Design & Research
Embedding Culture and Country into Design
01. The Studio
Designer, and researcher. I am an architectural graduate who works across design, art, and research to embed Country, culture and community values into the built environment. I work for Country, to better how built spaces care for and work with Country.
02. Meet Samantha
I am a Wiradyuri woman who lives in Sydney and works with communities all across NSW. Over the last eight years I have developed project experience across multiple sectors including residential, commercial, cultural design, urban design, art, and civic projects.
How I work
Every project is different, but this is roughly how it goes.
01. Listen
I start by getting to know the community, the people who will use the space, and what they need it to do for them.
02. Connect with Country
Before anything is drawn, I work with Traditional Custodians, so that Country always leads the design from the start.
03. Sketch, test, repeat
I sketch early and often. Rough drawings let everyone see an idea early, test what works, and change direction while it's still easy to do.
04. Co-design with community
The people who use a space know it best. I bring them into the process, so their ideas, culture and needs end up in what gets built.
05. Deliver and give back
I see projects through to delivery and give back along the way, because reciprocity is part of the work, not an extra.
What I do
01
Design
Building design, masterplanning. Homes and public spaces that care for Country and reflect the people who use them.
02
Connecting with Country consult
Guiding projects so Country, culture and community lead the design, from the first conversation through to completion.
03
Design advisory services
Advice for teams and organisations who want their work to be culturally sensitive and grounded in community values.
04
Project management services
Keeping projects on track from brief to delivery, with experience across residential, commercial, civic and cultural work.
05
Research
Building co-design reports related to housing and infrastructure needs to develop service and infrastructure, with communities at the centre.
Projects
Stories from the work
Place - Community or partner - Year
Project Name
Project description
Place - Community or partner - Year
Project Name
Project description
Place - Community or partner - Year
Project Name
Project description
Working on a project with Country at its heart?
I’d love to hear about it.