The Australian Institute of Architects, in partnership with Dulux, have announced the five winners who will embark on the 2025 Australian Institute of Architects Dulux Study Tour.
Gumji Kang, Jimmy Carter, Kate Shepherd, Marni Reti and Nicholas Souksamrane were awarded the coveted prize from a shortlist of 30 emerging architect entrants. They will embark on a tour of Copenhagen, Amsterdam and Barcelona this coming May.
Dulux’s general manager of trade Jevan Dickinson noted, “We couldn’t be more pleased to offer these five stellar individuals the chance to explore world-renowned architecture. The Dulux Study Tour is an enriching experience abound with opportunities for burgeoning professionals to be inspired by global practices and to then bring their newfound influences home.”
Jury citations
Gumji Kang, Snøhetta (Vic)
Through her distinguished roles as creative practitioner in academia, studio director in practice and chapter councillor for the Australian Institute of Architects, Gumji Kang’s dedication, leadership and generosity have profoundly influenced the architectural landscape of Melbourne and beyond.
Since graduating from the Melbourne School of Design in 2015, Kang has participated in numerous guest lecturer roles and led her own design studios. Recently appointed as creative practitioner, the popularity of Kang’s studios are a testament to her generous knowledge sharing, mentoring capabilities and the positive influence she is instilling on the future generation of designers.
Kang possesses a keen awareness of her environment, cultivating a deep understanding of how the relationship between people and place contributes to exceptional architecture and design. She is continuously exploring the balance between innovation and heritage, and her involvement in Melbourne’s iconic Tea House project is a fantastic example of this. Kang’s design philosophy – “place for all, shaped by many” – has been integral to her practice, with relevance to her extensive civic portfolio in her role as studio director at Snøhetta’s Melbourne studio.
In addition to her professional and academic career, Kang is an active member of the Institute, currently serving as co-chair of the Gender Equity and Diversity Committee, having previously co-chaired EmAGN Victoria. Through these roles, Kang has spearheaded initiatives such as Common Ground and curated a variety of forums. Her passion for community involvement and design excellence makes her an ideal candidate to embark on the Dulux Study Tour.
Jimmy Carter, Office Mi–Ji (Vic)
As co-founder of the emerging practice Office Mi–Ji, Jimmy Carter seeks to enhance architecture and the built environment through architectural discourse, public engagement and exceptional built outcomes. Carter’s shared practice aims to approach architecture in a highly specific manner, deeply engaging with place and clients, while concurrently striving to do “good work” for “good work” speaks for itself.
Office Mi–Ji are interested in fabrication and production as a way of revealing architectural language. Office Mi–Ji has positioned itself as a conceptually rigorous and materially innovative emerging practice. The studio has been widely awarded at state, national and international levels, most notably in 2023 when Office Mi–Ji were awarded the RAIA National Award for Colorbond Steel in Architecture and the Victorian Chapter EmAGN Project Award.
In addition to leading an emerging architectural practice, Carter is “dedicated to the dissemination of architecture via non–traditional formats.” Carter has contributed written works to Union, MAS Context, PLAT and Fresh Meat Journal. Carter’s self-initiated and published architectural zines/critique, engagement in speaking series, competition and events such as the Lisbon Architecture Triennale as well as the development of platforms such as DIS-cour.se highlight a tenacious appetite for dialogue and confirms Office Mi–Ji’s firmly held belief that architecture’s main function is the creation of ideas to serve public and social benefit.
Kate Shepherd, Cumulus (Tas)
Kate Shepherd is a registered architect with Cumulus Studio in Hobart. She is a proud Canberran, having completed her Bachelor and Masters of Architecture at the University of Canberra. Her study included a stint at the University of Oulu in Finland in 2014, predating her more recent move to Hobart.
Shepherd has been recognised in both academic and professional settings. She received the Daryl Jackson Alastair Swayn Graduates Prize in 2014, the RIBA South Design Excellence Award in 2021 for the Wolfson Building at the University of Oxford (FJMT Studio) and the Emerging Architect Prize at the Institute’s ACT Architecture Awards in 2022.
Education and community involvement are core values that significantly influence Shepherd’s architectural practice. She views architecture as a collaborative and interconnected discipline that thrives on creating social value. This philosophy is evident in her diverse projects, ranging from public infrastructure to housing.
Since relocating to Tasmania in 2022, Shepherd has remained highly active in shaping the architectural profession. As a committee member of the Institute’s Tasmanian Emerging Architects and Graduate Network (EmAGN), co-chair of EmAGN in 2024, chapter councillor and awards jury member, she has helped create opportunities for emerging architects by ensuring their voices are part of the broader architectural conversation.
Marni Reti, Kaunitz Yeung Architecture (NSW)
As a proud Palawa and Ngātiwai woman born and raised on Gadigal and Dharawal land, Marni’s exceptional contribution to architecture and her dedication to integrating Indigenous knowledge into design has delivered richer and more culturally sensitive built outcomes.
As an associate at Kaunitz Yeung Architecture, Reti has led numerous significant projects, such as the Baaka Cultural and Art Centre, and the Utopia and Tjarlirli Art Centres, where her informed engagement has delivered excellent social and environmental outcomes that contribute positively to communities through a regenerative approach to healing Country.
Indicative of the esteem in which she is held in the architecture community, Reti has been recognised with the Emerging Sustainable Architect Award at the Sustainability Awards in 2022 and the NSW Architects Registration Board’s Architects Medallion for 2021. Reti’s commitment to education and mentorship is demonstrated through her roles as a senior lecturer at the University of Sydney, her involvement in industry panels and workshops, as well as publications she contributes to.
Reti is a vocal advocate for Indigenous representation in architecture, contributing to a more inclusive and culturally aware industry. Her innovative approach and leadership make her a deserving candidate for the Dulux Study Tour, where she can further her professional development and continue to inspire positive change.
Nicholas Souksamrane, BVN (NSW)
Nicholas Souksamrane is a visionary and socially conscious architect, deeply committed to addressing critical issues within the fields of housing and education through thoughtful design-led solutions. He is a committed advocate for nurturing emerging talent, offering both guidance and support to students and young architects navigating their careers.
In his role as practice director at BVN, Souksamrane actively shapes the direction of the firm, ensuring that social responsibility is embedded in both the practice’s philosophy and its projects. His passion for issues related to housing and education has led to BVN’s involvement in numerous projects that seek to address societal challenges through design. He has a remarkable ability to balance visionary ideals with practical, real-world solutions, driving projects that are not only architecturally prominent but also socially shaping the way people work, live and learn.
Souksamrane is particularly passionate about education projects where he can work with all parts of a community to design beautiful, purposeful spaces in which to learn and teach. Souksamrane has the capacity to translate visionary educational requests for learning spaces into realistic, achievable designs that are inspiring and exciting.
Jury
Stuart Tanner, national president, Australian Institute of Architects
Anna Svensdotter, Australian Institute of Architects representative
Pete Wood, national commercial business manager, Dulux
Christina Earls, colour and commercial marketing manager, Dulux
Edwina Brisbane, national EmAGN president representative
Katy Moir, previous Dulux Study Tour recipient
Source: Architecture - architectureau
