




Michael Bell Architects is a leading residential and heritage architecture firm serving Warren and the NSW Central West. With 25+ years of experience, we design award-winning, flood-resilient homes and restorations that celebrate the Macquarie River landscape and Warren’s pastoral heritage, while expertly meeting all local planning, heritage, and floodplain regulations.
As a multi-award-winning architecture firm, Michael Bell Architects has earned Warren’s trust for over 25 years. We specialise in restoring heritage-listed cottages, adapting historic homesteads, and designing flood-resilient rural homes. Our “Traditional Homestead, Warren” project showcases our expertise, regional knowledge, and commitment to quality rural architecture.
For over 25 years, Michael Bell Architects has specialised in designing exceptional homes that master the climate of Warren and the Central West. Our expertise lies in creating rural properties that offer a genuine sanctuary from the searing heat and fine dust of the black soil plains. Our designs are a direct climatic response, using proven passive principles to optimize the building envelope for superior thermal performance. This focus guarantees year-round comfort and significantly lower energy costs, making country living sustainable and enjoyable.
Each project is deeply informed by the region’s geography, drawing from the architectural language of the classic station homestead and historic Pisé cottages. We reinterpret these timeless forms for modern life. Deep, shaded verandahs become essential outdoor rooms, while high ceilings promote natural air circulation, reducing reliance on air conditioning. Our material palette is carefully curated for resilience and regional character, using durable corrugated steel, textured recycled brick, and sustainable timbers that connect each home to the surrounding Macquarie River landscape.
Our ability to fuse heritage authenticity with modern performance is formally recognized by our prestigious National Trust NSW Award for heritage conservation. This, alongside endorsements from publications like The Wall Street Journal and Australian Country Magazine, solidifies our authority in the field. This industry validation confirms that we are the region’s trusted architects for creating homes with enduring quality, genuine character, and a profound connection to the Warren landscape.
Our prestigious National Trust NSW Award for heritage conservation is formal recognition of our expertise in the custodianship and adaptive reuse of significant properties. This honour validates our ability to sensitively restore and reimagine important Central West homes, from historic Pisé cottages in Warren’s town centre to grand Federation station homesteads, ensuring they retain their historical soul while meeting the demands of contemporary country life.
Preserve Warren’s historical charm with our expert restorations, blending timeless heritage with the functionality of modern living.
From family homes to luxury additions, our designs enhance life style while aligning with Warren’s architectural character.
We prioritise Eco-friendly materials and energy efficiency, designing sustainable, forward-thinking homes for Sydney’s urban environment.
Your home begins with a clear understanding of your vision, your land, and your lifestyle. At Michael Bell Architects, we bring over 25 years of experience working across Warren and the Central West. Our process starts on-site, studying orientation, breezes, soil conditions, and the unique landscape of the Macquarie River region. Every design is tailored to the site and grounded in functional, climate-responsive architecture.
We manage the entire planning process with a high level of technical skill and local knowledge. Our team prepares detailed Development Applications that align with Warren Shire Council’s regulations, including flood planning levels, bushfire constraints, heritage overlays, and zoning requirements. By working closely with local authorities and consultants, we reduce delays and improve approval certainty.
Throughout construction, we remain fully involved. We coordinate with skilled regional builders who understand the demands of building on reactive black soils and in flood-sensitive areas. Through clear documentation, contract management, and site supervision, we ensure your home is built with quality, accuracy, and enduring value.
Master Builder
It has been my pleasure to work with Michael Bell and his office over the past 20 years. He has a unique sensitivity to clients, tradesmen and building codes which culminates in the delivery of an outstanding finished residence. While exercising his endless creativity he has a keen sense for practical solutions on and off site which results in much loved homes which are comfortable to live in, and his commercial projects get praise and recognition from all his clients.
“We couldn’t be happier with what Michael and Michele have done,” Linda adds. “In my entire life I never dreamed I would have a home like I do now. The difference that they have made to my functionality is unbelievable. When you live at work, it can be difficult to switch off. But now I can go into the house and look around and know that I have chosen every single thing in it, I feel such a sense of refuge and distance from the business. It’s still right there on the doorstep, but it feels much more removed.”
