From Country to Carpet: Milliken’s PrintWorks™ technology brings First Nations stories to the Munarra Centre for Regional Excellence

When ARM Architecture began work on the Munarra Centre for Regional Excellence on Yorta Yorta Country in Shepparton, Victoria, the ambition was always that the architecture authentically expressed the stories of First Nations people. The pathways-based tertiary education facility, led by First Nations people, is thus conceived based on a collaborative process between the design team and local community. The result is a building full of meaning, where even the floor – created using Milliken Couture PrintWorks™ technology – has a story to tell.

“Translating First Nations narratives always begins with deep listening,” says Andrea Wilson, Principal at ARM Architecture. “We see ourselves as technicians, never drivers for this co-design process. Yorta Yorta authorship and pride is absolutely the best and greatest outcome.”

ARM Architecture began by conducting a series of community workshops, where stories and artworks naturally emerged that were then used to inspire the design concept. A narrative focused on the night sky, for example, is expressed in the interior design through a random placement of tiny pixel light clusters on a ceiling.

The most impressive outcome from this process, however, is the richly layered floorscape in the central gathering space, which is a direct translation of artworks developed during the workshops. “Students, teachers and elders from all walks were involved and so the outcomes varied greatly,” says Wilson. The result is a series of vignettes capturing local landscapes, botanical names and patterns, animal forms, tracks, and symbols that create a striking connection to place. The challenge for ARM Architecture was how to translate the complexity of the original artworks into something durable and legible at scale.

Milliken’s PrintWorks™ technology made that translation possible. PrintWorks™ is the driving force behind Milliken Couture, a service that offers designers the freedom to recolour existing Milliken collections or – as in the case of the Munarra Centre – create bespoke carpet designs. Carpet samples are produced within five days, and the final carpet specification is delivered within three weeks of the order date, an exceptional offering for fully customised flooring solutions.

Instead of conventional yarn-dyed patterns or standard repeat designs, PrintWorks™ employs a precision injection dyeing technique that chemically bonds dye directly within the carpet fibre. This advanced process ensures comprehensive colour penetration into each individual fibre, providing lasting accuracy and durability beyond surface-level application.  This enables intricate tonal shifts, precise linework and large-scale compositions to unfold seamlessly across the floor. Milliken also offers seven different base tiles, each with variations in texture and size, giving designers even more freedom.

“We’re giving designers and artists a blank canvas,” says James Mfula, Creative Director at Milliken. “Designers can create custom patterns and colours, incorporate branding, company logos, or any other message on the floor easily. We want the designers and clients to add uniqueness to their projects without timelines forcing compromise on quality and functionality.”

For the Munarra Centre, Milliken’s design team worked closely with ARM Architecture, testing samples, adjusting scale and refining contrast to ensure legibility without dilution. Where necessary, subtle technical interventions were introduced to enhance the outcome and support performance. “It was essential that the integrity of the original artwork came through in the flooring and we were careful not to manipulate the imagery more than necessary,” says Jessica Sanders, a designer at Milliken. “But we did make recommendations to ensure the design would perform well as a carpet product.” For example, a subtle background texture was introduced to support durability and manage any soiling.

This balance between creative freedom and technical precision sits at the heart of the Milliken Couture process. PrintWorks™ technology can operate across vastly different scales and design languages, blending colour exactly, scaling pattern and texture without losing detail – as evident in the brushstrokes that remain visible in the flooring of the Munarra Centre for Regional Excellence. “Everyone was amazed at how well their images were interpreted,” says Wilson. “The earthiness and texture of the carpet tiles made their work dance.”

Beyond its creative potential, PrintWorks™ delivers meaningful sustainability benefits. Using a precision injection dyeing process to apply colour and pattern directly into the carpet fibre, the technology achieves exceptional accuracy while reducing material waste and overcoming many limitations of traditional yarn-dyed methods.

Combined with Milliken’s carbon-neutral product options and long-life performance, typically supported by a 20-year warranty, PrintWorks™ contributes to a more considered lifecycle for flooring. An integral part of the fibre, PrintWorks™ carpets also provide superior colourfastness, resistance to fading and staining, and reliable performance in demanding commercial environments.

“Every designer’s dream is to start with a blank canvas and fill it with as much inspiration and creativity as possible,” reflects Mfula. “For us, that’s really what PrintWorks™ is about.”

Photography by
Peter Bennetts