Overview
Vishal Lakhia is a registered architect and urban designer with 19 years’ experience across the private and public sectors in NSW. He has contributed to a broad range of architectural and urban design projects, including master plans, development control plans, development applications and urban design strategies.
In an advisory capacity, Vishal provides independent architectural and urban design advice to a number of NSW councils as a Design Excellence and Design Review Chair and Panel Member. He also serves the NSW Land and Environment Court as an Architectural and Urban Design Expert Witness.
Alongside these advisory roles, Vishal operates a sole architectural and urban design practice with a focus on master planning, urban design strategies and architectural design. His architectural work spans small to medium scale residential projects, including houses, dual occupancies, multi dwelling housing, mid rise apartment buildings and social housing.
Vishal combines strong design capability with effective communication and a collaborative approach. His work is guided by a commitment to shaping architecture and urban places that are humane and responsive to their context.
Qualifications
Master of Urban Design [Urban Design & Planning] - The University of Sydney, NSW, Australia (2007–2009)
Bachelor of Architecture, APIED, Gujarat, India (2001–2006)
Advisory Roles
North Sydney Design Excellence Panel - Co-Chair (2023–present)
Liverpool Design Excellence Panel - Alternate Chair and Member (2021–present)
Randwick Design Excellence Advisory Panel - Alternate Chair and Member (2023–present)
Waverley Design Excellence Advisory Panel - Alternate Chair and Member (2024–present)
Hornsby Shire Council Design Review - Alternate Chair and Member (2025–present)
Burwood Design Review Panel - Chair (2022–present)
Inner West Architectural Excellence Panel - Chair (2019–2025)Inner West Design Review Panel - Convener (2021–2025)
NSW Architects Registration Number 11262
NSW Design & Building Practitioners
Registration No. 0004199
ABN: 71 286 960 707
North Sydney NSW Australia
0420 650 150
Selected Projects
Key NSW Land and Environment Court Appeals - Architectural and Urban Design Expert Witness Work
Turramurra 88 Pty Ltd v Ku-ring-gai Council - TOD proposal with 88 apartments at 3-3A Beaconsfield Parade, Lindfield NSW (Hearing) (2026)
Turn Oze Pty Ltd v Hornsby Shire Council - LMR proposal for a residential apartment development at 19-23 Forbes Street, Hornsby (Section 34 and Hearing) (2026)
Metis Developments Pty Ltd v Mosman Municipal Council - Residential apartment development at 93-101A Awaba Street, Mosman (Hearing) (2026)
Appwan v Inner West Council - 52-54 Charlotte Street, Ashfield - 4-storey co-living building (Section 34) (2026)
8 Marvell Street Pty Ltd v Byron Shire Council - Residential apartment development at 8 Marvell Street, Byron Bay (Section 34) (2026)
NSW Supreme Court - Single Appointed Expert - Djamal Pty Ltd v D M Meara - Architectural Design Advisory Report (2026)
NSW Supreme Court - Waugoola Street, Gordon - Architectural Design Advisory Report (2026)
Seashell Group Pty Ltd v Inner West Council - 37-39 Fisher Street, Petersham - Shop top housing proposal (Section 34) (2025)
Maurice Dry Cleaners v Inner West Council - 150 Smith Street, Summer Hill - Co-living development (Section 34) (2025)
M&B Maxwell Property Group v Inner West Council - 323 Darling Street, Balmain - Adaptive reuse apartments (Section 34) (2025)
IDC Property Pty Ltd v Inner West Council - 119 Booth Street, Annandale - Co-living development (Section 34) (2025)
R & G Creations Pty Ltd v City of Shoalhaven - 8-12 Princes Highway, Mollymook (Section 34) (2025)
E & R Property Trust v Inner West Council - 1-13 Parramatta Road, Annandale - 4-storey mixed use development (Section 34) (2025)
Warehouse on Park v Inner West Council - 17 Federation Road, Camperdown - Adaptive reuse of a 3-storey warehouse building into a residential flat building (Section 34 and Hearing) (2024)
William Assets v Inner West Council - 16 William Street, Leichhardt - 3-storey boarding house (Section 34) (2024)
Anprisa v Inner West Council - 40-76 William Street, Leichhardt - Adaptive reuse, alterations and additions to the former Cyclops toy factory and associated warehouse buildings to create 190 residential apartments (Section 34) (2024)
Emag Apartments v Inner West Council - 127 New Canterbury Road, Lewisham (The Huntsbury Hotel) - Adaptive reuse of an existing heritage pub as a boarding house (Section 34) (2023)
Emag Apartments v Inner West Council - 2 Station Street, Marrickville - High-rise boarding house over a basement car park (Section 34 and Hearing) (2023)
Public Sector Work
