Manly Architects

Local Manly Architects Since 1998

Manly has a way of shaping how people live — the clean coastal light, the salt air, and the easy rhythm between inside and outside. We’ve been designing on the Northern Beaches since 1998, and that long local run has taught us that the best homes aren’t about showing off. They’re about making life feel calm, comfortable, and genuinely easy to enjoy.

We’re Du Plessis + Du Plessis Architects. We’re registered architects and Class 2 building practitioners, and we work across single homes, multi-unit residential projects, and commercial spaces. We also offer bespoke interior design in-house, so the outside and inside of your project stay aligned from start to finish.

We’re a small, director-led studio. When you call, you speak directly with one of the directors — the same people who will guide your project.

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Design for Coastal Living & Council Clarity

Coastal sites ask more of a building. Wind, glare, corrosion, privacy, heritage controls, and zoning rules can quickly shape what’s realistic. Our job is to help you see what’s possible early, then navigate approvals in a steady, practical way. We know the BCA and local council regulations well, and we use that knowledge to streamline the process instead of letting it drag on.

Our approach is grounded in classic, proven design principles: form follows function, natural light, cross-ventilation, and passive heating and cooling. These create places that feel good to live in, are sustainable by nature, and age well on the coast.

We don’t impose a signature style. We shape the design around what you want to live with — whether that’s minimal, heritage-sensitive, Hamptons-leaning, brutalist, or something completely your own. We help to design your dream, not ours.

Residential Architects for Homes That Feel Easy to Live In

As residential architects, we start with your everyday life. Morning routines, family gatherings, quiet corners, and the way you move through the home — that is the real brief. Our residential architects focus on flow, light, and long-term comfort, not just how a house looks in a photo.

Many clients come to us for high-end homes. In that space, our role as a luxury residential architect is not about loud statements. It’s about quiet quality — proportion, detail, material honesty, and a sense of ease that settles into the home naturally. Luxury residential architect projects should feel calm from the moment you walk in, and still feel right years later. That’s the standard we hold for every luxury residential architect engagement we take on.

We also specialise in dual occupancy and subdivision across the Northern Beaches. If you’re exploring two dwellings on one site or a subdivision pathway, our residential architects can give early, grounded guidance on feasibility and help you move forward with clarity.

Class 2 Multi-Unit Residential Expertise

Since 2024, Class 2 multi-unit residential work must be lodged by certified practitioners. As Class 2 building practitioners, we can design and submit these projects with the required certification already in place. For developers, that brings confidence: compliant design from day one, fewer surprises later, and a clearer approval pathway.

Whether it’s a boutique multi-unit project or a more complex build, our architects balance good planning with buildability and long-term liveability.

Commercial Architects for Spaces That Work Beautifully

Good commercial spaces are practical first — they work smoothly for the people using them — and they also reflect the business they belong to. Our commercial architects take time to understand how your business runs day to day, then shape the space around that flow.

For commercial projects in Manly, that might mean opening up light, improving circulation, or reorganising layout so staff and customers move comfortably. Our commercial architects keep the process clear, approval-ready, and focused on long-term usability. And because our commercial architects work closely with our residential team, the same calm thinking and high design standard carries through.

Interior Designers for Calm, Cohesive Spaces

Interiors are where a space becomes personal. Many people come to us looking for interior designers who can keep the process calm, cohesive, and genuinely tailored. Our interior designers work in-house alongside our architects, so the interior and architecture speak the same language.

Some clients engage our interior designers as a standalone service. Others bring us in from the start so architecture and interiors evolve together. Either way, our interior designers focus on comfort, atmosphere, and materials that feel good to live with — not on chasing trends. If you’re comparing interior designers in Manly, what you’ll notice with us is the way the interior thinking supports the architecture, rather than sitting beside it as an afterthought.

How We Work | Clear Steps, No Fuss

Every job is different, but the journey usually looks like this:

First conversation — a relaxed chat about your goals and site.
Site understanding — light, access, views, constraints, opportunities.
Concept design — options that fit your needs and budget reality.
Design development — refining planning, form, and feel.
Approvals — navigating council, heritage, zoning, and BCA requirements.
Construction support — staying involved as needed through the build.

We don’t over-promise. We do give clear advice early and stay consistent through the whole process.

Why Clients Choose Du Plessis + Du Plessis Architects in Manly

27 years local experience on the Northern Beaches.
Registered architects and certified Class 2 Building Practitioners.
Directors only: you deal with us from first call to finish.
Specialists in dual occupancy and subdivision.
Architecture and bespoke interior design together in one studio.
Sustainable, coastal-smart design that’s comfortable and resilient.
No signature style: your taste leads the look.

Let’s Talk About Your Project

If you’re planning a home, a development, interiors, or a commercial space in Manly, call us and you’ll speak directly with one of the directors. We’ll listen, ask the right questions, and help you take a confident next step.

FAQs About Working With Architects in Manly

1. What do local architects help with early in a project

Good architects help you understand what’s realistic on your site before you spend money in the wrong direction. We give early guidance on feasibility, council expectations, and how to move forward cleanly.

2. How do residential architects approach homes on the coast?

Residential architects in coastal areas need to think about light, airflow, privacy, and long-term durability. Our residential architects use passive comfort principles so homes feel good year-round without being over-engineered.

3. What does working with a luxury residential architect involve?

A luxury residential architect focuses on refinement — proportion, material quality, and detail that feels effortless. Our luxury residential architect work is calm and timeless rather than showy.

4. Do commercial architects handle approvals as well as design?

Yes. Commercial architects often guide projects through council and compliance steps. Our commercial architects keep that process clear and practical so the design doesn’t get lost in paperwork.

5. Can interior designers be engaged without a full architectural build?

Absolutely. Many clients work with our interior designers as a standalone service. Others combine architecture and interiors for one cohesive result.