planning and design Archives - Ruth Newman

A low-angle interior view of a white, modern architectural space with symmetrical curved walls, a balcony, and a vertical line of ceiling lights.

Design Decisions You Can't Undo Later: The Role of Light in Architecture

A sunlit modern living room with floor-to-ceiling black-framed windows overlooking a green garden. A person is sitting on a grey sofa reading, with a wooden dining set in the background.

Lighting is decided long before the Light Switch

Architect-designed semi-detached home featured in the NSW Housing Pattern Book, illustrating 10-day fast-track approvals under the 2025 residential planning framework

What’s Ahead for Building Approvals in 2026 (and How to Get a Head Start)