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First Knowledges Design: Building on Country
Aboriginal design is of a distinctly cultural nature, based in the Dreaming and in ancient practices grounded in Country. It is visible in the aerodynamic boomerang, the ingenious design of fish traps and the precise layouts of community settlements that strengthen social cohesion.
Alison Page and Paul Memmott show how these design principles of sophisticated function, sustainability and storytelling, refined over many millennia, are now being applied to contemporary practices. Design: Building on Country issues a challenge for a new Australian design ethos, one that truly responds to the essence of Country and its people.
About the First Knowledges series: Each book is a collaboration between Indigenous and non-Indigenous writers and editors; the series is edited by Margo Neale, senior Indigenous curator at the National Museum of Australia.
Other titles in the series include: Songlines by Margo Neale & Lynne Kelly (2020); Country by Bill Gammage & Bruce Pascoe (2021); Plants by Zena Cumpston, Michael Fletcher & Lesley Head (2022); Astronomy (2022); Innovation (2023).
Alison Page and Paul Memmott show how these design principles of sophisticated function, sustainability and storytelling, refined over many millennia, are now being applied to contemporary practices. Design: Building on Country issues a challenge for a new Australian design ethos, one that truly responds to the essence of Country and its people.
About the First Knowledges series: Each book is a collaboration between Indigenous and non-Indigenous writers and editors; the series is edited by Margo Neale, senior Indigenous curator at the National Museum of Australia.
Other titles in the series include: Songlines by Margo Neale & Lynne Kelly (2020); Country by Bill Gammage & Bruce Pascoe (2021); Plants by Zena Cumpston, Michael Fletcher & Lesley Head (2022); Astronomy (2022); Innovation (2023).
230 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 27, 2021
58 people are currently reading
483 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
November 10, 2021
This is an incredibly interesting and important read which covers a lot of ground in such a small volume - from sociospatial considerations to biophilic design, environmentally conscious use of materials to the embedding the longest living culture on Earth into both process and practice. The emphasis is not just on the journey toward contemporary design but how these various considerations can make a positive impact in the future.
My only quibble might be that the format of this series doesn't allow for quality representations of many of the works mentioned.
My only quibble might be that the format of this series doesn't allow for quality representations of many of the works mentioned.
March 6, 2024
A really valuable resource for reframing design in an Australian context, focusing less on Western concepts of form and function and more on cultural, social, and environmental implications. Some beautiful and enlightening explanations of First Nations designs, stories, and understanding of Country.
September 27, 2024
absolutely loving this series i am learning so much!!!!
some key takeaways from this one:
- the tool for locating words with similar meanings across different aboriginal languages was really interesting!! and good points about language - when talking about first nations people generally, how to choose what language/s to use? and then of course the difficulty of not all words having direct translations to english
- we need to think about the stories that are told in new designs - “if the stories are rooted in cultural values that reinforce our relationship to nature and compel us to care for it, then this will ultimately become our collective and cultural identity”
“in any part of australia, there will be sacred places imbued with perpetual energies and associated with ancestral beings of particular totemic spirits. their energies or essence can be embedded not only in and on the land or sea or sky, but in materials or resources taken from that environment. such materials can be shaped into artefacts, structures, and other designed things (for example, medicine or paintings), which in turn contain and perpetuate those energies. and the same energies implanted at particular places may extend out in different directions along the longlines”
- interesting learning about the stories behind first nations peoples connection to land/Country, how meaning is imbued in objects/sites etc. - for example, the stories of the ancestral beings/heroes - who were once human and animal, and who changed into parts of the landscape/left their energy by altering/visiting it - so now these sites/objets etc are sacred
- ^^ and thus it isn’t just land/‘nature’ that is living - objects (despite being man-made) are also animate, have a spirit, are embedded with knowledge and stories (and serve as a mnemonic for this) - recognises objects are made by people and thus imbued with meaning/stories through them - kind of like idea of cant separate art from artist i guess?
