Commercial Design Services Melbourne

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Complete Commercial Design Services From Site Feasibility To Planning Drawings & Working Documentation

Vaastu Atelier provides commercial design services across Melbourne and Victoria, helping developers, landowners, investors and business operators create functional, council-responsive and commercially considered buildings.

A successful commercial project must do more than look presentable. It must balance business use, planning controls, customer access, staff flow, car parking, traffic, accessibility, services, signage, waste, fire safety, building code requirements, façade quality, long-term flexibility and construction practicality.

Our commercial design services cover the full project pathway, from early site feasibility and development strategy through to concept design, planning permit drawings, consultant coordination, working drawings and builder pricing documentation.

Whether your project is a retail building, office development, mixed-use project, medical centre, childcare centre, hospitality venue, commercial conversion, business premises or multi-tenancy commercial development, Vaastu can help assess the opportunity and shape the right design strategy.

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350+ Projects Completed

18+ Years Experience

100+ Personalised Approach

Melbourne & Regional Victoria

End-To-End Design Services

Townhouse Development Design Smart, Efficient Designs for High-Quality Townhouse Living

Multi-Unit Residential Projects Thoughtful Planning for Successful Multi-Unit Developments

Clause 55 Ready Design Planning-Focused Designs Aligned with Clause 55 Standards

Side-by-Side & Terrace Homes Contemporary Layouts Designed to Maximise Every Site

350+ Melbourne Projects Extensive Residential Design Experience Across Melbourne

Since 2009 Trusted local experience

350+ Projects Across Melbourne Since 2009

Proven Experience Across Diverse Residential and Commercial Projects

Commercial, Retail & Office

Functional, Contemporary Spaces Designed for Business and Growth

Medical & Childcare

Purpose-Designed Environments Focused on Care, Comfort and Function

Mixed-Use & Planning-Led Design

Strategic Design Solutions Shaped by Site and Planning Requirements

Commercial Design

Our Commercial Design Services

Vaastu Atelier provides a complete design and documentation service for commercial buildings and business premises.

Our role is to help clients understand what a site or building can realistically support, shape a practical commercial layout and prepare the drawings needed for planning, consultant coordination, builder pricing and construction documentation.

Our commercial design services include:

Commercial site feasibility review
Commercial development strategy
Retail building design
Office building design
Mixed-use development design
Medical centre design
Childcare centre design
Hospitality and café design
Reception and event venue design
Commercial conversion design
Commercial renovation design
Business premises design
Multi-tenancy commercial building design
Commercial façade design
Commercial floor plan design
Customer entry and circulation planning
Staff and back-of-house planning
Car parking and access coordination
Traffic consultant coordination
Accessibility-aware design
Waste and services planning coordination
Signage and street presentation direction
Town planning drawings
Council RFI drawing updates
Working drawings
Building permit documentation support
Consultant coordination
Builder pricing documentation
Design refinement during the project

Commercial Site Feasibility Review

Before designing a commercial project, the site should be reviewed carefully.

A property may look suitable for commercial development because of its location, frontage or zoning, but the realistic outcome depends on many factors, including planning controls, overlays, access, parking, traffic, loading, waste, services, neighbouring interfaces, building height, tenancy mix, customer movement, staff flow and construction practicality.

A commercial site feasibility review helps identify whether the site is suitable for the proposed business use or whether another commercial, medical, childcare, mixed-use or residential development pathway may be more suitable.

We Review

Property address
Land size
Street frontage
Site depth
Corner site potential
Main road exposure
Activity centre proximity
Commercial zone context
Residential interface
Existing building condition
Existing building layout
Orientation
Slope
Neighbouring properties
Zoning
Overlays
Easements
Existing trees
Vehicle access
Customer parking potential
Staff parking potential
Loading access
Pedestrian entry
Accessibility pathway
Waste collection strategy
Services and plant zones
Stormwater and drainage
Planning permit pathway
Construction access
Future tenancy flexibility
Commercial value

Best For

Clients buying commercial development sites
Landowners testing development potential
Business owners looking for new premises
Investors comparing commercial and residential options
Clients converting existing buildings
Developers planning retail, office or mixed-use projects
Operators needing early advice before committing to consultants or contracts

Service Outcome

A clear early direction showing whether the site has realistic commercial development potential and what design pathway should be explored next.

