This project was undertaken whilst working with Studio For Architecture in New York, USA. As a competition to design a permanent site for a Muslim Youth Camp on the West Coast, I thought it'd be a great opportunity to utilise research into the tradition of geometry in Islamic architecture, how it could be used as an organising principle as well as a cultural symbol, the tradition of using earth and certain materials in hot, dry climates, passive sustainable techniques and how to shape a building so that it utilises the natural elements and resources of the environment such as the path of the sunlight, the wind direction, and water catchment. It was important to implement certain social and cultural customs and etiquette into the spatial arrangement of certain spaces such as the private lodgings, the swimming pool area (in a private area), and the Prayer Rooms (in a space that respects the division of the women's area and the men's area, and also is off the Abulation room.) 

This was a project that I very much loved helping to develop - from the early design concept sketches, to researching the history of the camp, to researching the different types of Islamic architecture in different countries, to researching bio-architecture and sustainability methods, to organising how we were going to achieve each part of the project as a team, to copy writing our submission brochure to visualising the quality of each space that we created.

As part of Kings Cross Community Gardens, I have been coordinating a team of members to work to establish and nurture an Australian Bush Food garden. With the helpful input and guidance from First Nations horticulturalist Terry Lennis and his son Damon, as well as the supply of plants from First Nation's led businesses such as Indigigrow, Shared Knowledge, and Bush to Bowl we have so far established the beginnings of a garden that includes a realm of berries, fruits, greens, tubulars and herbs. Not only are learning new recipes with these ingredients but we are also nurturing a space where people can continue to learn more about First Nations knowledge of the environment. 

Community gardens  are an important energised connective social and cultural spaces for city residents- especially ones that live in multi-dwelling buildings without their own outdoor space.  Its a space that promotes well being not just through the practicalities of growing your own food and herbs,  & understanding the environment's dynamic behaviour,  but also through promoting team work with other people who bring their own experiences and knowledge sets to the garden. And it's just a lovely space to dwell in

Ongoing investigations & speculations about the future of our cities, as the effects of our climate change make themselves known even more so. With excessive rainwater, flooding & humidity in some cities, the roof surfaces of our are in an advantageous position to host gardens and farms. Indigenous techniques like Javanese Rice Fish terraces are referred to here, and the artist Moon Kyungwon.

Creating a Design Concept and a Feasibility Study that required researching the:
1 - environmental + geotechnical conditions and local council regulations;
2 -the economy of a construction method that responded to these conditions;
3 - a construction technique strategy;
4 - and the economic return of renting out a house that required such specific construction methods, a particular budget, and specific consultation fees.

Carried out whilst working with PLP Architecture London UK (2010-2014). The proposal was to redevelop the large blocks of Victoria where buildings with very large footprints occupied. The proposal to turn it into a mixed use, residential and entertainment precinct, wanted to break the large parts by carving pedestrian dedicated routes through it to create pockets of neighborhood spaces that also connected back to the outer streets of the area.