SHAPE has been awarded an exciting new opportunity to partner with Aboriginal cultural consultancy Wilya Janta on its pilot project to design and build homes in Tennant Creek, Northern Territory. The project will act as a feasibility study for culturally and climate-safe housing.
Under a two-stage Design and Construct contract, SHAPE has been engaged to manage the early design and costing phase with a key focus to modularise the existing reference design to optimise cost-effective construction processes for the remote location while also respecting the cultural sensitivities and specific requirements. Once the design and costings are finalised and agreed upon, SHAPE will undertake the offsite construction in parallel with the site related scope of works, reducing the overall program substantially in comparison with a traditional house build.
Wilya Janta is an innovative Aboriginal not-for-profit cultural consultancy that promotes community agency in the design and construction of housing in Indigenous communities.
Simon Quilty, CEO at Wilya Janta, said the pilot project will seek to overcome ongoing failures in the design of present-day housing developments in Tennant Creek and remote communities across the NT through culturally sensitive collaboration, design, and building.
“Poor thermal performance, lack of cultural consideration, overcrowding, and insufficient maintenance are leading to residents facing health issues and financial hardships, as they often have to make difficult choices between paying expensive electricity bills and meeting basic needs,” he said.
“Wilya Janta’s pilot project is pushing to define a new standard for housing, one that is culturally safe and climate-appropriate for remote Aboriginal communities.”
One of Wilya Janta’s core principles is to engage residents and the community in designing their future homes. Wilya Janta’s founders, which include Warumungu Elders Norman Frank Jupurrurla and Patricia Frank Nurururla, as well as future residents, have collaborated with architects OFFICE and Prof. Paul Memmott to explore the relationship between the site and its surrounding environment, culture, and community and design their homes.
Construction is set to begin later in the year. Following the pilot project in Tennant Creek, Wilya Janta will seek formal partnerships with the NT Government and community housing providers to assist in the broad adoption of the model for delivery of community-directed housing.
…the pilot project will seek to overcome ongoing failures in the design of present-day housing developments…through culturally sensitive collaboration, design, and building.
Learn more about Wilya Janta: https://www.wilyajanta.org/
Donate to support Wilya Janta to complete the construction of the Tennant Creek Housing Pilot Project: https://wilyajanta.raisely.com/
Photography by Andrew Quilty.
We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land, sea, and skies. We’re grateful to those who have cared for, nurtured, and protected Country for future generations, and we pay our respects to Elders past, present, and emerging.
