Twelve speculative design proposals for the Omeo Justice Precinct, created by RMIT University Master of Architecture students and informed by conversations with the Omeo community, will go on show at the Omeo Community Hub from Friday 6 November.
The exhibition, Architectures of Not-Yet: Training for Transition, is a research partnership between RMIT's School of Architecture and Urban Design, East Gippsland Shire Council and the Omeo community.
Earlier this year, the students travelled from Melbourne to Omeo to document the precinct, spending time on site and talking with representatives of the Omeo Historical Society, the Omeo Community Hub and the Omeo Business and Tourism Association. They then presented their developing ideas to community members and Council representatives online, and that feedback shaped the final proposals on display.
The 12 proposals take a range of approaches, from preserving and activating the precinct's heritage and memory, to creating spaces for community gathering, to exploring how tourism and heritage might work together. They are not finished designs or Council plans. They are ideas offered as a contribution to the ongoing conversation about the precinct's future.
Mayor Jodie Ashworth said, "It's so valuable for these students to step out of the studio and into a place like Omeo. You can't understand a regional community from a distance. You must sit down with people, hear their stories and see how a place is used. The students who spent time here will take that understanding into every project they work on, and that can only be good for regional Victoria."
RMIT Master of Architecture student Lachlan Hartnett said working with a real community was an incredibly unique opportunity.
"Through researching the history of the region, I became fascinated with the gold rush and the timber industry, recognising them as integral parts of the region's economy and identity. A stonemasonry and horticultural school became my project's driving force, seeking to reflect and assist the heritage precinct while addressing the worker and educational shortages in the region. One of the most important lessons learnt was about shifting the language of the design process: from designing for the community to designing with the community."
RMIT Master Studio Lead and researcher Grace Leone said the Omeo Justice Precinct was an extraordinary site for this kind of investigation.
"It sits at the intersection of heritage, community and economic uncertainty. The generosity of the Omeo community made this project possible."
The project is part of broader research into adaptive reuse of heritage sites in regional communities undergoing transition. It will lead to a publication documenting the proposals and research methodology, and could help develop a model for university, community and Council collaboration on future regional projects across Victoria and beyond.
Exhibition details
Architectures of Not-Yet: Training for Transition, an exhibition of twelve student design proposals for the Omeo Justice Precinct.
Opening: Friday 6 November, 3pm to 6pm
Where: Omeo Community Hub, Hall
Exhibition dates: 6 to 25 November