About
Kaunitz Yeung Architecture is a multi-award winning internationally recognised practice founded by the husband and wife team of David Kaunitz and Ka Wai Yeung. It combines their extensive commercial experience with David’s knowledge of living in and working with communities. The result is architecture that places people at its centre and where good architecture does not need to necessarily be a luxury item. Their projects are bespoke solutions that sensitively respond to clients, stakeholders, end user requirements, site context and the budget.
TESTIMONIALS
The Australian Institute of Architects has been delighted to have David address our professional community as part of the Institute’s program of events. The authenticity, passion and commitment with which David speaks of Kaunitz Yeung’s work is inspiring, and precisely echoes that which the practice brings to its projects. Kate Concannon, Advocacy & Communications, Australian Institute of Architects
Kaunitz Yeung Architecture’s innovative and inclusive approach to architecture is evident from the multiple European Health Care Design Congress awards they have received. These prestigious international awards, which are evaluated by an interdisciplinary team of world leading clinicians, health administrators and designers, demonstrates how their work is at the forefront of innovation in healthcare design around the world. This was reinforced by David’s inspiring and passionate talk at the 2018 Congress. Marc Sansom, Managing Director, Salus Global
David’s respectful and collaborative approach with the Martu Elders and communities has created a deep sense of ownership and pride in our new remote clinics. Kaunitz Yeung Architecture designed and project managed the clinics in two of the remotest communities in Australia with professionalism and care, and within a tight budget. These were delivered to a high quality with the clinical spaces and health provision equal to that of a major city. Robby Chibawe, CEO, Punturkunu Aboriginal Medical Service
The design sets a new standard in childcare. Indoor / outdoor spaces that are protected and filled with natural light provide the perfect environment for children to thrive. This high-quality learning environment combined with our resources and curriculum are industry leading and support the children’s learning while helping fuel their imagination. Kat Wieczorek-Ghisso, Co-founder Paisley Park
As a repeat client for over a decade it has been a privilege to see Kaunitz Yeung Architecture grow into an industry leader in health, education and cultural projects. At the heart of this is their uncompromising and unwavering focus on designing for the people that we serve. In doing so they have fused innovative, best practice architecture with respect of people, place and culture. This results in buildings which people feel integrally connected to and love to use. Given the opportunity, I would choose to work in partnership with community and Kaunitz Yeung Architecture again.
Kaunitz Yeung Architecture’s innovative and inclusive approach to architecture is evident from the multiple European Health Care Design Congress awards they have received. These prestigious international awards, which are evaluated by an interdisciplinary team of world leading clinicians, health administrators and designers, demonstrates how their work is at the forefront of innovation in healthcare design around the world. This was reinforced by David’s inspiring and passionate talk at the 2018 Congress. Brett Cowling Former CEO Ngaanyatjarra Health & Biripi AMS
The Kaunitz Yeung team is our trusted partner in achieving desired architectural outcomes. David Kaunitz worked seamlessly to effectively deliver a challenging project. David possesses great architectural capability blended with commercial acumen. I highly recommend Kaunitz Yeung as a long-term project partner.” George Pajmakoski, Owner Little Kingdom Childcare
“We have used Kaunitz Yeung Architecture for 2 of our childcare projects to date, and have consistently received a high level of design expertise within the childcare proportion of our projects. On a recent project Kaunitz Yeung were able to redesign a previously designed childcare building with efficiencies that increased the child numbers from 79 to 113 children, whilst decreasing the gross floor area by 30%. This has provided significant additional revenue as well as decreased construction costs.We would recommend any developer looking to create a high quality purpose build childcare centre, whilst ensuring practical and economical design expertise is utilised – speak with Kaunitz Yeung before committing elsewhere.” Jono Isaac, Director Isaac Property
Kaunitz Yeung Architecture through listening and understanding designed a building that perfectly captures the mantra and intent, enabling our wines to be portrayed and experienced perfectly. The original discussions were to maximise the views of the iconic Lizzard/Yellow rock to the south east. Get elevation to showcase the views overlooking the vineyard and mountain ranges to the west. Have the opportunity to subtly extend the overall space downstairs. A location on the property for safe public access and to not encroach into the work and residence areas.
After building the vineyard from scratch I required an intimate, uplifting space to provide a comfortable informal experience. As the vigneron, winemaker and cellar door manager, the building needed to reflect my industrial values and unvarnished approach to wine making. This recycled weathered building which morphs seamlessly into the hilly landscape, does resoundingly achieve this. An added surprise is the cellar door also transcends every demographic. My visitors are extremely enthusiastic, happy to spend extended time tasting wines, enjoying the panoramas and intimately engaging with friends, perfect strangers and myself. The large number of recommendations and return customers is testament to the building and Kaunitz Yeung. David Fromberg, Winemaker and Owner.
