fjcstudio was recently honoured with the World Architecture Festival (WAF) Building of the Year award for its work at Darlington Public School. This award is a recognition of fjcstudio’s commitment to innovative and sustainable design, firmly rooted in community values and cultural integration.

The school was chosen from among 42 category winners and over 200 shortlisted entries from around the world.

Repeat honors

This honor was a a repeat win for World Building of the Year for Sydney-based practice, fjcstudio, after first receiving the honour in 2013 for the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki. This is the first time that a practice has been a double recipient of this prestigious award.

Darlington Public School is a community school located in a thriving inner-city suburb of Sydney, with strong connections to Aboriginal people. The school serves as a model for innovative educational spaces, emphasising the integration of First Nations culture and sustainability. Designed in collaboration with educational consultants, New Learning Environments, the school features adaptable learning hubs that foster collaboration and inclusivity. These spaces support active, quiet, and outdoor learning, creating a safe and inviting atmosphere that maximises natural light and ventilation. The design incorporates perforated screens that reflect the local casuarina trees, further connecting the school to its natural surroundings.

Connecting with Country

Central to the school’s design is the concept of Connecting with Country, developed through extensive consultation with First Nations Elders, artists, and the Aboriginal Art Group. This collaboration resulted in the inclusion of Indigenous plants, art, and storytelling throughout the campus. QR codes link students and visitors to the stories of the land and plants, transforming the school into a living classroom where culture and environment are intertwined. This thoughtful integration of cultural values makes the school a powerful example of place-based learning.

The outdoor learning terraces and garden play areas promote openness and a connection to nature, echoing traditional learning environments found in cultural practices. Murals from the original school, painted by Blak Douglas (Adam Hill), were recreated in the new facility, ensuring a continuity of culture. Additionally, totems designed by Uncle Neil (Thorne) are incorporated into the design, linking the classrooms to cultural narratives and enhancing the educational experience.

A sustainable venture

Darlington Public School’s commitment to sustainability is evident through initiatives like rainwater harvesting, natural ventilation, and energy-efficient systems. The design also features sawtooth roofs angled to capture sunlight, high-level glazing for indirect daylight, and protective curved screens for filtered light. The school’s emphasis on blending educational, cultural, and environmental values highlights its role as a community hub that celebrates both its local landscape and its deep connections to Aboriginal heritage.

“The architect of the winning project explored and extended the formal program of the client to include the views and experience of the local community and a variety of users...this generated a reading of the history of place, culture, and time,” noted Paul Finch, on behalf of the WAF World Building of the Year jury. “The result of the project is poetic, a building in which topography and landscape, inside and outside, form and materials, flow seamlessly in an unexpectedly delightful way. It is also an inspirational proposition about the acknowledgement and reconciliation of historic difference — a pointer to brighter, better futures for all.”