Overview:
Qualifications:
Vishal Lakhia is a registered architect and urban designer with over 18 years’ experience across both private and public sectors in NSW. He has contributed to a wide range of urban and architectural projects, including master plans, development control plans, development applications, state significant proposals and urban design strategies.
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In an advisory capacity, Vishal provides independent architectural and urban design advice to several NSW Councils as a Design Excellence and/or Design Review Chairperson and/or Panel Member. He also serves the NSW Land and Environment Court as an Urban and Architectural Design Expert Witness.
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Alongside his advisory roles, Vishal operates a sole architectural and urban design practice, delivering master planning, urban design studies and peer reviews. His architectural work focuses on small to medium-scale developments, including houses, dual occupancies, multi-dwelling projects, mid-rise apartment buildings and affordable and social housing initiatives.
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Vishal combines strong design capability with clear communication skills, guided by humility, enthusiasm and a genuine passion for architecture and city-making. His approach is grounded in empathy and collaboration to ensure comfort, dignity and delight is achieved in daily urban life.
Master of Urban Design
[Urban Design & Planning]
The University of Sydney, Australia (2007-2009)
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Bachelor of Architecture
APIED, Gujarat, India (2001-2006)​
Advisory Roles:
North Sydney Design Excellence Panel:
Chairperson (2024-ongoing)​
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Inner West Architectural Excellence Panel:
Chairperson, and Convener of the Design Review Panel (2019-2025)​
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Liverpool Design Excellence Panel:
Member (2021-ongoing)​
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Randwick Design Excellence Advisory Panel:
Member (2023-ongoing)​
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Waverley Excellence Advisory Panel:
Member (2024-ongoing)​​
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Burwood Design Review Panel:
Member, Alt. Chairperson (2022-ongoing)​
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Hornsby Shire Council Design Review Panel:
Member (2025-ongoing)
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Expert Witness (Architectural & Urban Design), NSW Land & Environment Court and Supreme Court of NSW (2019-ongoing)​​
NSW ARB # 11262
NSW DBP # DEP0004199
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ABN: 71 286 960 707
(t/a) Vishal Lakhia Architect​
North Sydney
NSW 2060 Australia
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0420 650 150
Selected Projects:
NSW Land & Environmental Court Appeals - Architectural and Urban Design Expert Witness:
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NSW Supreme Court - Single Appointed Architectural Expert - Djamal Pty Ltd v D M Meara
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The Blue House & Co Pty Ltd v Wingecarribee Shire Council - 22 Rosemary Crescent Bowral - Child Care Centre (Section 34)
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Maurice Dry Cleaners v Inner West - 150 Smith Street Summer Hill - Co-living (Section 34)
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M&B Maxwell Property Group v Inner West - 323 Darling Street Balmain - Adaptive reuse apartments (Section 34)
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IDC Property Pty Ltd v Inner West - 119 Booth Street Annandale - Co-living (Section 34)
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R & G Creations Pty Ltd v City of Shoalhaven 8-12 Princes Highway Mollymook (Section 34)
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E & R Property Trust v Inner West - 1-13 Parramatta Road Annandale - 4 storey mixed use development (Section 34)
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Warehouse on Park v Inner West - 17 Federation Road Camperdown - An adaptive reuse proposal for converting a 3 storey warehouse building in to a residential flat building (Section 34 and Hearing)
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William Assets v Inner West - 16 William Street Leichhardt - A 3 storey boarding house (Section 34)
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Anprisa v Inner West - 40-76 William Street Leichhardt- Adaptive reuse, alterations and additions of the former Cyclops toy factory buildings and the associated warehouse buildings to convert them in to 190 residential apartments (Section 34)
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Emag Apartments v Inner West - 127 New Canterbury Road Lewisham (The Huntsbury Hotel) - An adaptive reuse proposal for converting an existing heritage pub to a boarding house (Section 34)
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Emag Apartments v Inner West - 2 Station Street Marrickville - A high-rise boarding house building proposed over a basement car park. (Section 34 and Hearing)​​​​​​​
Master Plans & Architectural + Urban Design Concepts:
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Urban Design Strategy and Concepts for multiple properties in the vicinity of Bella Vista Metro Station, including a submission to the NSW Department of Planning (2024)
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Architectural & Urban Design Concepts for a mixed use building including a hotel, retail and offices at 28 O’Connell Street & 44-48 Hunter Street Sydney, with LFA Architecture and for the NSW Valuer General (2022)
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Concept Master Plan and Urban Design Strategy for A 70 ha site around Macquarie Fields Railway Station (2020)
14 apartments above a large retail space at 87-89 Macleay Street Potts Point - Urban Design Strategy & Design Brief (2022)
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Architectural and Urban Design Brief and Strategy for a shop top housing proposal at 87-89 Macleay Street Potts Point (2022)
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Urban Design Study and Master Plan for a medium density residential development at 124 Newbridge Road Moorebank at ae design partnership (2018)
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Urban Design Study and Architectural Design for a high-density mixed-use proposal at 270 Pacific Highway Crows Nest at ae design partnership (2016)
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Urban Design Study and Master Plan for a medium density residential development at 27 Brighton Avenue Croydon Park at ae design partnership (2015)
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Urban Design Study and Master Plan for Parramatta Camperdown Precinct at ae design partnership (2016)