Team
Director and co-founder, Kaunitz Yeung Architecture
David co-founded Kaunitz Yeung Architecture with his wife, Kawai Yeung, driven by a shared passion for creating socially responsible, culturally sensitive and humane architecture, and with a shared focus on facilitating high quality architecture in some of the most disadvantaged communities and First Nations People in Australia and Asia-Pacific.
Underlying this is a deep commitment to participatory design and local construction. Together, David and Kawai, have created a new paradigm that shows high quality, change making architecture is not a matter of cost, but of a commitment to listening to those for whom they’re designing, inspiring a transformative process of collaboration that results in projects that actively contribute to social change.
Prior to founding Kaunitz Yeung, David spent seven years in the UK, including five as a director of a large practice running its London studio where he worked on some of the largest projects in Europe, including the Barnsley Interchange and The London Olympic Village for clients such as HSBC, Marks & Spencer and Lend Lease. It was here he developed a passion for health, education and public buildings with a community focus and honed the skills to manage complex networks of stakeholders.
A fascination with vernacular architecture and sustainable communities subsequently led to David’s long association with the Pacific Islands, and the Solomon Islands in particular. It was during his time living and working in the Solomons that David saw first hand the impact of climate disaster in disadvantaged communities and led to more than a decade of community development and post disaster experience in South East Asia and the Pacific working for clients such as UNICEF, UNHCR, World Vision and the Governments of Australia, New Zealand, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Cook Islands, Fiji and the Philippines.
With projects in more than 40 Aboriginal communities, David has developed unique expertise working with Aboriginal stakeholders. He authored the 2017 update to the ‘Australian Government, Department of Health, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Funded Capital Works Projects – Facility Design Guidelines’.
Kaunitz Yeung Architecture’s projects have received numerous awards including several European Healthcare Design Awards, Leading European Architects Forum Sustainability Awards, World Community Architecture Awards, and the Australian Institute of Architecture (AIA) Awards, including the NSW Premier’s Prize. David was the recipient of the 2020 NSW Australian Institute of Architect Reconciliation Prize, the inaugural ArchitectureAU Award for Social Impact, the International Award from The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies, and the prestigious UIA Vassilis Sgoutas prize for Implemented Architecture Serving the Underprivileged.
David recently attended the European Healthcare Design Awards in London, in which the Yutjuwala Djiwar Residential Aged Care operated by Australian Regional and Remote Community Services Ltd and for the Yolngu communities of East Arnhem Land received two awards. David has also taken on a part time role as Associate Professor of Practice at Architecture, Design and Planning – University of Sydney.
Director and co-founder, Kaunitz Yeung Architecture
Kawai co-founded Kaunitz Yeung Architecture with her husband, David Kaunitz, driven by a shared passion for creating socially responsible, culturally sensitive and humane architecture. Kawai is committed to driving positive change through ethically responsible architecture and co-designing with communities where that is needed most – including remote and regional indigenous communities, the Pacific Islands and post-disaster reconstruction in the Asia Pacific. She is passionate about designing projects that act beyond the physicality of architecture, and strives to provide social and economic benefits to the communities she works with.
She began her career at HASSELL Studio before spending five years as a senior architect at PTW Architects, specialising in health, aged care and housing. She currently serves on the UTS School of Architecture Industry Advisory Panel (IAP) and has previously served on the Interior Architecture IAP. Kawai has taught and lectured widely at universities, and has presented at the Australian Institute of Architects National Conference, the Rothwell Chair Symposium University of Sydney, and the SCCI (Sherman Centre for Culture and Ideas) London Design Museum Hub. She is a member of the Editorial and Communication Committee for the Australian Institute of Architect NSW Chapter.
Born in Hong Kong, and educated in New Zealand and Australia, Ka Wai finds herself constantly bridging and crossing between two worlds – her Chinese upbringing and being part of a diaspora in the Western world, and bringing out the ancient wisdom and vernacular knowledge of her clients and the communities she serves in a modern context. With degrees from the University of Sydney (Bachelor of Architecture) and the University of New South Wales (Master of Architecture and Master of Commerce), Ka Wai has fostered a global outlook in her architectural practice with her commerce and finance knowledge.
She is deeply committed to bridging gaps in society and fostering continuation of heritage and culture. Her focus lies in projects supporting these ideals across health and aged care facilities, cultural and art centres, schools and housing.
Kaunitz Yeung Architecture’s projects have received local and international recognition including several European Healthcare Design Awards, Leading European Architects Forum Sustainability Awards, World Community Architecture Awards, and the Australian Institute of Architecture (AIA) Awards, including the NSW Premier’s Prize.
Her projects more recently have received the AIA’s Reconciliation Prize, the inaugural ArchitectureAU Award for Social Impact, the International Award from The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies, and the prestigious humanitarian architecture award – the International Union of Architects Vassilis Sgoutas prize for Implemented Architecture Serving the Underprivileged.