Commercial Development Strategy

A commercial project should begin with a clear strategy.

The strategy should identify the preferred use, tenancy mix, business model, customer access, staff areas, parking, servicing, planning risk, consultant requirements and documentation pathway.

Development Strategies May Include

Single commercial tenancy
Multi-tenancy retail building
Office building
Retail and office development
Medical centre
Childcare centre
Mixed-use development
Commercial and residential mixed-use
Hospitality venue
Café or restaurant premises
Reception or event venue
Commercial conversion
Commercial renovation
Commercial extension
Main road commercial development
Activity centre commercial development
Commercial building with basement parking
Commercial building with at-grade parking
Long-term investment premises
Owner-occupier business premises
Build-to-lease commercial project

We Help Clarify

What commercial use suits the site
Whether the existing building can be reused
Whether a new building is better than conversion
How many tenancies may be realistic
Whether car parking can be resolved
Whether traffic impact needs early consultant input
Whether waste and loading can be managed
Whether accessibility can be achieved
Whether planning risk is manageable
What consultants may be required
What documentation pathway is required

Service Outcome

A clear project direction that gives the commercial design process a strong foundation before concept design begins.

Commercial Concept Design

Concept design is where the commercial project begins to take shape.

At this stage, we explore the relationship between site planning, building layout, customer entry, tenancy arrangement, car parking, access, services, façade, signage, staff areas, waste, landscape and planning response.

Concept Design May Include

Site layout
Building footprint
Ground floor layout
Upper floor layout where required
Basement layout where required
Tenancy arrangement
Customer entry location
Staff access location
Car parking direction
Loading and waste areas
Pedestrian paths
Accessibility pathway
Service and plant zones
Initial façade direction
Signage direction
Material direction
Planning considerations
Key design notes

Design Focus

Commercial functionality
Customer arrival
Business operation
Staff efficiency
Planning response
Street presentation
Parking and access
Waste and loading
Accessibility
Services coordination
Future flexibility
Market appeal
Buildability

Service Outcome

A clear concept design showing how the commercial building or premises can work on the site.

Retail Design Services

Retail buildings need strong street presence, clear entry, good visibility, practical tenancy layouts and a strong connection to customer movement.

A retail project may include a single shop, group of shops, neighbourhood retail centre, retail strip development, convenience retail, showroom, food premises or retail component within a mixed-use development.

Retail Design Services Include

Retail site planning
Shopfront design
Customer entry planning
Retail tenancy layout
Display frontage direction
Signage direction
Awning or canopy direction
Accessible entry planning
Back-of-house planning
Staff amenities
Storage areas
Waste storage
Loading access awareness
Customer parking coordination
Pedestrian access
Street interface
Façade design
Materials and colour direction
Planning drawings
Working drawings

Best For

Retail shops
Neighbourhood retail centres
Showrooms
Convenience retail
Food and beverage tenancies
Commercial strips
Main road retail sites
Mixed-use ground floor retail

Service Outcome

A retail design that supports customer visibility, tenancy function, street presence and commercial value.

Office Building Design Services

Office buildings need efficient floor plates, natural light, circulation, amenities, entry identity, services coordination and future tenancy flexibility.

A successful office building should be easy to lease, practical to fit out and adaptable for future business needs.

Office Design Services Include

Office floor plate planning
Entry lobby planning
Reception location
Lift and stair coordination awareness
Staff amenities
End-of-trip facility awareness
Meeting room planning
Flexible tenancy planning
Natural light planning
Window placement
Services and plant zones
Car parking coordination
Accessible entry
Signage direction
Façade design
Material direction
Planning drawings
Working drawings

Best For

Small office buildings
Professional suites
Commercial office developments
Owner-occupier business premises
Multi-tenancy office buildings
Office-over-retail projects

Service Outcome

An office building design that supports workplace function, leasing flexibility and professional presentation.

