Designing Bendigo's future Law Courts
We facilitated a culturally appropriate collaboration process with DJAARA that embedded the important principles of ‘self-determination’ and ‘Indigenous-led’. The project has a range of design elements that honour Dja Dja Wurrung language, culture, and connection to Country.
Bundjiyl created the landscape and Dja Dja Wurrung Country, which offers key inspiration for the design team. The welcoming forecourt to the Law Courts is a landscape that represents and interprets all parts of Dja Dja Wurrung Country – the distinctive granite outcrops, native flora, and the notion of water in the landscape.
The importance of Bundjiyl the creation being has been captured by artist, Racquel Kerr, and her work has been translated into the copper facade of the building, where it will soar four levels above the city street.
The forecourt’s paved surface symbolises a smoking ceremony – intricate stone detailing interprets plumes of smoke wafting and swirling around the forecourt, and being drawn into the courts entry, with the notion of attracting good spirits.
We are proud to be part of the team bringing this culturally determined project to life – bringing critical social infrastructure to the Bendigo city and wider Loddon Mallee region but beyond that, realising a milestone moment in understanding how Dja Dja Wurrung culture can positively influence the experience of court users.
