Where do you work?
Most of our houses are in Melbourne's inner east — Hawthorn, Toorak, Camberwell, Canterbury, Glen Iris, Malvern, Brighton and Hampton — and on the Mornington Peninsula, from Red Hill and Merricks North to Blairgowrie. We have also designed homes in the Yarra Valley, in Queensland and in the United States, and will travel for the right project.
What kind of projects do you take on?
New homes, substantial renovations and extensions, acreage and estate properties, and the interiors and styling that go with them. We also take on a small number of multi-residential and commercial projects. Most of the homes we design are built with construction budgets upward of two million dollars.
Do you design the interiors as well as the architecture?
Yes. Architecture, interior design and interior styling are offered as one integrated service, so the joinery, finishes, lighting and furniture are resolved alongside the building rather than after it. The interior design phase runs in parallel with design development for exactly this reason. Each discipline can also be engaged on its own.
How does the process work?
Every project moves through the same sequence: an initial briefing (00); schematic design, with town planning where a permit is needed (01); architectural design development and the interior design concept (02); tender documentation (03); tendering (04); construction documentation (05); and construction (06), where we administer the contract and inspect the work on site. Each stage has defined deliverables, and you approve one before the next begins. The full sequence is set out on the Studio page.
How long does a new home take?
As a guide, design and documentation for a new house take nine to twelve months, and a town planning permit, where one is required, can add six to twelve months to that. Construction of a substantial home typically takes twelve to twenty-four months. A renovation or extension is usually shorter at each stage. We will give you a realistic programme for your project at the briefing stage.
Will I need a town planning permit?
It depends on the property. Heritage, neighbourhood character and vegetation overlays, the demolition of an older dwelling, and the scale of what is proposed can all trigger an application with council. We check the planning controls on your site during the briefing, advise whether a permit is likely, and prepare and manage the application — drawings, reports and consultants — through to approval.
How do you choose a builder?
Most projects are tendered to a shortlist of builders whose work we know, using documentation detailed enough for them to price accurately; we then assess the tenders with you against the brief and budget. We also work happily with a builder you already have a relationship with. On the Mornington Peninsula and in Melbourne's inner east we have built with the same builders many times over.
Can you work with my own landscape designer, stylist or builder?
Yes. Our best projects are collaborations, and we are used to working alongside landscape architects, stylists, engineers and builders chosen by the client. Where you have no one in mind, we bring a network of consultants and suppliers we have worked with over many projects.
How are your fees structured?
We propose a fee for each project after the initial briefing, once the scope, the stages required and the likely scale of the work are clear. The proposal sets out what is included at each stage and what is excluded, so there are no surprises as the project progresses.
What should I bring to a first conversation?
The address of the site or house, a copy of the title and any plans you have, a list of what the home needs to do for you, an idea of budget and timing, and a few images of houses you like. None of it needs to be resolved — the point of the briefing is to work it out together.
Are you registered architects?
Yes. Webster Architecture & Interiors is a registered architectural practice in Victoria, founded by Dan Webster in 2014 and based at 234 Auburn Road, Hawthorn. The studio's work has been recognised by the Good Design Awards, the Houses Awards and the Australian Interior Design Awards.