School of Built Environment
UNSW Arts, Design & Architecture is now 100K alumni strong. We spoke with some of our alumni who are making the world a better place. Here are their stories.
A calling ignited
Craig’s path to becoming an architect was not without its challenges. At 18, Craig was illiterate. School had always been challenging for him, and after years of struggling academically, Craig found out he had dyslexia and was later diagnosed with ADHD. But despite the challenges, Craig found his way to UNSW Arts, Design & Architecture, where his creativity and free-thinking spirit were nurtured. He found solace in the diverse academic environment, exploring arts, politics, philosophy, Aboriginal studies, and gender studies. Craig believes UNSW empowered him to explore beyond institutional norms, equipping him with the tools to become a 'free-thinking architect.'
If you’re passionate about something, you’re unstoppable. Without passion, Craig says, the fact his school teachers had told him he wasn't capable would have stopped him from achieving anything. Craig's passion came from an encounter with an Aboriginal Elder and Wiradjuri woman, Aunty Gloria. After learning of his Indigenous roots, Craig searched for his family on Country, making the journey to Wellington. Here, he met Aunty Gloria, who spoke of "upside-down" government housing, isolating communities instead of connecting them. "She poked me in the chest and said, 'You need to fix housing,'" Craig recalled. Inspired by her wisdom, he founded Nguluway DesignInc, a design firm rooted in Indigenous perspectives.
School
Degrees
Bachelor of Arts 1998, Bachelor of Architecture 2006
Current Title
Managing Director, Nguluway DesignInc
If you’re passionate about something, you’re unstoppable.
Designing from Country
At Nguluway DesignInc, Craig champions 'Designing from Country.' This philosophy embraces the interconnectedness between self, community and nature, seeking to create harmony in built form. In practice, designing from Country can include the integration of endemic species and materials from Country being incorporated into the building. It’s about invoking a connection and creating a structure that gives back.
'Custodial architecture' lies at the core of the company's vision, where buildings become caretakers, nurturing both people and nature. Craig states that in Wiradjuri language, there is no word for ‘conservation’ because when a group of people see themselves as caretakers of the land, there is no need to name a practice that is so deeply embedded into cultural practices.
It is this cultural knowledge that Craig seeks to imbed into architectural design practices as he aims to create structures that give back to the communities they are built within.
Craig Kerslake Illustration: when people came to the river
Aunty's House: answering the call
In 2022, Aunty's House, a residential community and health centre at St Peters on Gadigal Country, emerged from this calling, revolutionising architectural paradigms. “We are now working on Aunty’s hospital, Aunty’s senior housing and Aunty’s school.” It has become a symbol of incidental connections, a testament to Aunty Gloria's legacy.
Craig's sketches, inspired by Aunty Gloria, went against the grain of industry norms of the time. "Instead of focusing on personal freedom and privacy, Aunty's House centres around creating moments of incidental connection," Craig explains. Because of this, he faced initial challenges in getting the project up and running: “I couldn't convince anyone to design the house like that.”
Nguluway DesignInc: Aunty's House render
It was not until Craig founded Nguluway DesignInc that he was able to form an Indigenous-led company willing to break the mould and embody Aunty Gloria's profound teachings. In the projects since, Craig and Nguluway DesignInc have maintained a commitment to creating buildings that foster a connection to people, community, land and culture.
“Making those neighbourhoods, and then connecting those neighbourhoods to the natural world is how we find our identity and our belonging.”
Advice for students
For Craig, UNSW allowed him to explore many different areas of knowledge. "I loved the diversity at the university ... you could study just about anything, and it really expanded my understanding of what being an architect meant." He urges everyone, no matter what stage in life they are in, to explore different areas of knowledge, find a career that "absolutely blows your hair back and inspires you," and not stop looking if you haven't found it yet.
For any budding architects, Craig urges them to engage with First Nations communities and bring them into the consultation phases of their designs. He hopes that students are given the opportunities to build the skills they need to understand the importance of seeing their designs not as just independent structures but as part of an ecosystem that deserves to be cared for.
Speaking with Elders can be intimidating. We need to include skills of how to respectfully speak with Indigenous Elders and mob in the toolkits of future architects.
Celebrating 100K Alumni
Join us in celebrating the achievements of UNSW Arts, Design & Architecture alumni like Craig Kerslake.
Explore our Alumni stories of exploration, innovation and social change and learn more about our community.