A well-proportioned design that blends warm materials and simple detailing with spacious interiors.
An uplifting and fresh design with living spaces that connect to the garden and central courtyard.
A Victorian-style terrace reimagined for contemporary living with generous interiors and central courtyards.
A compact design that maximises landscaped spaces and uses skylights and balconies to bring fresh air and light into each home.
A smart, competition-winning design with flexible multi-use spaces, gardens and modular room layouts that allow your home to grow with you.
A competition-winning design nestled in a sunny garden with comfortable, light-filled interiors.
An elegant design with garden apartments on the ground floor and airy, raked ceilings and generous balconies on the first floor.
Modern and relaxed homes with light, airy interiors that are efficiently planned over 2 levels with a garden outlook.
Pattern book homes use layered greenery—from private yards to communal gardens and tree-lined streets—to enhance biodiversity for people and neighbourhood.
A timeless, compact design that integrates Art Deco sensibilitiies with the conveniences of modern living.
A sculptural family-friendly apartment building with thoughtful in-between spaces for neighbours to connect with landscape and each other.
A sophisticated apartment building with a dynamic facade, modular layout and a range of one- and 2-storey dwellings.
A competition-winning design with a ‘breezy core’ and common space that fits harmoniously into existing residential neighbourhoods.
An elegant and adaptable corner building with classic detailing and flexible ground-floor commercial space.
A competition-winning corner apartment design with rooftop garden, innovative materials, and relaxed homes that connect seamlessly to generous balconies.
A competition-winning large lot development around a garden courtyard featuring one and 2 storey dual aspect apartments.
A bold and sculptural apartment building with generous light-filled apartments and sweeping curved balconies that dissolve the threshold between inside and outside.
A courtyard design that combines 2 familiar housing types, the terrace and the apartment, into a contemporary and flexible pattern for large lots.
Active frontages and narrow setbacks help each home connect to the streets to improve safety, walkability and sense of community.
In new neighbourhoods, pattern book homes create infrastructure and gentle density near town centres while protecting green space.
About the NSW Housing Pattern Book
The NSW Housing Pattern Book is a collection of home designs aimed at accelerating the development of high-quality, affordable and sustainable housing.
Each pattern is designed by an architect and can be adapted to your preferences and site requirements. The patterns are endorsed and eligible for a fast-tracked planning approval process. Each pattern includes architectural drawings and guidance to help you get started.
The patterns are for anyone to use, on sites where low- and mid-rise housing types are permitted. Each pattern includes a base pattern and multiple variants that can be chosen to adapt to a specific site or preference. All the patterns have been developed to suit low- and mid-rise housing, with variations and adaptations to suit other housing areas across NSW.
Choose from a range of housing types
There are patterns available to suit a range of sites, locations and budgets. The low-rise housing types are 2-storey buildings including semi-detached homes or semis, terraces, manor homes and row houses. Mid-rise housing types are 3- to 6-storey apartment buildings for small, corner and large lot sites.
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3- to 6-storey apartments for compact infill sites.
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4- to 6-storey apartments for compact corner sites.
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3- to 6-storey apartments on large lot sites.
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Two dwellings which are arranged side-by-side and share a common wall.
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Three dwellings which are arranged side-by-side and share common walls.
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Four apartments in a 2-storey residential flat building.
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Four dwellings arranged side-by-side, perpendicular to the street.
Good designs for every neighbourhood
Low- and mid-rise housing – known as the 'missing middle' – can help neighbourhoods grow without compromising the local character.
The NSW Housing Pattern Book designs are a modern take on traditional pattern housing, such as Victorian terraces, post-war apartments, and mid-century bungalows.
The designs use traditional materials like brick and timber and offer a choice of colour palettes, flexible layouts, and garden designs with native plants.
These homes are designed to blend in and enhance new and established neighbourhoods.
Get started
Explore the range of available pattern designs before you commit.
Get expert advice to help manage your budget and reduce risks.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions about the NSW Housing Pattern Book.
Anyone can purchase and use the NSW Housing Pattern Book in NSW. This includes architects and the construction sector, from large residential developers to small building companies.
The pattern book also provides technical information for users to share with their builders or design teams. It is a great resource for anyone looking to develop low- and mid-rise housing.
By creating more low- and mid-rise housing, we are creating more opportunities for existing landowners, friends seeking to co-invest, and multi-generational families to enter the housing market.
Low-rise housing patterns:
The low-rise housing patterns can be used across NSW where these low- and mid-rise housing types are already permitted with consent. This includes areas where the recent Low- and Mid-Rise Housing Policy and Transport Oriented Development (TOD) reforms apply.
Mid-rise housing patterns:
The mid-rise housing patterns apply in areas covered by the Low- and Mid-Rise Housing Policy and Transport Oriented Development (TOD) reforms. The 6 corner and small lot patterns are suited to well-located areas identified under these 2 policies, having been designed for site sizes and conditions common to the low- and mid-rise and TOD housing areas. Large lot apartment patterns can be used across NSW where residential flat buildings of this size are permissible with consent, having been designed for use in infill or greenfield areas
Low- and mid-rise housing will create more diverse and affordable housing options to help neighbourhoods grow sustainably. The designs were developed to complement the local character, with careful consideration given to the environment, neighbouring properties, and the broader streetscape. They can be built using standardised construction methods and materials to improve efficiency.
The pattern designs can give you a clearer idea of the new housing types to expect in your neighbourhood. Additionally, increasing housing density and variety in a way that respects existing character will attract local businesses and services, contributing to more walkable and vibrant communities.
Mid-rise housing patterns:
Pattern book developments are assessed by your development application consent authority, usually your local council.
For more information about lodging a Development Application (DA), visit the NSW Planning Portal.
Low-rise housing patterns:
Complying development for low-rise patterns can be assessed by a private certifier or your local council.