What Mako Architecture Pty Ltd does

Mako Architecture Pty Ltd is a Sydney/Canberra-based architectural and urban design studio operating as a private Australian proprietary limited company since 2015. The practice employs between 1 and 10 people, with seven named registered architects (Simon Mather, Alex Koll, Erin Owens, Alex Wilson, Bridget Rosic, Tom Cowlishaw, Vivian Su) providing direct senior engagement on all client work. It operates two studios — the headquarters at Avalon Beach (Suite 1/46 Old Barrenjoey Rd) and a second studio in Canberra City (Baileys Arcade, 131-157 London Circuit) — and serves clients across two Australian markets.

The studio's product surface spans four categories: large-scale multi-residential developments (Illume at Little Bay, Ashmore Precinct 422 dwellings, Chimes Street 311 dwellings, Joynton 211 apartments), commercial/hospitality projects (Botany hotel, Value Suites Hotel 182 rooms in Parramatta, Parramatta Square precinct), urban design masterplans (Green Square Eastern Masterplan for Meriton 784 apartments + 30 townhouses, Waterloo 'A Better Way' 191,000 sqm precinct, Intergenerational Living and Learning Campus 584 dwellings, Sustainable Sydney 2050 laneway proposal), and small-project residential alterations to 'ex-govvie' houses (Suntrap House, Phase Change House 6sqm intervention, Duplex Muse, Joyces Studio). Underlying technical capabilities are non-digital: architectural design, urban design masterplanning, sustainable Environmental and Sustainable Design (ESD) analysis, adaptive re-use methodology, and integration of the NSW Connecting With Country Framework with cultural design partners (Djinjama Cultural Design). Revenue is generated through bespoke professional-services project fees across concept design, Development Application submission, design development, and construction documentation, with no subscription or recurring-pricing model. Distribution is direct and senior-led, supplemented by systematic entry into formal government and developer design excellence competitions and collaborative co-bidding with peer studios (Carter Williamson, Aileen Sage, JPW Architecture, Studio Zanardo, Tony Caro Architecture).

Name

Mako Architecture Pty Ltd

Legal name

MAKO Architecture

Website

https://makoarchitecture.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Mako Architecture Pty Ltd is a Sydney and Canberra-based architectural and urban design studio employing 1-10 registered architects. It delivers bespoke residential, commercial, hospitality, urban masterplanning, and small 'ex-govvie' alteration projects for private developers, government bodies, and homeowners across Australia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Surry Hills

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Architectural Design Services: MAKO Architecture generates revenue through fees for professional architectural design services, including concept design, DA (Development Application) submission, design development, and construction documentation. Fees are structured as project-based professional services engagements rather than recurring subscriptions.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Mako Architecture is an Australian architecture and urban design studio that provides professional architectural design services including concept design, development application submission, design development, and construction documentation. The practice delivers projects across four main typologies: large-scale urban design masterplans, multi-residential apartment developments, commercial/hospitality buildings (notably hotels), and small-scale residential alterations and additions. The firm is differentiated by genuine senior architect engagement on every project and a documented minimal intervention design philosophy.

Product overview

Mako Architecture and Urban Design is an architecture studio offering a portfolio of architectural and urban design services across four main categories: Residential developments (apartments, housing), Commercial/Hospitality projects (hotels), Urban Design Masterplanning, and Small Projects (residential alterations and additions). The practice specializes in design excellence competitions and has won multiple awards. Their projects range from large-scale urban renewal masterplans (Green Square, Waterloo) to boutique residential alterations of existing dwellings ('ex-govvie' projects). They operate across Sydney and Canberra with studios in Avalon Beach and Canberra City.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Residential Architecture Services End-to-end architectural services for residential projects ranging from small alterations and additions on existing 'ex-govvie' dwellings to large multi-residential apartment developments. Services include concept design, DA submission, design development, and construction documentation, with a particular specialisation in minimal intervention design that preserves and adapts existing structures. Clients include individual homeowners, property developers (e.g., Meriton), and social housing authorities.
• Urban Design Masterplanning Services Large-scale urban design masterplanning services for urban renewal precincts, including site masterplans for residential developments of up to 584+ dwellings and 191,000 sqm precincts. Work includes Planning Proposals, Development Applications, equitable amenity distribution, public domain strategy, and Connecting With Country Framework integration. Clients include government bodies, developers, and not-for-profit organisations in the disability and community housing sectors.
• Commercial and Hospitality Architecture Services Architectural design services for commercial buildings and hospitality developments, including hotels (e.g., 182-room Value Suites Hotel, 112-room Botany hotel proposal) and large commercial precincts (e.g., Parramatta Square 45,000 sqm commercial precinct and hotel proposal). Delivered through design excellence competition entries and direct engagement with developers and government authorities.
• Design Excellence Competition Services Competitive architectural design submissions for government and developer-run design excellence competitions, serving as a primary channel for securing large-scale development commissions. The practice has won or been shortlisted in competitions including NSW Design Excellence Competitions, with submissions covering residential, mixed-use, commercial, and urban renewal projects across Sydney.

