Description

Designing with Countrywill examine the incorporation of First Peoples' knowledge and culture into the design of the Budj Bim Cultural Landscape.

This conversation will look at the process involved in working meaningfully with Traditional Owners and how this consultation has been translated into the design of landscape to reveal the stories and culture of the Gunditjmara people.

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What's On

Join Bianca Scaife of Cooper Scaife Architects and Uncle Denis Rose in conversation at the Warrnambool Library, as they share the processes involved in their work at Budj Bim Cultural Landscape.

Speakers:
— Bianca Scaife, Director at Cooper Scaife Architects
— Uncle Denis Rose (Gunditjmara), Project Manager for Budj Bim Sustainable Development Partnership
— Tania Davidge (Moderator), Executive Director + Chief Curator at Open House Melbourne

After the talk, enjoy light refreshments and snacks, and join Julian Kosloff and Stephanie Bullock of Kosloff Architecture as they share insights on the design of the Warrnambool Library at their tours of building, starting at 3.30pm.

In Collaboration With:

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  Bianca Scaife, Director at Cooper Scaife Architects

  Bianca is a director of CSA, a small practice she co-founded in 2003. She lives and works on Gunditjmara Country in Hamilton, southwest Victoria and is committed to making an authentic contribution to the natural, cultural and built environment of this region.
  
  Bianca’s learning about the Gunditjmara, their culture and connection to Country is ongoing. It has led to new friendships and new projects, but most importantly, new ways of seeing the landscape that she grew up on.
  
  As a rural practice, CSA takes on a wide variety of project typologies, from private housing, to schools, healthcare and public buildings. By far the most rewarding project they have undertaken is the design of tourism infrastructure on the Budj Bim Cultural Landscape, for Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation, a project that spanned over 7 years.
  
  The Budj Bim Cultural Landscape project won the 2023 Victorian Premier’s Design Awards – Award of the Year and Best in Category – Architecture, as well as a Commendation in the 2023 Architecture AU Award for Social Impact. The project has been referenced as a case study by institutions including the Government Architect of NSW and research into protocols for indigenous-led creative practice at Monash University, as an example of ‘best practice’ for principles of designing with Country, engaging with Aboriginal communities and representing indigenous knowledge and culture.
  
  In addition to private practice, Bianca is a member of the Regional Committee for the AIA Victorian Chapter and undertakes adhoc tutoring and lecturing roles for various universities.

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  Uncle Denis Rose (Gunditjmara), Project Manager for Budj Bim Sustainable Development Partnership

  Denis Rose is a Gunditjmara traditional owner from South West Victoria, Australia and has had a long involvement in natural and cultural heritage management. He was employed at Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation as a Program Manager and managed the Budj Bim Cultural Landscape. The Budj Bim Cultural Landscape in south west Victoria includes evidence of one of the world’s largest and oldest aquaculture systems and in July 2019 was inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. In the mid 1990s Denis was involved in the establishment of the nationally and internationally recognised Indigenous Protected Areas (IPAs) program. This program has now voluntarily dedicated more than 67 million ha of Indigenous owned and managed lands as Protected Areas throughout Australia. IPAs are recognised as part of the National Reserve System, protecting the nation’s biodiversity for the benefit of all Australians. Denis is also the Chair of the recently established Country Needs People not-for-profit company.