Expert Building Design in Strawberry Hills

Strawberry Hills is a vibrant inner-city pocket within Surry Hills, known for its creative energy, diverse housing mix, and strong cultural character. With a blend of converted warehouses, heritage terraces, and modern apartment blocks, building design in Strawberry Hills requires a flexible yet context-sensitive approach.

At DMR Designs, we specialise in Strawberry Hills building design that respects the suburb’s eclectic charm while meeting the demands of urban living. From compact apartments to stylish terrace renovations, our designs respond to the unique lifestyle and architectural landscape of this city-fringe neighbourhood.

By focusing on both heritage and innovation, our building design in Strawberry Hills delivers spaces that are practical, sustainable, and aligned with City of Sydney Council planning requirements.

Why Choose DMR Designs for Building Design in Strawberry Hills?

  • Heritage Integration: Respectful upgrades for terraces and older dwellings.

  • Urban Efficiency: Smart solutions for small blocks and dense apartment living.

  • Creative Edge: Designs that reflect the suburb’s artistic and cultural atmosphere.

  • Council Navigation: Expertise in City of Sydney Council requirements for heritage and zoning.

  • Sustainable Practices: Eco-friendly features suited to city living.

Your Strawberry Hills building design will balance heritage character with modern functionality.

Sydney Council Requirements for Building in Strawberry Hills

 

  • Zoning types:

    • R1 General Residential

    • B4 Mixed Use

  • Setbacks:

    • Front setbacks typically 1–3m, following heritage alignments

    • Side and rear setbacks vary by lot width and development type

  • Typical lot sizes:

    • Terraces: 120–200 sqm

    • Apartment redevelopment sites: 400–1,000 sqm

  • Key constraints:

    • Height limits range 3–6 storeys

    • Heritage overlays affect many streetscapes

    • Noise and traffic impacts due to central location

  • Utilities available:

    • Fully serviced with water, sewer, electricity, gas, and NBN

Building in Strawberry Hills requires designs that carefully integrate heritage with new development.

For detailed council regulations and submission guidelines, visit the Sydney Council website.

DA vs CDC: What’s Right for Your Strawberry Hills Project?

Whether it’s a Development Application (DA) or a Complying Development Certificate (CDC), we’ll guide you in finding the fastest and most compliant approval pathway—anywhere in New South Wales.

Here’s a quick breakdown to help you understand the difference:

DA (Development Application):

  • Needed for terrace upgrades, multi-dwelling housing, or heritage-sensitive works.

  • Required where projects exceed CDC standards or impact heritage fabric.

CDC (Complying Development Certificate):

  • Suitable for minor internal changes or compliant extensions at the rear.

  • Limited applicability due to the suburb’s heritage overlays.

Need help figuring out which route suits your site? We’ll assess your block and walk you through your options.

 

FAQs About Building Design in Strawberry Hills

  • Victorian terraces, converted warehouses, and mid-rise apartments are typical.

  • Yes, many streetscapes are heritage-listed, which guides external design choices.

  • Yes, with clever layouts, secondary dwellings, and efficient use of vertical space.

  • While we know the Sydney area well, we also work across many suburbs within the City of Sydney, including Redfern, Surry Hills, Ultimo, and more. Additionally, we are available for select projects up to 4 hours away from the City of Sydney Council area.

  • Cost depends on the scope of your project. We’ll walk you through pricing during your discovery call so you know exactly what to expect.

Ready to take the next step?

From inner-city terrace renovations to modern apartment designs, we’re here to help you move forward with clarity and confidence. We’d love to hear about your Sydney project and how we can assist.

Our Building Design Services in Strawberry Hills

We offer Strawberry Hills building design services tailored for terraces, apartments, and mixed-use redevelopments. Whether enhancing heritage dwellings or designing modern residential spaces, we deliver practical, compliant, and creative outcomes.

Our building design in Strawberry Hills reflects the suburb’s diversity and vibrant lifestyle.

What to Expect: Our Building Design Timeline

A step-by-step look at how we take your project from concept to council approval and beyond.

Every project starts with a discovery call and ends with council-approved, build-ready plans.

Here’s how we make it easy from start to finish:

Step 1 - Discovery Call

  • Let’s chat! We’ll have a quick call to understand your project and see how we can help.

Step 2 -Site Visit & Consultation (5–7 days)

  • We’ll meet at your site (or virtually), take a closer look, and discuss your vision in detail.

Step 3 - Fee Proposal (2 days)

  • You’ll get a clear, no-surprises proposal with the scope, timeline, and costs.

Step 4 - Concept Design (4 weeks)

  • We’ll create initial design ideas and layouts tailored just for you.

Step 5 - Design Development & Expert Coordination (2 weeks)

  • We’ll fine-tune the design and collaborate with any needed specialists (engineer, energy consultant, town planner, geo tech engineer, bushfire, heritage consultant, etc).

Step 6 - Final Adjustments (1 week)

  • We’ll polish everything and prepare the final drawings for submission.

Step 7 - Submission for Approval

  • We handle the council or certifier submission, so you’re ready for the next steps.

Want the full breakdown?

View our detailed process here.

From Plans to Reality: See How It All Comes Together

Our Strawberry Hills projects showcase how creative design can transform heritage terraces and compact apartments into modern, functional homes.

Portfolio

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Home Designs

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With DMR Designs, your Strawberry Hills building design will capture the suburb’s unique blend of history and creativity.

Ready to Start Designing Your New Home in Strawberry Hills?

We’re here to help you take the next step, whether you’re

starting fresh or upgrading your Sydney home.

We’d love to hear what you have in mind. Book a discovery call or send us a message, and we’ll be in touch within 48 hours.

Not based in Strawberry Hills?

DMR Designs proudly works with homeowners across the entire City of Sydney. From Redfern and Surry Hills to Ultimo and beyond, we bring the same personalized design approach to every project—no matter where you call home.