Alastair Swayn AO was one of Canberra’s leading architects and a lover of all things associated with Australian design.

Alastair’s position as a founding director of the highly acclaimed architectural practice, Daryl Jackson Alastair Swayn (DJAS) together with his contribution to public life through his positions of President, Senior Councillor and Life Fellow of the Australian Institute of Architects, Professorial Fellow at the University of Canberra, and most significantly the position of inaugural ACT Government Architect, made him a very prominent member of the profession.

Alastair’s architecture reflected light, colour and humanity. He was educated to believe that people were born equal and had a right to be heard equally. He was proud that this emanated through all his commercial and public service buildings; where workers and visitors are treated equitably and are not subject to a defined hierarchy within those buildings. He believed that architecture and design was a genuine way of approaching humanity, to believe that everybody can contribute and be treated equally.

Before Alastair’s death in 2016, he generously bequeathed his estate to a foundation in his name, the Alastair Swayn Foundation to advance Australian architecture and design culture.

The mission of the Alastair Swayn Foundation is:

To perpetuate and honour the legacy of Alastair Swayn by advancing Australian architecture and design through research, education and exhibition, and by establishing industry and international partnerships.

Learn more about Alastair by watching the video below, as well as the video produced for the 2023 Alastair Swayn Legacy Exhibition here