Bunjil Place
Bunjil Place
Bunjil Place interprets the land in the culture of the Wurundjeri, Bunurong and Boon Wurrung people, the Traditional Owners. Two stories shape the design: 'The Meeting of Many Paths' and 'Bunjil' the Eagle, whose wings the sheltering roof recalls.
Interpreting the land
A central theme was the interpretation of the land in the culture of Wurundjeri, Bunurong and Boon Wurrung people, the traditional owners and inhabitants of this land. Two stories inspired us: the ‘The Meeting of Many Paths’ and ‘Bunjil’ the Eagle. The project is conceived as an extended public ground plane and a broad sheltering roof, below which gather the hybrid uses of library, theatre, exhibition and also gathering itself. The architecture began to form around the idea of an organic meeting of many paths, literal pathways but also paths of life. This gathering, to take place under the protective and sheltering wings of a great roof.
A sheltering roof
The hybrid uses and gathering are sheltered under an iconic soaring roof. Like Bunjil’s wings, this sinuous element symbolises not only the traditions of the past, but provides a contemporary vision of the future, movement, technology and innovation. The emblematic roof provides a sheltered central civic space protected from the noise and pollution of the highway to create a welcoming celebration and back-drop for community life, gathering, external performance and interaction.
A woven timber structure
Supporting the dynamic roof forms and connecting them at two central points is a woven structure of laminated natural timber. This is a concept of support and connection at the very heart of Bunjil Place. A warm and innovative grid-shell structure that emphasises the lightness of the roof through a fluid, organic geometry. The form of this timber structure reinforces the openness and welcoming nature of the complex in the way it reaches out to the public open space and lifts up to create a powerful sense of invitation. The realisation of these fluid, interlocking shells of laminated timber was a technological and construction challenge utilising advanced computer generated design production and assembly techniques. This is an architecture drawing together advanced systems with the most traditional and essential systems.
It is an architecture that embraces new technology and innovation to express eternal and timeless themes true to the unique nature of this place.
Explore the interiors (culture), architecture (galleries), interiors (community), interiors (workplace) and landscape of Bunjil Place.
Read more in Insights: Bunjil Place wins the Impact Award at the Australian Interior Design Awards.
Awards
| 2019 | World Architecture Festival | Completed Buildings: Civic and Community, shortlist | |
| 2018 | Australian Institute of Architects (Victorian Chapter) | William Wardell Award for Public Architecture | |
| 2017 | International Design Awards | Architecture of the Year | |
| 2017 | International Design Awards | Gold, Institutional | |
| 2017 | International Design Awards | Gold, Landmarks, Symbolic Structures, Memorials and Public | |
Press
| 6 Nov 2021 | Arch2O | Bunjil Place | fjmt | |
| 5 Jul 2019 | Bustler | A glimpse of the 2019 World Architecture Festival shortlist | |
| 14 Nov 2018 | ArchitectureAU | Taking flight: Bunjil Place | |
| 8 Jul 2018 | ArchDaily | Bunjil Place / fjmt | |
| 29 Jun 2018 | ArchitectureAU | 2018 Victorian Architecture Awards | |
| 13 Dec 2017 | ArchitectureAU | FJMT-designed cultural centre opens in Melbourne’s outer south-east | |
