Martu Projects

The Fulcrum Agency is working with Jamukurnu-Yapalikurnu Aboriginal Corporation (JYAC), the trustee for Martu Communities in the Western Desert (Western Australia) on community building projects.

This studio offered students the opportunity to learn from the Fulcrum Agency’s approach to community led design in remote communities with complex cultural, climatic and political contexts. Students considered the challenges and complexities in delivering community infrastructure projects to remote indigenous communities.

Students developed a series of small-scale architectural community infrastructure projects in the Martu communities of Parnngurr, Kunawarritji and Punmu. Their projects included arts centres, diversionary specialist men’s accommodation, community and family centres, and ranger bases.

Given the very remote locations, projects needed to engage with prefabricated, modular and hybrid approaches to construction to deliver the projects. Designs had to be responsive to Martu culture and climate, address budget requirements, be inclusive and instill a sense of permanence and well-being to communities.

The final outcomes of the studio included research and mappings, model making, architectural drawings, material studies - all with an emphasis on communication techniques that can be utilised to best communicate intent with community representatives.

Studio Leaders: Kieran Wong / Annabelle Low / Anne Barlow