Yuggera and Turrbal people
Queensland
Brisbane
The Bushland Communal Hub is an important adjunct to our redevelopment of Mari-Mari Ba, the former Joyce Wilding Hostel.
The site has served as a refuge for vulnerable First Nations women and children since the 1970s. The new development provides 33 residential units within a series of two storey buildings wrapped around a central landscaped courtyard.
The Bushland Communal Hub is located at the rear of the site and provides a setting for shared activities, meals, cultural ceremonies, or a space for reflection within the landscape.
The Bushland Communal Hub site is nestled directly adjacent to bushland and features large open spaces and smaller intimate spaces to provide flexible use of the space.
It was envisaged that the Bushland Communal Hub would encourage and assist First Nations residents to be deepen their connection to Country and to have access to the adjacent bushland.
The Hayes & Scott Award for Small Project Architecture
The Mari-Mari Ba Bushland Communal Hub boldly reclaims space by deliberately repurposing a recognisable colonial architectural feature. Within this residential development—a sanctuary for First Nations women and children seeking refuge from domestic violence—a transformation of space unfolds with the thoughtful integration of existing building elements—a porte cochère and chimney—into a yarning circle, exemplifing exceptional ideation and outcome. Here, private and confidential gatherings occur, fostering healing connections to culture and Country.
Australian Institute of Architects Social Impact Prize (QLD)
The Mari-Mari Ba Affordable Housing and Bushland Communal Hub is an essential addition to the redevelopment of the former Joyce Wilding Hostel. Since the 1970s, the site has served as a refuge for vulnerable First Nations women and children. The new development directly confronts the societal challenges related to domestic violence and at-risk women and children by establishing a safe, accessible, and culturally appropriate campus. This project makes a significant contribution to supporting cultural sustainability and exemplifies the positive impact architecture can have on our communities, addressing critical social issues with care and purpose.