Riawunna Aboriginal Studies Centre, Newnham campus | Original architect’s Project report Urban Initiatives Pty Ltd in association with Sinatra Murphy Source: Australian Institute of Landscape Architects – Landscape Australia 2001
Photo: John Gollings
Full Project Report Riawunna Aboriginal Studies Centre, University of Tasmania by Phin Murphy and Tim Hart “Riawunna-the living landscape expressed through the living culture.” Overview The design for the new Riawunna Aboriginal Studies Centre at the University of Tasmania was generated by the Landscape Architects, working with local indigenous people involved with the Centre. The design process centred around community based consultation, to maximise input from the local indige¬nous people. This involvement ensured that the design outcome maintained a firm integrity with the Community mem¬bers and, through its realisation, has become an expression of their landscapes and their culture. Built for a modest budget, the landscape complements the evocative architecture, form and materials of Peter Elliott’s Riawunna building. The University’s design brief for the Riawunna Centre called for a building with its own address point, separate iden¬tity and an `Aboriginal Native Garden’ to a contained courtyard. Through the syner¬gy between the landscape and the archi¬tecture and the contribution of the Community members, what has been constructed goes beyond this objective.
Photo: Jim Sinatra
Fire pit flanked by the granite sitting wall and the dolerite stones. Aims The intent of the design was to assert that Tasmania’s indigenous culture is very much alive, contrary to the popular mis¬nomer that `all were massacred’. This resulted in the identified direction for the design workshops as the living landscape expressed through the living culture. As a result of these workshops, the design process focused on two primary objectives. Firstly, to develop a garden design that reflected the local indigenous cul¬ture, the Tasmanian landscape and cul¬tural connection to the land through the `stories’ of the indigenous people. Secondly, to establish the functional role of the garden in relation to the Centre’s special needs and resources in providing educational and cultural ser¬vices for its client group. For example the Centre’s courtyard space is considered of equal functional importance as the interi¬or spaces in providing a culturally responsive, supportive and comfortable The project is a powerful statement of Riawunna (meaning circle) using large dolerite stones placed around the building and its landscape. The dolerite stones make a reference to Launceston’s Gorge, which was a source of inspiration during the workshop and is considered a place of spiritual significance. They also symbolise a permanent and continued education environment. Significance of Project
Photo: John Gollings
Pedestrian access connecting the carpark, Riawunna and the Faculty of Arts Precinct.
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