ABORIGINAL ARCHITECTURE PROJECTS
design studio, teaching, research and practice projects





DESIGN STUDIO & DESIGN CONSULTANCY SCOPING PROJECT
Aboriginal Remote Community Health Facilities
Ampilatwatja Community, Alice Springs, Northern Territory
Design Consultancy Project leader:
Brendan Jones, RMIT Architecture Upperpool Design Studio Leader; Practice Director: Antarctica
Consultant: Ian Watts, Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP)
Design Team: RMIT Architecture Upperpool Design Students - Amy Melrose, Emily Wallace, Gaudi Olaga, Trecia Lim, Girish Sagram, Lisa Seibert, Matt Dravich, Raphael Fantl, Will Loft and Chung Ho.
Client: Ampilatwatja Community, Alice Springs, Northern Territory
Partners:
Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP)
Ampilatwatja Community, Alice Springs, Northern Territory
National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO)
Antarctica Architects

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POSTGRADUATE RESEARCH BY PROJECT
Finn Pederson, Practice Director: Iredale Pedersen Hook, Perth/Melbourne
"Remotely Sustainable"
Master of Architecture (research by project) - Invited Stream, RMIT, 2008
Supervisor: Leon van Schaik

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BOOK CHAPTER
Finn Pedersen, Adrian Iredale and Martyn Hook, Practice: Iredale Pedersen Hook,
"Remote Housing" in
reHousing: 24 Housing Projects,
Shane Murray, Diego Ramirez and Simon Whibley (Editors)
Melbourne: RMIT Press, 2008, pp 128-133
ISBN: 9781921426063
Publication project leader:
Simon Whibley, RMIT Architecture Lecturer, RMIT Urban Architecture Laboratory
RMIT Architecture student publication project team:
Allison Claney, Karim Chami, Mariana Jahufer, Rachel Soo, Rueben Kuah and Samantha Chan

Design projects  undertaken as case-studies within the postgraduate candidacy of:
Finn Pedersen, RMIT Master of Architecture (research by project), 2008. Project Architect, Practice Director: Iredale Pedersen Hook Architects.
Adrian Iredale, RMIT Master of Architecture (research by project), 2008. Practice Director: Iredale Pedersen Hook Architects.
Martyn Hook, RMIT PhD in Architecture (research by project), 2008, RMIT Architecture Senior Lecturer. Practice Director: Iredale Pedersen Hook Architects.
Supervisor: Leon van Schaik

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BOOK CHAPTER
Finn Pedersen, Adrian Iredale and Martyn Hook, Practice: Iredale Pedersen Hook, 
"Remote Works" in
Next Wave: New Australian Architecture
By Davina Jackson, Shannon McGrath
Photographs by Shannon McGrath
Contributors: Shannon McGrath, Andrew MacKenzie
Published by Princeton Architectural Press, 2008
ISBN 1568987358, 9781568987354

Design projects  undertaken as case-studies within the postgraduate candidacy of:
Finn Pedersen, RMIT Master of Architecture (research by project), 2008. Project Architect, Practice Director: Iredale Pedersen Hook Architects.
Adrian Iredale, RMIT Master of Architecture (research by project), 2008. Practice Director: Iredale Pedersen Hook Architects.
Martyn Hook, RMIT PhD in Architecture (research by project), 2008, RMIT Architecture Senior Lecturer. Practice Director: Iredale Pedersen Hook Architects.
Supervisor: Leon van Schaik

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ARC LINKAGE GRANT
"More than a Roof Overhead - Meeting the Need for a Sustainable Housing System in Remote Indigenous Communities"
ARC Linkage Grant, 2008-2010
Chief Investigators:
Prof John Fien, Innovation Professor of Sustainability, RMIT
Dr Esther Charlesworth, RMIT School of Architecture and Design. Founding Director: Architects Without Frontiers
Prof Wakefield, RMIT
Ralph Horne, Director of Centre for Design, RMIT
Prof. Jon Altman, ANU
Prof Michael Christie, CDU
Linkage Partners:
Department of Housing and Works WA,
Territory Housing NT,
Indigenous Business Australia,
Bawinanga Aboriginal Corporation,
Centre for Appropriate Technology
Grant: $230,643

