Designing with Country: Kaunitz Yeung Architecture teams up with Sydney Uni

Kaunitz Yeung Architecture has partnered with The University of Sydney to provide an immersive on-Country learning experience for 18 Master of Architecture students as part of the Designing with Country Architectural Master’s Design Studio.

Taking place from March 21–22, 2025, in Wilcannia, this three-day field trip is a pivotal moment in architectural education, offering students the opportunity to walk Country, learn from Barkandji Elders, and engage directly with community-led design practices at the newly completed Baaka Cultural Centre.

The course, led by Kaunitz Yeung Director and Co-Founder, and University of Sydney Associate Professor of Practice David Kaunitz, alongside Kaunitz Yeung Associate and Senior Lecturer Marni Reti, is part of a three-year collaboration between The University of Sydney and Kaunitz Yeung Architecture. 

The partnership is designed to foster a new generation of architects who are deeply attuned to the principles of Country, culture, and community engagement.

Students will spend time walking on Country, listening to Barkandji Elders, and exploring the cultural narratives that shape Indigenous-built environments.

A remote teaching studio will be set up within the Baaka Cultural Centre, offering a unique experiential learning environment that places students at the intersection of architecture, culture, and Country.

"This is an extraordinary opportunity for our students to move beyond theory and immerse themselves in a learning experience guided by Country and community," says Senior Lecturer Marni Reti, a Palawa woman and Associate at Kaunitz Yeung Architecture.

"By listening to Elders, engaging with place, and understanding how cultural knowledge informs design, students will gain insights that traditional classroom settings simply cannot provide."

The Baaka Cultural Centre, designed in deep collaboration with the local Barkandji community, is set to offi cially open between April and June 2025 and will feature a cultural exhibition to further enrich the space.

The Baaka Cultural Centre is not just a building. It is a living, breathing space for cultural storytelling, intergenerational learning, and community connection.
Designed through extensive consultation with the Barkandji people, the Centre is a landmark project in culturally appropriate architecture, serving as a hub for cultural preservation, language revitalisation, and artistic expression.

"Architecture is at its most powerful when it listens. The Baaka Cultural Centre was shaped by deep collaboration with the Barkandji community, ensuring it is more than just a structure. It is a place where culture, identity, and community come together,” says Associate Professor of Practice and Kaunitz Yeung Architecture Co-Founder David Kaunitz.

“This project exemplifies how meaningful architecture can empower communities by creating spaces that reflect their stories and traditions." 

Founded in 2011 by David Kaunitz and architect Kawai Yeung, Kaunitz Yeung Architecture has received global recognition for its work in culturally appropriate and community-driven design. 

The firm has been awarded some of the world’s most prestigious architecture honors, including:

• UIA Vassilis Sgoutas Prize – The highest global architectural accolade for work with underprivileged communities.
• European Healthcare Design (EHD) Champions Award 2025 – Yutjuwala Djiwarr Aged Care project named "Champion of Champions".
• The Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture & Design + The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies Winner 2024  International Architecture Award: Community Buildings.

Image: Bakaa by Kaunitz Yeung Architecture / supplied