KTA

Approach

On Country

What We Do

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Melbourne Holocaust Museum, Facade Testing

We create initial concepts and guiding principles with the multi-disciplinary team to capture and integrate all opportunities within the fundamentals of the project design. We find opportunities for the extraordinary in the ordinary and we consider limited budgets and other challenges as an invitation for arriving at new ways of thinking and doing. Our focus is on ‘getting the bones right’ – the rest follows.

We have an extensive portfolio of projects in the arts, cultural, education, commercial and residential sectors. The diversity and innovation in these differing contexts demonstrate our dexterity and depth of experience across government, local community, commercial and private environments.

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Melbourne Holocaust Museum, Visualisation

Expertise

We can provide the following disciplines:

  • Architectural Design
  • Interior Design
  • Landscape Design
  • Urban Design
  • Environmentally Sustainable Design
  • Project Management

The principal and team of qualified architects on staff have extensive experience in the following areas:

  • Masterplanning and feasibility studies
  • Design for heritage and environmentally sensitive sites
  • Consultant team establishment, leadership and coordination
  • Briefing and reporting including client and user group liaison
  • Establishing strategic principles for design
  • Design for adaptive re-use of existing facilities including buildings of heritage value
  • Presentation techniques including physical models, photomontage and 3D computer rendering
  • Community consultation
  • Town planning, authority negotiations and VCAT presentations
  • Value management
  • Post occupancy services
  • Marketing drawings and images
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Melbourne Holocaust Museum, view from internal stair to variegated facade of clay and glass bricks

On Country

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Our Reconciliation Action Plan

KTA is an architecture practice with a civic endeavor – it is a collection of people with the common goal of making a positive contribution to our built, natural, and cultural environments. It’s also a collection of people who know we need to be doing more. As architects we play an undeniable role in shaping our environment and society, and therefore hold an innate responsibility to First Nations peoples, their rights, their advocacy, and Country. We believe we can contribute more; be a more collaborative partner; and better coordinate our efforts towards a more just and equitable Australia.

Our first step in increased action towards this future came in 2020 through the implementation of a Reconciliation Action Plan with Reconciliation Australia. Currently in its Reflect phase, we are using this RAP as a vehicle to critically reflect and make the vital changes necessary to transform KTA’s processes towards justice and equity-based practices that centre on First Nations peoples and Country.

Through this process we aim to become better listeners; to expand and evolve the way we think and practice; to be a louder voice for change, and to be more accountable. To execute our RAP and lead the practice towards these goals, the RAP Working Group was formed, comprising staff from all areas of the practice. From its foundation KTA has embedded a First Nations Advisor into the Working Group who oversees the RAP, and provides critical feedback and guidance throughout the journey.

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Uluru Statement + Yes Campaign

As part of our RAP and ongoing commitment, KTA supports the Uluru Statement from the Heart and First Nations Voice to Parliament.

“The Statement calls for three actions of Voice, Treaty and Truth addressed as follows in the Statement:
- Voice: We call for the establishment of a First Nations Voice enshrined in the Constitution.
- Treaty and Truth: We seek a Makarrata Commission to supervise a process of agreements between governments and First Nations, and truth telling about our history.”

The vote for yes campaign aligns with our advocacy in reconciliation and inclusive approach to processes that impact First Nations people.

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