News

It has been a challenging year globally, and the need to support these vulnerable communities has never been so paramount.

This year, Tristan Wong (SJB) and Jefa Greenaway (Greenaway Architects) were selected as Creative Directors for the Australian Pavilion for the 17th International Architecture Exhibition La Biennale di Venezia.

The exhibition titled ‘In|between’ responds powerfully to Hashim Sarkis’ overarching theme for the 2021 Biennale ‘How will we live together?’ by highlighting a series of architectural works that demonstrate the protection and celebration of Indigenous culture.

In|between will present a series of architectural works from Australia and the Pacific region that strengthen cultural understanding between non-indigenous and First Nations Peoples. The projects selected will powerfully demonstrate the capacity of architecture to revive and enhance Indigenous voice, agency, identity and culture.

Of the 100+ projects received by the creative team, 20 were selected to feature in this international exhibition including AWF’s Cakaudrove Women’s Resource Centre in Savu Savu, Fiji. The selection process and criteria were rigorous, and so it was both incredibly exciting to have AWF represented in our project, and a very apt reminder, and reiteration, of the importance of the work AWF is doing.

Alongside our work with the Venice Biennale, SJB is working on a number of community-focused and cultural projects across Australia including the recently completed Nyul Nyul Community Packing Shed which is a harvesting enterprise hub for the collection and sorting of Indigenous ingredients for the many growers and foragers at Twin Lakes, WA.

SJB is also involved the design of a number of social and public housing projects across Victoria, such as the Brunswick Public Housing Project which will assist in the State’s $5.3bn funds to create over 12,000 new residences for those in crisis. 

These projects are incredibly important for our team. They are both an opportunity to respond and contribute to a real, and significant, local crisis. And at the same time, they allow the design profession to demonstrate that good housing, great housing! should not be a privilege, but rather a given for all citizens. Architects, designers and the construction industry have a unique capacity to be able to positively and significantly impact this housing shortage.