Tending to nation’s heart | Newcastle Herald
Architecture students Lily Freeman and Annie Murphy, who said some designs for government provided housing didn't take into account "the complexity of family units". Picture: Simone De Peak" title="Making a change: Master of Architecture students Lily Freeman and Annie Murphy, who said some designs for government provided housing didn't take into account "the complexity of family units". Picture: Simone De Peak" />Making a change: Master of Architecture students Lily Freeman and Annie Murphy, who said some designs for government provided housing didn't take into account "the complexity of family units". Picture: Simone De Peak
UNIVERSITY of Newcastle architecture students have been inspired to use their skills on humanitarian projects, after they helped design improved housing and facilities for Aboriginal communities in Alice Springs.
Tending to nation’s heart
Making a change: Master of Architecture students Lily Freeman and Annie Murphy, who said some designs for government provided housing didn't take into account "the complexity of family units". Picture: Simone De Peak
University of Newcastle students in Alice Springs.
" title="University of Newcastle students in Alice Springs.
" />University of Newcastle students in Alice Springs.
" title="University of Newcastle students in Alice Springs.
" />University of Newcastle students in Alice Springs.
Students Lily Freeman and Annie Murphy and peers studying the Essential Infrastructures elective have recently returned from a fortnight working with Tangentyere Council, the representative organisation for 17 town camp housing associations, and its associated architecture practice.
“It’s an incredibly emotional experience going to Alice Springs,” Ms Freeman said.
“I’d almost forgotten what it was like to go back [after a year away].
“You definitely feel like you’ve been thrown in the deep end because there’s so much you don’t understand. It’s about acknowledging you don’t know everything and that’s okay, but going in with your eyes open ready to listen and learn.
“Even when things feel desperate, you’ve got to turn up and know that’s the best you can do.”
Ms Freeman worked in a group to redesign a hall in an industrial area, which she said was used mostly by children aged under 12 for after school and holiday activities, but was not appealing for teenagers who roamed the streets at night.
She said her group used five concepts – a sense of belonging; self expression; the right to facilities free from racial prejudice and used for education and self development; safety and security; and gathering spaces – to inform their design for the facility, which could be used as an after-hours drop in centre.
The students proposed the interior could be made more flexible by removing some walls, adding some collapsible walls, moving items in storage elsewhere to create a music room and building a computer lab.
Outside, they suggested creating a private area for reflection, introducing curved seating and native plants and building a paved area for skateboarding.
The council plans to use the students’ designs as part of applications for funding.
“These are real people whose lives could be affected by what we do – that’s better than anything else you could possibly do,” Ms Freeman said.
Ms Murphy helped to work on Room to Breathe, which is focused on additions and alterations to houses to relieve overcrowding and associated demands on hardware.
She said she spoke to residents accommodating up to 23 people in a three bedroom house, who were torn between helping relatives who couldn’t afford to travel back to more remote townships or who were staying away from their homes as part of a mourning period – and maintaining control over their privacy and security.
Her group wrote a questionnaire to determine residents requirements and designed four options – including an attachable bathroom and shower and an attachable disabled bedroom and bathroom.
Their work will also be used in applications for funding.
Head of Discipline (Architecture) Chris Tucker said working with Aboriginal people was a “unique opportunity”.
“This is a confronting environment for all involved, but something as a nation we all need to confront,” he said.
“Having worked with the students over the intensive two weeks we were in Alice Springs, I’m so proud to have been involved with them.
Comments
Post a Comment