As a place of learning and a breakdown of barriers, Ngutu College, designed by Matthews Architects, is a place that gives back to the Indigenous Community on Kaurna Country.
August 24th, 2022
Ngutu is the Kaurna word for knowledge, and in conversation with Gerald Matthews and Kerstin Bruneder of Matthews Architects, we explored the design, the purpose and the impact Ngutu College has within Adelaide. We recently discussed Matthews Architects and its past with Gerald Matthews, and now we meet their latest project.
“The college is looking to redesign schooling by providing an environment that focuses on celebrating childhood through multiple ways of expressing themselves, and it includes dance, visual arts, cooking, robotics, construction and so on,” says senior architect Kerstin Bruneder on the project.
“The College wants to cater for all children with an aim to have about half of the population Indigenous, and by doing so, working towards reconciliation and education through Aboriginal ways of knowing and learning.”
The original building has undergone various renovations and changing names over the years, but the building’s history led to the design that Matthews Architects would bring. It acted as a framework for the studio’s interior fit-out, and the design of the building blends modernity and its traditional form.
Related: Beauty and science: 6 learning spaces that put flooring first
“Built circa 1942, the building undertook several renovations over the years, and as such, it became the framework of the interior fit-out and influenced the design approach, just like an individual is influenced and formed by its social setting and ancestors,” says Kerstin.
The College is an amalgamation of rectangular buildings that wrap around a central courtyard, with an endless loop of spaces that promotes the College’s inherent purpose of flexible learning for all ages. The design reflects deinstitutionalised schooling, which is more inviting to create a flexible learning space and educate within it.
The original administration building holds Matthews Architects’ vision of being “homey” for the students, with a simple material palette of donated, comforting, and upcycled furniture made by the school’s workshop. And what the furniture is, is anything but traditional. Dining tables replace workstations, and cushioned armchairs and residential rugs create a sense of community.
“You transition space to space through the buildings, the furniture building a narrative, and that’s what I think is a beautiful thing. The permeability of every activity and feature in the building,” says Matthew Architects principal, Gerald Matthews.
Ngutu College is unique in many ways, and the design reflects this. And there is a strong integration of Aboriginal knowledge into the formal curriculum for all school years — even after hours with community events and activities.
Paired with the homey design and pathways for Indigenous children, Ngutu College gives the area brilliant academic, vocational and community outcomes.
Matthews Architects
matthewarchitects.com.au
Photography
Courtesy of Matthew Architects
We think you might like this article about Gerald Matthews, the principal of Matthews Architects.
A searchable and comprehensive guide for specifying leading products and their suppliers
Keep up to date with the latest and greatest from our industry BFF's!
Marylou Cafaro’s first trendjournal sparked a powerful, decades-long movement in joinery designs and finishes which eventually saw Australian design develop its independence and characteristic style. Now, polytec offers all-new insights into the future of Australian design.
Sub-Zero and Wolf’s prestigious Kitchen Design Contest (KDC) has celebrated the very best in kitchen innovation and aesthetics for three decades now. Recognising premier kitchen design professionals from around the globe, the KDC facilitates innovation, style and functionality that pushes boundaries.
Savage Design’s approach to understanding the relationship between design concepts and user experience, particularly with metalwork, transcends traditional boundaries, blending timeless craftsmanship with digital innovation to create enduring elegance in objects, furnishings, and door furniture.
Gray Puksand’s construction-focused facility at TAFE NSW responds to the critical need for a resilient Australian construction industry.
In our series spotlighting aficionados across the design industry, we spoke with Alexandra Guglielmino, who leads the Art Advisory team at Bluethumb Art Gallery.
The internet never sleeps! Here's the stuff you might have missed
Dallas Rogers, Head of Urban Discipline at the School of Architecture, Design and Planning, University of Sydney, comments on the history of map-making in our cities.
From the trailblazer of Spanish industrial design comes a new collection of recycled rugs – a powerful exploration of the concept of waste, a keen celebration of imperfection, and a new underfoot symbol of responsible design.
Overcoming pandemic hurdles to redefine guest experiences amidst Sydney’s bustling entertainment precinct, The Darling has undergone a two-year restoration that melds Art Deco interiors with the necessities of hotel living.