Studio Mango will help you with unique designs for our climate and lifestyle:

• You might have a difficult or valuable site that needs special thought.
• You know you want more than a builder’s project home.
• Perhaps you saw something you love in a magazine that’s inspired you
• Maybe you’re looking for sustainable design and a naturally cool home.
• Or you might just need help to manage the project.

We will make your new home happen for you. We work with you and your family to design your dream home from scratch, and then we can manage the project to completion.

How do we get started?

Give us a call and make a time to come and have a no obligation chat about your vision, your needs and what you hope achieve. We’ll give you some on the spot advice about your project and answer your questions.

Within two days we’ll have a Plan for you outlining how to proceed and what it will cost. Once you agree to that we can get started on the design stage.

What’s the design Stage?

We generally do houses in stages with the first stage being design, followed by the technical documentation, and project management through to completion.

In the design stage we will talk in detail with you about your needs, likes, dislikes, style, your lifestyle and family, your budget, and we will visit the site. This becomes your ‘brief’ that we use as a basis for the design.

We will start with quick hand concept sketches that can explore a number of ideas. We’ll talk these over with you which will help us understand more about your needs. Once we have a concept that you love, we will start making a 3D virtual model using our advanced building modelling software.

As the design develops you will be able to see it in 3D which will give you a better feeling for how your home will look. In collaboration with you, we’ll make decisions about construction, structure, materials, windows etc. At the end of this process you will have well developed design.

Some designs will be more detailed than others depending on the size, complexity and budget of your house. We can then use these drawings to get Town Planning or Estate Developer approvals if required.

We will give you an opinion of the probable cost based on the size of your house, and the complexity and quality of finish of the house. We can also get a professional cost estimate from a quantity surveyor which we recommend once the house is worth more than $600K.

From here we can progressed to the detailed technical drawings need for building approval and builder’s quotes.

What else can you do for me?

We can help you from design all the way through to handing over the finished house. Here are the detailed stages and options we go through:

Design 1. Hand sketches of concept design.

Design 2. Virtual model of design. Includes preliminary structure and materials, resolved plan, section and elevations, site layouts. And an opinion of probable cost.

Design 3. Undertake Town planning and/or Estate approvals. Provide written compliance report to accompany drawings.

Documentation 1. Basic technical drawings of a minimum standard to get building approval. We will need input from a structural engineer. There is limited selection of finishes and fixtures. This level is suitable for a set of drawings you work closely with a selected builder to complete.

Documentation 2. Detailed drawings suitable for competitive tender to three or more builders. Detailed construction and services.  We will get engineering input from structural engineers and also optional from mechanical, electrical, and hydraulic and landscape consultants which we coordinate. We will use Prime Cost sums for fixtures, some finishes and joinery for later selection. (A Prime Cost Sum is a sum of money you assign for a fitting. Eg. Toilets – allow $400 each, or Kitchen -allow $15,000.)

Documentation 3. A full set of drawings where we design all the little details and include final selection of all colours, fixtures and finishes. Detailed kitchen and bathroom joinery includes all fittings and selections. We will also do a written specification for houses over $600K.

Tender 1. Submit a list of selected builders with references, and experience for approval. Tender the job to three or more selected builders. Answer queries, receive tenders, recommend a builder.

Construction 1. We organise a contract for you and the builder to sign, and then administer the contract. We will organise building approvals, inspect and approve progress claims, appraise price variations, answer and resolve queries, conduct regular quality inspections, make defects lists, and approve the completed building for handover.

Construction 2. Post contract follow up of any problems arising during occupation. We will continue to support to you through the six months to make sure you’re happy with the result

We know that you will get the best results when you get us to do all these stages but we know not everyone wants to. Therefore we can tailor a service to suit your needs.

What does it cost?

The design stage costs from $4400 depending on size and complexity.

Full Project Management costs around 8-10% of the construction cost and includes the design fee.

We always quote this as a lump sum though so that we are taking the risk, not you.

See our guarantee for details.

Do you do Renovations?

Yes we do although you’ll get best value out us for major renovations involving significant extensions as well as alterations. See our renovation projects for some examples. The process for a renovation is very similar to a new house.

When can you start?

Right now! Give us a call on 07 4041 1394 or email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to book a free, no obligation consultation.