- and how this links to the importance of environmental sustainability!! - the importance of storytelling in indigenous design - “imbuing the object with spirit through its story increases its value to the owner, who will preserve it for longer”
- i do wish they’d gone more into examples of aboriginal sustainable practices and how we can embed this (specifically in terms of climate change/environmental sustainability) but the examples they gave (adaptable re-use of materials, respect for materials ensured by fully appreciating the diverse uses of them, and of being the custodians of such knowledge/caring for such materials/objects - as well as being sacred/products of the ancestors) were interesting
- all of this helped me understand better why indigenous people are so invested/care about places - obvious when i think about it! - the same reasons that we care about sites laden with memory/history/meaning also. the authors linking this to the western concept of heritage buildings was helpful in understanding this - for example, first nations connections to land comes from it being embedded with history, knowledge, meaning - much like our connections to heritage building
- recognising the different concepts of home - the western concept of a physical/built/permanent structure, whereas for many indigenous people, ‘home’ was not linked to physical structures - these were often temporary, didn’t have emotional ties to them - rather tied to locations, memories, experiences, knowledge of totems/dreaming/history etc. (also interesting how the built structures first nations people occupied differed from ours! a lot less separation of inside/outside etc.
- the complexities of introducing non-man-made materials such as metal - recognises it makes tools more functional/efficient/helps them last longer - but disrupted how knowledge was regulated (as the knowledge of using these new materials hadn’t been regulated/cared for like traditional knowledge) and the greater spiritual meaning of stone/wood. this new knowledge etc had to be adapted into existing knowledge/stories in culturally appropriate ways
- connection to country preventing fights over land ownership - as wouldnt know correct rituals/knowledge etc of other lands - “the ceremonies kept descent groups bound to local places through belief in totemic affiliation, ritual responsibility and being of and from the dreaming… these inviolable connections prevented the idea of conquering large tracts of country by any one group, for the conquerers would neither have the correct ritual knowledge nor be in the appropriate totemic relation to manifest it in other foreign lands. descent groups thus maintained longstanding custodianship and ritual relations to their local countries”
- the tensions between ‘creatives’ and ‘conservatives’ over change or no change trying to fill gaps in knowledge, adapting/building on existing information versus the importance of ensuring knowledge remains accurate and regulated
- again the importance of rethinking assumptions - what we consider primitive is not necessarily so - for example, the suggestion that some materials such as clay weren’t used because first nations people prioritised being able to move around (versus more sedentary lifestyle), or despite having different shelters, they still had comforts/aesthetics - not better or worse than western shelters/priorities - just different!!
- getting my head around what architecture/design even is! doesnt just include buildings/built structures - includes rules, the environment, avoidance behaviour and sociospatial patterns etc. (still dont fully understand this i dont think haha)
- perhaps the highlight of the book for me were the chapters on best practice of how aboriginal design can be incorporated into western contemporary design (and linking with the IIDC) (a lot of these are of course, the same as for any sort of grassroots development work): prioritise communication with community, co-creation and indigenous-led multidisciplinary teams, build trust - and throughout the whole process, rather than treating it as a checkbox at the beginning - focus on the process not the product!!!; helps empower community/create ownership, avoids appropriation; no one size fits all - adapt to local community needs/contexts; ensuring local communities/first nations people benefits - training, employment, economic independence - employed in design/construction process; respect knowledge - stay with owners; incorporation of things like locational principle, avoidance rules, sociospatial patterns; integration of story-telling and traditional knowledge; ensuring meaningful and important to community - don’t lose sight of function for superficial appreciation/
- it was really interesting reading a little about the importance of creating culturally appropriate healthcare given the high self-discharge rates, high mortality rates etc. i wish we’d been given some more examples (and more in-depth!) of these potential applications of what is discussed in the book - for example, fleshing out the importance of culturally appropriate housing, the importance of recognising these preferences are different, rather than better/worse, trying to understand why these preferences exist etc.
some key takeaways from this one:
- the tool for locating words with similar meanings across different aboriginal languages was really interesting!! and good points about language - when talking about first nations people generally, how to choose what language/s to use? and then of course the difficulty of not all words having direct translations to english
- we need to think about the stories that are told in new designs - “if the stories are rooted in cultural values that reinforce our relationship to nature and compel us to care for it, then this will ultimately become our collective and cultural identity”
“in any part of australia, there will be sacred places imbued with perpetual energies and associated with ancestral beings of particular totemic spirits. their energies or essence can be embedded not only in and on the land or sea or sky, but in materials or resources taken from that environment. such materials can be shaped into artefacts, structures, and other designed things (for example, medicine or paintings), which in turn contain and perpetuate those energies. and the same energies implanted at particular places may extend out in different directions along the longlines”
- interesting learning about the stories behind first nations peoples connection to land/Country, how meaning is imbued in objects/sites etc. - for example, the stories of the ancestral beings/heroes - who were once human and animal, and who changed into parts of the landscape/left their energy by altering/visiting it - so now these sites/objets etc are sacred
- ^^ and thus it isn’t just land/‘nature’ that is living - objects (despite being man-made) are also animate, have a spirit, are embedded with knowledge and stories (and serve as a mnemonic for this) - recognises objects are made by people and thus imbued with meaning/stories through them - kind of like idea of cant separate art from artist i guess?
