Already have a floor plan you love?
Already have a floor plan you love?
BYO Floor Plan was founded by director Scott Bowden in 2021 with a simple belief:
Our most successful projects are created with collaboration between the designer, builder, and a client that who brings valuable ideas of their own.
Optimising a design to make the most of the characteristics of the site just comes as standard!
An Introduction
Scott’s connection to the building industry goes back generations. His great-grandfather, and later his grand parenets, operated timberyards supplying building materials during Australia’s post-war housing boom, a family legacy that instilled an early appreciation for quality materials and the value of relationships with builders and tradespeople.
Before starting BYO Floor Plan, Scott spent years learning the industry from multiple perspectives. He worked in the timber trade while studying, completed both a Diploma of Building Design and Technology and a Bachelor of Architectural Studies, spent seven years designing projects with an established architectural practice.
Pushing for as much time on site as possible, Scott learned the how builders and tradespeople had endless amounts of knowledge that should be drawn apon earlier in the design process that what was typical of an architectural project's timeline.
Through these experiences he noticed something important: The best projects often happened when clients and builders were actively involved in shaping some of the technicalities of the design vs designing in a bubble. BYO Floor Plan was created to support exactly that kind of collaboration.
Drawing on formal architectural training and more than a decade of experience working alongside architects, Scott created BYO Floor Plan, and offers a service that incorporates the best of the industry tradition, but with a focus on design collaboration and respect for everyone's experience and ideas.
Our Story
Inspired by family legacy
Today, Scott and his team work with construction professionals and small business owners who want to be involved in the design process, or at least have their ideas heard!
Discuss > Investigate > Workshop > Refine
Our circular process, where your and the builder's involvement is welcomed and appreciated
AWARDS & ACHIEVEMENTS
Received by our director, Scott Bowden
2025: BDAA National Commendation - Public Building
Kurrawa Surf Club Balcony and Cafe - Design by BYO Floor Plan
2024: BDAA Regional Commendation - New build $1.0-1.5M
Tallebudgera Homestead - Design by BYO Floor Plan
2018: CASF National Award - Best use of Corian
Tweed Terrace Residence (Egg House) accepted in Japan on behalf of Raunik Design Group
Scott was flown to Japan to make a case study presentation at the CASF factory in Toyama
2012: Bond University - Top of Class
Structural Engineering
2012: Bond University - Top of Class
Measurement 1 (Quantity Surveying)
2010: Bond University - Scholarship
Dean’s Scholarship 40% for Bachelor of Architectural Studies
awarded based on design portfolio & prior industry experience
Sidenote: Scott won 3 of 3 Lego building competitions as a child!
Our Memberships and Affliations
Proud Member
& award winner
Our Trusted Mortgage Broker
Our license is type
Build Design - Open
Listed Building Designer
in their exclusive
'Undercover Army'
We pay to attend
their events
Our Trusted Insurance Broker
for Professional Indemnity
& Public Liability
Our clients receive 20% off
& a FREE design consultation
Our clients receive 20% off
Proud Member
Industry Partner
Proud Member
Community Member
Our Foundation Story
Where did the idea to break the traditional architect's model come from?
Building Designer - 'OPEN' License!
Unrestricted building types in QLD
Yes that's right, our license with the QBCC permits us to design buildings of any height or size, whether they be a new tower on the Gold Coast skyline, a surf club with restaurant facilities, office building, sports hall, childcare centre or even egg shaped house in Duranbah built from solid concrete - all of which our director has real world experience designing.
Can all building designers do this?
No. There are only a handful of designers in our region with this license class. Most building designers are limited to houses and townhouses (Building Design Low-rise) with some being able to do buildings of up 3 storeys + basement (Building Design Med-rise),
How did we get this license type?
To obtain the unrestricted 'Open' class of license, designers must hold a Bachelor of Architecture and prove real world project experience designing and documenting an array of complex building types. Our director achieved this experience by working 7 years at a medium sized architectural firm where he was given the opportunities to lead significant projects.
Does this matter if I'm only building a house?
If your project will employ more sophisticated construction systems or is looking for relaxations to council regulations and building codes it might. Designers that don't have an architectural background rarely have been employed by successful architectural firms which means they could have little to no experience in pushing the boundaries for clients.
It takes a client willing to invest time and money in professionals to obtain an outstanding result, others didn't think was possible, and that's what our director has spent his career doing.
For Projects designed before BYO Floor Plan started, these were created at
Raunik Design Group with Frank Raunik being the firm's principal architect
(page coming soon)
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