Chris Dimond Architect

Chris Dimond Architect http://www.dimond.com.au
Award winning registered architect specialising in residential projects > renovations, additions and new builds.

I have experience with projects of all types and sizes. I provide efficient and affordable professional services to clients throughout South Australia and Australia. I am passionate about design that is environmentally responsible and enjoy working with clients who value my experience and advice.

This Christies Beach Multi-Residential project has now commenced with substantial civil works underway to prepare the la...
23/08/2026

This Christies Beach Multi-Residential project has now commenced with substantial civil works underway to prepare the large parcel of land for all seven new builds.

Occupying a substantial coastal site, the project introduces a thoughtful, high-density model that balances architectural permanence with local beachside vernacular. Three premium, three-storey residences command the front row. Built to withstand the brutal marine environment, they feature robust solid-brick construction and suspended concrete slabs. Positioned behind are four light-filled, two-storey dwellings. Clad in crisp weatherboard with timber flooring, they offer a refined, contemporary nod to the traditional Australian beach shack. A striking coastal aesthetic combines crisp white render, architectural black window and door frames, warm timber highlights, and raw stone feature walls. The development is framed entirely by considered, salt-tolerant coastal plantings.

Concept Spotlight: Aldgate Pavilions How do you expand a classic Cape Cod residence in a sensitive landscape? My design ...
22/07/2026

Concept Spotlight: Aldgate Pavilions

How do you expand a classic Cape Cod residence in a sensitive landscape? My design for this Adelaide Hills property introduces two barn-style pavilions linked by a minimalist, light-filled living hub.

Key Design Features: Smart Zoning: One pavilion houses a private master suite; the other features a garage and a dedicated dance studio.
Solar Orientation: The central core opens to expansive decking, perfectly oriented to capture northern sunlight.
Tactile Materials: Matte-finish Maxline cladding paired with rich ironbark timber, designed to weather gracefully among the surrounding eucalypts.
Interior Curation: Spaces are custom-tailored to frame the clients' curated mid-century furniture collection.

Currently ready to build and awaiting the owners' return from an overseas work placement, this project stands as a highly resolved blueprint for modern hills living.

Don't worry, North Adelaide - this multi-storey development isn't happening just yet. For a client inspired by recent mu...
14/07/2026

Don't worry, North Adelaide - this multi-storey development isn't happening just yet.

For a client inspired by recent multi-level projects on O'Connell Street, I prepared this concept design to explore future possibilities for a highly sensitive local heritage site.

To respect the local character, the design incorporates complementary red brick, strategic upper-level setbacks, and heavily articulated facades for visual interest. Deep balconies with raised planters assist in preventing overlooking while framing distant views.

Ultimately, constraints around height, traffic planning, parking, and site access mean this specific proposal faces significant hurdles. However, it served as a highly valuable testing ground for my client.

Feasibility cannot be priced on a whim; it requires a rigorous conceptual design that evaluates traffic, waste, street activation, tenancy mix, and heritage impact. Only then can market rates be applied to test viability - not to mention navigating public and media scrutiny.

This was a vey quick turnaround and a worthwhile exercise.

Project Spotlight: Barossa Mid-Century Modern. I’m excited to share a preview of this mid-century inspired family home, ...
14/07/2026

Project Spotlight: Barossa Mid-Century Modern.

I’m excited to share a preview of this mid-century inspired family home, set on stunning acreage alongside the North Para River.

Working closely with Tanunda-based Bartsch Builders, and with Planning Consent just granted, we are now commencing construction documentation.

The clients have a lifelong passion for mid-century modern design, so the brief was all about blending those iconic architectural principles with a luxurious, contemporary rural lifestyle on the edge of the Barossa Valley.

The exterior is a striking mix of crisp white rendered walls, charred shou sugi ban timber accents, and raw, random stone walling. The large roof form will maximise rainwater catchment, and the orientation of the home leverages passive design principles.

Inside, the home is tailored for a growing family, complete with four bedrooms, dual living zones, dedicated spaces for music and creativity, and plenty of garage space. The generous north-facing alfresco area is perfectly oriented to soak up the winter sun and frame the changing seasons along the river.

This project has been an exercise in balancing site, style, and craftsmanship with the practicality and durability required in rural living.

I’m excited to see Bartsch Builders bring this vision to life on-site over the coming months.

Featured here “The Blackwood Pair”.Spirit Level Homes has experienced extraordinary market momentum over the last few mo...
01/07/2026

Featured here “The Blackwood Pair”.

Spirit Level Homes has experienced extraordinary market momentum over the last few months. The response from regional builders, local agents, and buyers has been overwhelmingly positive.

This surge in interest highlights a growing demand for premium, architectural solutions outside major capital cities.

Key Advantages for Regional Builders:
For builders operating on coastal and rural sites, the Spirit Level Homes model solves several unique geographic and economic challenges:

Flexible Budget Scaling: The design can be scaled up or down in construction materials and fit-out options to perfectly align with individual client budgets.

Mitigating Trade Shortages: Regional areas often face severe shortages of specialised subcontractors. Pre-designed architectural documentation reduces guesswork, minimises errors, and streamlines construction timelines.

Eliminating Design Bottlenecks: Sourcing high-end architectural services in rural or coastal zones can be difficult and expensive. Builders can now offer top-tier design luxury instantly.

