Consultation and Collaboration – SJB wins Social Impact Good Design Award
SJB has won the Social Impact Category in the 2021 Good Design Awards for the Nyul Nyul Community Packing Shed in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. Crafted using prefabricated timber, The Packing Shed is purpose-built for the harvesting and processing of Indigenous foods on Country.
SJB collaborated with the Traditional Owners and Elders of the Nyul Nyul Community to design a multi-purpose community shed. Situated on Winawarl Country at Twin Lakes Cultural Park on the Dampier Peninsula near Broome, the Packing Shed is designed to support the future growth of the community’s harvest business, which is grounded in traditional knowledge and practices.
The project’s client was Nyul Nyul Elder Bruno Dann. Over 10 years, SJB worked with and learnt from Bruno and his partner Marion about Country and the importance of place. It was imperative that the design of the shed respected Country and was reflective of the community’s goals and ambitions. As part of the design process, SJB stayed with the Traditional Owners and developed an understanding of the land – from the wet season to the heat to cyclonic winds and even termites.
The shed – which is able to be assembled on site within seven working days – provides a cool, natural working environment, strong enough to withstand the landscape’s extreme wet-season climatic conditions. Predominantly a timber structure, the use of metal was kept to a minimum in protest of the disruptive impact of the mining industry. Instead, the shed uses native hardwood dowels and termite-resistant treated laminated veneer lumber and plywood. When disassembled, the shed is designed to leave no trace, responding to the site’s everchanging climatic conditions.
Recognising outstanding design and innovation, the Packing Shed was awarded the 2021 Good Design Awards for its powerful and innovative design.
Recognising outstanding design and innovation, the Packing Shed was recognised in the 2021 Good Design Awards for its powerful and innovative design. “The standard of design excellence represented in this year’s awards is the best I’ve ever seen in my 25 years of running these awards,” says Dr. Brandon Gien, CEO of Good Design Australia.
Good Design Australia is an international organisation committed to promoting the importance of design, supporting critical projects that enrich the community. Founded in 1958, the Good Design Awards are the oldest international awards in Australia celebrating excellence in design, including up-and-coming designers and new and emerging areas. The 2021 awards drew a record number of submissions, with 933 design projects evaluated according to a strict evaluation criterion.
