Bilya Marlee

Located on Whadjuk Nyoongar country on the Crawley campus of the University of Western Australia, the building houses the School of Indigenous Studies, Centre for Aboriginal Medical and Dental Health, and Poche Centre for Indigenous Health. It also is the centre for support networks for First Nations students on campus.

The building was designed by Kerry Hill Architects with Inhabit providing façade consulting on the project. The design team worked closely with Cultural Adviser and Nyoongar Elder Dr Richard Walley OAM, on the cultural narratives within the design. The façade’s palette of masonry and terracotta in a range of alluvial colours draws inspiration from the river reeds, the colours of the swan and the blues and greens of Derbal Yerrigan (The Swan River).

Designed to a four-star Green Star rating, with a focus on thermal comfort, indoor air quality, operational energy and scheme water consumption, the building sits in a landscape of endemic species that showcase flowers, textures and colours throughout the Nyoongar Six Seasons.  Existing Marri and Jarrah trees, some of which were several hundred years old, have been retained and protected.

Bilya Marlee was nominated for the 2021 Australian Institute of Architects West Australian Awards in the Educational and Interior Architecture categories.