Mixed-Use Development Design Services

Mixed-use developments combine more than one use within the same building or site.

This may include retail with apartments above, medical with commercial tenancies, childcare with commercial uses, office above retail, hospitality with residential, or another combination.

Mixed-use projects require careful planning because different uses often have different access, parking, waste, services, security and acoustic needs.

Mixed-Use Design Services Include

Use mix strategy
Ground floor commercial planning
Residential or office upper-level planning
Separate entry planning
Separate service access awareness
Car parking allocation
Waste separation
Acoustic separation
Fire separation awareness
Accessibility pathway planning
Lobby and tenancy planning
Retail or commercial frontage
Signage strategy
Loading access awareness
Services coordination
Planning drawings
Consultant coordination
Working drawings

Best For

Retail with apartments above
Office above retail
Medical and commercial buildings
Childcare with commercial uses
Apartment-over-retail projects
Activity centre sites
Main road development sites
Commercial zone properties

Service Outcome

A mixed-use design where each use is clearly organised and the building works commercially, operationally and practically.

Medical Centre Design Services

Medical centres require careful planning because patient flow, practitioner rooms, waiting areas, accessibility, staff areas, amenities and services must work together.

Medical design may include GP clinics, allied health, dental, specialist consulting, pathology collection, radiology-adjacent planning, cosmetic clinics, wellness clinics or mixed medical-commercial buildings.

Medical Design Services Include

Medical site feasibility
Consulting room planning
Treatment room planning
Waiting area design
Reception planning
Patient flow
Staff flow
Accessible entry
Accessible amenities
Staff amenities
Sterilisation or clean utility awareness where required
Pathology collection room planning where required
Dental room planning awareness where required
Storage planning
Waste and clinical waste awareness
Car parking coordination
Signage direction
Planning drawings
Working drawings
Consultant coordination

Best For

GP clinics
Allied health centres
Dental clinics
Specialist consulting suites
Cosmetic and skin clinics
Wellness centres
Medical-commercial buildings
Medical centre conversions

Service Outcome

A medical centre layout that supports patient experience, practitioner function, accessibility and operational clarity.

Childcare Centre Design Services

Childcare centres are commercial projects with specific operational and physical environment requirements.

A childcare centre must balance child safety, indoor play, outdoor play, age-group planning, supervision, parent drop-off, staff areas, traffic, acoustics, landscape and long-term operation.

Childcare Design Services Include

Childcare site feasibility
Child-place testing
Indoor playroom planning
Outdoor play area planning
Age-group room planning
Cot room planning
Nappy change and children’s amenities
Reception and parent arrival
Staff room and office planning
Kitchen and laundry planning
Car parking coordination
Traffic consultant coordination
Acoustic consultant coordination
Landscape coordination
Planning drawings
Working drawings
Consultant coordination

Best For

Childcare centres
Early learning centres
Long day care centres
Kindergartens
Childcare conversions
Mixed-use childcare projects

Service Outcome

A childcare centre design that supports safety, supervision, child learning, operator function and planning response.

Hospitality, Café & Restaurant Design Services

Hospitality projects need a strong customer experience and practical back-of-house planning.

The layout must support arrival, seating, kitchen, staff flow, service areas, amenities, accessibility, waste, acoustic impacts and council expectations.

Hospitality Design Services Include

Café layout planning
Restaurant layout planning
Reception and waiting area
Dining area planning
Kitchen location awareness
Back-of-house planning
Cool room and storage awareness
Staff amenities
Customer amenities
Accessible entry
Accessible toilet planning
Outdoor dining direction
Signage direction
Waste storage planning
Grease trap location awareness
Mechanical exhaust awareness
Acoustic consultant coordination where required
Planning drawings
Working drawings

Best For

Cafés
Restaurants
Takeaway food premises
Reception venues
Small hospitality tenancies
Commercial hospitality conversions
Mixed-use hospitality premises

Service Outcome

A hospitality design that supports customer experience, staff operation, services coordination and commercial presentation.

