Whether you’re planning a renovation, building a new home, or simply need expert guidance, finding the right architect is an essential first step. We’ve curated a list of top Melbourne architects known for their residential design expertise, creative vision, and collaborative approach.
From heritage terrace restorations to bold, modern new builds, these Melbourne-based architecture studios understand the city’s unique urban fabric, planning requirements, and lifestyle needs. Browse their standout projects, explore their design thinking, and connect with a Melbourne architect who can help you create a home that feels distinctly yours.
Still unsure who’s right for your project? CO-architecture is a network of Australia’s top architects and designers—ready to help you bring your vision to life.
Tell us a bit about your project, and we’ll match you with professionals suited to your budget, style, and needs. No stress, no endless searching - just the right people for the job so you can move forward with confidence.
Top 11 Architects in Melbourne, Victoria
Eckersley Architects
Eckersley Architects' lies in thoughtful, responsive spaces that balance the considerations of people and place. They're committed to creating spaces that last a lifetime and leave a lifelong impact on their users, by prioritising aesthetics, functionality, energy efficiency and livability in a holistic approach. Exceptional craftsmanship and meticulous attention to detail are achieved through a close collaborative process with clients.
Scope of Services: Architecture & Interior Design
Types of Built Projects: Commercial, Multi-residential & Residential
Locations of Built Projects: Melbourne, Victoria
Style of Work: Eckersley Architects' expertise lies in crafting spaces that leave a lasting impact, embracing a thoughtful and responsive approach to both people and site. They take a holistic approach with all their projects, considering not just the aesthetics of a home but also its function, energy efficiency, and overall liveability.
Explore more: Eckersley Architects
R Architecture
R Architecture is an Australian architecture practice driven by a passion for delivering thoughtful, high-quality design within suburban settings. The studio is committed to understanding each client’s unique requirements and aligning with their aspirations. With a collaborative and solutions-focused approach, R Architecture places emphasis on active listening, clear communication, and accountability, building strong, trusting relationships while guiding clients through every stage of the design and construction journey.
Scope of Services: Architecture & Interior Design
Types of Built Projects: Residential, Multi-Residential, Education & Commercial
Locations of Built Projects: Melbourne, VIC | Sydney, NSW | Adelaide, SA
Style of Work: Their approach is to design really flexible spaces to their clients preferences and budget. They don’t pursue a particular style or aesthetic. The only thing they insist on is a great design outcome.
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Ashley O'Neill Architects
The studio specialises in architecture and interior design across residential, commercial, and hospitality sectors, focusing on small to medium-scale projects. With a strong emphasis on considered design and functionality, the practice delivers bespoke spaces that reflect the unique needs and identity of each client, ensuring every project is tailored, refined, and enduring.
Scope of Services: Architecture & Interior Design
Types of Built Projects: Residential, Commercial & Hospitality
Locations of Built Projects: Geelong & Melbourne, Victoria
Style of Work: Ashley O'Neill Architects take a collaborative approach with builders, consultants, and other disciplines to ensure the seamless delivery of a holistic and well-refined project.
Explore more: Ashley O'Neill Architects
Still unsure who’s right for your project? CO-architecture is a network of Australia’s top architects and designers—ready to help you bring your vision to life.
Tell us a bit about your project, and we’ll match you with professionals suited to your budget, style, and needs. No stress, no endless searching - just the right people for the job so you can move forward with confidence.
Tom Robertson Architects
Tom Robertson Architects is a contemporary design who believes good architecture evokes joy. Prioritising context and the environment, their work is characterised by a refined and simple palette of natural materials. Each project is unique yet ultimately timeless due to their commitment to pragmatic and reserved designed.
Scope of Services: Architecture & Interior Design
Types of Built Projects: Residential, Commercial & Multi-residential
Locations of Built Projects: Melbourne, Victoria
Style of Work: Tom Robertson Architects are dedicated to an approach that is accessible and consultative, helping clients to refine their ideas and articulate what they love. True collaboration is grounded in trust, open communication and enthusiasm for the project.
