Koorie Heritage Trust Stage 2

The design was achieved through a unique collaboration between three architectural design practices: Lyons as lead architects, Greenaway Architects as Indigenous design leads, and Architecture Associates as gallery specialists. This collaboration allowed all aspects of the project to be professionally met whilst bringing indigenous knowledge directly into all aspects of the design process. Through this collaboration we also undertook a consultation with a wide range of stakeholders on the project, including the Koorie Heritage Trust (KHT) and the wider Koorie community, to identify the aspirations for the overall project.

As the peak indigenous cultural organisation in Victoria, the location of the Trust in the Birrarung Building in Federation Square is an extraordinary ‘public project’ bringing indigenous knowledge into the heart of the city. To achieve this, KHT implemented a complete chain of design and delivery through indigenous owned businesses – an indigenous client (KHT) working with the design team and indigenous architect Jefa Greenaway, and having the project tendered to three indigenous owned and controlled construction businesses and constructed by DLG-Shape.

A core part of the design brief was for the Trust to fully occupy all three levels of the Birrarung Building, so that takes its place as a major new public institution within Federation Square – creating a tripartite public architecture with the Australian Centre of Moving Image (ACMI) and NGV Australia. This was achieved through a range of design strategies, including the use of a locally sourced timber (from Koorie country) as a wayfinding device. Similarly, new community meeting rooms exceed the brief by making these spaces highly accessible (and therefore highly utilised) to the community and corporate hires. An overall contribution and success of the project was also the renaming of the Yarra Building to the Birrarung Building – reflecting the critical relationship between the Koorie community and the river.

The project is exemplar in the achievement of storage, conservation and public display of the Trust’s significant cultural collection. The storage requires ‘museum grade’ spaces, as well as conservation spaces for maintaining cultural materials. Exhibition spaces include ‘display cases’ for revolving exhibition from the permanent collections, as well as two new gallery spaces for showing works by contemporary Koori artists. This functionality is achieved through a series of design strategies, bringing indigenous knowledge directly into the design: reflective ceilings reference pre-settlement wetlands and meandering banks, represented through locally sourced timbers. This achieves a sense of connectivity to Birrarung – redressing the original Federation Square layout which ‘turned its back’ onto the river.

In addition to meeting the needs of KHT staff and community users, a key aspiration of the project was to make the spaces as accessible as possible to visitors – inviting the public in to participate in Koori knowledge and community, and through this to provide a deeply educational experience. This has been achieved through a wide range of strategies, including ease of wayfinding, informal communal lounge spaces, two major gallery spaces for curated exhibitions, and a series of interlinked display spaces. At the topmost level is a major ‘education table’, in the shape of a traditional Koori canoe, around which groups of visitors, including school students, can interact directly with artefacts.

The project is exemplary in not only bringing indigenous cultural organisation directly into the cultural heart of the city but bringing this indigenous knowledge directly into design. The design of the project ‘tells the story’ of Koorie occupation on the banks of the Birrarung, referencing all that was part of this original Country. But this Country has never been erased, and the overall design achieves extraordinary design excellence in foregrounding this idea of Country within a modern metropolis.

The Koorie Heritage Trust (KHT) is an award-winning project which incorporates innovative design deeply rooted in its cultural and community-focused mission. The design of KHT is grounded in a profound respect for First Nations culture and heritage. It incorporates traditional design elements and materials that resonate with the cultural identity of First Nations peoples. The building’s internal fitout and design seamlessly integrate with its natural surroundings, creating a harmonious environment reflecting the connection First Nations communities have with Country.

The architectural layout of the Trust is designed to facilitate storytelling and cultural expression. Spaces are often flexible, allowing for various types of exhibitions and educational programs that enrich visitors’ understanding of Koorie history and contemporary culture.

The new design makes available a wide range of public spaces for the community, allowing them to access First Nations knowledge and creative enterprises. At the heart of the design is reconnecting the building, via the interiors, to Birrarung - reversing the previous design paradigm in which Fed Square was the ‘front’ and the Yarra/Birrarung the ‘back’. A series of sinuous curved walls, built out of local spotted gum timber, creates both a public wayfinding device and a narrative recalling the edge of the wetlands and ponds that previously occupied the site. A series of shimmering reflective ceiling elements, set on a deep blue, are located along this public route and further recall the significance of water to this Country. Episodic arrangements of vibrantly coloured carpet and furniture also reflect the deep colours of Country and its forms. Each of these elements are interspersed with exhibition areas to showcase the Trust’s valuable cultural collection.

The design of the Koorie Heritage Trust has had a profound impact on the community and beyond, fostering cultural pride, education, and reconciliation. The design of KHT facilitates educational programs and exhibitions and provides a welcoming invitation for the community and visitors to explore First Nations stories. It serves as a gathering place where First Nations peoples can come together to yarn and celebrate, strengthening their sense of identity and belonging. Community events and workshops held at KHT foster a sense of unity and resilience.

For non-Indigenous visitors, the design provides opportunities for meaningful engagement with First Nations culture and history, challenging misconceptions and promoting mutual understanding and context. The presence of the KHT has also contributed to the economic and social vitality of the wider Melbourne community. It attracts tourists and visitors to Melbourne, boosting local businesses and supporting jobs in the cultural sector. Additionally, its programs create employment opportunities and skill-building initiatives for First Nations youth and adults.

The impact of the Koorie Heritage Trust’s design extends far beyond its physical architecture. It serves as a beacon of cultural resilience, education, and reconciliation, enriching the lives of both Fist Nations and non-Indigenous community members and contributing to a more inclusive and culturally vibrant society.