Reception, Event & Community Venue Design Services

Reception and event venues require careful consideration of entry, arrival, hall layout, kitchen or catering support, amenities, parking, acoustics, accessibility, emergency egress and neighbour amenity.

Venue Design Services Include

Arrival sequence
Entry foyer
Main hall planning
Stage or feature area planning
Kitchen or catering support
Storage
Amenities
Accessible facilities
Back-of-house zones
Car parking coordination
Traffic consultant coordination
Acoustic consultant coordination
Emergency egress awareness
Service access
Waste storage
Façade and signage direction
Planning drawings
Working drawings

Best For

Reception centres
Event venues
Community halls
Cultural centres
Spiritual or community gathering spaces
Multi-purpose venues

Service Outcome

A venue design that supports arrival, gathering, operation, accessibility and planning response.

Commercial Conversion Design Services

Some commercial projects involve converting an existing building into a new use.

This may include changing a dwelling into medical consulting, converting a commercial tenancy into hospitality, converting an office into childcare, or adapting an older building into a new commercial premises.

Conversions require careful review because the existing structure, room sizes, ceiling heights, access, fire safety, services, parking and amenities may limit what can be achieved.

Conversion Services Include

Existing building review
Existing floor plan assessment
Change-of-use suitability
Planning permit pathway review
Accessibility review
Amenities review
Fire egress awareness
Structural limitation awareness
Building services awareness
Car parking review
Traffic coordination where required
Acoustic coordination where required
Waste and services review
Concept design
Planning drawings
Working drawings

Best For

Dwelling to medical conversion
Retail to hospitality conversion
Office to medical conversion
Commercial to childcare conversion
Warehouse to commercial use
Existing shop refurbishment
Older commercial building upgrades

Service Outcome

A realistic design strategy showing whether an existing building can be converted into a functional commercial premises.

Commercial Renovation & Extension Design Services

Commercial buildings often need upgrades, extensions or internal changes to suit new tenants, new business operations or improved presentation.

Renovation and extension work must be carefully planned to reduce disruption, improve functionality and support permit requirements.

Renovation Services Include

Existing building review
Internal layout redesign
New tenancy planning
Reception upgrade
Shopfront upgrade
Façade upgrade
Amenities upgrade
Accessibility improvement
Staff area improvement
Storage and services review
Back-of-house planning
Extension concept design
Planning drawings where required
Working drawings
Consultant coordination

Best For

Existing retail buildings
Existing offices
Medical centre upgrades
Hospitality refurbishments
Commercial tenancy changes
Business premises expansions
Older commercial building improvements

Service Outcome

A commercial renovation or extension design that improves function, presentation and long-term usability.

Commercial Floor Plan Design

The floor plan is one of the most important parts of a commercial project.

A commercial layout must work for customers, staff, operators, deliveries, services, compliance and future flexibility.

Floor Plan Services Include

Customer entry planning
Reception planning
Waiting area planning
Tenancy layout
Office layout
Retail layout
Consulting room layout
Hospitality layout
Staff area planning
Amenities planning
Accessible toilet planning
Storage planning
Back-of-house planning
Circulation planning
Service zone planning
Waste room planning
Plant area awareness
Future flexibility planning

Service Outcome

A commercial floor plan that supports operation, customer experience, staff efficiency and future adaptability.

Commercial Façade & Street Presentation Design

The façade creates the first impression of a commercial building.

A strong façade improves customer recognition, tenant appeal, business identity and long-term property value.

Façade Design Services Include

Street elevation design
Entry identity
Shopfront design
Office frontage design
Canopy or awning direction
Window placement
Signage direction
Material composition
External colour palette
Lighting direction
Service screening
Plant screening
Corner treatment where relevant
Residential interface response
Commercial street presence
Landscape relationship

Service Outcome

A commercial building with strong street identity, clear entry and professional presentation.

Car Parking, Access & Traffic Coordination

Car parking and access are often major issues in commercial planning applications.

The design should consider customer parking, staff parking, accessible parking, loading, service access, pedestrian safety and traffic consultant input early.

