RD Building Design

13/03/2026

Introducing the floor plans for Tango 688.

This is an expansion of the Tango 526 whilst maintaining similar design ethos.

688sqm for both houses, up to 4 bedrooms, 3 living/lounge spaces, generous outdoor spaces, expansive kitchen with Walk-In-Pantry.

Perfect for lots approximately 15m wide and 40m deep (total lot size of 600sqm) .

10/03/2026

3D Render of our Tango 688 townhouse.

This is an expansion of the Tango 526 whilst maintaining similar design ethos.

688sqm for both houses, up to 4 bedrooms, 3 living/lounge spaces, generous outdoor spaces, expansive kitchen with Walk-In-Pantry.

Perfect for lots approximately 15m wide and 40m deep (total lot size of 600sqm) .

03/03/2026

An article from realestate.com.au has just highlighted the perils of building without appropriate permits, and not taking due diligence when purchasing property.

I'm not taking sides, but the Victorian Building Regulations have a dedicated section (Schedule 3) that lists all types of building work that is exempt from the regulations.

If it's not listed in this schedule, then the regulations apply (which generally means a building permit).

Granny flats and pools are not in Schedule 3 so require building permits.

So ... how does he lay person know when permits are required?

There are a couple of options.

1. Talk to a Registered Building Surveyor (council or private).
2. Talk to an experienced Registered Building Designer.

At RDBD we assist our clients by researching the Building Regulations and local planning requirements to look for triggers that enforce the need for permits.

We also assist clients purchasing property to check if there are any illegally built structures on a purchase site. Once you buy a property, you buy any issues with it and can be asked to rectify illegal works that you inherited.

Be vigilant, and always check with a professional before doing any building work.

https://www.realestate.com.au/news/retired-couple-ordered-to-demolish-25yearold-granny-flat-in-sixfigure-dispute/

A quarter-century after building over their pool, retirees discover their unpermitted granny flat could cost them their family home.

13/02/2026

Bunnings are now selling modular 'Quick Built' structures.

At RD Building Design, we are in favour of suppliers joining the market to offer cost-effective housing solutions.

However, here are some important things to note for these units (which includes any other 'off-the-shelf' design solution.

The main thing to note is that the price listed may not be the final cost. Exclusions may include (but not be limited to):

- Site Survey (Feature and Level, Title Re-establishment),
- Customised design to meet any particular needs,
- Planning Permit (if required),
- Design and Engineering for footings (slab and/or subfloor),
- Thermal assessment (for 7-star energy rating),
- Design for Bushfire Attack Areas (if applicable),
- Full permit documentation and details (e.g. adding bathrooms, kitchens, internal spaces etc).
- Variations to meet permit requirements (state and/or local council specific),
- Supply and connection to grid services (water, sewerage, stormwater, electricity, NBN etc),
- Builder construction fees,
- Domestic Building Contract and Insurance.

At RD Building Design, we can facilitate all of these services if you wish to buy 'off the shelf' to ensure that your project meets the relevant requirements for you and local requirements.

We can also design and supply full custom designs of similar buildings.

Remember, this situation is very similar to buying a home swimming pool 'off the shelf'. There are no restrictions on the purchase, but construction (and safety) must meet the Building Code to ensure the building meets relevant safety requirements.

Contact us if you wish to put an Additional Building (Compact) onto your property.

10/02/2026

This is a snippet from a Practice note from the Building and Plumbing Commission.

It lists the titles of the various regulations that we need to adhere to when designing Class 1 or Class 10 structures in Victoria.

There are 28 siting regulations. Granted, not all are referred to for every project, but it is comfortable to say that at least half are utilised for most related projects.

Where things can get interesting is when we (as designers) have to marry up the current regulations with the way an original dwelling was designed and built.

Another role for us as designers is to provide these connections whilst creating aesthetic and functional outcomes for our clients.

Sometimes these requirements create clashes and/or expense ... and we are part of the process to negotiate through or around these to ensure a positive outcome.

27/01/2026

Crazy idea for anyone looking to build a small additional dwelling (Granny Flat) but doesn't have funding to construct at 'normal' rates.
I am a Registered Building Designer (RD Building Design) and have developed some designs for 'flat-pack' style buildings.
The best way to market these is to build a display unit for marketing purposes.
I don't have spare land or cash, but I would love to work with anyone in Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong, or Brimbank areas if they have spare land and want to build a Granny Flat essentially 'at cost'.
The images in this post are our 'Alpha 26' unit. It's an open plan studio with ensuite, kitchenette, and studio space for sleeping/living. It is suitable for 1-2 people and can be used for a variety of purposes.
The list price is currently approx. $70,000 for the kit, plus an estimated $40,000 labour from a registered builder to construct.
I would be willing to reduce this price as much as I possibly can in return for:
* On-site access during construction for developing marketing and promotional material,
* On-site access for a pre-determined timeframe after construction as a display home.
If interested, please drop me a message either via Facebook or via our website.
www.rdbd.com.au

08/01/2026

The newest addition to the stable ... Oscar 20.1.

Oscar 20.1 is a flexible studio space that can serve as an office, small additional dwelling, or additional recreational space.

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At just over 20 sqm, Oscar 20.1 Charlie includes an open studio space that can adjust to a wide range of uses, a kitchenette, and a small ensuite/powder room that meets the liveable home accessibility requirements.

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Measuring only 5.07 x 4.05m, Oscar 20.1 will easily fit behind many existing homes, including smaller sites.

