Melbourne Indigenous Transition School (MITS) by McIldowie Partners

A breakout space within Melbourne Indigenous Transition School featuring upholstered banquet seating, ottomans and wall panelling - featuring prints in complimentary tones of peach and rust.

April Jones’ Rainbows in ‘Pindan’ [banquette seating and ottoman], Elizabeth Kandabuma’s Mud Ripples in ‘Speargrass’ [upholstered wall panelling in alcove] and Annunciata Nunuk Wilson’s Syaw (Fish Net) in a custom rust colour [wallpaper], at Melbourne Indigenous Transition School’s new boarding house in Naarm (Melbourne).

Melbourne Indigenous Transition School (MITS) supports young First Nations people from remote top-end and regional Victorian communities as they pursue away-from-home schooling in Melbourne. McIldowie Partners’ design of the school’s new purpose-built boarding house on Wurundjeri Country focuses on cultural safety, connection and maintaining a connection to Country – ultimately enhancing learning outcomes.

Four Willie Weston designs feature in the space: the commercial upholstery selection includes Rainbows by April Jones in ‘Pindan’ and Mud Ripples by Elizabeth Kandabuma in ‘Wild Red Apple’ and ‘Speargrass’ on banquette seating and ottomans. Jilamara by Jean Baptiste Apuatimi in ‘Stone’ and Syaw (Fish Net) by Annunciata Nunuk Wilson (in a custom shade of rust) were chosen for the walls, on our Eco Commercial wallpaper.

Design elements – including textiles, lighting, wallpaper and way-finding graphics – were selected from the six regions the students come from. McIldowie Director, John McIldowie, described the selection of Willie Weston designs as “…an obvious choice, not just as a continuation of the storytelling narratives, but as a feature interior element that reinforced our design approach”.

Read our interview with John about the project in our online journal HERE.

The facade of Melbourne Indigenous Transition School features an impressive rust coloured perforated screen that tells the Dreamtime story of the First Bees. Designed in collaboration with Indigenous artist, Lorraine Kabbindi White.

Four Willie Weston designs feature in MITS’ new purpose-built boarding house on Church Street, Richmond, which features artwork by First Nations artist Lorraine Kabbindi White on the facade.

Willie Weston Rainbows 'Pindan' design for upholstery and wallpaper, featuring authentic contemporary Aboriginal pattern by Fitzroy Crossing First Nations artist April Jones.

Rainbows by April Jones in ‘Pindan’ celebrates the advent of the dry season, depicting the colourful arcs seen in the sky towards the end of the wet season.

Black and white portrait of an Indigenous woman with a grey background.

April Jones. Photo: Marnin Studio.

A breakout area within Melbourne Indigenous Transition School featuring banquet seating in printed upholstery fabric beneath a large window with expansive views over Richmond and surrounds.

Mud Ripples in ‘Wild Red Apple' by Elizabeth Kandabuma depicts the patterns of freshwater mud ripples which emerge after monsoonal wet seasons on the Arnhem Land flood plains. The design features in custom upholstery in break out areas throughout the building.

Willie Weston Mud Ripples 'Wild Red Apple' design for upholstery, featuring delicately patterned contemporary Aboriginal artwork by First Nations artist Elizabeth Kandabuma.

Elizabeth’s Mud Ripples Design.

Willie Weston Syaw (Fish Net) design in a custom ‘rust’ colour way for wallpaper, featuring delicately patterned contemporary Aboriginal artwork by Ngan’gikurunggurr First Nations artist Annunciata Nunuk Wilson.

Syaw (Fish Net) by Annunciata Nunuk Wilson in a custom colour way.

Black and white portrait of an Indigenous woman.

Annunciata Nunuk Wilson. Photo: Durrmu Arts.

ECO COMMERCIAL WALLPAPER

COMMERCIAL UPHOLSTERY

Melbourne Indigenous Transition School (MITS) by McIldowie Partners

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