Imaginable Futures: Design Thinking, and the Scientific Method. 54
th
International Conference of the
Architectural Science Association 2020, Ali Ghaffarianhoseini, et al (eds), pp. 1–10. © 2020 and
published by the Architectural Science Association (ANZAScA).
Designing the Olkola Cultural Knowledge Centre: A Traditional
Owner-Led Integrated Research and Education Process
Hannah Robertson
1
, Debbie Ross-Symonds
2
and Pippa Connolly
3
1
The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia & Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
Hannah.robertson@unimelb.edu.au;
2
The Olkola Aboriginal Corporation, Cape York, Australia
ceo@olkola.com.au;
3
Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
Pippa.connolly@monash.edu
Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to identify, track and discuss the pedagogical processes involved
in an integrated teaching and research project to design and build a Cultural Knowledge Centre on
Olkola Country in remote Cape York, Australia. The paper provides an empirical enquiry into the
foundational principles and key design, theoretical and practical processes of the collaborative
partnership between the Olkola Aboriginal Corporation (OAC), Monash University (and now The
University of Melbourne) that has been operating since 2018. This paper focuses on a pedagogical stage
in 2019 that saw 320 final year structural, mechanical, transport, environmental and water engineering
students team up with 15 masters of architecture student mentors with input from Indigenous Olkola
Traditional Owners (TOs) to progress the engineering design concepts and assist with development
application preparations. The research provides significant contributions to practical and theoretical
understandings of interdisciplinary design education and research that combine traditional cultural and
scientific knowledge to support TO needs and aspirations. These lessons have implications for: 1)
improved interdisciplinary communication and understanding; 2) the sharing and transfer of technical
expertise with TOs; and 3) effective community engagement through architectural science education.
Keywords: integrated education; sustainability; remote building; Indigenous; participatory practices.
1. Project Need and Context
The most fundamental requirement of any Traditional Owner (TO) led research and teaching
partnership is to respond to a community identified need in a contextually appropriate way. The Olkola
Aboriginal Corporation (Olkola) are the TOs and custodians of Olkola Country in Cape York, which was
handed back to the TOs in 2014 (Bush Heritage, 2016). At present there are 4 outstations on Olkola
Country. These facilities support the TOs to maintain land management work. There is currently no built