Cunnamulla Hot Springs & Riverwalk

Shortlisted in the Community and Urban Scale category, Cunnamulla Hot Springs & Riverwalk redefines wellness tourism through deep connections to nature, culture, and community. Set along the Warrego River under vast outback skies, this immersive destination invites visitors to relax, reconnect, and reflect.

Rooted in co-creation and shaped by its landscape, the project showcases the artesian waters and local ecology while revitalising the Paroo Shire Hall, Museum, and Centenary Park. The riverwalk forms a natural amphitheatre, hosting community events including the celebrated Outback River Lights Festival.

Biophilic design underpins the entire experience—natural materials, cooling water systems, and careful orientation invite sensory engagement while minimising environmental impact. The design maximises natural light and ventilation, reducing reliance on artificial systems and creating restorative outdoor spaces for rejuvenation.

Indigenous engagement has been central to the project. First Nations representatives were included in governance, and the site now hosts storytelling and cultural events, embedding local traditions into the visitor experience and supporting Indigenous employment and enterprise.

The community played a key role in shaping the project. Two rounds of public consultation ensured the design reflected local values and aspirations. The result is more than a tourist attraction—it’s a civic space deeply rooted in place, culture, and care.

COX Adelaide Studio

Shortlisted in the Interiors & Renovation category, COX’s Adelaide Studio is a regenerative, trauma-informed workplace that quietly champions biophilic design. Designed by COX and shaped with local artisans, the studio supports changemakers through a calm, restorative environment. Originally grounded in trauma-informed design, the space naturally achieves biophilic outcomes—fostering wellness, creativity, and connection to place.

Desks face the Mt Lofty Ranges. Operable windows invite in breezes and petrichor. Tactile, local materials—cream brick, FSC timber, cork, wool, leather—offer warmth and grounding. Light diffuses through sheer curtains and paper shades, reinforcing comfort and calm.

The studio balances collaboration and solitude. Open, light-filled areas support connection, while enclosed spaces offer retreat and restoration. Transitions between rooms are intentional, using soft boundaries and sightlines to support the nervous system.

First Nations voices, guided by Aunty Rosalind Coleman, are embedded throughout. Room names honour Kaurna ancestors and stories. Artwork by Tony Wilson reflects on the past to guide the future. New team members are welcomed with cultural inductions that foster understanding and respect.

From early staff workshops to partnerships with makers like Khai Liew and Jam Factory’s Phoebe Kretschmer, the space reflects community, craft, and care. Though not explicitly designed through a biophilic lens, the studio lives the principles—sensory, grounded, and regenerative. Public tours, school visits, and events extend its role as a learning space.