An Aboriginal-led healing centre in the heart of Mparntwe / Alice Springs has been recognised on the world stage, proving that when First Nations people lead the design of their own spaces, the result is far more than a building; it becomes a place of belonging, healing and cultural strength.

Akeyulerre Healing Centre has been named the global winner in the new building category at the 2026 International Union of Architects (UIA) Friendly and Inclusive Spaces Awards, selected from 150 entries from around the world. The prestigious award celebrates architecture that removes barriers, promotes inclusion and creates spaces where everyone can participate with dignity.

For Arrernte people the recognition acknowledges architectural excellence but also a place built from Country, guided by culture and shaped by the voices of community.

Located at the base of Billy Goat Hill, known in Arrernte as Akeyulerre, the centre is owned and operated by Arrernte families, the Traditional Owners of this part of Central Australia. It is a place where traditional healing, bush medicine, cultural knowledge and community wellbeing come together under one roof.

Board member David Liddle said the building is a direct reflection of Arrernte Country and the aspirations of the people who call it home.

"Local architect Sue Dugdale designed the award-winning building in consultation with Akeyulerre staff when we used to be based in an old green wooden house," Mr Liddle said.

"Akeyulerre is Arrernte for Billy Goat Hill, the hill we sit at the base of in Mparntwe, Alice Springs. The new building blends into the hill, but also stands out with local earthy colours, native plants along our walkways and is really a reflection of Arrernte Country."

Rather than imposing itself on the landscape, the centre sits comfortably within it. Visitors are drawn in by the warm design, shaded walkways and welcoming atmosphere before discovering the deeper cultural significance of the space.

"We have a café at Akeyulerre and many people don't plan to come in for a coffee," Mr Liddle said.

"Because we're in a tourist precinct, many tourists see the building and are just drawn to it. They wander in and end up having a coffee."

Beyond the café, the centre includes a modern bush medicine production laboratory, office space, a world-class conference room and community gathering areas that support healing, education, employment and cultural practice.

The international judging panel praised the project for setting a new benchmark in culturally responsive design.

Its citation recognised the way the building balances accessibility, dignity and cultural protection while creating a meaningful experience through climate-responsive design, materiality and cultural expression.

"The Akeyulerre Healing Centre models design for cultural safety with its distribution of private, culturally responsive spaces and a discreet welcome to other visitors in separate spaces," the jury said.

"It successfully seamlessly includes the mechanics of accessibility and the balance of dignity, and cultural protection, establishing a powerful model for culturally responsive design."

Every aspect of the building has been carefully considered through an Arrernte lens.

Public visitors enter through a welcoming courtyard that wraps around a sacred River Red Gum, while Arrernte families have separate access to private cultural spaces overlooking an important sacred site. The layout allows people to move naturally throughout the centre without relying on extensive signage, ensuring the building remains welcoming for everyone regardless of literacy or mobility.

The gently sloping pathways remove the need for intrusive accessibility features, allowing Elders and people with limited mobility to move independently and with dignity.

Laser-cut artwork created from designs by Akeyulerre members wraps around the verandah canopy, casting striking shadows across gathering spaces and making the building unmistakably Arrernte in both identity and spirit.

The centre itself reflects the work happening within its walls. Akeyulerre continues to support traditional healers, bush medicine collection and production, cultural education, men's programs, ceremonies, Country visits and employment opportunities while strengthening the transfer of Arrernte knowledge to younger generations.

This latest honour builds on earlier success, following the centre's 2025 Commercial Architecture Award and Indigenous Community Architecture Award from the Northern Territory Australian Institute of Architects, along with national recognition as an AIA Awards finalist.

For First Nations communities across Australia, Akeyulerre stands as a powerful reminder that culturally safe spaces cannot be designed without Indigenous leadership. When architecture grows from Country, culture and community, it becomes more than infrastructure. It becomes a living expression of identity, a place where healing is strengthened, knowledge is protected and the oldest living culture in the world continues to thrive.