- and how this links to the importance of environmental sustainability!! - the importance of storytelling in indigenous design - “imbuing the object with spirit through its story increases its value to the owner, who will preserve it for longer”
- i do wish they’d gone more into examples of aboriginal sustainable practices and how we can embed this (specifically in terms of climate change/environmental sustainability) but the examples they gave (adaptable re-use of materials, respect for materials ensured by fully appreciating the diverse uses of them, and of being the custodians of such knowledge/caring for such materials/objects - as well as being sacred/products of the ancestors) were interesting
- all of this helped me understand better why indigenous people are so invested/care about places - obvious when i think about it! - the same reasons that we care about sites laden with memory/history/meaning also. the authors linking this to the western concept of heritage buildings was helpful in understanding this - for example, first nations connections to land comes from it being embedded with history, knowledge, meaning - much like our connections to heritage building
- recognising the different concepts of home - the western concept of a physical/built/permanent structure, whereas for many indigenous people, ‘home’ was not linked to physical structures - these were often temporary, didn’t have emotional ties to them - rather tied to locations, memories, experiences, knowledge of totems/dreaming/history etc. (also interesting how the built structures first nations people occupied differed from ours! a lot less separation of inside/outside etc.
- the complexities of introducing non-man-made materials such as metal - recognises it makes tools more functional/efficient/helps them last longer - but disrupted how knowledge was regulated (as the knowledge of using these new materials hadn’t been regulated/cared for like traditional knowledge) and the greater spiritual meaning of stone/wood. this new knowledge etc had to be adapted into existing knowledge/stories in culturally appropriate ways
- connection to country preventing fights over land ownership - as wouldnt know correct rituals/knowledge etc of other lands - “the ceremonies kept descent groups bound to local places through belief in totemic affiliation, ritual responsibility and being of and from the dreaming… these inviolable connections prevented the idea of conquering large tracts of country by any one group, for the conquerers would neither have the correct ritual knowledge nor be in the appropriate totemic relation to manifest it in other foreign lands. descent groups thus maintained longstanding custodianship and ritual relations to their local countries”
- the tensions between ‘creatives’ and ‘conservatives’ over change or no change trying to fill gaps in knowledge, adapting/building on existing information versus the importance of ensuring knowledge remains accurate and regulated
- again the importance of rethinking assumptions - what we consider primitive is not necessarily so - for example, the suggestion that some materials such as clay weren’t used because first nations people prioritised being able to move around (versus more sedentary lifestyle), or despite having different shelters, they still had comforts/aesthetics - not better or worse than western shelters/priorities - just different!!
- getting my head around what architecture/design even is! doesnt just include buildings/built structures - includes rules, the environment, avoidance behaviour and sociospatial patterns etc. (still dont fully understand this i dont think haha)
- perhaps the highlight of the book for me were the chapters on best practice of how aboriginal design can be incorporated into western contemporary design (and linking with the IIDC) (a lot of these are of course, the same as for any sort of grassroots development work): prioritise communication with community, co-creation and indigenous-led multidisciplinary teams, build trust - and throughout the whole process, rather than treating it as a checkbox at the beginning - focus on the process not the product!!!; helps empower community/create ownership, avoids appropriation; no one size fits all - adapt to local community needs/contexts; ensuring local communities/first nations people benefits - training, employment, economic independence - employed in design/construction process; respect knowledge - stay with owners; incorporation of things like locational principle, avoidance rules, sociospatial patterns; integration of story-telling and traditional knowledge; ensuring meaningful and important to community - don’t lose sight of function for superficial appreciation/
- it was really interesting reading a little about the importance of creating culturally appropriate healthcare given the high self-discharge rates, high mortality rates etc. i wish we’d been given some more examples (and more in-depth!) of these potential applications of what is discussed in the book - for example, fleshing out the importance of culturally appropriate housing, the importance of recognising these preferences are different, rather than better/worse, trying to understand why these preferences exist etc.
January 26, 2022
A fascinating insight into the technology and design principles of the first Australians.
