Presence and Identity

The building exudes Australian presence through its response to factors such as climate, history, place and identity.

CLIMATE
The building utilises passive solar systems so as to respond to the conditions of the Canberra climate, minimising energy consumption from active systems.

HISTORY
The building acknowledges the narrative of the structure which once stood on its grounds, incorporating its essence into the new structure. This is achieved primarily by the wrapping of the new archives around the space of the old, filling the void space with memory.

PLACE
The use of local materials reflects the place in which it is located. It’s adherence to parliamentary aesthetic is shown by the strong, brutalist form of the vertical exterior columns that extend from earth to roof, reflecting the image of the other buildings in the parliamentary triangle.

IDENTITY
The building tells a story of the country's past, while engaging in a new image to strive toward the future. With emphasis on information and innovation, it contains elements, such as the reading pods, which capture the spirit of Australian growth, evolution and choice, through the use of advanced technology and symbolic narrative. By adhering to sustainable practices the building reflects contemporary Australian culture and values.

The integral principal of choice and the ability to add ones own story to the web responds to the nature of Australia as a multicultural society as it represents the many stories which have tangled together to form the Australian nation.

Overall, the structure incites feelings of nationalism within users, as their ability to identify with the place, spurred by impressions of choice, change, growth and knowledge, incurs a collective desire for societal connectivity.