This article is from the Australian Property Journal archive
WARREN and Mahoney have been recognised for transforming the architectural industry by being named in Fast Company’s list of World’s most innovative companies for 2023.
The Australasian architecture and design practice have landed themselves in the top ten on the prestigious list.
Their work in Indigenous and Traditional Owner collaboration and ‘co-design’ was specifically highlighted to showcase W+M’s innovation.
“In 2022, Warren and Mahoney decided to face this touchy design issue head on (designing on the ancestral lands of Indigenous people), forming an Indigenous Design Unit focused specifically on exploring and amplifying Indigenous values in its work,” Fast Company said.
“By embracing Indigenous voices and ideas, they’re helping counter the inequalities created by colonialism. The firm applied this perspective to assignments for Google and a major transit project in Melbourne, helping it secure new projects. This year’s winners demonstrate that they can make the world look better while also making it work better.”
Warren and Mahoney recently won an award for their North East Link project in Melbourne at the World Architecture Festival. Their co-design philosophy was evident here working alongside Traditional Owners and design collaborators BKK Architects, Taylor Cullity Lethlean and Greenaway Architects.
It was also used at the Google Headquarters in Auckland in a world first for Google with the history of Aotearoa brought to Google and its users by collaborating local iwi Ngāti Whātua Orākei.
“Co-design is a process we have had the privilege of refining over decades in Aotearoa New Zealand in partnership with mana whenua,” says W+M head of design, Blair Johnston.
“We have evolved a practice which encourages equitable participation in the design process. We seek to amplify Indigenous insight to create authentic design narratives and stronger connections to the communities and landscapes within which we build.” Te Matakīrea – a dedicated Indigenous design unit has been created to enable Indigenous architects to help Warren and Mahoney with its practice and continuous exploration of their innovation.
This award recognises great progress – but we are only at the starting line,” Johnston says. “Architecture at its best is an agent for social change and the co-design journey is just beginning.”
W+M principal and Te Matakīrea Lead, Whare Timu says co-design is crucial in building important relationships.
“True co-design with Indigenous peoples is about legitimacy, credibility, and intimacy. Co- design is about relationships and agency. If as designers, we invest in and honour the relationship, the returns will be rich in every sense,” says W+M Principal and “It’s up to us to create a process that enables this relationship of give and take to inform our collective thinking.”
Managing director John Coop is thrilled with the recognition as he credits the importance to continue celebration of Indigenous cultures.
“To be included as one of the top ten most innovative architecture practices in the world, alongside extremely successful global businesses and creative leaders, is a testament to our clients and collaborators, our people, and the potential of Pacific design to influence global trends,” he said.
“We are proud of the way our design philosophy has evolved to ensure we celebrate and learn from Indigenous cultures and create places with authentic identity. We know co- design can make a positive difference to the form, function and performance of our projects.”