From Lot to Liveability: Archtek’s Role in Shaping Resimax Group Communities

Key Takeaways:

› Design starts early: Archtek works alongside the Resimax Group land development team, shaping communities from planning through to home design.

› Integration reduces risk: Design, civil and construction teams work together to resolve issues before they reach site.

› Every lot is considered: Homes are matched to their block based on orientation, access, garage position and streetscape.

› Liveability begins before build: Solar access, lot depth and home placement influence comfort, efficiency and everyday living.

› Smaller lots need smarter design: Efficient layouts help maximise space as affordability pressures reshape the market.

› Design supports long-term value: Archtek helps create modern homes that are practical, visually appealing and aligned with buyer needs.

Behind every masterplanned community is a series of decisions that shape how people will live day to day. From lot orientation to streetscape and home layout, design plays a critical role well before construction begins.

At Resimax Group, that process sits within a vertically integrated model that brings together planning, design, construction and delivery under one ecosystem.

Within that model, long-term design partner Archtek, led by Director Dean Mallia, translates early planning intent into homes that are practical, efficient and aligned with how buyers want to live.

From drafting partner to integrated design lead

Dean’s relationship with Resimax Group began through his work with subsidary J & M Kheir Builders, where he provided drafting support before launching Archtek in 2016 and growing his remit across the broader development process.

“At the start, the team purely provided drafting for the designs. Now, we’re heavily involved from the initial purchase of land, how we develop that land, and how we work with efficiencies in building costs,” said Dean.

“As Resimax Group has grown, we now work with almost every department inside the business.”

That breadth of involvement allows Archtek to connect development decisions with the homes, streetscapes and delivery outcomes they will ultimately support.

Resolving problems before they reach the build stage

A key advantage of Resimax Group’s integrated model is the ability to address design, civil and construction considerations before work commences on-site.

“We can pick up problems from the very start. If we can see there may be an issue, we design that out from day one, rather than having to resolve it later in the process,” said Dean.

Road levels, drainage, lot layout and retaining structures can be considered not only for how they deliver land, but for how they shape construction methodology, material use, streetscape quality and the finished resident experience.

“It gets the civil designers thinking a bit differently. They’re not just thinking about land delivery, they’re considering what it means for the builder, the cost of delivery and the quality of the end result.”

Working within a single business also compresses decision timelines, keeping projects on programme and reducing cost exposure. On one of our sloped sites, this coordination is informing retaining wall design so level changes support both buildability and streetscape presentation.

Matching every home to its lot

Within Resimax Group communities, every home is matched to its block before packages go to market, ensuring the house and land package is treated as a single, considered design outcome rather than two separate components.

“We have multiple houses that fit a certain lot size, depending on orientation, driveway and garage position. We look at choosing the best home for that lot,” said Dean.

This planning gives each stage a more consistent built form, with homes positioned to support individual liveability and the presentation of the wider neighbourhood.

“Because we pre-design everything, you’re not going to have any inconsistencies along the street. Everything is designed to feel cohesive and connected.”

The mix of homes within each stage is also informed by market intelligence. Resimax Group’s sales team monitors buyer profiles and enquiry patterns to help determine the balance of three-bedroom, four-bedroom, single-storey and double-storey homes. That feedback can also influence façade and material selections, including the upcoming brick façade range at Eynesbury. Even if a buyer selects their own builder, Archtek’s influence in maintaining attractive streetscapes is evident in the estate’s Building Design Guidelines.

Designing for long-term liveability

A home’s performance is shaped by more than its floorplan. Rather than relying on a fixed response to each lot type, Archtek considers what adjustments will produce the strongest outcome for residents of that block, whether through lot dimensions, home placement, open space or orientation.

“We consider solar orientation closely because it has a direct impact on both liveability and long-term running costs. When living areas receive strong natural light, residents are less reliant on heating during winter,” said Dean.

“If a lot faces south, the home can cast shade across its own backyard. By increasing the depth of that space, we can improve solar access and make the outdoor area more usable,” said Dean.

For residents, this translots to a home that feels easier to live in day to day, with spaces that better support family life, entertaining and time outdoors.

Making smaller lots work harder

Across the Victorian land market, smaller lots have become an increasingly important response to affordability pressures. RPM’s April 2026 Victoria Land Market Update found townhomes and small-lot housing are accounting for a growing share of sales activity, with lots sold in the March quarter 32 square metres smaller than available stock at quarter end (RPM, 2026).

For Archtek, this broader market shift has made efficient design more important. The challenge is no longer simply fitting a home onto a smaller block, but ensuring the home still delivers the space, functionality and liveability buyers expect.

“As land sizes become smaller, you have to think differently about how the home is planned,” said Dean.

“We are constantly finding smarter ways to deliver the same level of function within a more efficient footprint.”

Archtek’s response has centred on layouts that reduce wasted space without compromising how the home operates. European laundries integrated into hallways remove the need for a dedicated laundry room, while study nooks respond to working from home without reducing bedroom count.

A practice built for continued growth

Over the past decade, Archtek has grown from a team of three in Australia to more than twenty people across Australia, the Philippines and Indonesia. Dean’s role has shifted with that growth, moving from hands-on drafting toward design leadership, systems and product development.

“My role has held on to the design piece, which is the thing I love to do. It’s now also looking at product efficiencies, systems and what’s the next step that the business can take,” said Dean.

As Resimax Group’s pipeline grows, Archtek continues to be involved from the earliest stages, helping ensure homes are shaped by the land they sit on, the people who live here and the communities they help create.

Discover more about Resimax Group’s intregrated development model here.