DesignInc is proud to be sponsoring Architects with Pride, bringing together the LGBTQI+ communities of our built environment industry to celebrate the 2023 World Pride and Mardi Gras Festival.
We asked some of our team what Pride means for them, how they think LGBTQI+ concerns are influencing design, and how they will be celebrating Pride this year. Check out their answers in the video below.
My favourite way to celebrate Pride is to try to be myself every day, and to celebrate others who are being themselves every day as well.
Brian Navanto
Associate
We want people to feel safe and welcome in public spaces, and you can see that happening in a lot of our building designs, particularly with respect to gender-specific spaces—trying not to have gender-specific spaces like male and female toilets.
Richard Does
Director
What’s great about something like the visibility of Pride is that everybody gets a chance to experience it together and maybe move attitudes a little bit, get a little bit more open, and at least understand a little bit more that everyone’s different, but we are also the same.
Lynne Hancock
Principal
What does Pride mean for you?
Nicolo Urbini (NU), Architect—Pride for me means the opportunity to express yourself and not feel uncomfortable about who you are.
Richard Does (RD), Director—It’s important for Pride to occur because it reminds us how important it is for inclusivity of all sorts of genders and preferences and diversity.
How do you feel Pride is reflected in our industry and specifically at DesignInc?
Tahj Phapakdy (TP), Landscape Architect—I think being a creative industry, Pride is pretty well reflected.
Michael Kahn (MK), Associate—I think architecture is an interesting one because obviously it brings a lot of different people and perspectives together. At DesignInc it’s always been a very welcoming environment. I’ve always felt very comfortable being myself and interacting with people across a broad spectrum.
How will you celebrate Pride?
Brian Novanto (BN), Associate—My favourite way to celebrate Pride is to try to be myself every day, and to celebrate others who are being themselves every day as well.
How do you think LGBTQI+ concerns are influencing design in our practice / world?
Lynne Hancock (LH), Principal—What’s great about something like the visibility of Pride is that everybody gets a chance to experience it together and maybe move attitudes a little bit, get a little bit more open, and at least understand a little bit more that everyone’s different, but we are also the same.
RD—We want people to feel safe and welcome in public spaces, and you can see that happening in a lot of our building designs, particularly with respect to gender-specific spaces—trying not to have gender-specific spaces like male and female toilets.
What is your involvement with Architects with Pride?
MK—Architects with Pride is a great initiative, and there will be a big involvement with World Pride this year, with a lot of us participating in the parade itself. It’s a great opportunity to show that Architects with Pride is a great organisation that allows all people to come together.
NU—I’ve never marched before, and I’m really looking forward to it.
BN—I will be attending some of the fun events, and I also will be joining the parade on the 25th February in the Architects with Pride float.
RD—We’re joining in on the float for Architects with Pride, and that’s how we’re celebrating with other practices, there are about eight practices that are joining in to be part of this float. That’s exciting because we get to share that with members of the staff to be able to march.
TP—Hopefully you’ll see me walking down the street!
Architects with Pride are hosting a range of fabulous events over the coming weeks, including have a float at the World Pride parade on Saturday 25th February. Book your tickets now.
Research continues to demonstrate that inclusion and diversity in the workplace benefits not only the internal culture, but also outcomes such as creativity, strategic thinking, productivity and profit. In other words it’s a win-win for teams, clients, projects and the business.
DesignInc Sydney is thrilled to have received the 2021 UDIA NSW Diversity and Inclusion Award. With high levels of cultural diversity, gender equity at Director level, a fully funded First Nations architectural scholarship, Nguluway DesignInc partnership and a range of progressive policies, we are proud of our achievements.
An award-winning design architect with three decades experience, Richard aligns biophilic architecture with functional urban design outcomes. One of his principal design drivers is to improve people’s lives through their…
Principal Urban Designer Lynne Hancock joined DesignInc Sydney’s urban design and planning team in 2019, bringing her wide range of experience and expertise.