Traffic & Parking Services Include

Car parking layout direction
Customer parking strategy
Staff parking strategy
Accessible parking location
Vehicle crossover review
Entry and exit strategy
Internal vehicle circulation awareness
Loading access awareness
Traffic consultant coordination
Swept path coordination
Sightline awareness
Safe pedestrian access
Bicycle parking review
Basement parking review where suitable
Drop-off planning where relevant

Service Outcome

A commercial layout that considers parking and traffic early and supports consultant coordination.

Accessibility & Inclusive Access Design Awareness

Commercial buildings must consider inclusive access from the beginning.

Accessibility affects entries, paths, ramps, lifts, toilets, corridors, door widths, parking, signage and building circulation.

Accessibility Awareness Includes

Accessible entry
Step-free pathways
Accessible parking
Ramp locations
Lift consideration where required
Accessible toilet planning
Door and corridor awareness
Customer circulation
Staff circulation
Accessible reception counter awareness
Accessible route from parking
Accessible route to tenancies
Building surveyor coordination
Access consultant coordination where required

Service Outcome

A commercial design that considers inclusive access and building permit coordination early.

Waste, Services & Plant Planning Coordination

Commercial buildings require practical waste, services and plant planning.

These items can affect ground floor layout, car parking, façade, roof design, staff operation and council response.

Waste & Services Coordination Includes

Waste room location
Bin storage planning
Recycling storage
Food waste planning where relevant
Clinical waste awareness where relevant
Waste collection strategy
Service cupboards
Meter locations
Fire services awareness
Hydraulic services awareness
Electrical services awareness
Mechanical plant zones
Air-conditioning condenser locations
Rooftop plant screening
Loading or service access where required
Maintenance access
Grease trap awareness where relevant
Exhaust and ventilation awareness where relevant

Service Outcome

A commercial design that considers practical services early rather than forcing them into leftover spaces.

Signage, Branding & Business Identity Direction

Commercial buildings need clear identity.

Signage and branding should be considered early because they can affect façade design, entry visibility, planning approval and customer recognition.

Signage Direction May Include

Business signage zone
Pylon sign location awareness
Wall sign direction
Shopfront signage
Entry signage
Wayfinding
Directory board location
Illuminated signage awareness
Signage scale
Signage integration with façade
Planning permit awareness
Brand colour integration
Street visibility

Service Outcome

A commercial façade and entry strategy that supports business identity and customer recognition.

Commercial Planning Drawing Services

Most commercial projects require planning assessment, especially where there is a change of use, new building, extension, signage, car parking change, medical use, childcare use, food premises or mixed-use development.

Vaastu prepares commercial planning drawings to support planning permit applications and consultant coordination.

Town Planning Drawings May Include

Site plan
Existing conditions plan
Demolition plan where required
Development summary
Ground floor plan
Upper floor plans where required
Basement plan where required
Roof plan
Elevations
Sections
Street elevation
Car parking layout
Vehicle access layout
Waste storage location
Materials schedule
Signage information
Landscape coordination
Shadow diagrams where required
Neighbourhood character response where relevant
Urban context response where relevant
Planning report coordination
Consultant drawing coordination

Service Outcome

A clear commercial planning drawing package prepared to support the planning permit process.

Council RFI & Design Response Services

Commercial planning applications commonly receive Requests for Further Information or design comments from council.

Vaastu can assist with drawing updates and design responses where required.

RFI Response Services May Include

Drawing updates
Layout refinement
Car parking updates
Traffic coordination
Waste storage updates
Accessibility updates
Acoustic coordination where required
Landscape coordination
Façade updates
Material updates
Signage updates
Setback updates
Services coordination
Neighbourhood character response
Urban context response
Planning consultant coordination
Resubmission drawing support

Service Outcome

A revised drawing package that responds to council comments and planning issues.

Working Drawing Services

After planning approval, commercial projects require detailed working drawings for building permit, consultant coordination, builder pricing and construction.

Working Drawings May Include

Site plan
Floor plans
Roof plan
Elevations
Sections
Window schedule
Door schedule
Room layout details
Amenities details
Accessible toilet details
Kitchen or service area direction
Stair details where required
Balustrade details where required
External wall details
Internal wall setout
Ceiling height information
Materials schedule
Construction notes
Consultant coordination updates
Building permit drawings

Service Outcome

A detailed working drawing package that supports building permit, consultant coordination, builder pricing and construction.