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REFEREED JOURNAL ARTICLE
Dr Esther Charlesworth, RMIT School of Architecture and Design. Founding Director: Architects Without Frontiers
with Prof. John Fien
"Beyond Shelter: Ideas for Remote Indigenous Housing,"
in International Journal of Building Science, Melbourne, 2008

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AHURI RESEARCH PAPER
Esther Charlesworth (RMIT School of Architecture and Design, Founding Director: Architects Without Frontiers)
with Fien, J., Baker, D., Grice, T., Lee, G. and Morris, D.,
"Flexible Guidelines for the Design of Remote Indigenous Community Housing," (Final Paper),
AHURI, Melbourne, 2008.

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REFEREED JOURNAL ARTICLE
Finn Pedersen, Adrian Iredale and Martyn Hook, Practice: Iredale Pedersen Hook,
"Parasols in the Desert"
in Architectural Design Research (ADR) Journal
project-based design research and discourse on design
Brent Allpress & Michael Ostwald, (Editors)
Melbourne: AASA, Vol 2, No 1, 2007, pp 7-36
Designer: Stuart Geddes, Chase and Galley

Design projects  undertaken as case-studies within the postgraduate candidacy of:
Finn Pedersen, RMIT Master of Architecture (research by project), 2008. Project Architect, Practice Director: Iredale Pedersen Hook Architects.
Adrian Iredale, RMIT Master of Architecture (research by project), 2008. Practice Director: Iredale Pedersen Hook Architects.
Martyn Hook, RMIT PhD in Architecture (research by project), 2008, RMIT Architecture Senior Lecturer. Practice Director: Iredale Pedersen Hook Architects.
Supervisor: Leon van Schaik

Open ADR Journal Vol 2, no 1, online publication

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PROFESSIONAL JOURNAL ARTICLE
TJUNTJUNTJARA HOUSING: Iredale Pedersen Hook – housing as community infrastructure,
REVIEW: Narelle Yabuka,
in Architecture Australia, May/June 2007

Design projects  undertaken as case-studies within the postgraduate candidacy of:
Finn Pedersen, RMIT Master of Architecture (research by project), 2008. Project Architect, Practice Director: Iredale Pedersen Hook Architects.
Adrian Iredale, RMIT Master of Architecture (research by project), 2008. Practice Director: Iredale Pedersen Hook Architects.
Martyn Hook, RMIT PhD in Architecture (research by project), 2008, RMIT Architecture Senior Lecturer. Practice Director: Iredale Pedersen Hook Architects.
Supervisor: Leon van Schaik

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INTERNATIONAL TRAVELLING EXHIBITION
Finn Pedersen, Adrian Iredale and Martyn Hook, Practice: Iredale Pedersen Hook,
Remote Works
in New Trends of Architecture in Europe & Asia Pacific 2006-2007 Exhibition
RMIT Gallery, Storey Hall
20th June to 28th July 2007
Australian Curator and Advisor:
Leon van Schaik, RMIT Innovation Professor of Architecture
Presented by the RMIT School of Architecture & Design and RMIT Gallery
Travelling exhibition destinations:
Patras, Greece [June 2-25 2006]
Tokyo [May 11-27, 2007]
Melbourne [June 20-August 5, 2007]
Perth [August 17-September 30, 2007]
Luxembourg [November 9-29, 2007]
Shanghai [December, 2007]

This exhibition featured "Remote Works" by Iredale Pedersen Hook including:
Tjunjuntjara Aboriginal Community (Great Victorian Desert),
Irrungadji, Parngurr, kunawarritiji and Kiwirrkurra Communities (Western Desert),
Djugerari Community (Great Sandy Desert),
Western Australia, 2001-2005

Design projects  undertaken as case-studies within the postgraduate candidacy of:
Finn Pedersen, RMIT Master of Architecture (research by project), 2008. Project Architect, Practice Director: Iredale Pedersen Hook Architects.
Adrian Iredale, RMIT Master of Architecture (research by project), 2008. Practice Director: Iredale Pedersen Hook Architects.
Martyn Hook, RMIT PhD in Architecture (research by project), 2008, RMIT Architecture Senior Lecturer. Practice Director: Iredale Pedersen Hook Architects.
Supervisor: Leon van Schaik

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AHURI POSITIONING PAPER
Esther Charlesworth (RMIT School of Architecture and Design, Founding Director: Architects Without Frontiers)
with Fien, J., Baker, D., Grice, T., Lee, G. and Morris, D.
"Flexible Guidelines for the Design of Remote Indigenous Community Housing," (Positioning Paper), AHURI, Melbourne, 2007.

