Plans approved, but the quote blows the budget
Nobody costed the design. You take approved plans to a builder and the quote is far beyond what you expected. Now you redesign, reapply, and pay for the time and design fees all over again.
Sydney design & build · Chinese-speaking builder
Design and build in Sydney From first sketch to handover, one team accountable
Architectural design, CDC / DA approval and construction, all within the AUD Build group. While our designers draw, our builders cost the work alongside them. No more passing messages between architect and builder, and our team works in English or Chinese.
2017Established in Australia
10+Sydney homes under construction
45 daysDesign contract to CDC approval, at the fastest
2International design & luxury home awards, 2026
Why design and build
Hiring a designer and builder separately? Three things Sydney homeowners run into
When something goes wrong, architect and builder blame each other
When the drawings don't match the site, each side has its own story. You end up refereeing while the schedule slips.
Too many hand-offs, too many misunderstandings
Designer, builder and every trade need to talk to each other. Each extra hand-off adds another misunderstanding, and those details are exactly what gets rebuilt.
The difference
Design and build solves these problems before construction starts
Our design and construction teams belong to the same group and sit at the same table from the first sketch, working towards one outcome: building your home within your budget.
| Separate designer + builder | AUD Build design and build | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | You find out once drawings are finished and approved | Costed from concept stage, designed to your budget |
| Accountability | Design and construction each own a part; hard to pin down responsibility | One group accountable; issues resolved internally |
| Communication | Several parties relaying messages | One project team, in English or Chinese |
| Drawings | Details added and methods changed during construction | Drawn the way it will actually be built |
| Progress | Chasing the designer and builder separately | Progress, photos and selections in one system |
| Time | Back and forth between design, quotes and redesign | Design and construction prep run in parallel, so you start sooner |
Who we are
One group: our own design studio and our own construction team
Looking for a Chinese builder in Sydney who can also design? AUD Build is a Sydney builder with a bilingual English and Chinese-speaking team, and Apex Ultimate Design is its architectural and interior design company. Design and construction aren't two firms brought together for one job. They're one team.
Apex Ultimate Design
Architectural design, interior design and CDC / DA approvals, followed through until your approval is in hand.
- House and duplex architectural design
- 3D renders and 360° tours, so you see your home before it's built
- CDC / DA lodgement and approval follow-up
- Harbour Sail: Gold, MUSE Design Awards 2026
AUD Build
Sydney residential builder handling construction quotes, procurement and site delivery through to handover.
- Established in 2017, with 10+ Sydney homes under construction
- Custom homes, duplexes and knockdown rebuilds
- HIA member and member of the Chinese Building Association of NSW (CBANSW)
- 75 Cutler Road, Clontarf: WLRD 2026 Best Luxury Home
One project management system connecting design and siteDesign, estimating, procurement and construction work in the same system. When a designer changes something, estimating and the site team see it straight away.
Talk to our designers and builders, freeHow it works
From first conversation to keys in hand, in six steps
Consultation and site assessment
We talk through your site, your budget and how you want to live. Bring any survey or existing drawings.
How do you get the most value from your land? A duplex, townhouses, subdivision, or a joint development with your neighbours? CDC or DA? We'll work it out with you.
Designers + buildersConcept design with live costing
Apex prepares concepts and 3D renders while our construction team checks cost and buildability, adjusting anything over budget on the spot.
No more "$2 million budget, $2.5 million final bill": delays drag on, interest doubles and the profit disappears.
Apex design + estimatingCDC / DA approval
We work out whether CDC or DA is faster, prepare the full application, lodge it and follow it through to approval.
From signed design contract to CDC approval in as little as 45 days.
Apex designConstruction quote and contract
Because the design was costed as it was drawn, the quote won't come as a shock.
One set of drawings, one clear quote: what's included and what isn't, explained item by item before you sign.
AUD BuildConstruction, with materials from Foshan
Your project contact keeps you updated with progress, site photos and the selections you need to confirm.
Our design team will accompany you to choose materials in Foshan, China, managing everything from factory inspection to sea freight. Materials from China can save you a significant amount.
AUD BuildHandover
Every item is inspected before handover. If anything comes up after you move in, you call the same team.
An established company with substantial insurance cover, so moving in and your warranty are worry-free.
AUD BuildWhat we build
Projects Sydney homeowners bring to us
Custom homes
Designed from scratch around how your family lives: space, light and outdoor flow.
Custom home builds →
Duplexes & townhouses
Live in one, invest in the other. Subdivision, cost and returns are worked out at design stage.