Masterplans and Architectural + Urban Design Concepts
Medium to Large Scale Residential and Mixed Use Projects
Urban Design Advisor to North Sydney Council for the Grosvenor Plaza Redevelopment Master Plan and Tender Evaluation process (2026)
Urban Design Advisor to Burwood Council for the Burwood North Master Plan and LEP Review (2025)
Urban Design Advisor to Dungog Shire Council for Structure Plans, Master Plans, LEP, DCP and residential typology studies across the LGA (2025–2026)
Northern Beaches Council - Design Feasibility Report, Design Brief Writing and Architectural Design Options for an Emergency Services Centre (2018)
City of Botany Bay - LEP zoning, FSR and height controls review, Master Plan and Development Control Plan for the Mascot Station Town Centre Precinct (2014)
Parramatta City Council - Testing of the Parramatta Square envelopes (2015)
Parramatta City Council - Testing of the Parramatta City Centre 2013 Development Control Plan (2013)
Parramatta City Council - Riverbank Urban Design Strategy and Design Options (2014)
Parramatta City Council - Public Domain Guidelines - First Draft (2010)
Parramatta City Council - Review of the City Centre Parramatta Development Control Plan 2011 controls (2010)
Parramatta City Council - Architecture and Urban Design Advice to the DA Team for multi unit housing proposals (2011)
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 (2025–2026)
Architectural and Urban Design Concepts for a mixed use building including a hotel, retail and offices at 28 O’Connell Street and 44-48 Hunter Street, Sydney, for the NSW Valuer General (2023)
Concept Master Plan and Urban Design Strategy for a 70 ha site around Macquarie Fields Railway Station (2020–2024)
Architectural and Urban Design Brief and Strategy for a shop top housing proposal at 87-89 Macleay Street, Potts Point (2022)
Urban Design Study and Master Plan for a medium density residential development at 124 Newbridge Road, Moorebank (2018)
Urban Design and Architectural Study for a high-density mixed use proposal at 270 Pacific Highway, Crows Nest (2016)
Urban Design Study and Master Plan for a medium density residential development at 27 Brighton Avenue, Croydon Park (2015)
Urban Design Study and Master Plan for Parramatta Camperdown Precinct (2016)
High-rise residential tower at 22-24 Atchison Street, St Leonards (2016)
Four residential flat buildings for a Planning Proposal at Larool Crescent, Castle Hill (2018)
Design Competition Convenor for a high-rise residential development at 64-68 Grand Parade, Brighton-Le-Sands (2018)
Multi unit housing with 8 townhouses at 5-7 Rosebank Avenue, Epping (2026)
5 apartments within a 3-storey residential flat building at 71A Burns Bay Road, Lane Cove (2024)
Shop top housing with 3 dwellings at 5 Ryde Road, Hunters Hill (2025)
33 co-living studios at Kenyon Street, Fairfield (2024)
Residential flat building with 25 apartments at 22-38 Yurong Street, Darlinghurst (2018)
Mixed use proposal with 5 apartments at 324 Norton Street, Leichhardt (2018)
12 residential flat buildings across 3 lots, comprising a total of 350 apartments at 281 Ingleburn Road, Leppington (2018)
Mixed use proposal with 8 apartments at 280 Princes Highway, Sylvania (2016)
Community Buildings and Affordable Housing Projects
Piccadilly Street Preschool (2024)
Architectural design and documentation for over 15 community housing projects providing accommodation for women and socially disadvantaged communities in the form of Class 1B dwellings and Group Home accommodation for Homes NSW and community housing providers. Selected projects include Fullarton Street, Telopea; Doonside; St Marys; Blacktown; Mt Druitt; Greenacre; and Campbelltown. (2019-present)
Small-Scale Residential Projects
Elouera Road, Cronulla - Dual occupancy (2025)
Winning Street, North Kellyville - Dual occupancy (2025)
Mooki Street, Miranda - Dual occupancy (2025)
Fragar Road, South Penrith - Dual occupancy (2025)
Waters Road, Cremorne - Dwelling house - Construction Documentation and Construction Certificate (2023)
Ourimbah Road, Mosman - Dwelling house - Alterations and additions (2023)
Oceanview Avenue, Dover Heights - Dwelling house - Alterations and additions (2023)
Hartington Street, Rooty Hill - Dwelling house - Design, Development Application and documentation (2021)
Jamison Road, Penrith - Dual occupancy - Design and Development Application (2024)
South Street, Marrickville - Dwelling house - Alterations and additions, design, Development Application and documentation (2022)
Connells Point Road, Connells Point - Dwelling house - Alterations and additions, design, Development Application and documentation (2022)
Ross Street, Waverton - Dwelling house - Design and documentation (2016)