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AWARDS
Walmajarri Offices & Staff House for Djugerari Community
Practice: Iredale Pedersen Hook Architects

commendation:
RAIA WA Chapter, Public Institutional, 2006

winner of:
RAIA WA Chapter, Colorbond Steel Award, 2006

honourable mention: 
AR(UK) Awards for Emerging Architecture, 2006
AR(UK):
List of AR Award winners, 2006

Design project  undertaken as a case-study within the postgraduate candidacy of:
Finn Pedersen, RMIT Master of Architecture (research by project), 2008. Project Architect, Practice Director: Iredale Pedersen Hook Architects.
Adrian Iredale, RMIT Master of Architecture (research by project), 2008. Practice Director: Iredale Pedersen Hook Architects.
Martyn Hook, RMIT PhD in Architecture (research by project), 2008, RMIT Architecture Senior Lecturer. Practice Director: Iredale Pedersen Hook Architects.
Supervisor: Leon van Schaik

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AHURI RESEARCH GRANT
"Flexible Guidelines for the Design of Remote Indigenous Community Housing."
AHURI Grant, 2006-2008
CI’s:
Dr Esther Charlesworth, RMIT School of Architecture and Design. Founding Director: Architects Without Frontiers
Prof. John Fien
Amount: $165,000
Aboriginal Communities: Mimili, SA and Maningrida, NT
This grant enabled the building of a team of multi-disciplinary researchers from RMIT, University of South Australia and QUT.

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DESIGN CONSULTANCY SCOPING DOCUMENT
Maningrida Arts Centre
Project Facilitated by Architects Without Frontiers
Esther Charlesworth, Research Fellow, RMIT School of Architecture and Design
Founding Director: Architects Without Frontiers
Project Leader: Deb Kunda, RMIT Master of Architecture (professional) Alumni, AWF
Project Team: Beck Adams, RMIT Master Architecture (professional) Alumni, AWF
Client: Ian Munro (BAC) and Apolline Kohen (MAC)
Client Representative: Ian Munro of Bawinanga Aboriginal Corporation (BAC)
Project Partners: Thomas Foundation
Commencement Date: Apr-08
Consultant Team: QS Services
Project Description: Production of scoping document for Art Centre at Maningrida
Status: Scoping document for MAC almost finalised, with design and QS updates completed

AWF is working on a new Arts Centre, in Maningrida, north central Arnhem Land. RMIT Architecture graduates Deb Kunda and Beck Adams travelled to the area in April to determine the current state of the project. The existing Art Centre is very overcrowded with art works - bark paintings, fibre baskets and 3D art are stacked on top of each other, potentially damaging the work. Maningrida and its surrounding outstations have around 800 contributing artists, and Maningrida Arts and Crafts helps the community to sustain and develop itself economically while maintaining its cultural roots. The current facilities were built in the 1960s as a soup kitchen, and are completely unsuitable for housing and storing artwork. When artists come to sell their work they have to discuss payment in public, as there is nowhere else to do this, sometimes causing embarrassing social problems for the artists.

