Delia Teschendorff Architecture and Urban Design Studio was founded in 2009 by Delia Teschendorff. An award-winning architecture, interiors and urban design practice located in North Melbourne, DTA undertakes a range of project scales, including single homes, multi-residential projects, hospitality, commercial buildings and master planning.

Delia’s approach to each individual project is unique, as each client brief and site present different challenges and opportunities. Research is an important component of the design process at DTA. A projects inspiration may be drawn from history, a deeper investigation of site or broader influences including art, music, and literature. Each project presents the opportunity to research materials and new construction methods, exploring the most cost effective, environmentally sustainable solutions and climate responsive design. This approach ensures the creation of architecture that is enduring, and a timeless and unique experience of place for the user and the buildings position in the greater urban fabric.

Providing a combination of intuitive design intelligence and expertise, Delia oversees the creative direction on every project. Delia has brought together a skilled team to ensure efficient and carefully considered project delivery for each project stage, from a project’s initiation to completion. Delia realises, through her years of industry experience, that a project’s success requires a successful collaboration between the client, stakeholders, the contractor, and the architect. This collaborative approach ensures that projects run smoothly and are delivered on time and on budget.

Services

  • Concept Design and Design Development

  • Planning Applications, approvals through local authorities, VCAT or BAB approvals

  • Heritage Design and Heritage permit approvals

  • Preparation of Construction Drawings and Coordinating Consultants

  • Tenders and Builder Selection

  • Contract Administration (Overseeing the construction phase, managing the contract between client and builder)

  • Post Occupancy Services

  • Environmentally Sustainable Design (ESD)

  • Master Planning and Feasibility Studies

  • Presentation and Visualisation, models, 3D computer rendering

  • Dr Delia Teschendorff | Principal

    Registered Architect ARBV (16052)
    BArch (Honours with Distinction) RMIT University
    PhD (Architecture) Monash University
    Australian Institute of Architects (AIA) Fellow (FRAIA)

    An award-winning architect with a diverse career spanning over 20 years, Delia has worked in Los Angeles, USA for Narduli Grinstein Architects and in both Los Angeles and Berlin for renowned architect Daniel Libeskind. Prior to establishing her own practice, she worked with several leading design practices in Melbourne. Delia’s experience has encompassed a broad range of architectural projects, including international and local design competitions, urban design, resort design, institutional, education and residential projects.

    Delia is actively involved with the broader architecture profession, including teaching, invited talks, jury panels and professional appointments. She has taught design and construction studios at Swinburne University, RMIT University and Monash University and has recently been appointed the role of Lecturer in Architectural Design, Creative Practitioner at Melbourne School of Design, Melbourne University. She has been an examiner for the ARBV and has been involved in the development of Acumen Practice Notes for the AIA. Her work has featured in the Robin Boyd Open Day Series, and more recently in The Naked Architect Series, organised by ArchiTeam and Open House Melbourne.

    Delia was a Director at ArchiTeam, a cooperative for Australian Architects working in small, medium, and emerging practices, for four years from 2021 to 2024. She is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Architects (AIA) and was a Victorian Chapter Councillor for two years from 2009. Delia has been a Juror for the ArchiTeam Awards and Victorian AIA awards program and was the recipient of the Architects Registration Board of Victoria Architectural Services Award for 2016.

    Delia was a creative director for the ArchiTeam 2023 Conference “Ways of Working, Strength in Small Practice” with colleagues Ross Brewin and Adam Newman, which was held as a live event at the Melbourne Museum in May 2023.

    Research

    Committed to the belief that ‘design thinking’ can improve our built environment, Delia recently completed a design research PhD at Monash University (Architecture), supported by a Monash University Graduate Research Scholarship. Titled, ‘Site Thinking in the Suburbs’, her design research investigated new design principles and design tools for housing subdivisions in the fringe areas of Melbourne. Offering an architect’s contribution to better subdivision design, the hope is that the outcomes of this research may assist land developers, local councils, and government policy makers on several levels; to adopt alternative approaches to greenfield subdivision in growth areas that have a more meaningful engagement with place and greater Traditional Owner engagement, and to consider new principles for subdivision design that enable more diverse housing options, greater densification and create greater areas for biodiversity and land regeneration.

