WEEK 2

Going into week 2, groups had been formed within the studio and I was grouped with Leonie, Lei and Sandra. I started off by creating a 1:5000 site plan of the site with context regarding roads, waterways, railways and other infrastructural information. The information was particularly difficult to source as I had to use open street maps and Grasshopper to obtain this information for the whole class.

After understanding the context of the site, we proceeded with roughly placing our diagram on the site. With major programs given to us, the Shelter, Events, Farming/ Biodiversity and Education. We started narrowing the program down from these vague terms into actual potential programs such as a research centre, cutural centre or farmer’s market.

We also had to think about the logic and infrastructure that would connect these programs together.

The diagrams on the next page were an attempt at understanding the relationship between the layers provided and how that would translate into a footprint on site.

It was a priviledge to have Dja Dja Wurrung’s CEO, Rodney Carter to come speak to us. Having input from an indigenous person from the clan, let alone their CEO is very important to how we develop the site towards the people as a client.

The talk had introduced to us the politics between Victoria and the Dja Dja Wurrung on a special agreement that acknowledges the first nation people as the original owners of the land and all the natural resources will belong to them. This is significant as the indigenous Australians value the land as though their own identity stems from it.

Furthermore, we were introduced to traditional ceremonies such as smoking acasia and gum on the fire. It is used to cleanse each member of the clan during the ceremony. He further stresses the importance of continuing culture and traditions of the Dja DJa Wurrung.

Some crucial information regarding what we can do on site was given during this talk as well. Such as the fact that there are not enough seeds and plants to sustainably grow native vegetation in Victoria, in particular Kangaroo Grass as it is very difficult to cultivate.

Rodney also gave us some insights on the decolonizing process as we have to be very careful and respect the Dja Dja Wurrung’s culture for the project as well as being regretful of the events that led the first people to being an abused race throughout history.