AWF Newsletter No.5, October 2008

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DESIGN CONSULTANCY SCOPING DOCUMENT
Gunbalunya Cultural Centre (Second Stage)
Project Facilitated by Architects Without Frontiers
Esther Charlesworth, Research Fellow, RMIT School of Architecture and Design
Founding Director: Architects Without Frontiers
Project Leader: Garry Ormston, Architect, AWF
Project Team: Deb Kunda, Beck Adams, RMIT Master of Architecture (professional) Alumni, AWF
Client: Injalak Arts and Crafts
Client Representative: Anthony Murphy (Injaluk Arts and Crafts) and Brendan Higgins (ICC)
Project Partners: Thomas Foundation; Indigenous Cultural Centre (ICC) Darwin

Two visits have been made to Gunbalanya to scope the cultural centre project in collaboration with the Indigenous Coordination Centre (Darwin) and the Injalak Cultural Centre in Gunbalanya. In June 2008, AWF completed the second stage of the Gunbalunya Cultural Centre project, which involved presenting the first sketch design work to the people in Gunbalanya. The AWF team took drawings and a model to get community feedback on the design so far, and received a very positive response. The community decided that it is not appropriate to have a keeping place for the old people, who are being returned to country from museums all over the world, in such a public place. There was great enthusiasm for the ceremony area and the jetty out into the lagoon. We left the project set up at Injalak Arts so that people we couldn't see on the day could come past and look at the project. After some re-working of the design following feedback from the community and stakeholders, AWF submitted the project to a quantity surveyor in Darwin. The cost estimate was somewhat higher than anticipated - it's very expensive building in remote areas. So while preparing the scoping documentation for the Injaluk Cultural Centre we are also talking to the quantity surveyor about ways to reduce costs in order to get the Cultural Centre built.




SCOPING DOCUMENT (pdf, 1.6Mb)
Client: Injalak Arts and Crafts
Client Representative: Anthony Murphy (Injaluk Arts and Crafts) and Brendan Higgins (ICC)
Project Partners: Thomas Foundation; Indigenous Cultural Centre (ICC) Darwin
Commencement Date: Apr-08
Project Leader: Garry Ormston, Architect, AWF
Project Team: Deb Kunda, Beck Adams, RMIT Architecture Alumni, AWF Volunteers
Project Description: Design of Cultural Centre at Gunbalunya
Status: Stage 2 consultation at Gunbalunyah completed in June, awaiting feedback from community. Some community feedback which AWF team will respond to in the design by the end of August.

Summary:
Garry Ormston, and RMIT Architecture graduates Deb Kunda and Beck Adams did a site visit to Gunbalunya to participate in a community consultation and design workshop for the Injaluk Cultural Centre in April 2008. The existing building and proposed site were documented. At the stage 2 visit in June a floor plan and model was presented for community discussion and feedback. Following this consultation a proposed sketch design will be submitted and included in a scoping document to be used by the Gunbalunyah community to attract funding to build.




AWF Newsletter No.5, October 2008

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PHILANTHROPIC GRANTS
Design of Indigenous Cultural Centres in Oenpelli and Maningrida, Northern Territory
Thomas Foundation Grant, 2007-2008
Project Leader:
Dr Esther Charlesworth, RMIT School of Architecture and Design, Founding Director: Architects Without Frontiers
Aboriginal Communities: Oenpelli and Maningrida, NT (see above)

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REFEREED CONFERENCE PAPER
Dr Esther Charlesworth, (RMIT School of Architecture and Design, Founding Director: Architects Without Frontiers)
"More than a Roof Overhead: Towards an Effective Design Practice for Remote Indigenous Housing,"
in re Housing: UAL International Housing Conference,
Proceedings, Melbourne: RMIT, 5-8 Oct 2006, pp 14-22
Conference Proceedings pp 6-45 (pdf)
Conference Co-Convenors:
Shane Murray, Diego Ramirez and Simon Whibley, RMIT Architecture Urban Architecture Laboratory

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RMIT SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN STUDY TOUR ELECTIVE
The Lurujarri Dreaming Trail
School of Architecture & Design Elective, Recurring offering
Cordinator: Judy Rogers, RMIT Landscape Architecture

In this course students have the opportunity to learn about, listen to, discuss and engage with indigenous people about their knowledge and relationship to land. Students will spend 9 days with the Goolarbooloo people of Broome W.A. walking the Lurujarri dreaming trail. Lurujarri, meaning coastal dunes, is the Aboriginal name that generally describes the stretch of country from Broome, W.A. to Minarriny, about 90 kms to the north of Broome. The trail follows part of a traditional Aboriginal song cycle that originated from the Dreamtime.

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Australian Indigenous Architecture Resources