Part of our suite of On Demand formal CPD presentations from the Institute's landmark Country, Culture, Community event which drew together Indigenous and non-Indigenous architects, designers, artists and thinkers from across Australia on muwinina Country, nipaluna (Hobart) over three days in February 2024.

This talk from Rufus Black and Catherine Anderson explores the intersection of architecture, sustainability, and Indigenous knowledge, focusing on how Western architectural practices can be reimagined through a relational ontology inspired by Indigenous perspectives. The speakers discuss the unsustainable nature of current architectural and economic models, which are rooted in a colonial mindset of resource extraction and waste production. They argue that engaging with Indigenous concepts of "Designing on Country" can offer valuable insights for creating more sustainable and respectful architectural practices. The talk emphasizes the importance of materials, making, and meaning in architecture, advocating for a shift towards local, regenerative materials, bioclimatic design, and the recovery of traditional building knowledge.

On completion of this course participants should be able to:

• Understand the Importance of Relational Ontology
• Critically Examine Western Architectural Practices
• Integrate Indigenous Knowledge Systems into architectural practice
• Apply Sustainable Material Use in Architecture
• Reevaluate Architectural Strategies for Sustainability

 This event program will deliver outcomes related to the following Competencies from the 2021 National Standard of Competency for Architects:

Practice Management and Professional Conduct

PC 1 Comply with the regulatory requirements and obligations pertaining to practice as an architect, including legislation, professional codes of conduct, obligations for continuing professional development and professional indemnity insurance. 

PC 3 Apply principles of project planning, considering implications for Country, environmental sustainability, communities, stakeholders and project costs. 

PC 8 Be able to implement culturally responsive and meaningful engagement processes that respect the importance of Country and reciprocal relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples across architectural services.

Project Initiation and Conceptual Design

PC 17 Have an understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ aspirations to care for Country and how these inform architectural design. 

PC 20 Be able to assess project budget and timeframe against project requirements and objectives, relevant legislation, statutory planning requirements, building codes and standards. 

PC 24 Be able to prepare and analyse project development options in response to a project brief – its objectives, budget, user intent and built purpose, risk and timeframes, including environmental sustainability considerations. 

PC 27 Understand how to embed the knowledge, worldviews and perspectives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, shared through engagement processes, into the conceptual design in a meaningful, respectful and appropriate way. 

PC 29 Be able to develop and evaluate design options in terms of the heritage, cultural and community values embodied in the site, and in relation to project requirements. 

PC 30 Be able to explore options for siting a project, including integrating information and analysis of relevant cultural, social and economic factors. 

PC 34 Communicate conceptual design proposals and associated information to client, stakeholders and communities using appropriate and culturally responsive methods appropriate to different audiences.

Detailed Design and Construction Documentation

PC 36 Be able to apply creative imagination, design precedents, emergent knowledge, critical evaluation and continued engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples to produce a coherent project design. This should be resolved in terms of supporting health and wellbeing outcomes for Country, site planning, formal composition, spatial planning and circulation as appropriate to the project brief and all other factors affecting the project.

PC 41 Be able to coordinate and integrate input from specialists and consultants into the detailed design and documentation. 

PC 45 Be able to nominate and integrate quality and performance standards with regard to selected materials, finishes, fittings, components and systems, considering the impact on Country and the environment, and the whole life carbon impact of the project. This includes integrating life cycle assessments and other expertise and advice from consultants.