Endorsed – BKK’s Innovate RAP

BKK Architects is pleased to announce the formal endorsement of our Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) by Reconciliation Australia for 2024-2026.

This milestone builds upon our previous Reflect RAP and represents our deepening commitment to meaningful reconciliation with First Nations peoples. BKK Architects is committed to meaningful reconciliation with First Nations peoples through our comprehensive approach to relationships, respect, and opportunities, underpinned by strong governance practices.

The RAP Core Pillars

Our Innovate RAP outlines concrete actions and deliverables across key pillars underpinned by governance:

Relationships: Strengthening connections with Traditional Owners and First Nations communities through sustained engagement and meaningful dialogue.

Respect: Implementing First Nations design principles and cultural protocols across our practice, underpinned by comprehensive cultural awareness training for all staff.

Opportunities: Creating pathways for greater Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participation in architecture through employment, mentorship, and procurement initiatives.

The development of our Innovate RAP has been a deeply collaborative journey, shaped through intensive workshops and meaningful dialogue with First Nations partners. At the heart of this process has been Bradley Kerr, Quandamooka man, an architect and BKK’s First Nations RAP Advisor, whose guidance has been instrumental in shaping our approach to reconciliation.

“This RAP isn’t just about ticking boxes – it’s about a deep commitment to understanding and valuing the perspectives, histories and cultures of First Nations peoples,” explains Bradley. “BKK has shown a thoughtful and considered approach to reconciliation, actively seeking to reframe architectural practice to include First Nations perspectives.”

The architectural profession has traditionally operated within Western frameworks of design and placemaking. Yet as we face contemporary challenges – from climate crisis to social equity – it becomes increasingly evident that First Nations knowledge systems and perspectives are not merely valuable, but fundamental to creating truly sustainable and culturally responsive architecture.

Understanding that meaningful reconciliation requires collective action, in 2022 BKK collaborated with industry partners Grounded Studio, JCB Architects, and DesignInc Sydney to establish the Architecture & Design Reconciliation Industry Network Group (A&D RING). This initiative creates a platform for architectural practices to share knowledge, address challenges, and celebrate successes in their reconciliation journeys.

What started with 30 practices in interior design, architecture and landscape architecture across Australia has grown to over 80 practice members in 2025. Through the RING, we're working to foster collaboration and accelerate positive change across the industry. This network represents our commitment to sharing learning experiences and resources, recognizing that true reconciliation requires industry-wide transformation rather than individual action alone.

RMIT School of Computing Technologies: This project showcases our commitment to incorporating First Nations perspectives in contemporary educational spaces. Through collaboration with Solid Lines, a First Nations-led illustration agency, and Melbourne artist ENOKi (Dja Dja Wurrung and Yorta Yorta), we integrated Indigenous knowledge and artistry into the fabric of the building. Given complete creative freedom to lead the graphic design, ENOKi transformed the glazed dividing walls with artwork that celebrates both traditional First Nations innovation and contemporary technological advancement, including references to traditional tool-making, eel traps, and the groundbreaking inventions of David Unaipon.

Through initiatives including cultural awareness training, First Nations engagement processes, and active participation in events like NAIDOC Week, we are working to embed Indigenous perspectives and knowledge systems into every aspect of our practice. Our approach to co-design ensures that First Nations voices are not merely consulted but are leading and shaping the design process from inception to completion.

As we implement our Innovate RAP commitments over the next two years, we look forward to continuing to learn from and celebrate the enduring cultural heritage of First Nations peoples. We invite our clients, collaborators, and the broader architectural community to join us in this important work.