Consultant Coordination Services

Commercial developments usually require multiple consultants.

Vaastu can assist with consultant coordination as part of the design and documentation process.

Consultants May Include

Land surveyor
Town planner
Traffic consultant
Acoustic consultant
Arborist
Landscape designer
Civil engineer
Structural engineer
Stormwater engineer
WSUD consultant
Waste consultant
Energy consultant
ESD consultant
Building surveyor
BCA consultant
Accessibility consultant
Fire services consultant
Hydraulic consultant
Electrical consultant
Mechanical consultant
Geotechnical engineer
Food premises consultant where required
Operator or tenant representative
Builder

Service Outcome

Better coordination between architectural design, planning, traffic, acoustics, engineering, services, accessibility, building permit and construction requirements.

Builder Pricing Documentation

Clear documentation helps builders understand the project and price it more accurately.

Commercial buildings can become difficult to price when layouts, services, amenities, access, façade, waste, parking and consultant information are unresolved.

Builder Pricing Support May Include

Clear floor plans
Elevations
Sections
Room schedules
Window and door schedules
Material direction
Amenities details
Kitchen or service area direction
External detail direction
Car parking information
Waste area coordination
Services coordination updates
Consultant coordination updates
Planning approval drawing updates
Working drawing package
Design clarification during pricing

Service Outcome

A clearer drawing package that supports builder pricing and reduces confusion during construction preparation.

3D Design & Visualisation Direction

Visualisation can help clients, tenants, operators, councils, consultants and investors understand the scale, façade, entry, materials and commercial identity of a building.

Visualisation May Include

Street perspective
Corner perspective
Entry view
Shopfront view
Office façade view
Mixed-use building view

Massing view
Material direction view
Signage view
Car park and entry view
Design refinement based on visuals

Service Outcome

A clearer understanding of the commercial building’s identity, scale, entry, façade and market presentation.

Packagess

Commercial Design Service Packages

5 packages. 5 stages. One timeless vision.

Initial Commercial Site Feasibility

Best for clients at the beginning of the journey.

Includes

Site review
Planning constraint review
Commercial potential discussion
Use suitability discussion
High-level development strategy
Parking and access discussion
Recommended next steps

Best For

Clients buying commercial sites
Landowners testing site potential
Business owners seeking premises
Developers comparing commercial and mixed-use options
Clients considering conversion

Concept Design

Best for clients ready to test the commercial layout properly.

Includes

Site layout testing
Use and tenancy planning
Customer entry planning
Staff and back-of-house planning
Parking strategy
Initial floor plans
Initial façade direction
Design review and refinement

Best For

Retail buildings
Office buildings
Mixed-use projects
Medical centres
Childcare centres
Hospitality venues
Commercial conversions

Town Planning Documentation

Best for projects proceeding to planning permit.

Includes

Town planning drawings
Use and layout coordination
Materials schedule
Car parking information
Consultant coordination
Council RFI support where required

Best For

Commercial planning permits
Change-of-use applications
Mixed-use developments
Sites requiring traffic reports
Sites requiring acoustic reports
Projects requiring planning consultant support

Working Drawings

Best for approved projects proceeding toward building permit and construction.

Includes

Detailed drawings
Construction documentation
Window and door schedules
Amenities details
External details
Consultant coordination
Building permit drawing support
Builder pricing support

Best For

Approved commercial projects
Building permit applications
Builder pricing
Construction preparation

Full Commercial Design & Documentation Service

Best for clients wanting a complete service from early feasibility through to documentation.

Includes

Site review
Development strategy
Concept design
Façade design
Design development
Town planning drawings
Council RFI support where required
Working drawings
Consultant coordination
Builder pricing support

Best For

Developers
Commercial landowners
Business owners
Mixed-use developments
Retail buildings
Office buildings
Medical centres
Childcare centres
Hospitality projects
Commercial conversions

Design Process

Our Commercial Design Process

Initial Consultation

We discuss your property, business use, development goals, target tenancy mix, budget expectations, timing and whether the project is a new build, extension, conversion or mixed-use development.

