The architects of the recently completed Wunggurrwil Dhurrung Centre in Wyndham Vale took home the 2020 Sustainable Architecture Award at the Victorian Architecture Awards on Friday, 10 July.
Environment and Sustainability portfolio holder Cr Heather Marcus congratulated Gresley Abas Architects and Gregory Burgess Architects winning the award and for working closely with Council and the Koling wada-ngal Committee (formerly the Wyndham Aboriginal Community Centre Committee) to include community feedback of environmental connectivity into the design for the new facility.
The centre took out the highest honour at the ceremony, in a tough competition with eight finalists, for best practice in environmentally sustainable architecture. At the online awards ceremony the judges described the work as “an outstanding example of respect and sustainability”.
The Wunggurrwil Dhurrung Centre was constructed in late 2019, in response to the identified need for a gathering space for the diverse and growing local and Aboriginal communities in Wyndham, as well as for a local early years and community centre in a growing part of Wyndham Vale.
“The designs of the facility support the centre vision to recognise and celebrate Aboriginal culture and history as an essential activity to create a culturally safe space”
Cr Marcus said the build had a five-star green star rating and all materials and fittings were sustainably sourced.
“It has low energy consumption, smart water designs including rainwater harvesting and sustainable landscaping, carbon neutral solar installations, sustainable light and automated ventilation systems,” Cr Marcus said.
Emily Cox from Gresley Abas Architects thanked the leadership of the community and the Aboriginal representative group, the Koling wada-ngal Committee, at the ceremony saying that they worked for many years on the project.
Cr Marcus said the sustainable building design provided ceremonial gathering spaces, men’s and women’s sheds to support Aboriginal art and craft, a deep connection to the local environment through native landscaping, outdoor interactive nature-based play spaces and the central external walkway through the facility.
“The designs of the facility support the centre vision to recognise and celebrate Aboriginal culture and history as an essential activity to create a culturally safe space, where people of all ages and cultures are welcome to gather, learn and share, and access programs and services.”
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