Architects Without Frontiers

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Architects without Frontiers (AWF) works to make innovative design accessible to vulnerable communiti

30/09/2026

AWF Network Partner Jackson Clements Burrows (JCB) has developed concept designs for a new distributed refuge facility for a family violence service somewhere in Australia.

(For sensible security reasons we can’t tell you who or where.)

Supported by pro bono planning consultancy from Tract and cost planning by Slattery, this project will provide shelter for women and children escaping domestic and family violence.

16/09/2026

Kids at Tennant Creek Primary School face challenges that make school attendance tough.

The town is facing a housing crisis, with a large proportion of the community living in town camps. Tennant Creek represents 2.4% of the total NT population but accounts for 4.6% of its homeless population, with rates of repeat homelessness up to 33.3%. Many kids attend school without breakfast, and struggle to sit in classrooms through the school day.

Staff and community members at Tennant Creek Primary School identified that many students learn best through movement, doing, and connection to Country. They approached AWF and Network Partner NBRS to develop a sheltered outdoor learning space to use as an open-air classroom, a welcoming space for the community, and a safe area for growing, preparing and eating healthy food.

NBRS is developing a beautiful all-weather space for the school that draws on the colours, materials and stories of the area. This is expected to contribute to improved attendance, participation, and overall engagement in school life.

09/09/2026

What is an Architects Without Frontiers (AWF) Network Partner?

AWF Network Partners are a community of 14 socially conscious Australian design firms who support the key design and delivery of Architect Without Frontiers projects. They provide design and built environment expertise on a pro bono basis and fund AWF’s operations through providing annual financial support.

The AWF Network includes architects, landscape architects, urban
planners, engineers and quantity surveyors. All AWF Network partners are highly qualified professional firms with extensive project portfolios in Australia and overseas.

AWF’s current Network Partners are:
AJC, ARCH, Breathe, DC Partnership, HGA Studio, Hassell, Hayball, JCB, NBRS, Reeves Envico, SJB, Studio.SC, Tract and Webber Design.

Representatives of Melbourne’s Network Partners including Tract, Hassell, Hayball, Webber Design, Reeves Envico, SJB, HGA Studio, JCB and Slattery Australia met AWF Directors, staff and ambassadors at Tract’s offices in Melbourne this week to celebrate AWF’s 2026 projects and learn about AWF’s plans for 2027 and beyond.

01/09/2026

AWF Network Partners HGA Studio and Tract Consultants are working with a regional Indigenous community in central Queensland to deliver a Healing and Transition facility that will provide dignified accommodation for women and children escaping domestic and family violence and a secure environment for vulnerable people moving in and out of community.

The project client, Central Queensland Indigenous Development, coordinates and delivers services in child safety, community support, family support, alcohol and other drugs services, and economic development projects over a footprint larger than the state of Victoria.

HGA Studio conducted on-Country consultations with service delivery experts, traditional owners, elders and passionate community members. Together, they developed a concept design locating secure accommodation, workshop facilities, consulting rooms, offices and community spaces around a sheltered central courtyard featuring local materials and space for art, shared cooking and learning about culture and Country.

With planning advice provided by Tract Consultants and the support of a proactive, articulate and driven community, this project is on track to change lives for women and children in remote Australia.

10/04/2025

Architects Without Frontiers welcomes our newest ambassador, Bruno Charlesworth.

AWF’s ambassadors help us to look beyond our normal sphere and connect with people with shared aims and values in new places, communities and industries.

Thanks to Bruno’s breadth of experience as a creator, collaborator and communicator, we hope to reach out, seek support and learn from a wider and more diverse range of thinkers, makers and doers in a big world.

Bruno practiced as a lawyer for more than 25 years, representing creative talent in Australia and internationally. Along with his extensive representation of major musical artists, he worked with emerging directors and producers to arrange funding, and distribution for feature films in Australia and Internationally. From 1995 his practice diversified into Town Planning, Construction Financing and Property Development.

Bruno’s subsequent partnership with Nonda Katsalidis in Property Developer Republica shaped some of the most iconic silhouettes on Melbourne’s skyline including the Abinger Street silos in Richmond, Republic Tower, HM@S Lonsdale, Hero Apartments and Eureka Tower.