Site Review

We review land size, frontage, depth, orientation, slope, easements, trees, zoning, overlays, street character, access, parking and planning constraints.

Development Strategy

We identify whether the site is better suited to retail, office, mixed-use, medical, childcare, hospitality, commercial conversion or another development pathway.

Layout Testing

We test realistic layout options, including customer entry, staff areas, parking, services, waste, accessibility, signage and planning risks.

Concept Design

We prepare the initial layout, including building footprint, floor plans, entry, parking, service zones and façade direction.

Design Development

We refine the plans, elevations, materials, access, services, amenity, façade and planning response.

Town Planning Drawings

We prepare architectural drawings for planning permit submission where required.

Consultant Coordination

We coordinate relevant consultants as required.

Council RFI Response

Where required, we assist with drawing updates and design responses to council comments.

Working Drawings

After planning approval, we prepare detailed drawings for building permit, consultant coordination, builder pricing and construction.

Services Are

Who Our Commercial Design Services Are For

Our commercial design services are suitable for:

Commercial property owners
Developers
Landowners
Business owners
Retail operators
Office operators
Medical operators
Childcare operators
Hospitality operators
Commercial investors
Owners of main road sites
Owners of activity centre sites
Clients converting existing buildings
Clients planning mixed-use buildings
Builders needing architectural documentation
Clients needing planning drawings
Clients needing working drawings
Clients needing consultant coordination
Clients wanting a complete design and documentation pathway

Different

What Makes Our Commercial Design Service Different?

Feasibility Before Design

We consider what the site or building can realistically support before committing to a layout.

Planning-Led Design

We consider zoning, overlays, use, traffic, parking, waste, accessibility, neighbouring interfaces and planning pathway early.

Operational Thinking

We consider how customers, staff, deliveries, services, waste and daily business operations will function.

Multi-Sector Commercial Experience

Vaastu has experience across retail, office, medical, childcare, hospitality, mixed-use and commercial development projects.

Commercial Presentation

We focus on entry identity, façade quality, signage, customer arrival and long-term tenant appeal.

Consultant Coordination

We can coordinate with town planners, traffic consultants, acoustic consultants, engineers, building surveyors and other specialists.

Documentation Quality

Strong documentation helps support planning, consultant coordination, builder pricing and construction clarity.

Mistakes

Commercial Design Mistakes Our Services Help Avoid

Assuming every site suits the intended commercial use
Designing before checking planning controls
Ignoring parking requirements
Ignoring traffic impact
Poor customer entry location
Weak street presentation
Poor signage integration
Poor staff and back-of-house planning
Insufficient storage
Leaving waste planning too late
Leaving services planning too late
Ignoring accessibility
Ignoring fire egress and building permit issues
Ignoring neighbouring residential interfaces
Ignoring acoustic impacts
Overcomplicating the building form
Poor tenancy flexibility
Poor loading or delivery access
Starting without a feature survey
Weak documentation
Builder confusion during pricing
Choosing the cheapest layout instead of the best commercial outcome

PROJECT PORTFOLIO

Featured Commercial Portfolio Section

This services page should include a compact portfolio section showing the range of commercial design outcomes Vaastu can support.

Officer

Retail & Medical Hub

Project Type: Luxury Residence
Service Provided: Full Design & Documentation
Key Design Feature: Grand symmetrical facade with elegant proportions

View Project

Truganina

Retail & Commercial Precinct

Project Type: Luxury Residence
Service Provided: Concept, Facade & Documentation
Key Design Feature: Balanced symmetry with timeless street presence

View Project

Clyde

Retail Commercial

Project Type: Luxury Residence
Service Provided: Full Design & Documentation
Key Design Feature: Formal entrance and classical landscaping

View Project

Clyde

Reception Centre Precinct

Project Type: Luxury Residence
Service Provided: Full Design & Documentation
Key Design Feature: Classic French elegance with grand scale

