner Multi-Unit Residential Crown 515
• AIA NSW Architecture Commendation Residential - Single Brougham Place
• AIA NSW Architecture Award Winner Interior Architecture Indigo Slam
• INDE.Award Winner The Building Indigo Slam
• INDE.Award Winner The Best of the Best Indigo Slam
• AIDA Residential Design Winner Premier Award Indigo Slam
• AIDA Residential Best of State Winner Residential - NSW Indigo Slam
• AIDA Residential Residential Interior Winner Residential - Single Indigo Slam
• Belle Coco Republic Best Residential Winner Residential- Interior Indigo Slam Belle 
• Coco Republic Best Kitchen Winner Residential - Kitchen Interior Indigo Slam Belle 
• Coco Republic Best Bathroom Winner Residential - Bathroom Interior Indigo Slam 
• UTD Excellence Awards Winner High-Density Development The Moreton

2016

• AIA National Robin Boyd Award: Winner Residential Indigo Slam AIA NSW Wilkinson 
• Award: Winner Residential Indigo Slam World Festival of Interiors (INSIDE) Awards
• Residential Indigo Slam AIA NSW Award: Winner Multi-Unit Residential Sydney 385
• Houses Awards: Commendation Multi-Unit Residential Sydney 385 Interior Design
• Award State: Winner Residential Orama Belle Coco Republic Award: Winner Best
  Bathroom Orama

2015

• UDIA Awards for Excellence: Winner Medium Density North One
• Woollahra Design Excellence Award: Winner Heritage Orama
• AIA National Award: Winner Residential Orama
• AIA NSW Hugh and Eva Buhrich: Winner Residential Orama
• Interior Design Award National: Winner Residential Orama
• Interior Design Award State: Winner Residential Orama
• Belle Coco Republic Award: Winner Best Bathroom Orama

2014

• IDEA Awards: Commendation Residential Multi One Central Park
• CTBUH Awards: Winner Best Tall Building in the World One Central Park
• CTBUH Awards: Winner Best Tall Building Asia & Australasia One Central Park
• LEAF International Awards: Winner Overall winner One Central Park
• LEAF International Awards: Winner Best Sustainable Devlpt of the Year One Central Park
• UDIA NSW Awards: Winner Design & Innovation One Central Park
• UDIA NSW Awards: Winner High Density Development One Central Park
• Urban Taskforce: Winner Development of the Year One Central Park

2013

• Interior Design Excellence Award: Winner Retail Optique

2012

• Illumni Infinity Award: Winner Retail Lighting Optique
• AIA NSW Architecture Award: Shortlisted Interior Architecture Metcalfe Bond
• AIA NSW Architecture Award: Winner Heritage Architecture Metcalfe Bond
• AIA NSW Architecture Award: Winner Interior Architecture Tusculum Street
• Australian Interior Design Award: Winner Best Residential Design Tusculum Street
• Australian Interior Design Award: Winner Best Colour in Res. Tusculum Street
• AIA NSW Architecture Award: Commend. Houses Tusculum Street
• Belle Coco Republic Award: Winner Best Residential Interior Tusculum Street

2011

• AIA NSW Architecture Award: Winner Multi-Unit Residential Pacific Sixteen
• Waverley Council Award: Winner Contemporary Design Pacific Sixteen

2010

• Masonry Contractors Association: Winner Award for Excellence Pacific Sixteen
• World Architecture News Award: Finalist Residential Marine Parad

2009

• AIA National Architecture Award: Comm. Sustainable Architecture APRA BPN 
• Sustainability Awards: Winner Office Fitout APRA AIA NSW Milo Dunphy Award: 
• Winner Sustainable Architecture APRA AIA NSW Architecture Award
• IDEA09: Finalist Major Commerc. Interior APRA
• Interior Design Award: Commendation Corporate Design APRA
• Interior Design Award: Winner Colour in Res. Interiors Lumiere 3003
• Interior Design Award: Finalist Residential Decoration Lumiere 3003
• AIA NSW Architecture Award: Winner Interior Architecture Mansfield Residence
• Interior Design Award: Finalist Colour in Res. Interiors Mansfield Residence
• IDEA09: Finalist Best Multi-Res. Interior Mansfield Residence