As Country-centred design1 becomes a part of architectural vocabulary in Australia, we at Djinjama have noticed colleagues and clients grappling to integrate Indigenous community advice respectfully and holistically, while also considering the actual implications in built outcomes and form. Our sense is that the system itself is the obstacle. For instance, a Country-centred approach requires a holistic view of the world in which humans are one part of a huge, interconnected network. This contradicts a human-centred approach, which is still taught in many design schools and remains the predominant approach. To achieve a Country-centred approach, designers need to reframe their worldview to consider Country and all it encompasses – holistically. This concept is expressed in the diagram below, where we start with Country and continue to be led by Country throughout the design development. We recognise that this is not a simple ask. Nonetheless, there are things that can be achieved, even within the current system, by asking reframing questions throughout the process.
Djinjama honours our connections to Country, community, culture and kin through our work. Djinjama’s projects actively interact with lands, waters and air, and as such we actively protect the rights of Country to be healthy in our work. We respect Traditional Custodians who have long cared for Country and aim to elevate First Voices in all our work. We are grateful to Elders and Knowledge Holders for their continued sharing of wisdom, story, language, and knowledge.
Cultural Sensitivity Warning
For some First Nations communities it is customary not to mention names or reproduce images associated with the recently deceased. Members of these communities are respectfully advised that there may be people who have passed away mentioned in writing or depicted in image in on this website.
