Why experts say good design will 'always increase the value' of a home on the market

Good architecture can add as much as 20 per cent to the value of a home, says the NSW president of the Australian Institute of Architects Kathlyn Loseby.

There’s a huge value-add from designing something that makes the best use of a location, produces great, light-filled spaces, prioritises sustainability to keep running costs down, and ensures adaptability for life changes into the future.

“And overall, architects make great homes to live in, and love, and enjoy and delight in,” Loseby says. “Good design will always increase the value of property, as you can see by the way they always mention ‘architect-designed’ when they’re being sold.

“If they are by a named architect, or happen to win an award, then that’s another huge boost to their resale value. The total increase would be at least 15 to 20 per cent.”

Her comments come following the Australian Institute of Architects NSW Awards, an annual event which recognises great residential design along with wider commercial work.

The awards last week highlighted the rising standard of so much residential architecture now being produced. The major prize winner for new houses, the Wilkinson Award, went to Renato D’Ettorre for his magnificent GB House overlooking Gordons Bay between Coogee and Clovelly.

“Winning an award can bring on peer recognition which is rewarding,” he says.

It’s not only the biggest budget homes that can afford good architects, however. Gemma Savio, who won the Architectural Award with business partner Anthony Parsons for their eponymous company’s Merewether family home in Newcastle, says the awards are a great reminder of the importance of excellent design across all budgets.

“They’re a way of communicating the value of architecture to the broader community,” she says. “And the awards show what a range of good architecture there is going on, from huge houses to those on much smaller budgets.”

The accolades also raise the value of a home for those living there, believes Steve Koolloos of MCK Architects, who shared that Architectural Award for his Sunrise House at Mollymook on NSW’s south coast. “I think it does and then, as architects, we do see a rise in our workload after the awards. We also have a great following for our work, and people like to see what we’ve been up to.”

Perversely, however, the awards tend to make the proud owners of winning homes more reluctant to sell – until, for instance, they’re looking for a complete lifestyle change.

Perhaps to prove the point, an architect-created home on Scotland Island featured below, once nominated for the Houses Awards’ House of the Year – in which the two owners, both professional designers, were heavily involved – is only going up for sale because they suddenly need to be closer to the city.

Architectural homes up for grabs

Scotland Island

This beautiful waterfront island home was designed by local architect Stephen Crosby, together with the owners, fashion designer Peter Norton and his wife graphic arts designer Kylie.

The house was built nine years ago in a mammoth effort involving sending over concrete trucks on barges, pumping up the concrete from the deep water jetty at the front, and craning other materials onto the land.

Belle Property Mona Vale agent Kevin Packham, who is quoting a price guide of $3.8 million, says the quality of the design and the build stands out.

St Ives

This architect-designed Modern mid-century estate is set deep in the bush, looking completely at one with its surroundings while enjoying indoor areas connecting seamlessly to alfresco spaces.

With five bedrooms, three bathrooms and parking for three cars, it’s built of solid brick with garden views from every angle, multiple decks, light-filled interiors, timber floors, a wine cellar and a character fireplace.

It’s for sale by private treaty through agent Giuseppe Princi of Belle Property Pymble with a price guide of $1.95 million to $2.1 million.

Wahroonga

A glorious 1900s Victorian baronial manor by well-known Sydney architect George Leslie Grant shows how good architecture can stand the test of time – and taste.

Evocative of a much grander time, this five-bedroom, three-bathroom home has a contemporary indoor-outdoor connection as well as carefully preserved character features, like the porte cocheres, the cobbled-stone driveway, stained-glass windows and banquet-sized dining room.

There’s also a home office, and a billiard room with pressed metal ceilings and cedar architraves. For sale through Chadwick Real Estate agent Lynette Malcolm for $3.95 million.

Strathfield

With a classic façade tastefully blended with modern comfort, this six-bedroom three-bathroom architect-designed home has a spacious floorplan over two levels, and a rear entertaining area.

There are formal lounge and dining rooms, all with high ceilings and brush box timber floors, multiple living zones and landscaped gardens both front and back.

The marble-finished bathrooms have heated floors and the island kitchen has Blackwood timber and granite, while the large bedrooms all have built-ins and ceiling fans. For sale with a price guide of $2.95 million through LJ Hooker Strathfield agent David Pisano.