DUO Architects

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DUO Architects

DUO Architects specialise in simple, timeless residential & commercial architecture on complex sites.

DUO provide sustainable architecture with a focus on service & quality.

09/10/2026

The Gunners House, Fairlight

Quality of space isn't measured in square metres.

A well planned space with natural light, considered materials and a connection to landscape can transform the experience & value of a home without unnecessarily increasing its footprint.

At DUO, we believe the greatest value isn’t always found in more space, but in making better use of what already exists.

Utilising the existing footprint of this south facing semi, a generous Kitchen, Dining & Living area was created with a soaring 4.5m raked ceiling.

This highly considered space is simple in expression yet generous in light, storage and connection to the rear courtyard.

Architecture & Interior Design DUO Architects
Structural Design Partridge
Doors & Windows Architectural Window Systems TERRA WINDOWS & DOORS Parkwood Doors Sydney Steel Gallery
Appliances Fisher & Paykel Appliances BORA | Premium Kitchen Appliances
Benchtops Caesarstone Australia
Furniture MCM House
Handles Lo & Co Interiors Designer Doorware
Timber Flooring A A Hardwoods
Lighting IL FANALE Astro Lighting HAVIT💡 Nordlux
Shelving Strackk | Wall shelves & Lighting
Image DUO Architects

08/10/2026

The Gunners House, Fairlight

Celebrating small scale living.

Now more than ever, a considered design approach to renovation is needed to understand what should be retained & what needs to change. These are key design decisions that shape how the home performs long term.

Our Feasibility Studies explore these questions early, allowing design ambition, project priorities, site constraints and construction cost to inform one another.

Build just enough. Design it well.

Architecture & Interior Design DUO Architects
Structural Design Partridge
Doors & Windows Architectural Window Systems TERRA WINDOWS & DOORS Parkwood Doors Sydney Steel Gallery
Furniture MCM House
Appliances Fisher & Paykel Appliances BORA | Premium Kitchen Appliances
Benchtops Caesarstone Australia
Handles Lo & Co Interiors Designer Doorware
Timber Flooring A A Hardwoods
Lighting IL FANALE Astro Lighting HAVIT💡 Nordlux
Shelving Strackk | Wall shelves & Lighting
Image DUO Architects

07/10/2026

The DUO Feasibility Study - Not just a pretty picture

Our Feasibility Study is designed to give you the information to make the important decisions early, before you invest in the next phase building approval process - whether it be a council DA or CDC pathway.

We explore what your site can support, where its key opportunities lie, what scale of project is appropriate and what that might mean for your construction budget.

By bringing site, planning, design and cost together early, you gain a clearer understanding of the possibilities, and the information needed to make informed decisions and remain in control as the project evolves.

If you have an upcoming renovation or new build and want to know what's possible, give us a call.

Architectural sketches DUO Architects

06/10/2026

"Beauty is the harmony of purpose and form." - Alvar Aalto

In over 20 years of designing luxury homes, every client's brief has had one consistent requirement: More storage.

Throughout our careers, we have refined the art of designing homes & detailing joinery to maximise storage.

At The Esplanade Project, 3m high ceilings gave us the opportunity to maximise storage without overwhelming the space.

The approach was simple: Balance function with a sense of lightness.

Here's a sneak peek into our design solution;

1. Generous timber drawers create a warm, furniture-like base, paired with crisp white cabinetry and ultra-thin porcelain surfaces.

2. Floor to ceiling joinery integrates appliances seamlessly, allowing the space to feel calm and resolved.

3. A single floating shelf keeps the kitchen light, balancing function with restraint.

These are the types of design decisions that can add significant value to a home.

Architecture, Interior Design & Styling by DUO Architects
Photography: tfadtomferguson
Contractor: RenovationA
Joinery: ImageInteriorz
Appliances: Fisher & Paykel Appliances
Benchtop: Caesarstone Australia
Veneer: Consolidated Panels & Veneers

01/10/2026

Has the spare room become the hardest working room of the house?

Spare bedrooms are often overlooked & under-utilised. It is these very rooms that have in recent years, enabled the 'work from home' concept to take hold & have in turn made themselves a necessity for many.

But does this mean that you now need an extra bedroom or can that one under utilised room be designed to multi task?

The Esplanade called for a hard working space that it is adaptable, so this wardrobe was designed to house both storage space & an integrated bed that folds up & out of the way.

