NB Architects

04/09/2026

03/09/2026

Commercial buildings come with a wide range of performance demands. We've done most types of commercial building you can think of. What have we missed in this set?

25/08/2026

We welcome high school and tertiary students to NB Architects several times a year, giving them a glimpse into what a career in architecture can look like.

Architect Leon Browning always enjoys showing students around, sharing his experience and encouraging them in their studies. This Craighead student recently got an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of a large project under construction — a great chance to see architecture come to life on site.

24/08/2026

Good design is about solving the problems with practicality, buildability, aesthetics and budget in mind. Our office is full of problem solving conversations everyday.
Here’s an example; stormwater from a roof will typically discharge to an approved stormwater system — often the kerb and channel or Council-owned infrastructure. But what happens when you also have stormwater coming from a level-entry strip drain and driveway that sit well below the road kerb? There’s one obvious problem: water doesn’t flow uphill. There are several ways the problem might be solved, depending on the site, ground conditions, and budget:

Underground attenuation tank
Above-ground attenuation tank
Soakpit
Bubble-up chamber
Pumped stormwater system
Permeable paving
Rain garden

Some solutions can be simple and cost-effective. Others can add significant infrastructure and cost to a project. The important part is identifying the issue early and finding the solution that makes sense for that particular site.

What would you choose? And do you have any of these stormwater solutions at your place?

22/08/2026

What’s your preferred roof style? A roof does much more than keep the weather out — its form can completely change the character of a building.

These three projects show just a few of the directions a roofline can take, from a familiar gable roof, to a clean monopitch, through to more asymmetrical forms.

And then there’s the common hip roof which we don't use very often in our design practice.

Each approach can influence the overall appearance of a home, how it responds to the site, where light enters, and how the building feels from the street.

Monopitch, gable, hip or asymmetrical — which roof style do you prefer, and why?

21/08/2026

Same floor area. Very different perimeter. These three house plans are all 160m², but as the building outline becomes more complex, the length of external wall increases significantly — from around 63m to 81m.

A simpler perimeter can mean less external wall, fewer junctions and potentially lower construction and heating costs.

A more complex perimeter can offer other advantages — better orientation, more daylight, stronger connections to outdoor spaces, increased privacy, and more distinct zones within the home.

So which is better?

There’s no single answer. It depends on the site, the brief, the budget and what the extra complexity is actually achieving.

What do you see as the biggest pros and cons of a simple vs complex house plan? We’d be interested to hear your thoughts.

16/08/2026

Built for the moments that matter. At NB Architects, we design homes around the way you live today, while thinking ahead to how you and your family may live for decades to come.... because kids grow up so fast!

16/08/2026

Great homes start with a conversation. Work closely with an Architect or Architectural designer at NB Architects to create a home that’s perfect for you. Our design process starts by listening to your story, understanding what matters to you, and creating a home that becomes a lasting legacy for your family.

14/08/2026

Space to Exhale: We listen to what you want and design the spaces you need. What would you love to see in your new home?

14/08/2026

Who’s looking forward to warmer weather and spending more time outdoors?
This project is all about creating a better connection between the home and garden — and making outdoor living a much bigger part of everyday life. We modelled the design in SketchUp to explore the shape and layout of a new concrete patio and pergola, creating space for outdoor dining, relaxing and a spa pool, while also allowing for the possibility of a future swimming pool. Sketchup is great for illustrating where the shade will fall according to the time of year and time of day so we can be confident the pergola will provide shade where we want it.
The landscaping also completely transforms the arrival experience from the driveway, creating a stronger first impression and tying the whole property together. Good landscape design is about looking beyond one feature and thinking about how the entire outdoor space can work now — and how it might evolve in the future.
What would you change in your garden to help you spend more time outdoors?