Duplex builds →
Knockdown rebuild
Love your street and school zone? Build a brand-new home on the land you already own.
Knockdown rebuilds →
Interior design
Architecture and interiors by the same team: one consistent style, with lighting, services and joinery planned once.
Interior design →Our work
Designed by Apex, built by AUD Build
From the home in a render to houses being built in streets near you. Here is a selection of Apex residential designs.
Under construction
10+ Sydney homes being built right now, in streets near you
Anyone can make a render. What matters is whether it gets built. AUD Build is building in these suburbs right now, so book a visit and see a site for yourself.
- St Ives
- Turramurra
- Gordon
- Hunters Hill
- Clontarf
- East Ryde
- Gladesville
- Beecroft
360° VR tour
Walk through your future home before construction starts
Every Apex design can be turned into a 360° tour. Drag to look around, from the living room out to the view. It's far clearer than a floor plan.
View 360° VR
St Ives 06 · St Ives NSW 2075 · Arched doors, timber floors and a softly layered living room
Want a 360° tour of your own home design?
Book a free design consultationAwards
Gold for design. Best Luxury Home for construction.
DESIGN · APEX ULTIMATE DESIGN
MUSE Design Awards 2026, Gold
Harbour Sail · Architectural Design – Beach Houses, Professional category, Gold Winner.
BUILD · AUD BUILD
WLRD 2026 Best Luxury Home
75 Cutler Road, Clontarf.
Client feedback
What owners value most: not having to chase
"They coordinated the structural engineer, stormwater and arborist, so I didn't have to chase documents between offices. When the DA assessment came back, there were very few conditions."
"What I liked most was the project management: a progress email every week setting out the next steps. I never had to chase them."
FAQ
Design and build: common questions
Can't find your question? Call us. Our designers and builders can both answer.
Is design and build more expensive than hiring a designer and builder separately?
Not necessarily, and it often saves the cost of rework. Because the design is costed as it is drawn, you avoid finding out after approval that it is over budget and having to redesign and reapply. House and duplex design including the CDC / DA application is capped at A$9,999 + GST, and construction is quoted clearly from the same set of drawings.
How is this different from other Chinese builders in Sydney?
Many builders only handle construction, so you have to find an architect separately and each side looks after its own part. AUD Build has its own design company, Apex: concept, CDC / DA approval and construction are delivered by one group. The design is costed as it's drawn, drawings are prepared the way they'll actually be built, and you never have to coordinate between two firms.
I already have plans from an architect. Can you build them?
Yes. AUD Build can quote and build from your existing drawings. If they need changes or more construction detail, the Apex design team can take them over, so there is no need to find someone else.
Can I engage you for design only?
Yes. Apex design and approval services can be engaged on their own. Once you have your approval, whether AUD Build builds it is entirely up to you.
Do you work in English and Chinese?
Yes. Our team works in both English and Chinese, from the first consultation through design and approval to construction on site.
What is the difference between a CDC and a DA, and which suits my project?
A CDC applies to projects that meet set standards and is usually faster to approve. A DA is assessed by council and suits sites or designs that do not fully meet CDC standards. At your first consultation our designer will look at your site and ideas and recommend the faster, more reliable route. For CDC projects, approval can come in as little as 45 days from signing the design contract.
Is my block suited to a duplex, townhouses or subdivision?
It depends on lot size, frontage, zoning and surroundings. At your first consultation our designers and builders will work through it with you: a duplex, townhouses, subdivision or a joint development with your neighbours, which option adds the most value, and whether CDC or DA is faster.
Can I use materials from China?
Yes. Our design team will accompany you to choose materials in Foshan, China, and manage everything from factory inspection to sea freight. For the same look, materials from China can save you a significant amount.
How will I know how construction is progressing?
Design, selections, procurement and construction all run in one project management system. Your project contact regularly updates you with progress, site photos and anything you need to confirm.
Which areas of Sydney do you cover?
We focus on residential projects across Sydney, with current builds and designs in St Ives, Turramurra, Gordon, Hunters Hill, Clontarf, East Ryde, Gladesville, Beecroft, Parramatta and more.
Start with a free consultation
Tell us about your site and budget. Our designers and builders will advise together.
Leave your name and number. The first consultation is free and our team will be in touch shortly.
- Whether your site suits a CDC or a DA
- A design direction and cost approach that fits your budget
- Already have plans? We'll show you how they could be improved
Thank you, we've received it.
Our team will be in touch shortly.