Creating with connection
Date: June 10, 2024
Category: Insights
Ongoing conversations and workshops with the greater Riawunna community further identified four key design principles which directly aligned with the design drivers. These design principles spoke directly of the importance of cultural values and practices of community whilst still allowing for creativity within the design process.
These were:
1. Embed Indigenous ‘’Knowledges of Country’’ – Understanding that you are walking on Country through a strong cultural identity of the place, the elements and cultural practices
2. Celebrate cultural performance and ceremony – Development of a central and connected performance space to pass down knowledge. is central to building the spirit of place
3. Woven landscape for a connected community – Creating a strong link between a variety of gathering and community spaces
4. Ensure authentic Indigenous representation – Use of authentic local and Indigenous materials and plants
Our response to these design principles focused on a strong cultural identity of place – so that everyone was aware they were walking on Aboriginal Country through the design of the landscape and the incorporation of cultural practices.
These were:
1. Embed Indigenous ‘’Knowledges of Country’’ – Understanding that you are walking on Country through a strong cultural identity of the place, the elements and cultural practices
2. Celebrate cultural performance and ceremony – Development of a central and connected performance space to pass down knowledge. is central to building the spirit of place
3. Woven landscape for a connected community – Creating a strong link between a variety of gathering and community spaces
4. Ensure authentic Indigenous representation – Use of authentic local and Indigenous materials and plants
Our response to these design principles focused on a strong cultural identity of place – so that everyone was aware they were walking on Aboriginal Country through the design of the landscape and the incorporation of cultural practices.
Screen
Firepit
Additional key elements that developed through the collaborative design process include:
Screens – the open location of the garden in relation to both an occasional passing by a tourist tram along the outer edge of the garden and the public walkway on top of the levy wall called for some screening to provide some level of privacy (for cultural practices) whilst remaining open, safe and allowing for ample sunlight penetration into the garden at all times of the year.
Firepit – The lid of the firepit presented an opportunity for cultural interpretation of the representation of fire. Similarly, the area beneath the firepit was used to represent where the three rivers come together.
Main Shelter – in addition to it acting as a strong cultural identity, an additional benefit to the community are the removable circular frames that sit on the underside of the canopy – they are used in weaving workshops where weaving as a cultural practice is taught and passed on through the community. These frames are utilsed in this process and once the weaving of the frames are completed they are fixed into place on the underside of the shelter. In addition to the cultural identity and educational process, these frames also act as a visual interest of an ongoing cultural practice, the art of weaving.
Screens – the open location of the garden in relation to both an occasional passing by a tourist tram along the outer edge of the garden and the public walkway on top of the levy wall called for some screening to provide some level of privacy (for cultural practices) whilst remaining open, safe and allowing for ample sunlight penetration into the garden at all times of the year.
Firepit – The lid of the firepit presented an opportunity for cultural interpretation of the representation of fire. Similarly, the area beneath the firepit was used to represent where the three rivers come together.
Main Shelter – in addition to it acting as a strong cultural identity, an additional benefit to the community are the removable circular frames that sit on the underside of the canopy – they are used in weaving workshops where weaving as a cultural practice is taught and passed on through the community. These frames are utilsed in this process and once the weaving of the frames are completed they are fixed into place on the underside of the shelter. In addition to the cultural identity and educational process, these frames also act as a visual interest of an ongoing cultural practice, the art of weaving.
Main Shelter
Left to right: Jerome Dobinson, Amanda Kay, Genie Battese, Lynne Spotswood, Anne-Marie Pisani, Dave Warrener
With additional support needed to translate and fabricate the artists’ drawings into built form, and with our team located in Melbourne, it was agreed to bring on the local T3D Studio team of Amanda Kay and Jerome Dobinson to work closely with the artists, ASPECT Studios and the University of Tasmania to develop and organise construction of the artist-informed design elements. This relationship flowed seamlessly through the whole design process, from conception through to the fabrication of the art-informed elements. Instrumental to the success was the teams genuine approach to co-design process.
This resulted in two complementary artwork forms combined into an overall striking design element. Embedded glass making art of emerging artist Genie Battese, together with artwork by an Lynne Spotswood. Artwork of plants was framed around the local connection to Country, whilst the emerging artists work was about community, and together both pieces provided a community narrative which translated beautifully into screen elements. This also provided a number of benefits to community beyond the immediate built form – in addition to the passing on of weaving as a cultural practice, it also provided the opportunity for a Tasmanian Aboriginal emerging artist to develop and showcase her unique talent.
This resulted in two complementary artwork forms combined into an overall striking design element. Embedded glass making art of emerging artist Genie Battese, together with artwork by an Lynne Spotswood. Artwork of plants was framed around the local connection to Country, whilst the emerging artists work was about community, and together both pieces provided a community narrative which translated beautifully into screen elements. This also provided a number of benefits to community beyond the immediate built form – in addition to the passing on of weaving as a cultural practice, it also provided the opportunity for a Tasmanian Aboriginal emerging artist to develop and showcase her unique talent.
Cluster stones have also been included in the design and the recognition of the importance of connection to water although not being able to visually connect with, is known to be in the form of the river on the other side of the adjacent levy wall.
In an extension to further connection with community – and particularly those connected with the former location of Riawunna at the Newham campus -- the ashes from the firepit at Riawunna Newham were collected and laid into the new Riawunna firepit at Inveresk – symbolising a strong connection to all those who were and who are connected to Riawunna. The new firepit was lit in the late afternoon of 16th November 2023 at the official opening of the Riawunna Garden. This official opening signaled the final part of ASPECT Studios’s involvement in the project in a literal sense, but the relationships built, stories and understanding shared will remain and influence us for life. We hope the community will continue to enjoy gathering within the garden, and to continue to strengthen their relationships with each other, proudly welcome Indigenous people from other places and continue to share their cultural practices with future generations.
In an extension to further connection with community – and particularly those connected with the former location of Riawunna at the Newham campus -- the ashes from the firepit at Riawunna Newham were collected and laid into the new Riawunna firepit at Inveresk – symbolising a strong connection to all those who were and who are connected to Riawunna. The new firepit was lit in the late afternoon of 16th November 2023 at the official opening of the Riawunna Garden. This official opening signaled the final part of ASPECT Studios’s involvement in the project in a literal sense, but the relationships built, stories and understanding shared will remain and influence us for life. We hope the community will continue to enjoy gathering within the garden, and to continue to strengthen their relationships with each other, proudly welcome Indigenous people from other places and continue to share their cultural practices with future generations.
