Aboriginal Housing in Boggabilla: Project One

(2019 - 2023)

Partnering with the NSW Aboriginal Housing Office (AHO), this project is focused on the design and evaluation of Aboriginal housing in the north-western districts of NSW. The project explores new construction techniques and materials that can respond to resource scarcity, durability, limited builders in area, extreme climatic conditions, moving soils, lifecycle costs, conventional materials used in unconventional ways and value add efficiencies including training, skills transfer and employment opportunities for local Aboriginal communities. Responding to the identified need for new Aboriginal housing in Boggabilla, the project partners with the communities of Toomalah and Boggabilla through a consultative co-design process. The key deliverable of this project is the design and construction of two two-bedroom houses in Boggabilla.

The design is underpinned by a survey of existing AHO housing stock, review of best practice Aboriginal housing and a literature review of architectural discourse on Aboriginal housing. The design is also informed by the ‘AHO Innovation Program’ and the UTS teaching initiative ‘Beyond The Border Studio.’