Located in the Canberra suburb of Wanniassa, on the site of a previous building of the same name, the new Gugan Gulwan Youth Aboriginal Corporation Facility provides services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, young people, and families.

Designed by COX Architecture in collaboration with CK architecture, it is a place for all First Nations – including those dealing with stresses associated with displacement or disconnection – to gather, reconnect and mutually support each other.

According to COX, the building reimagines western forms through a cultural lens and was designed with notions of Country, connection, and community at front of mind.

The design draws from local landscapes and the diverse identity of First Nations peoples. Introducing a series of vertical voids, it allows Country to move through the building and users to engage with it across multiple levels.

Internally, the facility includes a mix of open communal areas and private consultation rooms, which cater for a range of activities and programs.

Externally, landscaped gardens function as healing spaces, inviting quiet reflection, learning, and reconnection.

Natural textures, the introduction of abundant daylight, and the use of passive ventilation help ensure a healthy and uplifting atmosphere.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stories, artwork, and cultural references - including a suspended Bogong Moth sculpture in the central gathering space - are woven throughout the building, offering both physical identity and symbolic meaning.

The project involved close collaboration with Gugan Gulwan Youth Aboriginal Corporation and the local community. Stakeholder engagement, involving staff, the Board, the United Ngunnawal Elders Council, and ACT Government representatives was – and continues to be – undertaken alongside The Fulcrum Agency in an ongoing process of consultation.

Sustainability was another key priority and Gugan Gulwan Youth Aboriginal Corporation is the first building in the ACT to achieve a five-star Green Star Building certification for its daily operations.

Designed with a climate-resilient approach that prepares for future extremes in weather, it features all-electric building services, performance window glazing, and highly efficient lighting, electrical and mechanical systems.

Its large solar PV system generates renewable energy on site, and it also includes a 1,700L rainwater tank to ensure water-efficient toilet flushing.

On top of this, and beyond everyday operational performance, the construction phase achieved a 15 per cent reduction in upfront carbon emissions and was also carried out with waste minimisation as a top priority. Recycling 125 tonnes of material, it was able to divert 95 per cent of expected waste from landfill.

Now complete and positioned in the vicinity of a local high school, a skate park and Erindale shopping precinct, it presents as a welcome addition to the community; an asset that is well equipped to serve its purpose and its people.

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Let's Connect!

Let’s connect!