Kim Dovey: “Aboriginal” Architecture

Josh Carmody

Alix Smith

Roselyn Tan

Andrew Walsh

Kim Dovey Indigenous Architecture?

Arguments FOR and AGAINST aboriginal architecture

FOR:

Creating more culturally appropriate housing, community centres and institutions will hopefully help communities to retain culture and develop socially and economically as individuals, families and communities thereby bringing different areas into a first world standard of living and thus making positive steps toward reconciliation.

AGAINST:

Prior to white colonialism, aboriginals never really found importance in fixed architecture. 200 years of white colonial domination has affected aboriginal culture in countless ways. So by designing aboriginal architecture are we again imposing white colonial culture on to aboriginal culture?

Kim Dovey Indigenous Architecture?

The Marika Alderton House

Location: Yirrkala Community, Eastern Arnhem Land, Northern Territory

Architect: Glenn Murcutt

Completed: 1994

Source: “A singular architectural practice”, H, Beck and J. Cooper, P. 132

Kim Dovey Indigenous Architecture?

The Marika Alderton House

Brief: A family home for an Aboriginal client that satisfies the respective climatic demands and building codes of the area.

Characteristics of Murcutt’s work:Regular use of elevated platform and natural materials. Highly sustainable and have a strong link to their site.

Source: “A singular architectural practice”, H, Beck and J. Cooper, P. 134, 136

Kim Dovey Indigenous Architecture?Source: http://www.independentaustralia.net

Kim Dovey Indigenous Architecture?

Professionally shot tailored compositions?

Source: “A singular architectural practice”, H, Beck and J. Cooper, P. 131, 140

The Marika Alderton House

Kim Dovey Indigenous Architecture?Source: “A singular architectural practice”, H, Beck and J. Cooper, P. 137, 138

The Marika Alderton House

Kim Dovey Indigenous Architecture?

The Marika Alderton House

Working plan Final plan

Source: “A singular architectural practice”, H, Beck and J. Cooper, P. 133

Kim Dovey Indigenous Architecture?

The Marika Alderton House

Source: “A singular architectural practice”, H, Beck and J. Cooper, P. 131, 140

Dovey’s argument:• The media have created a false representation for the Marika Alderton house by framing it with

specifically chosen words, drawings and photographs.

Studio specific issues:• How has Murcutt attempted as a white architect to incorporate aspects of aboriginality within

his design? • Is the job as white architects to avoid iconic representations of aboriginality (the dreamtime),

and instead pursue approaches that question aboriginal identity in architecture? Or is this simply an excuse to avoid the issue?

Kim Dovey Indigenous Architecture?

Burgess and Brambuk

Location: Gariwerd(Grampians) ranges, western Victoria

Architect: Greg Burgess with others

Completed: 1991

Kim Dovey Indigenous Architecture?

Burgess and Brambruk

Brief: Use of “curvilinear forms and natural materials” and a participatory design process

Characteristics of Burgess’ work: Non-orthogonal geometries, curvilinear forms and the use of timber

The foyer.

Kim Dovey Indigenous Architecture?

Burgess and Brambruk

Roof plan

Kim Dovey Indigenous Architecture?

Burgess and Brambruk

Ground floor plan

First floor plan

The stone fireplace.

Kim Dovey Indigenous Architecture?

Burgess and Brambruk

Overlooking the theatre. The theatre under construction.

Kim Dovey Indigenous Architecture?

Burgess and Brambruk

Helical ramps leading to the first floor.

Kim Dovey Indigenous Architecture?

Burgess and Brambruk

Dovey’s argument:

White preconceptions of a 'primitive' culture and socially constructed identities.

Reinforced construction of Aboriginal people as primitive, natural and irregular.

Conceptual oppositions by white people.

The building embodies forms of liberating practice.

Kim Dovey Indigenous Architecture?

Aboriginality in Architecture: Other works:

…more ‘Aboriginal’ Architecture

Karijini Visitors Centre, PilbaraWoodhead International

Patjarr Aboriginal Community Visitors CentreUniversity of South Australia Students

Tjulyuru Ngaanyatjarri Cultural and Civic Centre,WarburtonInside Out Architects

Bunjilaka,Aboriginal Wing of the Museum of Victoria DCM

Kim Dovey Indigenous Architecture?

Aboriginality in Architecture: Other works:

…more ‘Aboriginal’ Architecture

Karijini Visitors Centre, PilbaraWoodhead International(2001)

Patjarr Aboriginal Community Visitors CentreUniversity of South Australia Students (2004)

Tjulyuru Ngaanyatjarri Cultural and Civic Centre,WarburtonInside Out Architects (2003)

Bunjilaka,Aboriginal Wing of the Museum of Victoria DCM (1995)

Kim Dovey Indigenous Architecture?