Quantifiable outcome

• Designed 10+ design excellence competition entries, including multiple competition winners (Value Suites Hotel 2020, Rockdale 2017, Chimes Street 2024)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Carter Williamson ArchitecturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on the Joynton Design Excellence Competition in Zetland, Sydney. MAKO worked alongside Carter Williamson Architecture to deliver a 211-apartment residential and retail development opposite Gunyama Park, with MAKO providing architectural services as part of the joint team.
• Aileen Sage ArchitectscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on the Chimes Street Design Excellence Competition (2024 Winner) in Zetland, Sydney. MAKO and Aileen Sage Architects worked together alongside Djinjama Cultural Design to deliver a 311-dwelling mixed-use development with childcare and retail.
• Djinjama Cultural DesigncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDjinjama Cultural Design provided cultural design consultancy for the Chimes Street project, establishing three key narratives — Cultural Waters, Kin of this Place, and Soft Country — drawn from their emerging Narratives of Country. The cultural framework informed the 'Enoughness' design principle applied across the project.
• Studio ZanardocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudio Zanardo is a recurring collaborator with MAKO on multiple large-scale projects, including the Waterloo – A Better Way masterplan, Rosemeadow Seniors, Airds Seniors, and the Intergenerational Living and Learning Campus.
• Land and Housing Corporation (LAHC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorking closely with LAHC on the Rosemeadow Seniors social housing project (45 independent living apartments). MAKO developed concept design and optimised construction techniques in direct collaboration with LAHC.
• Tony Caro ArchitectureminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTony Caro Architecture led Design and DA for the Illume residential project at Little Bay, Sydney. MAKO Architecture served as the DD (Detailed Design) and Documentation architect on the project.
• JPW ArchitecturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Waterboard Site A design excellence competition entry in Waterloo, Sydney (2019). MAKO worked with JPW Architecture on a proposal for 197 apartments on a 5,264 m2 site, consolidating residential floorspace to create superior amenity outcomes.
• Furtardo SullivanminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on the Paramatta Square Design Excellence Competition (2021) — a 45,000 sqm commercial precinct and hotel proposal in Parramatta.
• Gallagher StudiominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on the Sustainable Sydney 2050 proposal (Creating the Commons — From Waste to Space) alongside Studio Zanardo. Gallagher Studio contributed to the laneway transformation vision for approximately 57,000 lineal metres of City of Sydney neighbourhood laneways.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Aileen Sage Architects: Sydney-based architecture studio that partnered with MAKO and Djinjama Cultural Design to win the 2024 Chimes Street Design Excellence Competition. Similar boutique scale, comparable focus on residential and design excellence competition work, and shared cultural design sensibility.
• Studio Zanardo: Australian architecture studio that has been a recurring collaborator with MAKO on multiple social housing and masterplan projects (Rosemeadow Seniors, Airds Seniors, Waterloo A Better Way, Intergenerational Living and Learning Campus). Closely comparable on project typology and public-sector client base.
• Tony Caro Architecture: Sydney-based residential architecture studio that led the Illume project at Little Bay with MAKO acting as Detailed Design and Documentation architect. Comparable boutique scale and residential apartment specialisation.
• Furtardo Sullivan: Australian architecture firm that collaborated with MAKO on the Paramatta Square Design Excellence Competition (2021). Comparable size, market focus, and competition-driven go-to-market motion.
• Carter Williamson Architecture: Small Sydney-based architecture studio that co-authored the Joynton Design Excellence Competition with MAKO. Both practices operate at boutique scale with comparable project portfolios spanning multi-residential, alterations and additions, and design competition work, making them closely comparable on size, market, and delivery model.
• JPW Architecture: Australian architecture practice that co-authored the Waterboard Site A design excellence entry with MAKO in Waterloo, Sydney. Both firms compete in the same NSW design excellence competition market with overlapping residential and urban project portfolios.

Broad incumbents

• Cox Architecture: Major Australian architecture firm with a national practice spanning architecture, urban design, and interiors. Competes with MAKO in design excellence competitions and large-scale residential, hospitality, and masterplan commissions across Sydney and other Australian cities.
• Architectus: Australian architecture and urban design practice with studios across Australia and New Zealand, active in residential, masterplanning, and public sector work. Comparable urban design methodology and competition with MAKO for government and developer commissions.
• Hassell: International architecture and design practice with deep Australian roots and studios across Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, and Brisbane. Competes with MAKO on large urban design, residential, and commercial projects as a much larger incumbent with broader geographic reach.
• Bates Smart: One of Australia's largest and longest-established architecture practices, active across residential, commercial, hospitality, and urban design sectors in Sydney and beyond. Operates as a broad incumbent that competes with MAKO in design excellence competitions and major developer commissions at much larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/makoarchitecture

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Mako Architecture Pty Ltd