Explore more: Tom Robertson Architects
AM Architecture
AM Architecture, based in Prahran, Melbourne, is an architecture and interior design practice, with a focus on curating crafted solutions. Their projects are the culmination of a natural evolution from site, environment, and client aspirations. AM Architecture seeks to deliver unique projects, whilst maintaining their commitment to functional, refined and inspiring spaces.
Scope of Services: Architecture & Interior Design
Types of Built Projects: Residential & Commercial
Locations of Built Projects: Melbourne, Victoria
Style of Work: They are a design driven practice that produce elegant and crafted solutions, developing organically from the site, its environment and the client’s needs and aspirations. In every project they look for opportunities to build these things into unique outcomes that are functional, refined and inspiring.
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Chan Architecture
Chan Architecture credit their close collaboration with clients, architects and builders as the secret to creating beautiful, sustainable buildings. Coordinating design, documentation and consultant management for the convenience of their clients, Chan Architecture deliver stunning residential projects across Melbourne - including renovations, new homes and multi-residential developments.
Scope of Services: Architecture & Interior Design
Types of Built Projects: Residential, Multi-residential & Commercial
Locations of Built Projects: Melbourne, Victoria
Style of Work: Chan Architecture's philosophy is to create design-oriented, client-focused buildings that are both beautiful and sustainable. They are determined to ensure that the completed design and built project satisfies all the client's needs, objectives and aspirations.
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Taouk Architects
As a boutique practice with a passion for responsive and intelligent design, Taouk Architects approaches each project with fresh perspective and purpose. The team works closely with clients to understand their needs and aspirations, offering tailored architectural services from concept through to completion. Specialising in contemporary residential and multi-residential work, the studio balances strong design principles with practical knowledge of the market, ensuring each outcome is both visually striking and functionally robust. Their commitment to quality, adaptability, and innovation underpins every project, creating spaces that are not only architecturally impressive but deeply attuned to modern living.
Scope of Services: Architecture & Interior Design
Types of Built Projects: Residential - New Build, Residential - Renovation, Residential - Single Dwelling, Multi-Residential
Locations of Built Projects: Melbourne, Victoria
Style of Work: Taouk Architects delivers refined, contemporary residential and multi-residential designs with a focus on elegant form, smart function, and site-specific solutions.
Explore more: Taouk Architects
Still unsure who’s right for your project? CO-architecture is a network of Australia’s top architects and designers—ready to help you bring your vision to life.
Tell us a bit about your project, and we’ll match you with professionals suited to your budget, style, and needs. No stress, no endless searching - just the right people for the job so you can move forward with confidence.
mcmahon and nerlich
mcmahon and nerlich is a boutique architectural practice committed to producing finely crafted residential, commercial, and community projects since their inception in 2013. Focusing on combining rigorous design thinking with technical expertise, their team fosters collaborative client partnerships, ensuring a healthy balance of both creativity and professionalism on every project.
Scope of Services: Architecture & Interior Design
Types of Built Projects: Residential & Commercial
Locations of Built Projects: Melbourne, Victoria
Style of Work: mcmahon and nerlich are passionate about our architecture and the ways it can transform both place and the way we live. Their work strives to bring positive impact on people and environments, taking care to design beautiful contemporary housing that will stand the test of time.
Explore more: mcmahon and nerlich
Still unsure who’s right for your project? CO-architecture is a network of Australia’s top architects and designers—ready to help you bring your vision to life.
Tell us a bit about your project, and we’ll match you with professionals suited to your budget, style, and needs. No stress, no endless searching - just the right people for the job so you can move forward with confidence.
BENT Architecture
Based in Brunswick, Melbourne, BENT Architecture have established themselves as leaders in residential design, sustainable architecture, affordable housing, and green roof innovations. Since the openeing of their studio in 2013, they ahve cemented their passion for integrating architecture with landscape, with a diverse portfolio that spans education, commercial, community, and housing projects. BENT Architecture creates responsive, site-specific environments that inspire, surprise, and connect users to their built surroundings.
Scope of Services: Architecture & Interior Design
Types of Built Projects: Residential, Commercial, Institutional, Low-Cost & Sustainable Design
Locations of Built Projects: Melbourne, Victoria
Style of Work: The creation of environmentally and socially sustainable built environments is of critical importance to BENT Architecture. The practice is passionate about the integration of architecture and landscape and the way people can use and shape their built environment.