View Project

Clyde North

Commercial Precinct

Project Type: Luxury Residence
Service Provided: Design Development
Key Design Feature: Refined architecture with soft French tones

View Project

Somerville

Medical Centre

Project Type: Luxury Residence
Service Provided: Concept Design & Facade
Key Design Feature: Imposing facade with French Provincial details

View Project

Bayswater

Business Park

Project Type: Luxury Residence
Service Provided: Facade & Interior Direction
Key Design Feature: Sophisticated facade with refined finishes

View Project

Bega

Education Centre

Project Type: Luxury Residence
Service Provided: Town Planning & Documentation
Key Design Feature: Regal proportions and intricate detailing

View Project

Bayswater

Cultural Complex

Project Type: Luxury Residence
Service Provided: Full Design & Documentation
Key Design Feature: Classic French rooflines and refined detailing

View Project

Point Cook

Commercial Precinct

Project Type: Luxury Residence
Service Provided: Full Design & Documentation
Key Design Feature: Courtyard-inspired design with timeless appeal

View Project

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What commercial design services does Vaastu provide?

Vaastu provides commercial design services including site feasibility, concept design, floor plan design, façade design, retail design, office design, mixed-use design, medical centre design, childcare centre design, hospitality design, planning drawings, working drawings and consultant coordination.

Can Vaastu design retail buildings?

Yes. Vaastu designs retail buildings, shopfronts, multi-tenancy retail projects, showrooms, food premises and retail components within mixed-use developments.

Can Vaastu design mixed-use developments?

Yes. Vaastu designs mixed-use developments that may include retail, office, medical, commercial, childcare or residential uses depending on the site and planning context.

Can Vaastu design office buildings?

Yes. Vaastu designs office buildings, professional suites, office-over-retail projects and owner-occupier business premises.

Can Vaastu design medical centres?

Yes. Vaastu designs medical centres, consulting suites, allied health clinics, dental clinics, specialist consulting rooms and medical-commercial buildings.

Can Vaastu design childcare centres?

Yes. Vaastu designs childcare centres, early learning centres, long day care facilities, kindergartens, childcare conversions and mixed-use childcare projects.

Can Vaastu design hospitality or café premises?

Yes. Vaastu can design cafés, restaurants, hospitality tenancies and reception or event venues where the site and planning context support that use.

Can Vaastu help convert an existing building into a commercial use?

Yes. Vaastu can review existing buildings and prepare design options for commercial conversion, subject to planning, building code, accessibility, services and operational requirements.

Does a commercial project need a planning permit?

It depends on the site, zoning, overlays, existing use, proposed use, building works, car parking, signage and local planning controls. Many commercial projects require planning assessment.

Can Vaastu prepare commercial planning drawings?

Yes. Vaastu can prepare commercial planning drawings for permit submission and coordinate with relevant consultants.

Can Vaastu respond to council RFI comments?

Yes. Vaastu can assist with drawing updates and design responses where council requests further information or design changes.

Can Vaastu prepare commercial working drawings?

Yes. After planning approval, Vaastu can prepare working drawings for building permit, consultant coordination, builder pricing and construction.

Can Vaastu coordinate commercial consultants?

Yes. Depending on the project, Vaastu can coordinate with surveyors, town planners, traffic consultants, acoustic consultants, engineers, waste consultants, accessibility consultants, building surveyors and other specialists.

What documents should I send before starting?

Please send the property address, title or Section 32, feature and level survey, existing plans if available, planning history, business use, tenancy requirements, budget range and project goals.

What makes a commercial project successful?

A successful commercial project balances business function, customer experience, staff flow, planning requirements, parking, access, services, accessibility, façade quality, buildability, documentation and long-term commercial value.

Start Your Commercial Project With A Clear Design Strategy

A successful commercial project starts with realistic feasibility, planning-led design and strong documentation.

Whether your project is a retail building, office development, mixed-use project, medical centre, childcare centre, hospitality venue, commercial conversion or business premises, Vaastu Atelier can provide the design services needed to assess the site and shape the right outcome.

Book A Commercial Design Consultation Request A Commercial Site Feasibility Review