Western Australia
Under the shadow of the Roundhouse and adjacent to the swelling wardan (ocean) sat the 2023 Fremantle Biennale pavilion, “Er” – a design collaboration between architects vittinoAshe, Whadjuk Noongar Traditional Owner Brendan Moore, jeweller Melissa Cameron, Syrinx Environmental, sustainability and green infrastructure company, environmental scientist Dr. Linda Davies and ICS Australia. The bilingual text embodied the conceptual facets and formation of the Er pavilion:
the void’s salt stories
carved into constellation
Djallam bardip
kodjat walyalup boodjarak
a series of notes drawn
ephemeral structures traced
Koora wirnt
kwornt ngaran-iny
disparate fragments announced
a lightness of presence layered
Kendjil karda
biargar nidja
Mother/Sun
Ngarngk
concentrate elements to belong
koorliny gep ngan-iny gep
a collective composition repairs
Nidja kwoornt daan did-iny
before and after its being
koora wer korliny
together spaces
where one hesitates
Ngalla nidja
windji noonook kaatidj
in a place and time drink
Yeyi Nidjak ngan-iny gep
a natural utterance
Er.
Dtabakarn
Award for Sustainable Architecture
The Er temporary pavilion encapsulates the essence of the “circular economy” where ultimately everything stays permanently in the construction lifecycle producing a potential for a near zero carbon impact.
In this project, the architects went to extreme lengths to source existing materials and components and to ensure they were reused again after the life of the project.
It became a “test case” for guiding future design practice. Even though the project itself had a short lifespan meeting the needs of a festival, the architects employed a highly novel approach to meeting the requirements for a public gathering space, speaking of its location at the Fremantle foreshore, the heritage of the location and Perth’s reliance upon desalination.
The project is highly poetic in its narrative, has touched the landscape upon which it sat lightly and left no footprint.
Commendation – Mondoluce Lighting Award
Er pavilion is an ephemeral moment, though it has created a permanent impact on education, sustainability, and society. The applied lighting reflects the subtleties and nuance of the overall design intent to respond to place and describe complex systems which could sustain and enhance life. The lighting offers a backdrop to the gathering place, and is itself, performative. At the end of its existence, the lighting is simply returned, intact, to its maker.
Commendation for Small Project Architecture
Er Pavilion is a fleeting ephemeral structure created as a gathering space for story and performance for 2023 Fremantle Biennale. The project pulls together an impressive feat of collaboration between Aboriginal engagement, artist, environmental scientist and university. Begun and laden with local references of stories and urban characteristics, Er Pavilion manifests itself as a transient assemblage of mesh shade sail and light structure with incorporation of light, art, and infrastructure with reclaimed materials.
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.