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High rise residential tower at 22-24 Atchison Street St Leonards at ae design partnership (2016)
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4 residential flat buildings for a planning proposal located at Larool Crescent urban block in Castle Hill at ae design partnership (2018)
Public Sector Projects:​
Urban design advisory services to Dungog Shire Council for peer review of Structure Plans, Master Plans, LEP and DCP controls across the LGA (2025)​​​
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Design Competition Convenor for a high-rise residential development at 64-68 Grand Parade Brighton-Le-Sands at ae design partnership (2018)
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Northern Beaches Council - Design Feasibility Report, Design Brief Writing and Architectural Design Options for an Emergency Services Centre at ae design partnership (2018)
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City of Botany Bay - LEP Zoning, FSR and Height Controls Review, Master Plan and Development Control Plan for the Mascot Station Town Centre Precinct at Olsson Architecture & Urban Projects (2014)
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Parramatta City Council - Preparation of the Parramatta Square Building Envelopes at JBA urban (2015)
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Parramatta City Council - Testing of the Parramatta City Centre 2013 Development Control Plan at Olsson Architecture & Urban Projects (2013)
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Parramatta City Council - Riverbank Urban Design Strategy and Design Options at Olsson Architecture & Urban Projects (2014)
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Parramatta City Council - Public Domain Guidelines at Parramatta City Council (2010)
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Parramatta City Council - Review of the City Centre Parramatta Development Control Plan 2011 controls at Olsson Architecture & Urban Projects (2010)
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Parramatta City Council - Architecture and Urban Design Advice to the DA Team for Multi-Unit Housing Proposals (2011)​
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Child Care Centres:
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Piccadilly Street Pre-School Long Day Care Centre (2024)
Medium-Large Scale Residential and Mixed Use Projects:
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Multi unit housing with 8 townhouses at 5-7 Rosebank Avenue Epping (2025)
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5 apartments within a 3 storey residential flat building at 71A Burns Bay Road Lane Cove (2024)
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Shop top housing buildings with 3 dwellings at 5 Ryde Road Hunters Hill (2024)​
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33 co-living studios at 53 Kenyon Street (2024)
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Residential flat building with 25 apartments at 22-38 Yurong Street Darlinghurst, ae design partnership (2018)
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Mixed use proposal with 5 apartments at 324 Norton Street Leichhardt, ae design partnership (2018)
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12 residential flat buildings located on 3 lots, a total of 350 apartments at 281 Ingleburn Road Leppington, ae design partnership (2018)
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Mixed use proposal with 8 apartments at 280 Princes Highway Sylvania, ae design partnership (2016)
Small-Scale Residential:
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Elouera Road Cronulla - Dual occupancy (2025)
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Winning Street North Kellyville - Dual occupancy (2025)
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Mooki Street Miranda - Dual occupancy (2025)
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Fragar Road South Penrith - Dual occupancy (2025)
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Waters Road House in Cremorne - Dwelling house - Construction Documentation and Construction Certificate (2023)
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Ourimbah Road Mosman - Dwelling house - Alterations and additions (2023)
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Oceanview Avenue Dover Heights - Dwelling house - Alterations and additions (2023)
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Hartington Street Rooty Hill - Dwelling house - design, development application and documentation (2021)
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Jamison Road Penrith - Dual Occupancy - design and development application (2024)
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South Street Marrickville - Dwelling house - design, development application and documentation - Alterations and additions (2022)
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Connells Point Road Connells Point - Dwelling house - design, development application and documentation - Alterations and additions (2022)
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Ross Street Waverton - Dwelling house - design and documentation (2016)
Social and Affordable Housing:
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Group Home for socially disadvantaged residents at Fullarton Street Telopea (2025)
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Group Home for socially disadvantaged residents at Taworri Street Doonside (2025)
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Group Home for socially disadvantaged residents at Nancy Street St Marys (2025)
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Group Home for socially disadvantaged residents at Ashwell Road Blacktown (2024)
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Group Home for socially disadvantaged residents at Hill End Road Doonside (2024)
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Affordable housing for socially disadvantaged residents at Callagher Street Mt Druitt (2023)
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Group Home for socially disadvantaged residents at Roberts Road Greenacre (2023)
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Group Home for socially disadvantaged residents at College Road Campbelltown (2023)
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Affordable housing proposal for socially disadvantaged residents at St Johns Road Auburn (2019)
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Affordable housing proposal for socially disadvantaged residents at Carter Street Seven Hills (2019)
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Affordable housing proposal for socially disadvantaged residents at Blaxcell Street South Granville (2019)