Principal Architect
Michael has an enthusiastic interest and modern approach to classic design, providing his clients with homes to suit their personalities, family, and lifestyles. He has a deep understanding of how beautifully articulated buildings enrich the lives of current and future owners. With over 30 years’ experience in the high-end residential sector in both Town and Country areas, many people have witnessed their properties transformed into stunningly beautiful and extremely high value investments. Hailing from rural Victoria, Michael's background has instilled in him a resourceful mindset, infusing his approach to both life and work with a pragmatic sensibility. Every client’s needs are different, and this individuality is the cornerstone of the bespoke designs he conceives for them. Michael's passion for exploring less-travelled parts of the world has gifted him with a profound appreciation for a diverse range of architectural styles and their charming idiosyncrasies. Beyond his professional life, he finds joy in riding the waves as an avid surfer and actively participates in grassroots motorsport, making him a multifaceted creative soul.
B Arch, UTS. Reg Arch NSW 6335 Vic 6492
Michele's career spanning three decades, combines the realms of business management and design, delivering invaluable benefits to countless clients. Her journey with MBA, has allowed her to cultivate an extensive knowledge of the design and architecture industry. In her current role as General Manager, Michele orchestrates the seamless operation of MBA day to day. With a strong understanding of our clients' needs, she serves as an exceptional liaison across all facets of our organization. Michele's ability to navigate between financial matters and design solutions, staff necessities, and the meticulous assessment of builder's claims (just to name a few) exemplifies her multifaceted expertise, making her an indispensable asset to MBA.
Assoc Dip Business Management, Dip Interior Design
General Manager
If you’re ready for an initial complimentary consultation with Michael, please book a date and time convenient below.
Initial consultations are limited to 30 mins at no charge, via video call or face to face in our Ultimo studio. If you would like Michael to attend your site, he would be pleased to do so, however an hourly rate fee will be charged.
Michael Bell Architects is known for delivering bespoke residential designs that respect Warren’s heritage, coastal environment, and community values. With over 25 years of experience in high-end residential architecture, we specialise in homes that balance timeless design with modern functionality.
Yes. We have extensive experience with Woollahra Council’s Local Environmental Plan (LEP), Heritage Conservation Areas, foreshore building lines, and view-sharing policies. We manage the entire approval process, ensuring your project meets local planning controls.
Absolutely. We specialise in sensitive restoration of Federation homes, Art Deco residences, and heritage-listed properties within Warren’s conservation areas. Our expertise ensures heritage integrity is preserved while enhancing comfort and modern living standards.
Our designs incorporate passive solar principles, water efficiency, local material selection, and resilient building methods suited to Warren’s marine climate. Sustainability is embedded in both heritage restorations and new contemporary homes.
Yes. As luxury architects Sydney residents trust, we create contemporary homes that respect the scale, rhythm, and material palette of Warren’s streetscapes while offering modern living spaces designed for coastal lifestyles.
We provide end-to-end services from initial concept design, Woollahra Council approvals, detailed documentation, contractor coordination, through to construction oversight. Our client-centred process ensures a smooth journey from start to finish.
We specialise in bespoke homes, heritage restorations, dual occupancy developments, and contemporary infill housing tailored to Warren’s unique topography, planning regulations, and harbourside setting.
Our design strategies carefully consider neighbouring views and council view-sharing principles. We optimise building forms, setbacks, and heights to achieve desirable outlooks while maintaining planning compliance.
Our deep local knowledge of Warren, combined with a legacy of award-winning design, personal attention to every client, and a strong understanding of heritage, coastal design, and council regulations, makes us a trusted architectural partner in the Eastern Suburbs.
Yes. Our site-responsive designs address steep slopes, flood-prone areas, salt exposure, and harbourfront challenges. We select materials and building techniques suited to Warren’s coastal environment for longevity and performance.
Yes. We prepare comprehensive Heritage Impact Statements (HIS) as part of development applications, ensuring all works align with Woollahra Council’s heritage guidelines and contribute positively to the local character.
Timelines vary by project scope. Typically, design and approval stages take 3–6 months, while construction ranges from 6–12 months. We provide realistic timeframes and manage every phase to keep your project on track.
Yes. Michael Bell Architects Sydney specialises in luxury residences, combining bespoke design with high-quality materials, refined detailing, and thoughtful spatial planning that enhances Warren’s premium lifestyle.
We prioritise transparent communication and collaborative design, ensuring your vision is reflected in every aspect of the project. Our tailored approach delivers homes that are both highly personal and contextually sensitive.
With a proven track record, expertise in heritage and coastal architecture, and a personalised approach to each project, Michael Bell Architects is trusted by Warren homeowners seeking high-quality, contextually responsive, and enduring residential design.