Kununurra Courthouse

BACKGROUND: The Native Title holders of the Kununurra region are the Miriuwung and Gajerrong people, who make up over half of the area's population. The community suffers from an over-representation of Aboriginal people in the judicial system. Despite these factors the original design of the courthouse alienated the Aboriginal people from their community and place. The architects (Iredale, Pedersen and Hook, with TAG Architects) re-designed the courthouse so that it may reflect the intersection of the justice system with Indigenous worldviews. CONTRIBUTION: Through consultation with the Aboriginal community the design, colours and material finishes were chosen to reflect Indigenous socio-spatial needs, local cultures and surrounding landscape. More than 20 Aboriginal artists were engaged in creating artworks around the theme of Law and Culture. 'The [new design] - along with the West Kimberley Regional Prison by the same architects - is at the forefront of responding to the region's social complexities. It recognises the different needs of Indigenous and non-Indigenous people and, above all, manifests a special humanity' (Architecture Australia, July 2015). SIGNIFICANCE: This work continues Hook's culturally informed and sensitive architectural practice in designing housing for vulnerable communities. It is an example of a collaborative practice that integrates Aboriginal people through their input into the design. The new $41.8 million courthouse was funded by the State Government's Royalties for Regions program. It won the Julius Elischer Award for Interior Architecture at the 2015 WA Awards by the Australian Institute of Architects. It was reviewed in Architecture Australia, Australian Design Review and ArchDaily.