Studio 11

Constituting Amendment

Natalie Lynch

Studio Description

What is the role of architecture in constitutional reform?

In 2017 delegates of the First Nations Constitutional Conventions Conference called for ‘substantive constitutional change and structural reform’ to enshrine a First Nations Voice in the Constitution. The proposal to Parliament was rejected by the Turnbull Government as it was interpreted as being inconsistent with existing constitutional structure. Does the existing Constitution have the structural capacity and permeability to enshrine the Voice of First Nations? What existing features of the structure might provide a solution that is constitutional? What role might architecture play in resolving tension between the stability and flexibility of the Constitution?

This studio explores the correlation between the design of Parliament House, Victoria and the design of the Australian Constitution to develop a proposed model of architectural alteration to resolve problems of legal structure identified by Government and First Nations.

Studio Outcome

This studio will critically examine how architecture can facilitate constitutional change. Using the process of constitutional amendment in Section 128 the studio will survey present legal and architectural conditions to develop and propose a model of alteration for a collaborative structure of popular, parliamentary and spiritual sovereignty to function in Parliament House; and seek consent for the model proposed.

Consulting with a community of constitutional law and reform leaders students will survey the existing legal condition communicated by the Constitution to develop interpretive drawings of structure and derive a substantive value to use as a tool to constitutionally alter it. Contextualised by a survey of the tangible and intangible heritage and functionality of Parliament House a design for architectural alteration will be developed and critiqued for refinement by the consultation community. A refined model of the proposed architectural alteration will be presented to Aboriginal Victoria then Parliament for speculative consent.

Studio Leader

Natalie Lynch is an independent creative practitioner. In her current enquiry Natalie asks how the disciplines of visual art, pedagogy and constitutional law might converge to facilitate constitutional literacy in Australia. Natalie is presently fabricating a habitable paper model to engage the public in questions of identity at the core of the Australian Constitution. Questioning the role of architecture in constitutional reform Natalie collaborates with Atelier Chen Hung to design temporal structures.

Readings & References

• Arcioni, E., & Stone, A. (2016). The small brown bird: Values and aspirations in the Australian Constitution. International Journal Of Constitutional Law, 14(1).
• Best, S. (2016). Reparative aesthetics: Witnessing in contemporary art photography. London ; New York, NY: Bloomsbury Academic, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.
• Commonwealth of Australia (2017). Final Report of the Referendum Council.
• Dziedzic, Anna. (2016). Australian Indigenous constitutions: Recognition and renewal. Federal Law Review, 44(3).
• First Nations National Constitutional Convention [2017]. Uluru Statement from the Heart, IndigLRes 1.
• Kiddle, Stewart, & O'Brien. (2018). Our voices: Indigeneity and architecture. Novato, CA: ORO Editions.
• Roznai, Y. (2017) Unconstitutional Constitutional Amendment: The Limits of Amendment Powers. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
• Vivian, A., Jorgensen, M., Reilly, A., McMillan, M., McRae, C., & McMinn, J (2017). Indigenous Self-Government in the Australian Federation. Australian Indigenous Law Review, 20(1).
• Watson, J. (2005). a preponderance of aboriginal blood. Grahame Galleries: Numero Uno Publications.
• Advancing the Treaty Process with Aboriginal Victorians Act 2018
• Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006
• Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act (The Constitution)
• Constitution Act 1975 (Vic)

Schedule Mondays 12:00-15:00 in Room 117; Wednesdays 12:00-15:00 in Room 228
Travel Week 3 | $10

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