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The design is fully customisable, and comes delivered ready to assemble.

Starting from just $65,000 inc GST and an estimated assembly time of 3-4 weeks after delivery, where else can you add so much extra space with so little disruption to your existing home?

07/01/2026

Section H1 of the NCC Volume 2 provides compliance requirements for structural resistance in buildings.

For the most part, we do not see the majority of the structural components as they are hidden by various finishes but, without them, our buildings would not be able to resist even simple forces.

The main forces our building need to resist are gravity, wind, and hydrostatic (water).

The first step is to ensure we have a robust connection to the ground (and resistance against soil moisture) using a footing system.

Gravity resistance is provided by vertical members (studs, columns).

Wind and earthquake (lateral/sideways movement) is resisted by using bracing systems (diagonal or sheet).

Determining appropriate structural resistance requires a thorough understanding of site conditions, dominant weather patterns, soil profiling, and complex engineering and mathematics.

As a registered building designer we have access to a lot of information to assist with this design, but modern regulations means it is more prudent to engage specialists to do this work.

This means that most projects require engineers of varying disciplines. The most common being Geotechnical (for the soil profile), Structural, and Civil.

When commencing a project it is important to include engineering into your design budget.

Our job as building designers is to ensure we provide the engineers with documentation that they can work with.

The simpler the design, the less engineering required, and the lower the budget.

07/01/2026

The primary focus of the NCC was really about safety for occupants and surrounding properties.

In the current edition of Volume 2 (primarily family homes), Sections H1 - H5 are all safety requirements.

This includes ensuring the structure can withstand everyday and extreme events, ensuring that the building can provide adequate shelter from the elements, resistance to the spread of fire, appropriate sanitary facilities so that people don't get sick, and being about to move around a dwelling without risk of harm.

Part H6 covers energy efficiency. The ultimate goal here is to reduce the cost of heating and cooling a home. Energy bills are often the second biggest cost (after mortgage/rent), so anything that can reduce these costs (and the associated thermal comfort) is welcome.

Part H8 is very new. It ensures that new homes provide improved accessibility for any person at any stage of their life. This includes stepless entry, easy to use showers, wider corridors, and essential amenities on the ground floor. This helps people with mobility issues (the young, the infirm, disabled, the elderly) can move around their own home with greater ease.

So ... residential homes get a dedicated Volume in the NCC and every aspect within the volume must be researched and applied to all projects.

Even something as simple as moving a wall, or putting in a window/door can have flow-on effects to the performance of the building and should be checked with a Registered Building Designer.

06/01/2026

When it comes to Building Design in Australia we have National requirements (e.g. the National Construction Code), but also State requirements.

In Victoria, we are bound by three key pieces of legislation.

* Building Act 1993. This is the overarching Act for all building matters.

* Building Regulations 2018. These tell us how to ensure the provisions in the Act are adhered to. This includes how to 'site' residential dwellings to minimise the impact on neighbours and infrastructure.

* Planning and Environment Act 1987. This provides councils with their responsibilities for planning and the environment. Councils determine the zoning for all property parcels, and there are strict rules for what can (or cannot) be constructed in a zone.

Don't let the dates fool you ... these pieces of legislation are always getting updated.

Our job as a designer is to be on top of this legislation, any changes, and relay any effects to our clients.

If we tell a client that something can't be done, there is a 99% probability that there is something in these documents putting up a roadblock.

When that occurs, our role is to find a solution that helps our clients achieve their goals whilst operating within the confines of the law.

These are complex documents and must be applied individually to each project.

06/01/2026

Building design is not just about drawing plans.

Plans (and the associated permits) are the end result, but a lot of thought and research goes into every project to ensure the client's vision can be built.

There are a lot of documents that are used in design in Australia.
The first set of documents are the National Construction Code (NCC). The NCC is about ensuring buildings are designed, constructed, and used safely.

These are split into 3 volumes, each with a different purpose.
* Volume 1: Generally called 'commercial'. Covers apartments, rooming homes, hotels, factories, retail, industrial etc.

* Volume 2: Covers smaller residential buildings and associated structures. Homes, townhouses, units, small boarding homes, garages, fences, pools etc.

* Volume 3: Covers all things plumbing. Water is very sneaky and will find it's way into all sorts of places if it is not contained or directed properly. The plumbers follow this to help ensure water doesn't end up in places it shouldn't be.

The combined page count for all three volumes is over 2000!

As a Registered Building Designer, my job is to determine the right volume to use for your project, then apply the appropriate information during design.

Because no two projects are the same, the NCC cannot be universally applied as a template. We have to reinterpret for each project.

26/10/2025

Sunday musings ...

I'm often asked the question ... 'are you an Architect because you design buildings?'

The short answer is 'no' but there is more to it than that.

In the state of Victoria, Australia there are several professionals that are allowed to design structures and complete documentation for the purpose of obtaining building permits.

* Architects
* Civil/Structural Engineers
* Building Designers (registered with the Building and Plumbing Commission).

As a Registered Building Designer, I fall into the third category.

To gain my registration, I needed to do the following:

1. Obtain a recognised qualification (Advanced Diploma in Building Design, Architectural),
2. Prove my understanding of design and documentation across a range of residential and commercial typologies,
3. Have taken out Professional Indemnity insurance (I have Public Liability as well).

In addition to this we have to completely re-register every five years by proving our ongoing technical competency and have a clean police record.

By doing all of this, and constantly researching, learning, and applying new requirements I provide a service that ensures that my clients get good, compliant designs that stand the test of time.