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Design guidance

Guides, manuals and advisory notes to achieve good design outcomes for built environment

Person on a boat heading towards the Sydney Opera House taking a photograph. Credit: Cory White / Government Architect NSW

Design guides support the implementation of the Government Architect NSW's policies. The Government Architect NSW has collaborated with state agencies and local councils to develop approaches specific to scale, typology and condition in support of the Better Placed policy.

Manuals provide instructional ‘how to’ content for specific issues, typologies, or conditions.

Advisory notes provide practical assistance on design related tasks and tools.

Explore the various areas in design guidance

Green space at Westmead Hospital. Credit: Brett Boardman / Government Architect NSW

Delivering good design in health facilities across NSW

Award-winning Paddington Reservoir Gardens in the Sydney Eastern Suburbs. Credit: Brett Boardman / Government Architect NSW

A resource to help ensure good design in heritage places

Children in a classroom at Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Primary School. Credit: John Gollings / Government Architect NSW

Supporting good design in schools across NSW

Local Government Design Review Panel Manual

In November 2022, the NSW Government has released the Local Government Design Review Panel Manual to support a consistent approach to the way design review is conducted by local government.

People walking through East End, Newcastle. Credit: Brett Boardman / Government Architect NSW

Good design

Good design is for everyone involved with the design of the built environment in NSW.

This includes government agencies who are planning new facilities and infrastructure, building owners and managers, developers, planners, engineers, urban designers, landscape architects, architects, building designers and communities who contribute to the design of their environments – whether as decision-makers, service providers, clients or end users.

Advisory notes

Guidance for government agencies on a range of subjects related to the built environment.

Entrance into Hyde Park Barracks, Sydney. Credit: Cory White / Government Architect NSW