Bunurong (Kulin Nation)
Victoria
The Casuarina pavilion is a celebration of place, realised in steel. Two ‘W’ formed steel portals splayed outwardly, a welcoming gesture, capturs a generous cantilevered roof proportion. Configured as an exaggerated butterfly roof profile, enhances the hydrological flow of water through a gestural ‘V’ formed gutter, oversailing towards a metaphorical pond. A metal perforated soffit provides lightness, while the ‘I’ beams provide a legible, articulation of structure giving clarity to the frugality of elements.
The Pavilion’s use of Aramax roofing highlights the narrative: a reverence to water flow, the inspiration being the Casuarina’s linear fronds. Bold, tapered and striated profiles evoking the natural tracking and beading of water off its ends, a nod to the innovation of Kulin Nations people to carefully manage water and to harness the utility of particular species.
The pavilion balances a civic presence within the City, whilst celebrating contemporary Country-centred design.
The Casuarina Pavilion illustrates how a co-design process with Traditional Owners can be skilfully translated into a contemporary architectural built outcome. The act of water collection from sheoak leaves is abstracted, creating an architecture that is not literal in its telling of a story, but one that represents the comprehensive synthesis of all inputs necessary for good design; culture, place, craft, utility, delight. Further strengthened by its integration with the landscape, governed by the theme of ‘Connecting with Country’, the architecture of the pavilion elevates it from a utilitarian shelter to a memorable place of cultural experience.
Jefa Greenaway, Design Architect
Kyle Borg, Documentation Lead
Byron Watson, Documentation Support
Maya Wong, Project Architect
Hassell, Landscape Consultant
ARUP, Structural Engineer
Maynard, Wayfinding
RSHP, Peer Review
City to Coast Architectural, Fabricator
Spiers and Major, Lighting Consultant
Cross Yarra Partnership, Hydraulic Consultant
The Australian Institute of Architects acknowledges First Nations peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the lands, waters, and skies of the continent now called Australia.
We express our gratitude to their Elders and Knowledge Holders whose wisdom, actions and knowledge have kept culture alive.
We recognise First Nations peoples as the first architects and builders. We appreciate their continuing work on Country from pre-invasion times to contemporary First Nations architects, and respect their rights to continue to care for Country.
