First Steps Count Wins Prestigious Biophilic Design Award
First Steps Count Child and Community Centre is thrilled to announce that we have been awarded the Building Scale Category in the 2025 Biophilic Design Awards, presented by the Living Future Institute of Australia. This esteemed recognition highlights our commitment to creating spaces that foster a deep connection with nature and promote wellbeing within our community.
Photos courtesy of Matt Carbone
The award celebrates the thoughtful design of our centre, which seamlessly integrates natural materiality and a profound sense of place. The judges commended the centre:
“This beautifully crafted centre invites joyful, everyday engagement with nature. Its organic forms and tactile details are grounded in place and purpose—and as the landscape matures, so too will the depth of connection this project fosters within its community.”
We are grateful to the entire team whose dedication and expertise made this achievement possible. Our partners include:
Architect: Austin McFarland Pty Ltd
Engineer: Cantilever Studio
Sustainability Consultant: Pidcock
The Biophilic Design Awards recognise projects that embody the principles of biophilia, a concept that describes humans' instinctual tendency to seek connections with nature. This innate drive, shaped by our evolutionary past, is crucial for our mental and physical health. In a world increasingly dominated by built environments, integrating biophilic design principles helps us reconnect with nature, enhancing our overall wellbeing.
The judges for this year's awards included Archie Patel, Brett Hulley, Owen Cafe, Tania Davidge, and Kieran Leong (panel chair). We are also thankful to Clarke Hopkins Clarke Architects, category sponsor Tennent Brown Architects Ltd, and media partner Built Environment Channel for their support in making this award possible.
Media Enquiries:
Clare Brennan, Centre Director
clare.brennan@firststepscount.org
