Australia Prime Minister Lodge

Design Philosophy

Australian Indigenous art reflects the connection between people and the land, illustrating the inherent flow of nature where all elements exist in both individuality and symbiosis.

The project aimed to embrace these principles, believing that understanding Indigenous art deepens our comprehension of humanity’s relationship with nature. This perspective is not applied superficially but is embedded in the core aspects of the design, affecting its interaction with the site and surrounding natural elements.

Approach to Design Brief

The Design Brief, while outlining the project’s requirements, depicted the life and daily routines of the Prime Minister. By examining the Prime Minister’s relationship with each space and integrating practical elements like accessibility to support services, the design fosters a dialogue between the natural environment and interior spaces, resulting in a simple yet dynamic composition.

Design Concept

The project design is founded on three key principles:

Integrating values of Australian Indigenous art

To preserve the natural flow between the environment and interior spaces, all areas adopt a suspended cloud formation around existing trees and foliage, minimizing the building footprint.

Utilizing the site’s unique slope

By sinking the architecture, the structure maintains the connection between the conservation areas and the lake, enhancing security by reducing accessible borders. This placement connects the built space with the environment while presenting an iconic facade to the city.

Responding to these principles, the project introduces the ‘Vortex’ as a central architectural feature. This cohesive core mirrors the slope’s topography, linking the conservation zone and lake while serving as a divider of interior spaces, allowing each to retain its unique identity. It serves as the heart of the project, incorporating all official entrances and outdoor entertainment areas.

Upholding a Democratic Quality

Reflecting the democratic nature of Australian society, the vortex void visually links the public road to the lake while being a solid structure with limited secured entrances. This design enables public visitors to appreciate and explore the lodge and access the lake without compromising the privacy and security of its inhabitants.