Bruno also produced or executive produced a substantial number of films including box office hits such as ‘The Craic’, ‘Russian Doll’ and ‘Ladies in Black’ as well as festival darlings ‘Love and Other Catastrophes’, ‘Not Quite Hollywood’, ‘Bad Girl”and ‘Good Vibrations’. Most recently he produced 1970’s tent boxing drama ‘Kid Snow’, shot in Kalgoorlie, released widely in September 2024.

AWF’s community of Partners, clients, friends, benefactors continues to grow, and our ambassadors help us work together with them all.

18/02/2025

Take a sneak peek at some images from AWF Network Partner AJC’s design and fundraising package for upcoming Stage 2 works at the Cakaudrove Women’s Resource Centre in Vanua Levu, Fiji.

The package contains concept designs by AJC, landscape design by AWF Network Partner Tract, and a project cost plan by quantity surveyor Slattery Australia.

Following the success of the Stage 1 Great Hall, Soqosoqo Vakamarama Taukei ni Cakaudrove (the Society for Indigenous Women of the Cakaudrove Region) approached Architects Without Frontiers to help develop a costed proposal for Stage 2 they can use for community fundraising and grant applications.

The Stage 2 works add classrooms, a commercial teaching kitchen, office space, native plant nursery, ceremonial ground and lovo earth oven to a campus that already helps more than 600 indigenous Fijian women per year with leadership empowerment programs, business development and training, vocational skill-building, family crisis support and disaster resilience.

09/02/2025

AWF Network Partner HGA Studio .architects has picked up two gongs and a commendation in the 2025 NSW Regional Architecture Awards for three beautiful projects:

Hotel Marvell - Commercial Architecture Award
Bonito – Interior Architecture Award
Brahminy House – Residential Architecture – Houses (New) Commendation

HGA Studio are AWF’s first regional Network Partner; we’re thrilled to have worked with them on Hillside Health Centre in Belize and the Muanivatu Trails community-owned tourism project in Fiji.

Image 1: Hotel Marvell (Photo - David Chatfield)
Image 2: Hotel Marvell (Photo - David Chatfield)
Image 3: Bonito (Photo - David Chatfield)
Image 3: Brahminy House (Photo - David Chatfield) .architects

04/12/2024

Network Partners, friends, clients and supporters celebrated ARCH joining the AWF Network Partner community at an event overlooking Brisbane’s King George Square last Thursday.

MC’d by Neil Carter (Sustainability Leader, ARCH), hosted by David Rose (Principal Architect & Chairperson, ARCH) and welcomed by Turrbal Elder and Law-woman, Songwoman Maroochy, the event featured a cross section of beautiful and impactful projects across Australia, the Pacific, Asia, West Africa and the Middle East.

Presenters included:
Professor Esther Charlesworth AM (Founding Director, AWF)
Geoff Marsdon (Executive General Manager, Bondor Metecno)
Ron Bridgefoot (Principal Architect, ARCH)
Maricel Marbus (Architect, ARCH)
Scott Chapple (Principal Architect, ARCH)

Image 2: Eric Tweedale Stadium, ARCH
Image 3: Hanna Neumann Building, ARCH

28/11/2024

We’re very excited to announce our latest Network Partner, ARCH.

Previously known as Suters Architects, ARCH has been designing inspirational places in Australia and internationally since 1958.

ARCH’s architectural, interior design and specialist clinical planning work covers hospitals, learning places, seniors living, sport and leisure, hospitality, residential, workplace, science, industry and civic facilities. They’re dedicated to connecting, nurturing, and sustaining communities through their projects

Their values of designing with people, place, planet and purpose make ARCH a great fit as an Architects Without Frontiers Network Partner. We look forward to working with them on exciting new projects.

26/11/2024

Three AWF Network Partners have projects shortlisted in the 2024 Victorian Premier’s Design Awards:

, together with Kerstin Thompson Architects for The Round, Nunawading;
, together with NH Architecture, Bird de la Coeur Architects & Openwork for the Tarakan Street Social and Affordable Housing;
, together with Balmain and Co, Nightingale Housing & MABT.C.L for Nightingale Preston;
, together with Milieu Property, Inner North Carpentry, Acre & Perimeter Landscaping, for Park Street.

📷 Images
The Round, Nunawading -
Tarakan Street Social and Affordable Housing –
Nightingale Preston –
Park Street – .xyz

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Swanston Street
Melbourne, VIC
3000

Website

http://www.architectswithoutfrontiers.com.au/, https://linktr.ee/architectswithoutfrontiers

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