Samantha Rich awarded ARB medal; catch up on her webinar
Published on the 18 August 2023
From left to right: Grace Mclean (UON), Jeffrey Lui (USYD), Samantha Rich (UNSW), Martin Wzros (UTS), Christopher Teo (WSU). Credit: ARB NSW.
Wiradjuri housing researcher and YN team member Samantha Rich has been awarded the 2023 Architect’s Medallion by the NSW Architects Registration Board (ARB). The medallion is given annually to a NSW Masters of Architecture (MArch) graduate who ‘has achieved distinction both in a particular subject area at the final level and generally throughout the two years of the course,’ according to the NSW ARB.
For her MArch project, Gamil dhuningarraay baa/Place of older person: Aging in place in Walgett, Reciprocity of care, Samantha worked with the Dharriwaa Elders Group in Walgett to design culturally-led housing for Elders that meets community needs and priorities around connection to family, culture and Country. YN is now hoping to secure funding to have this innovative model of Elders housing built in Walgett.
Samantha joined Ruth McCausland in conversation about her housing research, reflecting on her experience of working with the Dharriwaa Elders Group and her hopes for the future of the project.
In this webinar, join Yuwaya Ngarra-li UNSW Director Ruth McCausland in conversation with Wiradjuri building designer and Masters of Architecture graduate Samantha Rich.
Samantha discussed the model of Elders housing she worked closely with the Dharriwaa Elders Group to design that aims to meet community needs and priorities around connection to family, culture and Country. For her Masters project, Gamil dhuningarraay baa/Place of older person: Aging in place in Walgett, Reciprocity of care, Sam drew on a previous qualitative research study that investigated the barriers and enablers to ageing well for Aboriginal people in Walgett, which found housing was an urgent unmet need.
The housing precinct for Elders she designed is grounded in Elders’ perspectives and priorities and aims to provide culturally appropriate, affordable, safe, community connected and Country-centric homes. For this project, Sam has been recognised with the following awards: --
- Andrew Taylor Memorial Prize for an outstanding student whose work demonstrates sensitivity to project context, site and the Australian landscape
- Faculty of Arts, Design and Architecture Dean's List 2022
- 2023 NSW Architects Registration Board Architects Medallion.