Overview:
Vishal Lakhia is a registered architect + urban designer with over 18 years of experience, including the past 5 years as a sole practitioner. He has contributed to a wide range of urban projects for various NSW Councils, specialising in the design and documentation of master plans, development control plans, and urban design strategies.
In his advisory role, Vishal provides independent architectural and urban design advice urban projects across the North Sydney, Inner West, Liverpool, Randwick, Waverley, Burwood and Hornsby areas. He serves as the chairperson and/or panel member for design excellence and design review panels for these NSW Councils. Additionally, he acts as an Urban and Architectural Design Expert Witness to the NSW Land and Environment Court.
Beyond advisory work, Vishal operates as a sole practitioner, undertaking master planning, urban design studies, and peer reviews for large and complex urban projects. His architectural practice focuses on small to medium scale proposals, including dwelling houses, dual occupancies, multi dwelling housing, childcare centres, group homes, small to medium rise apartment buildings, and affordable and social housing projects.
Qualifications:
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)​
Current 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-ongoing)​
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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 (2019-ongoing)​​
ABN: 71 286 960 707
(t/a) Vishal Lakhia Architect
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North Sydney
NSW 2060 Australia
NSW ARB # 11262
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0420 650 150
Selected Projects:
NSW Land & Environmental Court Appeals - Architectural and Urban Design Expert Witness:
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:​
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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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8 townhouses over a basement 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:
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 the socially disadvantaged at Taworri Street Doonside (2025)
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Group Home for the socially disadvantaged at Nancy Street St Marys (2025)
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Group Home for the socially disadvantaged at Ashwell Road Blacktown (2024)
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Group Home for the socially disadvantaged at Hill End Road Doonside (2024)
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Affordable housing for the socially disadvantaged at Callagher Street Mt Druitt (2023)
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Group Home for the socially disadvantaged at Roberts Road Greenacre (2023)
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Group Home the socially disadvantaged at College Road Campbelltown (2023)
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Affordable housing proposal for the socially disadvantaged at St Johns Road Auburn (2019)
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Affordable housing proposal for the socially disadvantaged at Carter Street Seven Hills (2019)​​
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Affordable housing proposal for the socially disadvantaged at Blaxcell Street South Granville (2019)​​