New South Wales
Grace’s Place stands as a pioneering residential trauma recovery centre, dedicated to healing children affected by homicide. This unique facility, named in honour of Grace Lynch, offers counselling, rehabilitation, and life skills education. The design prioritises a calming environment with open spaces, a central courtyard for reflection, and flexible areas for various therapeutic activities. Collaborating extensively with landscape architects ensures cohesion and multiple play zones.
Funded by the federal and state governments, with a 100-year land lease from Western Sydney Parklands for a symbolic $1, Grace’s Place is a testament to community support. Sustainable features, including extensive solar panels and water sensitive urban design, align with a commitment to environmental responsibility. This media summary encapsulates Grace’s Place as a symbol of hope, resilience, and compassionate architecture, uniquely addressing the needs of young victims in the community
Graces Place was crafted at its location to maximise value and create the right environment to support visitors who upon arrival, feel safe and protected with iron entry gate and stone walls, greeted at reception and immediately absorb the natural light and greenery with surrounding glass, feel comfortable in the accommodation arm equipped with 12 rooms, enable expert counsellors to facilitate therapy programmes, attract world class support staff and management who operate onsite and for everyone to enjoy the open landscape and play areas in between. Grace’s Place is unique and a proud design as a world first.
The Australian Institute of Architects acknowledges First Nations peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the lands, waters, and skies of the continent now called Australia.
We express our gratitude to their Elders and Knowledge Holders whose wisdom, actions and knowledge have kept culture alive.
We recognise First Nations peoples as the first architects and builders. We appreciate their continuing work on Country from pre-invasion times to contemporary First Nations architects, and respect their rights to continue to care for Country.
