2025
1st of April – Transitional Housing Project, Darwin NT
As members of our clients’ and stakeholders’ communities, we welcome the opportunity to work with them on projects which deliver positive social and cultural benefits.
We are currently designing and delivering a transitional housing project for families affected by disruptive circumstances.
The design provides a safe haven with secure accommodation in a landscaped communal living environment.
A central facility provides 24/7 support services as families stabilise and transition to permanent housing.
Borroloola Sports and Cyclone Shelter
The Northern Territory Government, in partnership with the Federal Governments’ Disaster Ready Fund, has a program to roll out Cyclone shelters across the Tropical Top End. DKJ has designed a few of these and was awarded the Borroloola Community infrastructure and safety project by the Northern Territory Government.
The design team flew to the remote Borroloola site for a briefing visit which was very useful, as the site had some topographical and titling challenges.
It took some time to resolve title issues, which impacted on setbacks, access and infrastructure supply and discharge. A key issue was getting permission for stormwater runoff into the aboriginal land on the adjoining rocky gully site.
These centers have a daily community use as basketball courts and a place for the kids to hang out.
DKJ’s design is bold and provides a strong visual focal point for the community
Louis Vuitton Fondation Paris
A recent visit to Gehry’s Louis Vuitton Fondation in Paris, as with all his projects, is challenging.
To best appreciate Gehry’s projects you need to visit them.
Complex, yes.
Resolved, yes.
Technical, yes
Obviously, this design is far removed from Haussmann’s Paris plan and that is the point – this is a halo project with its own very strong, visual identity and a lot of ‘look at me’ attitude.
Externally, the Louis Vuitton building is very complex – “sails over ice cubes” – while the interiors, exhibition spaces, ancillary areas and entry, are relatively simple.
Our visit raised the question:
Should a building be more important than its contents?
By comparison, the Musee d’Orsay, (opened in 1986) which houses priceless masterpieces of the impressionists and post-impressionist is housed in the former Gare d’Orsay, a Beaux-Arts railway station.
DKJ undertake regular study tours to provide real time experiences for our team and for the benefit of you, our clients.
New Project – South Australia
DKJ have been commissioned for a major industrial project in South Australia.
The client has been operating for over 50 years and is a manufacturer and provider to the mining, communications, transport, infrastructure and energy sectors throughout Australia.
DKJ were selected by the client, in addition to our understanding of design for industrial processes, for our ability to deal with and manage a range of site, planning and logistics issues.
Our client and community relationships are highly valued and we work together with our clients to meet project objectives with a methodology that is creative, commercial, community and project focused.
“We respect and honour Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Islander peoples on this land and commit to building a brighter future together.”