The First Response Youth Refuge is a place of safety, care, and transformation, offering a supportive environment for young people in crisis. Rooted in trauma-informed design, the project aligns with the client’s unique service model to meet the nuanced needs of its users. The design balances personal retreat with collective engagement, providing private spaces for reflection and shared areas that foster connection and support. A welcoming, non-hierarchical atmosphere promotes respect, equity, and accessibility, while a sensory approach to materiality and spatial experience ensures comfort and therapeutic benefits at a residential scale.

Sustainability is central to the project, incorporating passive design strategies, renewable energy, and low-impact materials to create a resilient, restorative environment. Biophilic design also enhances the internal spaces with links to the landscape, fostering connection to the natural environment and a sense of place.

Photography: Marnie Hawson