Optimising Diverse Sites: Rural blocks frequently present complex typography or bushfire overlay challenges, while coastal lots require durable, weather-resistant materials. Flexible cladding options and masterfully considered footprints adapt seamlessly to these environments.

Accelerating Speed-to-Market: Delays in traditional architectural drafting can stall regional projects for months. Pre-designed concepts allow builders to bypass these hurdles, secure planning approvals faster, and start construction sooner.

Driving Premium Yields: The bold minimalist geometry of concepts like "The Blackwood Pair" creates an immediate visual impact. This striking street presence allows regional builders to command premium sales prices and high-yield rental returns in booming regional hubs.

Enquire today to view the full specification documentation for "The Blackwood Pair" or discuss adapting this design to your parcel of land.

Contact: [email protected]
View the range: dimond.com.au/spirit-level-homes

Concept Spotlight: River Murray Residence. How do you design a high-end weekend escape along a river system defined by e...
24/06/2026

Concept Spotlight: River Murray Residence.

How do you design a high-end weekend escape along a river system defined by extreme flood cycles?

My concept for this River Murray property is a great example of flood-resilient architecture, proving that contemporary luxury does not have to be compromised for environmental performance. While career movements ultimately took my client interstate, this ready-to-execute design remains a benchmark for architectural risk mitigation.

The Design Strategy:
The primary living zones sit safely above historic flood levels. Below, a highly engineered, perforated lower level is designed to allow fast-moving water to pass seamlessly through the building structure during a major flood event.

Closer to the bank, a series of raised platforms accommodate minor seasonal water fluctuations, keeping outdoor entertaining areas functional without risking the main home.

A smart three-tiered layout places the secure ski boat and accessory storage at ground level, the main kitchen, living, and dining hub on the mid-floor, and private bedroom sanctuaries on the top level.

To support a seamless "lock-up-and-go" lifestyle, I paired robust natural materials with low-maintenance composite cladding panels. The design culminates in a vine-covered deck overlooking the water—meticulously framed for long lunches and evening drinks.

Designing for risky environments takes careful planning and simple, practical styling.

Positioned on Beulah Road in Norwood, one of Adelaide’s premier and leafiest commercial corridors, this unbuilt two-stor...
16/06/2026

Positioned on Beulah Road in Norwood, one of Adelaide’s premier and leafiest commercial corridors, this unbuilt two-storey development is a masterclass in urban integration and commercial viability.

Designed for a returning client, the concept represents a highly disciplined exercise in strict planning, design excellence, and financial feasibility.

The architectural form accommodates two distinct commercial tenancies, supported by seamless off-street parking. The project’s street presence is intentionally softened by extensive, integrated landscaping that honors the established tree canopy of Norwood.

The exterior introduces a highly refined, tactile material palette: raw off-form concrete is set against warm ironbark timber and rugged, random-laid stone sourced directly from the historic Stonyfell Quarry.

Highly resolved and structurally optimised, this commercial blueprint is poised for formal planning lodgement in the coming months.

Architecture must respect the land it rests upon, especially in Western New South Wales, where a family’s livelihood is ...
09/06/2026

Architecture must respect the land it rests upon, especially in Western New South Wales, where a family’s livelihood is dictated by the brutal rhythm of the seasons.

Designed for a sprawling cattle and sheep station, this unbuilt homestead is a masterclass in remote, climate-resilient architecture. Crafted to replace an aging homestead that sheltered multiple generations, the new design stands as a modern sanctuary engineered to endure the next century of outback life.

The architecture is defined by survival, shelter, and self-reliance. Slightly elevated above the red earth to clear historic floodwaters, the structure is wrapped in deep, continuous verandahs that cast perpetual shade, offering respite from the blistering sun and dust-laden winds. A massive, high-yield roofline acts as a critical catchment system, turning scarce outback rainfall into a vital, life-sustaining resource.

Inside, the home delivers every luxury of modern living, culminating in an outdoor mineral pool designed specifically to wash away the fine red dust after a grueling day on the run. Because of the site's extreme remoteness, the design considered the dimensions of every material component. Every single transport truck was optimised to absolute capacity, dramatically slashing freight costs and logistical friction.

While the project remains in the pipeline waiting for the good seasons to return, it stands as a ready-to-execute blueprint for the future of Australian pastoral architecture.

Middleton Beach House: A Masterclass in Coastal Blueprinting.Exceptional design solves real-world problems before ground...
04/06/2026

Middleton Beach House: A Masterclass in Coastal Blueprinting.

Exceptional design solves real-world problems before ground is ever broken. While the Middleton Beach House remains an unbuilt concept, it stands as a sophisticated case study in high-performance coastal architecture.

Engineered for an active family lifestyle, the layout prioritises functional, site-specific zoning. The ground floor integrates a secure, well-ventilated wet room specifically designed for drying surf gear, keeping the primary living zones pristine. Smart orientation shields the outdoor entertaining decks and lawns from prevailing coastal winds, maximizing usable outdoor hours. Large-format glazing acts as a passive solar heater during winter months while maintaining a permanent visual connection to the sea.

Middleton Beach House represents a highly adaptable, modern template for multi-generational beachside living.

Address

PO Box 6176
Glen Osmond, SA
5065

Telephone

+61419035031

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Chris Dimond Architect posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category