Duplex & Dual Occupancy
Wattle Court Sydney South West
Two homes, one block, done properly
Stay together or get ahead
Dual occupancy is one of the fastest growing ways to build in this part of Sydney, and for good reason. It makes far better use of a generous block than a single house ever will, and it answers two of the most common conversations we have here: how do we keep the family together, and how do we get ahead.
Whether you’re building a duplex to live in one side and rent or sell the other, creating a self-contained home for parents or adult children, or developing a block as an investment, it comes down to the same first question. What does your land actually allow?
That is a question worth asking before you buy, and certainly before you fall in love with a design.
Three ways to build two dwellings:
A duplex. Two attached dwellings on the one block, usually mirrored, each with its own entry, yard and services. This is the most common form, and where the block is wide enough and the controls allow it, the two halves can later be subdivided onto separate titles.
A detached dual occupancy. Two separate houses on the one block, typically one behind the other. This suits deeper blocks and gives both homes more privacy than a duplex does.
A secondary dwelling, or granny flat. A smaller self-contained home on the same title as the main house, capped at a set floor area. It cannot be subdivided off, but it is the simplest of the three and often the fastest pathway. We build these above a certain size.
Which one suits you depends on your block’s zone, its width, its area and the controls that apply to it. We work that out with you first, and then talk about designs.
Designed so both homes feel like homes
The difference between a good duplex and a poor one is rarely the facade. It’s whether each side feels like a house rather than half of something.
That comes down to the things people notice every day. A front door that faces the street rather than the neighbour’s driveway. Living areas that open to a yard with some privacy in it. Bedrooms that don’t share a wall with the other dwelling’s living room. Enough acoustic separation between the two that you forget anyone is there.
We design to that standard, and the fire and acoustic separation requirements between attached dwellings are handled properly as part of the build rather than treated as a box to tick.
For a multi-generational build, the brief usually shifts. The second dwelling is smaller, single level, step-free, with a bathroom prepared for grab rails and a kitchen that works for one or two. Often there’s a shared courtyard or garden connecting the two rather than a fence. We’ve found families know exactly what they want here, and the job is making it work within the controls.
Ready to see what your block can do?
Whether you already have your land or are still weighing up your options, Josh and Zuzana would love to help bring your duplex home to life. Get in touch with us today.
