Bendigo Kangan Institute received a state government grant to upgrade its existing buildings and to provide a new public realm suitable for a 21st century TAFE.
The public realm is the creation of a campus that offers a welcoming and open learning environment, via the site narrative of "upside down country" it brings the endemic landscape to the foreground through a series of gardens and courtyard spaces for staff, students and fauna.
Dja Dja Wurrung Six Seasons Calendar
The jewel of this project is the Dja Dja Wurrung built Six Season Calendar. The Six Seasons Calendar creates a place that talks of Country. The design is a place to educate visitors and a tool for the TAFE indigenous studies cohort.
Artworks and interpretive signage are integrated within the garden. SBLA Studio worked closely with artist Thunda to translate his artwork into brass and laser cut steel elements. We also worked closely with the art cohort (see project team for all women involved) on the black duck nest, eggs and emu eggs - made of clay and found pieces of wire and feathers.
$3,000,000 public realm, $60 million total project
PROJECT TEAM/ COLLABORATORS
Six Seasons Calendar: Vision by Dja Dja Wurrung and Three Acres - concept to construction by SBLA Studio
Artists: Thunda, Paul Aburrow and TAFE Art Cohort
Architects: Architectus and Six Degrees
Builder: Kane constructions
Landscape Architecture and Public Realm: SBLA Studio
Dja Dja Wurrong Six Seasons Calendar Artists:
Thunda
Lorraine Brigdale
Annie Brigdale
Gabrielle Gamble
Erin Penrose
Sandy Owen
Dianne Turner
Sue Allengame
Trina Dalton-Oogjes
