In 2022, the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) launched a landmark design competition for Ngurra: The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Precinct in Canberra. AJC, led by Peter Stutchbury Architecture and collaborating with McGregor Coxall and esteemed First Nations artists and educators, developed a visionary proposal for this culturally significant project.
The choice of this site for the Ngurra Cultural Precinct highlights the importance that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders deserve to have a prominent location in the nation’s capital. The building and the landscape response need to reflect the local Ngunnawal and Ngamberi people but also incorporate and reflect all the different Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander groups across the continent.
Ngurra is to be a place for all people to encounter, engage, and be changed by Australia’s stories, past, present, and future. It is a place to meet and experience a journey on and through Country.
Ngurra, meaning ‘home’ or ‘country’ in various Aboriginal languages, symbolises the central role of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia’s narrative. The precinct will feature a National Indigenous Knowledge and Cultural Centre and a National Resting Place for repatriated ancestral remains and cultural materials. Located on Ngunnawal and Ngambri land, the site is historically rich and has nurtured Indigenous cultures for millennia.
The architectural design for Ngurra blends traditional and contemporary elements, utilising natural forms, textures, and pathways to create an immersive cultural experience. It promises an environment of filtered light, simple forms, soft vegetation, running water, and subtle surprises, embodying both physical beauty and symbolic significance. Sustainability is central, integrating best practices in regenerative and self-sustaining architecture to ensure flexible, adaptive spaces that anticipate future changes. The design respects the interconnectedness of people and Country, emphasising environmental stewardship and responsibility for future generations.
First Nations consultants:
- Uncle Dean Kelly
- Professor Brian Martin
- Professor Nathan Towney
- Professor John Maynard
- Professor Rhonda Wilson
- Adam Manning
Congratulations to the winning scheme by Djinjama with COLA Studio, Hassell and Edition Office.
Year |
2024 |
|---|---|
Collaborators |
|
