1. Project basics
Site addressWhere is the project?
Ownership statusDo you currently own the site, or is the purchase still conditional?
Current useWhat's on the site now: vacant land, existing house, existing commercial building?
Practice toolsBuild once. Build well.
Client brief template for Australian architects
A clear brief before the first meeting saves time for everyone. Archive Design publishes this template for Australian architects to send a prospective client, or to work through with them. Download it, edit it, use whatever parts are useful.
No email. Direct download.
2. Budget
Stated construction budgetWhat figure are you working with?
Source of that figureWhere did this number come from: a builder estimate, a quantity surveyor, a rough guess, a bank pre-approval?
ContingencyIs there flexibility above this figure, or is it a hard ceiling?
3. Timeline
Desired start dateWhen would you like design work to begin?
Hard deadlinesIs there a settlement date, finance-conditional date, or other fixed date that affects timing? Why does it matter?
4. The brief itself
Spaces neededWhat rooms or areas does the project need to include?
Must-haves vs nice-to-havesWhich of these are non-negotiable, and which would you drop if budget got tight?
Precedents or referencesAre there any projects, images, or styles you're drawn to?
5. Site constraints you're aware of
Heritage or overlay statusDo you know if the site has a heritage overlay or is in a conservation area?
Slope or known site issuesIs the site sloped, or are you aware of any flooding, contamination, or access issues?
Neighbours or boundary issuesAre there any known easements, disputes, or overlooking concerns?
6. Stakeholders
Decision-makersWho needs to approve decisions on this project?
Other people involvedIs anyone else, family or business partners, going to have input?
7. Consultants already engaged
Surveyor, engineer, town planner, builderHave you engaged, or started budgeting for, any of these already?
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Australian architects. Send it to a prospective client before the first meeting, or work through it with them. It is not a homeowner-facing explainer of how to choose an architect.
Project basics, budget, timeline, the brief itself, site constraints, stakeholders, and consultants already engaged.
That is the point. A clear brief before the first meeting saves scoping time for everyone. Download it, edit it, and use whatever parts are useful.
Yes. Both the PDF and Word files download directly. No email is required.
Archive Design connects homeowners with architects whose work already fits their project. Apply as an architect.
These figures reflect ranges commonly reported across independent Australian industry sources, not an official fee scale (no such scale currently exists, see our fee guide for why). Every project is different. Use this as a starting point for your own scoping, not a substitute for a written proposal.