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Merrylees Architecture
Merrylees Architecture & Interiors is a boutique Melbourne studio known for its deeply client-focused approach and a refined balance of creativity, precision, and practicality. Every project begins with an open dialogue, where client identity becomes the inspiration for a unique architectural vision. The studio’s structured, 8-stage process—from initial concept to detailed construction and interior integration—ensures transparency, collaboration, and a steady path to success. With expertise spanning both architecture and interiors, Merrylees excels at translating personal narratives into physical form, producing bespoke homes that are as emotionally resonant as they are functionally sound. Their ability to guide clients through complex planning, budgetary, and construction challenges makes them trusted partners in delivering transformative spaces.
Scope of Services: Architecture & Interior Design
Types of Built Projects: Residential - New Build, Residential - Renovation, Residential - Single Dwelling, Multi-Residential, Workplace Architecture, Workplace Interior, Aged Care, Interior Design
Locations of Built Projects: Melbourne, Victoria
Style of Work: Merrylees Architecture & Interiors creates bold, contemporary residential designs that reflect the individuality of each client through highly personal and detail-driven processes.
Explore more: Merrylees Architecture
Still unsure who’s right for your project? CO-architecture is a network of Australia’s top architects and designers—ready to help you bring your vision to life.
Tell us a bit about your project, and we’ll match you with professionals suited to your budget, style, and needs. No stress, no endless searching - just the right people for the job so you can move forward with confidence.
FIGR Architecture
Founded by Adi Atic and Michael Artemenko, FIGR is an award-winning architecture studio that thrives on dialogue, curiosity, and craft. Their approach is rooted in a collaborative and transparent design process, where every project is shaped through open conversation, attention to context, and respect for constraints such as budget, compliance, and construction complexity. The FIGR team values the sensory dimension of architecture, aiming to craft spaces that are not only visually compelling but experientially rich. Personal, precise, and deeply engaged, FIGR delivers architecture that resonates on both emotional and practical levels, responding to each brief with clarity, refinement, and intent.
Scope of Services: Architecture & Interior Design
Types of Built Projects: Residential - New Build, Residential - Renovation, Interior Design
Locations of Built Projects: Melbourne, Victoria
Style of Work: FIGR is a design-focused, award-winning studio known for sensory, refined architecture shaped through open collaboration and grounded in thoughtful constraints.
Explore more: FIGR Architecture
Still unsure who’s right for your project? CO-architecture is a network of Australia’s top architects and designers—ready to help you bring your vision to life.
Tell us a bit about your project, and we’ll match you with professionals suited to your budget, style, and needs. No stress, no endless searching - just the right people for the job so you can move forward with confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How much does it cost to hire a residential architect in Melbourne?
Architect fees in Melbourne generally range from 8% to 15% of your total build cost, depending on the size and complexity of the project. Some architects also offer fixed-fee options for concept design or early-stage advice. Always ask for a detailed breakdown of services included in their quote.
2. What’s the difference between an architect and a building designer in Victoria?
In Victoria, architects must be registered with the Architects Registration Board of Victoria (ARBV), while building designers are not held to the same qualification or regulatory standards. Architects typically offer greater design expertise, planning knowledge, and contract administration — making them ideal for more complex or bespoke residential projects.
3. When should I engage an architect in Melbourne?
You should engage an architect at the very beginning of your project — before committing to a builder or submitting plans to council. A good architect will help clarify your brief, assess your site, explore creative ideas, and guide you through design, approvals, and construction.
4. Do I need council approval for a home renovation or new build in Melbourne?
Most residential projects in Melbourne require planning and/or building permits from your local council, depending on zoning and the type of work. An experienced architect can manage the application process and ensure your design meets local regulations.
5. Can CO-architecture help me find the right architect in Melbourne?
Absolutely. If you’re unsure where to start, simply fill out our quick form here and our team will recommend Melbourne-based architects or designers that best fit your style, budget, and project needs — making your journey from concept to completion much easier.
