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Following the Land

Following the Land reimagines urban design through Indigenous understandings of movement, belonging, and reciprocity, grounded in Dharug knowledge of the Katoomba region. The project connects ridge and waterway, drawing on traditional gendered spatial practices to create dialogue between protection and care. Through five key methodologies - firebreak walkway, adaptive typology, community spaces, temporary living, and ridge-to-waterway connection - it integrates ecological resilience with cultural continuity. Water-sensitive systems, flexible structures, and seasonal gathering spaces reflect Country as the primary designer, guiding the site’s form and rhythm. The result is a landscape-led framework that balances safety, sustainability, and storytelling through living with, rather than over, the land.