Architects announced for new Garma Institute in NT

An initiative of the local Yothu Yindi Foundation (YYF), the new Garma Institute will be designed by Troppo in collaboration with Greenaway Architects and landscape architecture studio Mantirri Design.

The institute is conceived as a Yolngu-owned and run tertiary and vocational education facility based at Gunyangara, and builds upon the existing Yolngu-centred curriculum offered to school students through the Dhupuma Barker School. The foundation's chief executive Denise Bowden commented, "The Garma Institute will be a bank of Yolngu knowledge and wisdom, and the design of the building will embody the six Yolngu seasons found in the Arnhem Land ecosystem."

Following the federal government's $6.4 million dollar commitment to the project in the lead up to last year's Voice referendum, the design appointment spotlights both local and indigenous expertise. YYF chief executive Denise Bowden noted that Greenaway Architects and Mantirri Design are both Indigenous practices, while Troppo has over 45 years' experience working in Australia's Top End.

Troppo, Greenaway Architects and Mantirri Design observed that "for tens of thousands of years Yolngu have learnt in place, growing and transferring knowledges to shape and enrich sustainable cultural practice." The design team hope to uphold this tradition by fostering a contemporary setting for the transfer of local knowledge, noting "we - Troppo, Greenaway and Mantirri - are honoured to be able to collaborate with Yolngu in delivering a setting that is 'just right' for this new yet ancient way of learning. We expect that the outcome may reshape how we as a modern nation think about learning on our old continent."

The architects are underway with the brief and construction is anticipated to commence by 2026.