Community by Design: DKO’s Vision for Better Housing

By Nicholas Byrne, Director, Sydney Studio

Housing is one of the most pressing and complex challenges of our generation. It sits at the intersection of affordability, density, sustainability, and social equity. At DKO, we've worked in the social, affordable and community housing space since the practice was founded in 2000. I joined the Sydney studio in 2006 and now co-lead our team in Surry Hills. These types of projects are not just part of our portfolio but central to our ethos. 

Koos de Keijzer, our founding partner, instilled a guiding principle at the core of DKO's practice: that architecture should make the world a better place to live. This simple aspiration shapes every conversation and decision in our studio.

At DKO, we aim to create housing that is responsive to the site, reflective of its community, and resilient over time. Our approach is never one-size-fits-all. Families need space. Young people need safety and opportunity. Older residents need accessibility and social connection. It's our role to respond thoughtfully, holistically, and with care.

With the recent national lens on housing driven by constrained supply, population growth, and shifting climate conditions, there's a greater urgency to deliver well-designed, well-located, and equitable housing options. Price alone can no longer be the defining measure; we need to prioritise quality, liveability, and longevity. Right now, Australia needs more than just volume – we need a mindset shift. The traditional ideal of owning a detached house is becoming less attainable and less relevant for many Australians. Countries like Germany, where over 50% of people rent, show us that high-quality, higher-density rental models can succeed – when supported by good design and policy.

One of our studio's most meaningful recent projects is Gibbons Street in Redfern. Developed with SGCH, it exemplifies how mixed-tenure, design-led housing can support real community outcomes. The building comprises two-thirds affordable housing and one-third social housing, and its entirely tenure blind – there's no distinction in form, finish, or access. This deliberate design choice fosters inclusivity and cohesion, allowing residents to live side by side with shared amenities; the project supports a mixed community, reinforcing our belief that housing diversity leads to stronger, more resilient places with social impact.

We designed Gibbons Street for the community it serves. That meant integrating family-friendly features like a rooftop playground – not an exclusive bar or rooftop garden, but a shared, meaningful space for all residents. We selected robust, low-maintenance materials that will patina with age, ensuring the building endures both functionally and visually. Sustainability was embedded from the outset – through passive design principles, thermal performance, and long-life materials – so the building could perform socially and environmentally well over time.

We also recently completed Gimbawali Place for Baptistcare, which provides 162 affordable homes for people over 55 and single-parent families still in the workforce. Community living is centred on courtyard gardens, communal areas, and playgrounds.

Our commitment to community-driven, sustainable design is not limited to this sector. Our work in Build to Rent (BTR) applies the same values, placing quality of life at the centre. Amenity-rich developments with shared spaces, long-term tenure, and curated community outcomes are changing how Australians think about renting. The Joinery in Annandale, Landcom’s flagship BTR development in Sydney’s Inner West, will deliver 220 apartments offered at discounted market rent to essential workers, including nurses, teachers, paramedics and police officers, supported through a dedicated subsidy. With a focus on sustainability, climate resilience, and community connection, The Joinery is shaping our we think and design contowards inclusive, future-ready neighbourhoods.

We are also delivering a BTR project in Parramatta in collaboration with HOME and Stanisic Architects. Due for completion later this year, it will add over 400 dwellings to this growing city. We believe the principles of good BTR design, including durability, amenity and flexibility, must also inform social, affordable and community housing projects.

The Foyer model, explored in our Foyer Central project in Chippendale, is another example of how integrated housing can support systemic change in partnership with SGCH and Uniting. In this case, design plays a vital role in supporting the independence and social reintegration of youth at risk of homelessness, combining housing with a launchpad to education, employment, and stability. The architecture reinforces this ethos, offering communal kitchens, flexible spaces, and a welcoming environment that encourages participation and belonging.

So, how do we ensure that what we build today delivers not just quantity but a legacy of care, sustainability, and inclusion into the future? There is no one-size-fits-all solution, but our goal at DKO is to design housing that fosters genuine community, embeds sustainability in construction and operation, and meets the real and varied needs of those living in it.

— By Nicholas Byrne, Director, Sydney Studio