Working in alignment with the Deputy Vice Chancellor Indigenous Strategies and Services Walanga Design Principles, the Gadigal Centre of Excellence studio provides a place to celebrate the richness of Indigenous education, research, engagement and placemaking.

The speculative studio proposition provides opportunities for students to engage with First Nations cultural practices in the context of Country and the university as an institution of learning.

This exciting intensive semester long project will explore Indigenous knowledge systems to share with 200 students at the third year undergraduate level.

From the Heart was an academic studio project that examined the intersection of architecture and design with cultural, social, economic, political, and environmental considerations, focusing on a site located on Gadigal Land at Holden Street, Redfern NSW. 

The project title was drawn from the Uluru Statement From The Heart (2017), which resulted from a gathering of First Nations representatives and outlined three principal themes: Voice, Treaty, and Truth. These themes were examined comprehensively throughout the duration of the studio.

The studio collaborated with the Koori Lighthouse Youth Organisation Ltd (KLYO), whose representative, Mr Shane Phillips, who served as the client for this initiative. 

The proposed redevelopment aimed to provide affordable housing for First Nations Australians, including accommodation designed for small families and students. 

With a 400sqm site, the design accommodated a building of around seven storeys, the reinstatement of a chapel and the development of a drop-in centre for local youth.

The studio provided impactful opportunities to work with local community representatives on one of Indigenous Australia’s most iconic inner city locations to enact new understandings of architecture, culture and place.

University of Sydney School of Architecture, Design and Planning students embarked on an inspiring overseas adventure as part of the HOME: Country as Creative Process course. 

Invited students participated in a special study trip to Italy, exploring the Venice Biennale’s 19th International Architecture Exhibition and the Australia Pavilion Home exhibition, with additional excursions to iconic sites in Venice, Verona, and Vicenza.

The School of Architecture, Design and Planning offered 20 students who completed HOME: Country as Creative Process the chance to enhance their learning with real-world immersion. This study tour included exclusive access to the renowned Venice Architecture Biennale Australia Pavilion Home exhibition with Creative Director Dr Michael Mossman, showcasing their Living Belongings on a global stage. 

A generous $3,000 bursary assisted with travel arrangement, making the experience accessible and rewarding. Participants gained invaluable insights, engaged with international student peer groups, and explored historic cities rich in architectural heritage, such as Verona and Vicenza. This opportunity enacted academic enrichment and personal growth, cultural discovery, and lasting connections within the world of architecture and design.

Masters design studio foregrounds designing with Country and community to amplify culture. This studio builds on Kaunitz Yeung Architecture’s extensive experience working in remote and regional locations with First Nations communities, which has facilitated a deep understanding of place and relationships with people and organisations. Particularly the ongoing relationship with community in Wilcannia following the completion of two projects in Wilcannia.

Marni Reti and David Kaunitz explored how the mainstream Australian architectural sphere can learn from Indigenous knowledge keeping and traditional practices to create a richer Australian architectural vernacular; rooted in Country, culture and community.

Working at an architectural and urban planning scale, the studio placed Country, culture, and community at the centre of the student’s designs. Students developed strategies and interventions to aid the evolution of Wilcannia into a place that supports the thriving multicultural community.

The Master of Design studio Sharing Country addresses the vital need for design students to understand and respectfully engage with Aboriginal Culture, connection to Country, and Indigenous knowledge systems. Situated on Gadigal Country, the studio recognizes the Wilkinson Building and its surroundings as rich with ecological, cultural, and spiritual knowledge spanning over 65,000 years of continuous connection.

Led by Dr Beau de Belle, the studio challenged students to explore how interaction design can introduce future students and staff to the concepts and importance of Acknowledging Aboriginal Country, Culture and Community. Through interactive media including video, APP design, gamification and VR/AR storytelling, students developed prototypes and frameworks that foster respectful relationships with Country from the outset of the student academic journey in Australia and on Gadigal Country.

The studio placed Indigenous knowledge and protocols at the centre of student practice through workshops with Indigenous knowledge sharing, site visits and sensory mapping of the Wilkinson area, and co-design sessions with other students and staff.

The studio provided transformative opportunities for international students, predominantly from mainland China, to connect with Aboriginal people, Culture, and Country. All thirty students who completed the studio emerged with confidence in discussing, sharing, and connecting with Indigenous concepts across Gadigal Country, demonstrating how design education can effectively empower students to become informed ambassadors for respectful engagement with the knowledge systems that continue to shape this place.