BURRUNDI DESIGN STUDIO

“Our passion is to connect designs to Country, Culture and Community”

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• Country • Culture • Community

• Country • Culture • Community

Burrundi Design Studio is a 100% Aboriginal owned design agency. We use a Country Centric design methodology to push the boundaries though a holistic design approach, in translating First Nations knowledges and technologies to embed cultural identity into the built environment. We work in partnership with architects, landscape architects, urban designers and artists to produce designs that are uniquely Australian and grounded in Country.

Our Services

Services

Designing With Country
Connecting With Country


Public Art Development and Managment
First Nations Place Research

Design Principles


Workshops

Cultural Awareness Workshop
Weaving Workshop
Designing with Country Workshop



Our Team

Theresa Bower

Founder and Managing Director

Theresa Bower is a proud Wiradjuri women and director of Burrundi Design Studio, based on the Gold Coast QLD. She has spent the past 15 years’ working in several sectors of the built environment, from architecture, landscape design, art installation, research and academia. 

Theresa has a bachelor degree in architecture and a Masters of Philosophy at the University of Queensland, on embedding First Nations culture into the built environment.

As the “Director” of Burrundi Design Studio Theresa’s work pushes the boundaries though a holistic design approach in translating First Nations knowledges and technologies, to embed cultural identity into the built environment. This approach enables a uniquely Australian vernacular to emerge though the design process, one that is grounded in Country.

Dean Johnson

Studio Manager

Dean Johnson has 15 year’s experience in project and operations management across the construction industry. He is passionate about creating economic opportunities for First Nation people and promoting diversity and inclusion in the built environment.

Dean has a multitude of skills across business management, client relations and project facilitation and provides operational support across all of Burrundi Design projects.

Jessica Kane is a researcher of architecture and architectural history. Her research predominately focuses on Aboriginal cultural landscapes and Indigenous lifeways. She has a Master of Architecture and a Master of Philosophy in architecture and has worked as a research assistant at the Aboriginal Environments Research Collaborative, University of Queensland for nine years.

Jess also works as an architectural consultant assisting First Nations people and designers to embed Aboriginal geography into contemporary urban projects. Jessica’s design philosophy is to produce architecture, which is environmentally, economically, socially and culturally responsive and believes that designing with Country is vital to achieving this.

Researcher and Architectural Graduate

Jessica Kane

See the Full Team
  • Theresa exceeded expectations throughout the project, delivering outstanding outcomes, on time and within budget. Goodman and Toyota are proud to have collaborated with Theresa for Toyota’s new Parts Centre and regional office. The work Theresa has put into the project will be considered a benchmark for Toyota and Goodman for years to come.

    Grace Ruffle Project Manager

    Goodman Group

  • Theresa and the Burrundi Design Studio have been fantastic to collaborate with. Without question they have added immeasurable value to the project through their cultural awareness, cultural connections and design sensitivity. I cannot recommend Burrundi Design Studio highly enough and I can confirm that our end client Logan City Council and stakeholders (including the Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority) are impressed by the quality and authenticity of the work.

    Dominic Powell Director

    Fennec Studio

  • "I was very pleased with Burrundi Design Studio, their approach, thoroughness and willingness to work with us in a positive way"

    Sean Nicholson Excecutive Development Manager

    Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council