Durham Region
Architect in Whitby
Your Whitby property should support the way you live or work today and leave room for what comes next. OAN helps you plan additions, renovations and business spaces with a clear architectural brief, a practical layout and attention to the surrounding neighbourhood.
Discuss your project01A sense of place
Let the existing place guide the next chapter
Whitby identifies heritage conservation districts in Brooklin and Werden's Plan Neighbourhood downtown. Their plans guide change in different settings. For an addition, storefront or exterior alteration, it is useful to establish the property's status and the relevant guidance before deciding what the new work should look like.
Understand the particular district
Brooklin and Werden's Plan Neighbourhood have their own histories and guidance. Check the relevant district information and confirm current requirements with Town staff. An architectural response should relate to the property and street, rather than use a general heritage style without that context.
Show the relationship between old and new
Whitby's heritage permit guidance calls for drawings, site plans, photographs and material information as appropriate to the work. These are useful design tools too. They help explain the proposed scale, the connection to the original building and what will be retained.
Make useful interiors part of the conservation discussion
A building needs to work for the people using it. Identify improvements to circulation, daylight and support space while understanding which features require care. For a business, include the customer entrance and sign concept so the architectural proposal considers the whole experience.
02Designed around you
What are you planning in Whitby?
Home additions
Create more useful family space with a thoughtful connection to the original house, preserving comfortable circulation and a considered relationship to the yard.
Older-home renovations
Rework an existing interior around modern routines while developing exterior changes with attention to the property's character and applicable heritage guidance.
Downtown and village businesses
Plan a clear customer route, efficient staff space and a compatible storefront for premises in established commercial settings, including Brooklin and Downtown Whitby.
03A clear way forward
Turn your ideas into a considered design.
You do not need to arrive with all the answers. We start with what you want to achieve, then shape the architectural work around your property and priorities.
- 01 / 03
Tell us what needs to work better
Share how you will use the space, your budget priorities and your timing. Existing drawings, a survey and site photographs help us understand the starting point.
- 02 / 03
Explore the design decisions
We develop the layout and building form around your brief. Site conditions and applicable requirements help shape the options before the detail grows.
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Develop coordinated drawings
Once the direction is agreed, we develop the architectural drawings within the agreed scope and coordinate with the consultants your project needs.
Before you begin
Questions about building in Whitby
How do I know which Whitby heritage guidance applies?
Start with the address and the Town's Heritage Register and district information. A property may be individually designated or within a district. Confirm its status and the proposed scope with heritage staff before relying on a plan from a different part of town.
What makes a useful first brief for an older Whitby home?
Explain the rooms that are difficult to use, what you value about the house and the changes you would like to make. Add photographs and any existing drawings. Those details help develop a renovation that improves daily life while respecting the building's character.
Useful local resources
These official pages can help you prepare for a conversation. The requirements for your address and proposed work should be confirmed before the design is finalized.
- Review district guidance (opens in a new tab)
Explore the Brooklin and Werden's Plan Neighbourhood district plans and current review information.
- Read heritage permit information (opens in a new tab)
Find the application information and supporting drawings used to explain proposed changes.
Planning a project in Whitby?
Share your Whitby address and what you want to improve. We can help develop an architectural direction that connects everyday function with the character of the property.