Leading with the various ways of hunting and methods used through to the sophisticated ways of housing entire camps due to the intricate social structures. This book shows the deep consideration and meaning that the Aboriginal people placed in all of their design concepts.
Leading with the various ways of hunting and methods used through to the sophisticated ways of housing entire camps due to the intricate social structures. This book shows the deep consideration and meaning that the Aboriginal people placed in all of their design concepts.
July 21, 2023
Absolutely brilliant book in a must read series. I had never thought about the cultural and ecological implications of architecture beyond “green design”. This book made me look differently at my home, my community and the shapes in nature. I am glad I stumbled on this series
March 8, 2022
It Was cool book telling people what it was like and how things worked around the time when the first settlers came to Australia.
June 2, 2021
“There is a new awakening fuelled by ecological necessity to redesign our future and the relationship that we as people have with nature and each other. Our objects, interiors and places can be an extension of the Songlines that crisscross this country in every direction and are a web of knowledge embedded in our everyday lives.
This New Australian Design will improve the wellbeing of people and create places that ultimately mean more to all of us. It will extend Country, not abrogate it, and it should be created with that in mind - because we are all connected to Country.”
Design: Building on Country is the second book in the Indigenous Knowledges series. I’m not really into architecture or making things in general, but I am interested in the anthropology side of this book, coauthored by Alison Page and Paul Memmott.
Though you could almost be forgiven for thinking this book was written by one person. Memmott is obviously well versed in Aboriginal lore and customs, but he is a white Australian. The white male author wrote most of this book, not the Aboriginal woman. I found myself turning each page hoping Alison would return. Her sections were few and far between.
In the end, the book does what it’s meant to. It explains Aboriginal social systems and how those systems relate to structures, tools, and the Songlines. The book highlights the importance of the symbiotic relationship between First Nations People and Country. It was definitely a good read and I learned a lot.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🖤💛❤️
This New Australian Design will improve the wellbeing of people and create places that ultimately mean more to all of us. It will extend Country, not abrogate it, and it should be created with that in mind - because we are all connected to Country.”
Design: Building on Country is the second book in the Indigenous Knowledges series. I’m not really into architecture or making things in general, but I am interested in the anthropology side of this book, coauthored by Alison Page and Paul Memmott.
Though you could almost be forgiven for thinking this book was written by one person. Memmott is obviously well versed in Aboriginal lore and customs, but he is a white Australian. The white male author wrote most of this book, not the Aboriginal woman. I found myself turning each page hoping Alison would return. Her sections were few and far between.
In the end, the book does what it’s meant to. It explains Aboriginal social systems and how those systems relate to structures, tools, and the Songlines. The book highlights the importance of the symbiotic relationship between First Nations People and Country. It was definitely a good read and I learned a lot.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🖤💛❤️
May 6, 2025
An illuminating and rather readable little book! I didn’t just learn about Aboriginal design – I learned about knowledge systems, value systems, and different ways of thinking about time, respect, and creativity. Concepts I’d heard about before – like Songlines or caring for Country – came into sharper focus through thoughtfully chosen examples.
I don’t think this is a book only for architects or builders. I found many of its insights applicable to design at large – or even to one’s broader artistic philosophy.
As a writer, I really connected with the idea that design is not just about what something looks like or even how it functions – but about the story it tells, the memory it carries, and the relationships it honours. I found it striking when Alison Page described environmental damage as being like setting fire to a library. Because so much knowledge is tied to Place, and shared and passed on through Place, it really hit home how much is lost when Country is destroyed. Isn’t the library analogy such a beautiful one? Australia as a living, breathing archive – every inquisitive journey across and through it a contribution to keeping knowledge alive…
I came away from the book with a deeper understanding of the principles and ethic of Indigenous design – but also with a sense of hope: that with care, collaboration, and respect, design can help us tell better stories, build better relationships, and do better by each other and by Country.
I don’t think this is a book only for architects or builders. I found many of its insights applicable to design at large – or even to one’s broader artistic philosophy.
As a writer, I really connected with the idea that design is not just about what something looks like or even how it functions – but about the story it tells, the memory it carries, and the relationships it honours. I found it striking when Alison Page described environmental damage as being like setting fire to a library. Because so much knowledge is tied to Place, and shared and passed on through Place, it really hit home how much is lost when Country is destroyed. Isn’t the library analogy such a beautiful one? Australia as a living, breathing archive – every inquisitive journey across and through it a contribution to keeping knowledge alive…
I came away from the book with a deeper understanding of the principles and ethic of Indigenous design – but also with a sense of hope: that with care, collaboration, and respect, design can help us tell better stories, build better relationships, and do better by each other and by Country.
