Jury comment
The cultural narrative “a place of learning by the river” is an articulation of the beauty and balance found within this landscape, providing a forum for further learning as well as an example of what can be discovered if we allow ourselves to be a part of the landscape. By balancing the value of the building and the landscape, the development of Bilya Marlee – the University of Western Australia’s new School of Indigenous Studies – has followed an Indigenous method of design. The marri and jarrah trees, which predate the campus, are considered a family and the removal or damage of any family members was not considered viable; this led to an authentic “landscape-first” approach. With the landscape flowing into the form of the building, and the site oriented to physically and visually connect to the river, this project feels at home here.
Bilya Marlee is located in Crawley, Western Australia on the land of the Whadjuk Nyoongar people.
Project credits
Design practice UDLA Collaborator School of Indigenous Studies (University of Western Australia) Cultural advisor Richard Walley Architect Kerry Hill Architects Arborist The Arbor Centre Lighting consultant Best Civil and structural engineer Pritchard Francis Irrigation consultant Hydroplan Project manager Turner and Townsend Photographer Yvonne Doherty
To view all the winners of the 2021 National Landscape Architecture Awards, go here.
