Built Forms on Ngunnawal Country: Investigation and Adaptation
Researcher
Kieran Minto
Published
20 Feb 2023
Funding
Alastair Swayn Internship
Traditionally, throughout white Australian history, the built environment has been used as a tool for colonisation. From the first colonials on Australian soil to modern day Australia, the built environment has been expanding its territory, resulting in the continued displacement, and forced assimilation of First Nations people in Western cultures.
An evolving movement expresses an interest in including input from First Nations people throughout the design process and beyond. Kieran Wong, a co-founder of The Fulcrum Agency, has expressed two primary concerns with this movement: The first being the idea that integrating design with culture can ‘heal’ Country completely, and the second being once projects are completed, the majority are not publicly available buildings, thus limiting levels of interaction with the integrated design features (Wong, 2022).
Both issues require reflection and reform of the typical architectural project model, which is what this research project aims to inform. This research explores experiences by First Nations designers, consultants, and others with knowledge within the architectural realm of public spaces.
By investigating and adapting these experiences to suit the current industry environment, conclusions, and recommendations of how to implement designing on Country practices will immerge. This is where the research will conclude and propose guidelines and frameworks by governing bodies.
