Understanding architects’ fees is easier if clients grasp how construction costs and design decisions interplay—and the level of involvement required from them. However, this knowledge gap can often make fee structures seem opaque.

In line with the National Housing Accord and following public consultation on low- and mid-rise housing reforms exhibited from December 15, 2023, to February 23, 2024, the NSW Government has announced amendments to the State Environmental Planning Policy (Housing) 2021.

Rarely does anyone blink at the commission a real estate agent charges, the tailored suits they wear, or the luxury vehicles they drive. These are part of the image we associate with success. Architects, however, are met with an entirely different narrative—one where we’re reminded that “architecture isn’t the path to wealth.”