  • Winner
    Boroondara Urban Design Awards 2025
    Residential Single Dwelling Category
    Courtyard Garden House

    Shortlist
    AIA Victorian Chapter Awards 2023
    Residential Architecture, Houses (New)
    Courtyard Garden House

    Winner
    ARBV Architectural Services Award 2016

    Finalist
    Australian Timber Design Awards 2016
    Rhythm House

    Commendation
    AIA Victorian Chapter Awards 2015
    Residential Architecture, Houses (New)
    Bridge House 2

    Commendation
    Houses awards 2015
    New House under 200m2
    Bridge House 2

    Commendation
    ArchiTeam Awards 2015, Residential (New)
    Bridge House 2

    Finalist
    Australian Timber Design Awards 2013
    Katherine’s Verandah

    Finalist
    Venice Biennale Distasio Competition 2008

    Shortlist
    AIA Victorian Chapter Awards 2007
    Residential Architecture - Houses (Alterations and Additions)
    Kensington House

    Winner
    Australian Timber Design Awards 2006
    Residential Class1
    Kensington House

  • 2026
    Thought Leadership Talks _ OVGA (Office of the Victorian Government Architect) A new design approach to housing subdivision practice in growth areas _ Dr Delia Teschendorff

    2023
    Creative Director of ArchiTeam Conference 2023, “Ways of Working, Strength in Small Practice” (with Ross Brewin, Adam Newman)

    2022
    MTALKS, MPAVILION ArchiTeam: Meet the Winners (Chaired by Dr Delia Teschendorff and Fooi-Ling Khoo)

    2020
    NAM #33, Friday Isolation Talks_ “Martini Dry with Delia Teschendorff”

    2019
    The Naked Architect_Series 3 E4, Open House Melbourne

    2019
    Lecture, “Site Thinking: A new design approach to housing subdivision practice”, Presented at Location, Relationships and Practice: The Con/servare Melbourne Forum 2019 (Parkville, University of Melbourne)

    2019
    Lecture, “Site Thinking: A new design approach to housing subdivision practice”, Presented to the Project Advisory Group for “Early delivery of Equitable and Healthy transport options in new Suburbs” (Melbourne, RMIT University)

    2017
    Real Lecture Series, Deakin University, “Designing for Context: The Physical and the Metaphysical” (Geelong, Deakin University)

    2016
    Process Loop, Emerging Architects Forum, “Collaboration”

    2015
    Robin Boyd Foundation, Open Day, “Redesigning the family home”

    2015
    NAM #16, Bridge House 2

  • Delia Teschendorff, ‘Truganina Community Centre by Jasmax’, Architecture Au, 30 Oct 2025

    Nikita Bhopti, “Getting off the cruise ship: Architeam conference 2023”, Architecture AU, 25 May 2023

    Amy Sullivan, “Now and Then”, Green Magazine, Issue 91, p.p 60-66, May 2023

    Jenny Brown, “Powering up: Victoria’s Winning Women Architects”, Domain, Nov 2016

    Michael Smith, “Women leading the way in 2016”, The Red and Black Architect, Blog, 08 March 2016

    Maitiu Ward, “Bridge House 2”, Houses Magazine, Issue 107, p.p 104-106

    Contributor, “Who are the Women of Victorian Architecture?”, Architect Victoria, Summer 2013, p.p 13

    Editorial, ‘Reconciliation’, Architect Victoria, Winter 2010

    Delia Teschendorff, ’Pioneer Museum Plaza’ by NMBW in Landscape Architecture, No 120, November 2008, p.p 56-58

    Dimity Reed, ‘Pools of Thought’, in M Magazine, The Sunday Age, October 7, 2007, p.p 22

    Ann Pilmer, ‘Best Laid Floor Plans’, in Domain, The Sunday Age, July 8, 2007, p.p Cover and p.p 4