In a seminal initiative, multi-award-winning architecture practice Kaunitz Yeung has partnered with The University of Sydney to offer an immersive on-Country field trip that will enlighten and inform the next generation of architects.

The experience will give a select group of 18 Master of Architecture students the chance to walk on Country, learn from Barkandji Elders and directly engage with community-led design practices at Baaka Cultural Centre as part of the Designing with Country Architectural Master’s Design Studio.

Commencing 21 March 2025 in Wilcannia, NSW, the three-day excursion will explore the cultural narratives that shape Indigenous-built environments

Bridging culture and architecture through immersive learning

Led by Kaunitz Yeung, co-founder and University of Sydney associate professor of practice David Kaunitz and Kaunitz Yeung associate and senior lecturer Marni Reti, the program will foster a new generation of architects who are deeply attuned to the principles of Country, culture and community engagement. 

“Being on Country gives students an understanding that no classroom can provide. They do not just hear about Indigenous ways of knowing – they walk them, feel them and experience them firsthand,” Kaunitz says. “It challenges their assumptions about design, showing them that architecture must respond to Country not only in a physical sense but in a cultural and spiritual one as well.”

Indigenous knowledge, shared through wisdom and immersive learning experiences, offers a cultural lens to the eyes of young designers, encouraging them to recognise Country as a conscious landscape and to respect cultural narratives that align with the Barkandji mission: to preserve, protect and provide access to traditional lands and cultural water for future generations. 

By learning directly from the Barkandji Elders of Wilcannia, the program instils a deep understanding of how land, history and cultural identity shape the built environment. “Listening to Elders and engaging with community helps students learn that architecture is not just about buildings – it is about cultural continuity, storytelling and ecological stewardship,” Kaunitz notes.

The Baaka Cultural Centre: A living, breathing space for cultural storytelling

When First Nations stewards enter the mix of architecture and design, extraordinary things can happen. Communities are strengthened, languages are revitalised and artistic expression is explored. Through extensive consultation with the Barkandji people, the centre epitomises how Indigenous knowledge can inform every stage of a design process and resulting build, from material choices to spatial organisation. “The Barkandji Elders made it clear that Country is not just a setting, it’s a living entity that holds identity, knowledge and wellbeing,” Kaunitz says. “The Baaka, or Darling River, is central to that, not just as a physical resource but as a spiritual and cultural connector.

Within the centre, a remote teaching studio establishes a space, allowing students to work in a setting where architecture, culture and community intersect. Through this immersive approach, the program challenges conventional architectural education by embedding Indigenous perspectives into the curriculum. “This project exemplifies how meaningful architecture can empower communities by creating spaces that reflect their stories and traditions,” Kaunitz says.

Shaping the future of culturally responsive architecture

The partnership between Kaunitz Yeung Architecture and The University of Sydney is shaping the way our next generation of architects approaches design by stressing the importance of collaboration with Indigenous communities. The program encourages students to view architecture as a practice deeply connected to place, culture and history rather than just a technical skill. 

Kaunitz says his collaboration with The University of Sydney fosters a new generation of architects who will see Indigenous knowledge not as an ‘add-on’ but as fundamental to good design. “This collaboration has the potential to reshape the profession, embedding cultural safety, genuine engagement and Country-led design as core principles of architectural practice in Australia,” he says.

Through hands-on experience at the Baaka Cultural Centre, students are learning directly from Barkandji Elders, exploring the cultural narratives that shape Indigenous-built environments. This kind of learning goes beyond theory – it encourages architects to listen, respect and respond to the needs of the communities they are designing for.

As architecture in Australia moves towards more inclusive and sustainable approaches, initiatives like this provide a model for how meaningful collaboration can lead to better, more culturally responsive spaces that truly reflect the people and places they serve.

Kaunitz puts it like this: “Architecture in Indigenous contexts is not just about function – it is about identity, healing and legacy. Every project we undertake aims to support self-determination and create spaces that reflect and empower the communities we work with.”

Learn more about designing with Country on ADR

Images by Kaunitz Yeung Architecture