The refurbishment of Levels 5 and 6 of QUT’s X Block at the Kelvin Grove campus was developed as a workplace guided by Country, with Blaklash engaged as First Nations Design Consultant alongside Wilson Architects and a group of First Nations artists, arts organisations, Knowledge Holders and QUT representatives.
The project builds on QUT’s Campus to Country cultural strategy and introduces a cultural overlay across the two floors, shaping meeting rooms, workspaces, circulation paths and gathering areas.
Two cultural narratives connected to the surrounding landscape informed the design: Barrambin (Victoria Park), represented through cooler greens and blues reflecting water, vegetation and abundance; and Mt Kuta (Mt Coot-tha), represented through warmer amber, orange and red tones connected to the story of the native bee.
Custom artworks by Yuggera artist Ailsa Walsh form an important part of the project’s visual language. Bird Wings represents the movement of birds between Barrambin and Mt Kuta; Eucalyptus brings themes of healing and restoration into the deep orange meeting rooms; and Pebbles Around a Creek Bed reflects waterways, time and the gradual shaping of Country.
The project also incorporates an extensive body of woven works involving more than 20 artists from across Australia. Pandanus canopies and linear panels were created by artists from Bula’bula Arts in Ramingining and Maningrida Arts & Culture in Maningrida, while woven pendant works were created by Aunty Kim Ah Sam, Paula Savage and Kylie Caldwell.
The completed workplace incorporates cultural artworks, woven works, materials and spatial design throughout the two floors, creating spaces intended to connect staff with Country and cultural knowledge in their everyday working environment.
Country: Yagara and Turrbal
Role: First Nations Design Consultant
Client: Queensland University of Technology (QUT)
Location: Magandjin/Meeanjin (Brisbane), Queensland
Collaborators: Wilson Architects, Ailsa Walsh (Yagara/Yuggera artist), Bula’bula Arts (Ramingining, NT), Maningrida Arts & Culture (Maningrida, NT), Aunty Kim Ah Sam, Paula Savage, Kylie Caldwell, QUT Office Indigenous Australians and Chancellery Division.
