Utz-Sanby Architects

We used Utz-Sanby for a 2017 renovation of our semi. Utz-Sanby provided multiple design iterations to ensure we chose the most optimal layout for our budget. We love our renovated house, and after living in it for a year there is nothing we would change. We also tasked Utz-Sanby with tendering and construction. The project was completed on time and on budget. Utz-Sanby's detailed specifications gave us the confidence to partner with the cheapest quoted builder, and they were excellent. Their experience meant that we had made key decisions and material choices ahead of time, never holding up the builder. Utz-Sanby were great. We would highly recommend them.

After 20 years of working with Utz Sanby, we find their architecture to be fresh and contemporary. We believe they craft very liveable spaces, and in my experience they create quality, well-priced built solutions and understand how to get good value for their clients.

This is the second house we have worked on with Kristin and Duncan. We have absolutely loved both the creative process and the outcome of both. We are both busy people with two young kids and Kristin and Duncan achieved the perfect balance between giving us choice and making the choosing process easy. They took the time to understand what we wanted and then delivered. We have now been in the house for 18 months and there is nothing that we would change.

The family employed Utz-Sanby to design and project manage the build of a family beach house on a plot that the family had owned since the 1950s. The design was very innovative and Kristin and Duncan also listened to ideas that the family suggested. They also liaised with family members overseas as well as the Sydney based family. It has made a big difference to the extended families who are all able to enjoy wonderful ambience.

My husband and I employed Utz Sanby architects to design a new home on a corner block with views over the park and bay after viewing some of their completed homes in magazines. We gravitated towards them for their usage of steel, open plan living and usage of louvres. We found them very easy to deal with understanding our brief and working through the process in a professional thorough and practical manner. From the time Duncan produced the model of the house we were excited and we enjoyed the entire process. Duncan's initial budget was close to the bottom line and It certainly was a good experience working with the team at Utz Sanby. The result is outstanding and even now 4 years on we love waking up in our home. Thanks for the adventure and sharing this with us especially on Grand Designs Australia.

Having worked with some Australia’s top architects, I can honestly say that Duncan & Kristin are unique in their approach to delivering inspiring architecturally designed homes. In part, this is because they are able to provide high-end, progressive architectural solutions without compromising the clients brief and budget. Added to that, their thorough approach to documentation is second to none. It clarifies scope and detailing, revealing all budget and architectural issues prior to engaging the builder. This places both their clients and builders in the best possible position going into the project. Duncan & Kristin’s approachable and inclusive attitude makes being part of their project team a pleasure. It also means that they are willing to consider alternative ideas for buildabilty and longevity, whilst never compromising the architectural integrity. The projects I have completed with UTZ SANBY were successful on every level, I enjoyed them immensely, and I know the clients agree. Unfortunately, this can be rare in our industry - but on an UTZ SANBY project it seems to be a given. Scott Hindmarsh Director BUILTFORM Pty Ltd

As a professional architectural photographer I have been commisioned to photograph several of their projects since 1998, the most recent one just a few weeks ago. Duncan and Kristin are truly a great people to work with. All projects I had the privillege to photograph over almost two decades were taylored to a specific needs of their clients, extremely functional and estheticaly appealing creations, each different and yet all recognizable by their own and unique "Utz-Sanby style". I would happily recommend them to anyone looking for an architects gifted with not only an immense creativity but known for their impecable work ethics, integrity and ability to create a masterpiece without compromizing functionality and esthetics. The volume of their work can only be a testimony to that.

It only took a couple of meetings with Duncan Sanby for him to design and present a model of our future rural property, which captured our aims beautifully. I appreciated the time put into the planning details (which left nothing to guesswork and interpretation) and the excellent choices of builder and key suppliers. Duncan and Kristin, his wife, suggested many good ideas (such as our fire pit and day beds) and choices of colour scheme and finishes which were of excellent quality and taste. During the planning, Duncan collaborated with the builder to engineer substantial cost savings. During work-in-progress he worked closely with the builder and landscape architect and communicated regularly with us. I can honestly say there were no disappointments; only delight with our completed home.

My wife and I used Utz-Sanby architects for our house at Whale Beach on Sydney's Northern Beaches following their design of a beach house for mutual close friends in Warriewood. Our block was in an iconic position at the beach and our house was to replace a well recognised but totally impracticable house to which to retire . Circumstances meant we had limited funds but Duncan and Kristen produced a wonderful eyecatching and practical design which continues to be admired nearly 20 years later. Utz-Sanby managed the construction on a challenging site with great efficiency and charm. We continue to admire the houses they continue to build in our area.We would highly recommend them.

Duncan was always a pleasure to work with. His plans were very accurate and detailed which meant there was no need for guess work from the builders. Utz Sanby have a high level of knowledge and experience when it comes to building a house which is comfortable, works with the environment and that just makes sense. Our home at Whale Beach turned out exactly as planned, within budget and with no compromises. It elicits admiring looks and photographs from people walking past every day. CAD 3 D drawings and multiple designs and models were provided in the design phase which made our decisions very easy to understand. Duncan was always eager to listen to my suggestions and incorporate them into the design. I did not ever feel that he was pushing me into creating a trophy house for his portfolio but rather a home that suited our family in every way. I highly recommend Duncan and Utz Sanby to anyone considering building a new house.