Two Australian buildings and one research project have been recognised at the International Union of Architects (UIA) 2026 Friendly and Inclusive Spaces Awards.
The awards program recognises buildings and places that are user-friendly and accessible to all across four categories: New Buildings, Refurbished Existing and Historic Buildings, Open and Public Spaces, and Research.
Akeyulerre Healing Centre by Sue Dugdale and Associates was named a Global Winner and awarded a Medal in the New Buildings category. Based in Mparntwe/Alice Springs, the centre is run by the Arrernte people and families of Central Australia, facilitating the continuity and promotion of their culture and knowledge. The centre is also used to educate non-Arrernte visitors, providing opportunities to engage with Arrernte culture.
Wangaratta District Specialist School by Sibling Architecture, a facility tailored for primary-aged students in regional Victoria, received an honourable mention in the New Buildings category.
Elsewhere in the awards, Australian research project A Calm Space to Reset by Chris Porter and Cathryn Grant with Deakin University was named a Global Winner and awarded a Medal in the Research category.
The jury members for assessing the built categories included jury chair, architect and UIA honorary president Vassilis Sgoutas (Greece); architect and UIA past president Louise Cox (Australia); architect and UIA representative Vanessa Zadel (Peru); architect Alanah Honey (UK); executive director at the Institute for Human Centered Design, Valerie Fletcher (USA); and architect Olanrewaju Olusola (Nigeria).
The jury for the Research category comprised jury chair, architect and UIA representative Allen Kong (Australia); architect Tom Grey (Ireland), sociologist John Zeisel (USA); architect Jasmien Herssens (Belgium); and architect Isabella Steffan (Italy).
Source: Architecture - architectureau
