LOADING, PLEASE WAIT..

WE ARE DESIGN BY AD, CRAFTING BEAUTIFUL SPACES SINCE 2010.

Design by AD is a Melbourne-based architectural studio distinguished by its commitment to crafting thoughtful and contextually responsive architecture. With a deliberate focus on maintaining an intimate scale, our practice is driven by a deep engagement with the finer details of design and a nuanced understanding of place.

Our design ethos is deeply rooted in an appreciation of the natural environment and a commitment to sustainability. We meticulously source materials locally, integrating them seamlessly into our projects to ensure they resonate with the surrounding landscape. Each design emerges from a considered dialogue between the built and unbuilt elements, reinforcing a sense of place and fostering a profound connection to the land.

Collaboration is at the heart of our process. We work closely with our clients, aligning our expertise with their vision to create architecture that is not only aesthetically compelling but also functionally enduring. Our approach is iterative and tailored, allowing us to adapt to the unique demands of each project while maintaining a consistent focus on quality and environmental stewardship.

At Design by AD, we believe that architecture has the power to transform spaces and elevate the human experience. Our work is characterised by a careful balance of form, function, and sustainability, ensuring that each project is as enduring as it is beautiful. This commitment to excellence has earned us recognition within the industry, particularly for our innovative residential designs that challenge conventional notions of scale and space.

As we look to the future, Design by AD aspires to broaden its reach both locally and internationally, continuing to push the boundaries of sustainable design while remaining deeply connected to the communities we serve. Our vision is to create architecture that not only meets the needs of today but also anticipates the challenges of tomorrow, always with a focus on creating spaces that will inspire and endure beyond us.

EACH PROJECT AT DESIGN BY AD IS A CELEBRATION OF INNOVATION, HERITAGE, AND PRECISION, REFLECTED IN STRUCTURES, SPACES, AND DETAILS.

  • Sketch design
    Sketch design is an early stage in the architectural design process where initial ideas and concepts for a building or space are developed and explored. This phase is crucial for establishing the overall vision and feasibility of a project. It is a foundation for more detailed design development, ensuring the project starts with a strong and well-considered concept
  • Town Planning / Design development
    Town planning involves developing and designing land use and the built environment.

    An interdisciplinary approach that blends principles of architecture, urban planning, and landscape design to create well-structured, functional, and aesthetically pleasing environments and communities. This includes compliance with zoning laws, building codes, and environmental regulations, which will help shape the overall design.

    Design development is a detailed phase of the architectural design process that follows the initial conceptual and schematic design stages. In this phase, the design is refined and developed into more detailed drawings and specifications.

    Both town planning and design development are critical in creating functional, sustainable, and aesthetically pleasing built environments. While town planning focuses on the broader organisation and regulation of land use and infrastructure at a community level, design development hones in on the specifics of a particular project, ensuring it meets all technical, regulatory, and aesthetic requirements.
  • Construction documentation
    Construction documentation refers to the detailed set of drawings, specifications, and supporting information that convey the design intent of a building project to builders and their contractors. These documents ensure a project is built according to our vision.
  • Interior design
    Interior design is the art of enhancing the interior of a building to create a more aesthetically pleasing environment for our clients using the space. The ultimate goal is to create spaces that are not only beautiful but also functional and tailored to our client's needs.
  • Tendering / builder selection
    Tendering involves a detailed and structured process to select the most suitable builder for a construction project. This process ensures that the project is completed to the required standards, within budget, and on time.
  • Furniture & Art Curation
    Furniture and art curation involves the careful selection, arrangement, and display of furniture and artworks to suit our designed space to achieve a specific aesthetic, functional, or thematic goal.

    Furniture and art curation aims to create cohesive and engaging environments that reflect the intended atmosphere.

I’M AYDAN DOHERTY, THE MIND BEHIND DESIGN BY AD. I LOVE MEETING NEW CLIENTS AND TURNING THEIR DREAMS INTO REALITY.

Since founding Design by AD, Aydan has honed his focus to boast an extensive portfolio of varying scales of built work. Based in Melbourne, he draws from the thoughtfully considered and immersive design that comprises the city, and those who have helped shape it. His work is characterised as having a deep respect for the past, integrating innovative and progressive elements that also consider the future.

His process is founded on a commitment to producing high-quality design outcomes through an iterative and explorative process that examines the limits of materials and pushes formal boundaries. At the heart of their practice is the belief that architecture is not merely about creating spaces but about forging meaningful relationships—with clients, the environment, and the broader context with which his work sits.

With a portfolio spanning various scales (and many years), Aydan has a deep appreciation for how architecture influences the psychology of those who inhabit it. A dedication within the practice to both environmental and sustainable values ensures a balanced approach to the resulting spaces, proportions, interaction with light and heritage.

Aydan is ultimately driven by a desire to create enduring designs that stand the test of time, transforming complex problems into streamlined, elegant solutions. Inspired by thinkers who prioritize site and context over fleeting trends, he understands the importance of collaboration with like-minded individuals and staying locally grounded and connected.

OUR AWARDS

2023

McPhail House - Essendon

Winner, Residential Alterations & Additions - $350,001 - $800k Design Matters Awards 2023

McPhail House - Essendon

WINNER Small Home 150sqm Design Matters Awards 2023

Hope House - West Footscray

WINNER Excellence in use of Recycled Materials Design Matters Awards 2023

Hope House - West Footscray

WINNER Excellence in Use of Lightweight Materials Design Matters Awards 2023

Wattletree House - Malvern

COMMENDATION Interior Design Design Matters Awards 2023

Wattletree House - Malvern

COMMENDATION Excellence in Use of Steel Design Matters Awards 2023

McPhail House - Essendon

COMMENDATION Excellence in Use of Lightweight Materials Design Matters Awards 2023

McPhail House - Essendon

COMMENDATION Excellence in Use of Stone Design Matters Awards 2023

Hope House - West Footscray

COMMENDATION Residential Alterations & Additions - Up to $350k Design Matters Awards 2023

2020

Allan House - Brunswick

WINNER Materials Excellence - Best Use of Glass Design Matters Awards 2020

Neath House - Surrey Hills

WINNER Materials Excellence - Best Use of Concrete Design Matters Awards 2020

Design by AD acknowledges the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation, the traditional custodians of the land on which we live and work. We recognise their continuing connection to Country, and pay respect to Elders past, present.