The
Design Collaborative is a team of professional designers and researchers
focussed
on indigenous settlement planning and housing and infrastructure
in partnership with the community members. The group comprises RADG,
Practical
Management & Development consulting architects (Glen Rodgers),
Arid Tropical Permaculture of Wittenoom (Halin Orion) and the University
of Western Australia School of Architecture & Fine Art (Grant
Revell) as well as other participants for varying projects including
installation
artist Ben Alpers and Bard Films (Rob Bygott). The group has prepared
house and yard designs for Irrungadji and Jigalong which are now
being installed. New projects are underway.
During 2002 and 2003 the focus
of the Design Collaborative is a project on Nyungar reserves in the
wheatbelt region of WA. Innovative standalone ablutions facilities
are being constructed in 4 of the reserves. The facilities are solar
PV powered, are supplied from rainwater tanks, use dry composting toilets,
and recycle their greywater. The designs feature a major wall structure
of local materials upon which community arts projects will lay artworks.
