Sydney Opera House Tactile Model

To mark the 50th anniversary of the Sydney Opera House, I led the workshops, design and documentation of the new Touch Map. This tactile model is an inclusive tool developed to support visitors who are blind or have low vision in experiencing this iconic building. Working at Frost*, I determined the model’s scale, orientation and material finish, ensuring it was both highly legible through touch and seamlessly integrated within the Opera House environment.

The design was guided by Jørn Utzon’s principles, with a restrained material palette and careful detailing that complements the architectural language of the building. Central to the process was close collaboration with Janelle Ryan, a design advisory panel, and consultation groups including Guide Dogs, NextSense and Vision Australia. Through workshops and iterative testing, we refined the design to meet rigorous accessibility standards while maintaining a sense of craft and dignity.

This project reflects my commitment to human-centred design, creating experiences that are not only functional and accessible, but also meaningful, respectful and connected to place.