Generations before us knew that to go far, we must go together. We believe building the resilience the world needs today means getting back to the roots of our shared humanity—where collective generosity and wisdom offers the way forward.
Architecture
TAWAW utilizes a two-eyed seeing approach, integrating both Indigenous and western approaches to architecture. For collaborators that are new to Indigenous design, TAWAW offers interactive work sessions for our partners and collaborators.
Our collaborative approach aims to create highly contextual responses. Original and custom elements – from typeface and wallpaper, to furniture and wall systems– have become our specialty.
Led by Indigenous values of reciprocity, we aim to create an environment that is welcoming and encourages co-creation. It’s the foundation on which we were seeded, and it’s carried on through the
designers we mentor and relationships we grow.
As placekeepers, we engage time and tradition to preserve the cultural richness of the communities we work with, while using technology to honor the complexities of our interconnected world.
We invite you to explore Indigenous worldviews, lifeways and contemporary identity through the lens of architecture. We offer instructional modules accompanied by ambassadors who will guide you on your learning journey.
Located in both Arizona and Alberta, our Indigenous-led team collaborates with firms and organizations across North America to share our design-research process for culturally-grounded architectures and landscapes.
The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada is proud to announce that Wanda Dalla Costa, a prominent Indigenous voice and practitioner in North American architecture, has been awarded honorary fellowship for 2022.
Wanda Dalla Costa is a member of the Saddle Lake Cree Nation and was the first First Nation woman to become an architect in Canada. Her firm, Tawaw Architecture Collective, is based in Phoenix, Arizona. She is the director and founder of Arizona State University’s Indigenous Design Collaborative, a community-driven design and construction program that brings together tribal community members, industry and multidisciplinary teams of university students and faculty to co-design and co-develop solutions for tribal communities.
Dalla Costa is a prominent Indigenous female voice within the architectural profession–specifically within the academic sphere in North America.
Awards
YBCA's 100 Honorees: Wanda Dalla Costa
Indigenous Design Collaborative's founder and design director Wanda Dalla Costa was recognized as YBCA 100 list of change makers and cultural activists working at the intersection of art, social change and civic life.
Awards
Trailblazer Award: Wanda Dalla Costa
Presented this year as part of NZ20, the world's largest net zero conference and expo, the Trailblazer Awards celebrate leaders who are building a net zero future through their work in the carbon, energy, water, waste, transit and/or policy sectors.