This highly considered joinery design provides an additional bed for guests, AirBnB or resale & when not in use, the room is available to be used for work, play or well.... what ever is needed at the time.

Architecture, Interior Design & Styling by DUO Architects
Photography: tfadtomferguson
Contractor: RenovationA
Joinery: ImageInteriorz
Furniture: TOTEM ROAD
Bedding: Bed Threads.®

30/09/2026

A home isn’t just defined by rooms, but by how you move between them.

At The Esplanade, transition zones were carefully considered to strengthen connections between spaces, allowing the home to feel unified & spacious.

A consistent design language creates a sense of calm as one space flows to the next.

These subtle design decisions improve how the space is used day to day, while also shaping a home that can adapt over time.

As Kirrili's own home, The Esplanade project was an opportunity to test ideas through lived experience, refining what it means to design with longevity in mind.

Architecture, Interior Design & Styling by DUO Architects
Photography: tfadtomferguson
Contractor: RenovationA
Joinery: ImageInteriorz

Furniture: TOTEM ROAD
Homewares: mcmullin
Sofa & Coffee table: MCM House
Lighting: & PEN (Made by Pen) top3 by design
Rug: Armadillo
Appliances: Fisher & Paykel Appliances
Benchtop: Caesarstone Australia
Veneer: Consolidated Panels & Veneers

29/09/2026

The Gunners House, Fairlight.

An exercise in adapting the familiar for contemporary life on the beaches.

The original semi-detached home retains the essence of its street-facing character while introducing a new layer of functionality & sustainability for the future.

A subterranean Garage (the first of its kind in the street) is recessed, allowing the front garden to be reclaimed as a secure courtyard.

A quiet evolution of an inherited form, where the ambition is not to build the most, but to make the most of what is already built.

If you have a complex site that needs a considered design, reach out for a chat.

Architecture & Interior Design DUO Architects
Structural Design Partridge
Doors & Windows TERRA WINDOWS & DOORS Parkwood Doors
Tessellated Tiles Olde English Tiles™
Roofing COLORBOND® steel
Lighting Astro Lighting HAVIT💡
Handles Designer Doorware
Image DUO Architects

23/09/2026

The Gunners House - Fairlight

As both Architects and Interior Designers, we approach each project as a cohesive whole, from the architectural form through to the material palette, and detailed Interior Design.

For the Gunners House, the brief was simple: a natural, understated palette that celebrates the original character of the semi-detached home while creating a quiet contrast with the new.

Ornate ceilings & tessellated tiles sit alongside exposed steel, aged bronze, warm timber & textured stone.

True sustainability begins with valuing what already exists. Preserving original character and designing the new with restraint, creates a home that can evolve with its occupants over time, rather than be replaced with the next passing trend.

To chat about your brief or to explore a Feasibility Study, reach out for a chat.

Pavers Eco Outdoor
Tessellated Tiles Olde English Tiles™
Lighting IL FANALE Astro Lighting
Ornate Ceilings Sydney Pressed Metal (All NSW)
Roofing COLORBOND® steel
Timber Flooring A A Hardwoods

22/09/2026

The Gunners House - Fairlight

This south-facing semi embraces its compact 200m2 site, creating a generous sense of space and light within a narrow footprint.

An elongated ‘Gun Barrel’ hallway draws the eye from the front door to the landscaped rear courtyard, while a soaring skillion roof and high-level glazing captures the northern sunlight in winter. Large glass doors slide away, creating an expansive indoor / outdoor living zone.

An exercise in restraint, building only what is needed, with the precision to make it timeless. A true example of constraints fueling creativity.

With Construction Documentation complete, construction on The Gunners House will be starting soon.

Curious about your site’s potential? Get in touch to explore our Feasibility Studies.

Architecture & Interior Design DUO Architects
Glazing Architectural Window Systems
Tapware ABI Interiors
Pavers Eco Outdoor
Outdoor Furniture GLOBEWEST HAY Australia & King Living
Roofing COLORBOND® steel

09/09/2026

DUI are proud to be guest speakers at the Saturday Indesign Event, in collab with LEICHT. We’ll be unpacking how the brand’s products and design philosophy informed the new Australian LEICHT headquarters, from concept to completion.

Saturday 12th September,
12PM.
RSVP via the link in our bio.

Address

PO Box 708, Manly
Sydney, NSW
2095

Website

http://www.duoarchitects.com/

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