The contemporary 2 studio asked students to imagine a context where the Government Architect’s Office returned to its former tradition of architectural production over advocacy: A governmental strategy aimed at addressing quality control of public and infrastructural buildings for NSW. New offices would be formed in buildings previously designed by the GAO, and which were now, at risk of being demolished. Armidale’s Robb College, designed by Michael Dysart was the chosen site for this studio. Our task was to design the physical space of the office itself along with the associated professional hierarchy and structure.

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Our proposal established 3 working streams; Policy, practice and research - in order to widen the scope of architectural production and influence in the built environment: An office with the ability to engage holistically in briefs from financing to conception to construction. The design: Four self-reliant yet symbiotic containers and one structural linear roof. Indigeneity, Practice, Policy and Research occupy each of the polyvalent, highly specific, unified yet unique structures.  Each of them explore typology, structure, services, facade as the ultimate tools of the bureaucratic architect.The organisation is closely linked to the layers and conditions of the site’s historical past. The central and symbolic figure of the Robb College, acts as a generator of architectural form: The original quadrangle and pinwheel plan is corrected, referenced and replicated. The existing is almost present, only having been demolished a few months ago