I am a final-year architecture student in Sydney with a passion for designing spaces that bring people and culture together. Of Lebanese heritage and a mother of two, I aim to bring a strong sense of purpose, integrity, and empathy to my design work. I am inspired by community-based architecture and the cultural and environmental connections of Dharug Country. I enjoy exploring how design can create belonging and improve everyday life. Guided by my motto, “There is a solution to every problem,” I aim to use architecture as a tool for unity, inclusion, and meaningful change.

Fayrose Iali

 

My design for the Dharug Highrise is grounded in connection - to Country, community, and the natural environment. This project is more than a vertical form; it is a respectful dialogue between built structure and Dharug land, acknowledging its stories, people, and enduring spirit. Guided by respect and integrity, my design approach began by listening - to the landscape, to the flow of the Parramatta River, and to the cultural layers that define this place. The building’s orientation opens toward the river, celebrating its movement and life. This orientation not only captures breezes and natural light but also symbolically reconnects residents to the waterways that have long sustained the Dharug people. Material choices reflect honesty and humility - earthy tones and textures that respond to the Country beneath them. The use of timber and recycled materials softens the tower’s urban presence, while landscaped terraces and communal areas encourage connection and gathering. These spaces act as modern "Wiltja" - shelters of protection and inclusivity, where residents can meet, share, and build community. Vertical gardens weave through the façade, mimicking the lush landscape of pre-colonisation Parramatta. Featuring native flora such as wattle, banksia, and grasses once found along the riverbanks, they reintroduce biodiversity and offer a living memory of what the land once was. These gardens cool and purify the air while creating a sensory connection to Dharug Country through texture, scent, and seasonal change. Every layer of the building is designed with intention: from the ground floor that welcomes with open, shaded areas to the upper levels that frame sweeping views of the river and surrounding Country. Dharug Highrise is not about dominating the skyline but harmonising with it - an architecture that learns from Country and builds with respect, integrity, and connection.