BunjilakaAboriginal Wing of Museum of Victoria Denton Corker Marshall1995

• Representing Aboriginality in an Urban Setting

Superficial reading of Aboriginality‘Natural form’

…more ‘Aboriginal’ Architecture

Source: http://www.architecturemedia.com/aa/aaissue. (July/August 1996 Issue)

Compare and Contrast:

The curvilenear ‘natural’ forms of the Bunjikala gallery are an odd departure from DCM’s orthogonal style

Kim Dovey Indigenous Architecture?

…more ‘Aboriginal’ Architecture

BunjilakaAboriginal Wing of Museum of Victoria Denton Corker Marshall1995

• Competition- prevents consultation

• Architecture about Aboriginies

• Serpent tracks and dot painting references

Source: http://museumvictoria.com.au/bunjilaka

Who is this representation of Aboriginality for?

Kim Dovey Indigenous Architecture?

Karijini Visitors’ Centre, PilbaraWoodhead International2001

“The project brief was to create a building for the interpretation of the park, its geology, flora, fauna, people and history. The cultural symbol chosen by the aboriginal stakeholders for the form of the building is a Kurrumanthu (goanna/lizard).” –Woodhead International

…more ‘Aboriginal’ Architecture

Source: http://www.woodhead.com.au/projects

Kim Dovey Indigenous Architecture?

…more ‘Aboriginal’ Architecture

Karijini Visitors’ Centre, PilbaraWoodhead International2001

“The design objective was to represent, through the built form, respect for the intentions of the aboriginal stakeholders and to stimulate interest in a reappraisal of our collective past, place in the landscape and relationship between aboriginal and non aboriginal people.”-Woodhead International

Source: http://www.woodhead.com.au/projects

Kim Dovey Indigenous Architecture?

Patjarr Visitors’ Centre (near Alice Springs)Louis Laybourne Smith School of Architecture at the University of South Australia 2004

• Storage facility and gallery for indigenous artefacts

• Re-fuelling point for air-travellers

• Student built project

…more ‘Aboriginal’ Architecture

Source: http://www.architecturemedia.com/aa/aaissue (Jan/Feb 2004)

Kim Dovey Indigenous Architecture?

Patjarr Visitors’ Centre (near Alice Springs)Louis Laybourne Smith School of Architecture at the University of South Australia 2004

“students voiced their disappointment that community members were not more involved in the building process. However, the speed and prefabricated nature of the construction would have precluded almost any external involvement “-Paul Pholeros, Architecture Australia

…more ‘Aboriginal’ Architecture

Source: http://www.architecturemedia.com/aa/aaissue (Jan/Feb 2004)

Kim Dovey Indigenous Architecture?

Tjulyuru Ngaanyatjarri Cultural and Civic Centre, Warburtonby Inside Out Architects2003

• Collaboration between indigenous and non-indigenous architects

• Participatory process- design, construction, maintenance

…more ‘Aboriginal’ Architecture

Source: http://www.architecturemedia.com/aa/ (Sept/Oct 2003 Issue)

Kim Dovey Indigenous Architecture?

Tjulyuru Ngaanyatjarri Cultural and Civic Centre,Warburtonby Inside Out Architects2003

Represents a shift in Aboriginal tourism from “presenting culture as an object... to culture as a subject”.- Mike Parsons

…more ‘Aboriginal’ Architecture

Source: http://www.architecturemedia.com/aa/ (Sept/Oct 2003 Issue)

Traditional Gallery Spaces

Opening day celebrations and rituals

Kim Dovey Indigenous Architecture?

Lessons that we can learn for Bower 2011

- Understanding that there is no single aboriginal architectural representation of form or function. While there may be consistencies in some of the social and cultural aspects of different communities responses to issues should not be based on assumption.

- The people who set the briefs need to consult with the relevant communities or cultural representatives that the building is for, or going to be representative of.

- Architects responding to these briefs or proposals need to be more willing to consult, listen and learn prior to the design process, rather than after it.

Kim Dovey Indigenous Architecture?

Letter to the Editor September/October issue Architecture Australia

“Unfair to us and Glenn”

“Our views on Glenn Murcutt's involvement were never sought by Kim Dovey, nor was any critical understanding of our specific social, political and economic context.”

Get off the Grass Kim”

“At least Glenn Murcutt is prepared to get off his arse and try to help people at a grassroots level, rather than sitting in an ivory tower writing pathetic prose about subjects he is obviously unfamiliar with.”

Kim Dovey Indigenous Architecture?

Questions raised by Kim Dovey; discuss them or else.

“Who authorises Aboriginal architecture?”

“How is architecture being used in the ongoing discourse of Aboriginal reconciliation; by whom and in whose interest?”

If “there are no Aboriginal architects: how are white architects to design for Aboriginals?”

“Is there any kind of architecture that does not, for better or worse, 'fix' and 'stabilise' socially constructed identities?”