February 29, 2024
The best book in the series so far in my opinion. Focuses on the need for aboriginal design in Australia and western designs failings. Very in depth and tackles numerous issues caused by the lack of respect and acknowledgment of aboriginal practices. First few chapters were particularly interesting as aboriginal design was showcased and following it, how it has developed with the imposition of European materials. The focus on the intricacy of design in terms of technology, dwellings, even social design is highlighted and well explained. Highly recommend
December 16, 2024
This was so interesting, the focus was mostly on architecture and some textiles and innovations. Learning from indigenous people who are so educated and experienced with different indigenous communities was really powerful. It was maybe a bit dry at times but non-fiction isn't really my jam so that might just be me. I especially loved Alison Page's chapters and learning about the modern designers. I felt like reading this gave me a new perspective on design not just as something one person creates but as a process formed through community and tradition as well.
February 7, 2024
This entry in the first knowledges series covers a range of technologies, including Indigenous innovations in tools and systems, through to architecture and settlement design. I found Page's entries in the latter part of the book, dealing with issues around meaningful incorporation of Country into design, some of the limitations of current fashion and what real co-design, the most interesting. I have already found myself loaning those sections, and suspect I will be musing on it for some time.
August 16, 2023
Excellent, important and focused. Strong connections to other books in this series, especially Country and Songlines.
I did enjoy this book less than some others in this series, but I think this was my own interests.
I did enjoy this book less than some others in this series, but I think this was my own interests.
June 18, 2025
I'm in two minds over this book. After struggling throughout the book with the changed meaning of words like Dreaming and trying to keep the concept of 'Country' in my mind, the last few chapters made a strong impact.
Read
January 15, 2023I have decided not to rate non-fictions, but this was really easy to read and very informative and I can see myself using this as a reference for years to come.
April 9, 2023
Great little banger that was very informative.
January 27, 2024
Compelling and suprising in content and structure.
March 11, 2024
I hope we are able to incorporate many of these aspects of indigenous design into general Australian architecture going forward into the future.
December 24, 2024
An excellent primer on the subject.
January 19, 2025
Fascinating, insightful and mind-opening journey. An important read for anyone looking to more deeply learn about and understand Indigenous people in Australia.
April 13, 2025
found it really intresting but difficult to follow at somepoints
March 31, 2024
Paul Memmott's and Alison Page's relatively short book, Building on Country, charts design principles that are oriented towards Aboriginal Australia, whether through modern-day cultural sensitivities or originating from the continent's nations.
Like several recent books on Indigenous Australia, Building on Country presents piecemeal examples, building them up into broader judgements. Perhaps it's hard to start out with one thesis that reaches across the diversity of Indigenous cultures, but starting with a broader 'mission statement' would be better for the reader.
The book picks up pace and profundity towards the end. Memmott discusses the cultural importance of kinship seatings and placemaking, while Page talks of how cultural relationships are refracted through the physical objects of colonisation.
These arguments reach deeper into Indigenous culture and history. Considering the book's purpose, they’re far more interesting than mere descriptions of ingenious tools. Building on Country is part of a series aimed at educating white people on the modern contributions of traditions. If merely about the practices themselves, this could be an extension of colonialism. By contrast, moving these examples into a broader education on Indigenous lifestyles educates people on other cultures and breathes more life into the objects themselves.
Like several recent books on Indigenous Australia, Building on Country presents piecemeal examples, building them up into broader judgements. Perhaps it's hard to start out with one thesis that reaches across the diversity of Indigenous cultures, but starting with a broader 'mission statement' would be better for the reader.
The book picks up pace and profundity towards the end. Memmott discusses the cultural importance of kinship seatings and placemaking, while Page talks of how cultural relationships are refracted through the physical objects of colonisation.
These arguments reach deeper into Indigenous culture and history. Considering the book's purpose, they’re far more interesting than mere descriptions of ingenious tools. Building on Country is part of a series aimed at educating white people on the modern contributions of traditions. If merely about the practices themselves, this could be an extension of colonialism. By contrast, moving these examples into a broader education on Indigenous lifestyles educates people on other cultures and breathes more life into the objects themselves.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews