What is an architect, and what does it mean for you?

Brent Riseborough - Registered Architect #13128 NSW ARB

You may have heard — I’m now a registered architect! And with that, we’ve made a quiet but meaningful shift from Conscious Design Studio to Conscious Architecture.

It felt like the right time to pause and reflect on a question we’re often asked (sometimes directly, sometimes between the lines): What is an architect — and what does that mean for you?

At Conscious Architecture, we’re a small, values-led practice based in Bungendore and working across the Canberra region. We design energy-efficient, resilient homes that respond to the people who live in them — and to the land they sit on. As registered architects and certified energy assessors, we bring together design thinking and building science to help you create a home that’s not only beautiful, but built to last.

If you’ve ever wondered about the difference between an architect, draftsperson, and builder — or who you actually need on your team — you might also like this guide we wrote comparing roles and responsibilities across the design and construction process.

But here, let’s zoom in on the architect — and explore what working with one really means for your project.

Not just plans on paper

We know that designing and building a home can feel overwhelming — especially when you’re trying to make informed decisions in a system that often feels complex, inconsistent, or unclear. That’s where we come in.

In Australia, becoming a registered architect isn’t quick or easy — and for good reason. Most architects complete a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree (usually 5–8 years of study), followed by thousands of hours in practice and a rigorous registration process that includes written exams and interviews.

It’s a long, often exhausting pathway — but it’s designed to protect you. It means we’re trained not just in design, but in climate-responsive thinking, building regulations, and how all the moving parts of a project come together. We’re designers, problem-solvers and collaborators — here to guide you through the entire process, not just hand over a set of plans.

As your architect, we help you make sense of planning controls, bushfire and energy requirements, and ever-changing building codes. We identify risks and missed opportunities early — before they become expensive problems down the track.

We work to resolve your design before you go to site, providing clear, coordinated documentation your builder can confidently price and build from. We don’t just provide the bare minimum and let the builder ‘fill in the gaps’. This helps reduce the risk of budget blowouts and unexpected variations during construction. Our staged, thoughtful process balances creativity, compliance and cost — all with your goals in mind.

When it’s time to tender, we manage that process with you — helping you choose a builder who’s the right fit for your project and budget. Once a builder is on board, we help with contract selection and stay involved during construction — acting as your independent advisor, and supporting both you and your builder to stay aligned with the design intent.

We design homes that are efficient, resilient and genuinely tailored to you — not just your site or budget. And we remain involved through to completion, helping ensure what’s built reflects what you set out to create.

What it means for you

Working with an architect isn’t about spending more — it’s about spending smarter and thinking about all aspects both now and into the future. A well-resolved design can save money, time and stress down the track. It means having someone in your corner who can translate your brief into a home that’s not only beautiful, but also buildable, energy-efficient, and designed with care. And it means a smoother, more supported process from start to finish — from early ideas through to approvals, tendering, and construction.

Thinking about working with a local architect?

If you're based in Bungendore, Canberra or the surrounding region and want to work with an architect who brings clarity, care and science to the process — we’d love to hear from you. We work across NSW, the ACT, and Victoria.

We offer a free 30-minute discovery call to chat through your ideas, answer your questions, and see whether Conscious Architecture is the right fit for your project.

Because designing a home should feel exciting — not exhausting. And with the right guide beside you, it absolutely can be.