Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre

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Gregory Burgess Architects , Australia

Uluru is a sacred place for the Anangu people of central Australia. For the white settlers, it is an icon embedded in the national psyche. The center is the place where the Anangu present their culture to visitors.

The design arose out of a month long communal process characterized by mutual trust. The grounds were explored together, the myths of Uluru mapped and drawn by the Anangu. The initial floor plans were drawn in the sand. Symbolically the winding floor plan, colorfully glowing roofs and skeletal construction represent the subterranean snake Jukurpa, which plays a major role in Anangu myths. Through its significant location, the liberal use of natural materials and its inviting gesture towards visitors and nature, the building is a celebration of the spirit of Anangu culture.

Gregory Burgess

 

• Client: Mutitjulo Community and Australian Nature Conservation Agency
• Project: Cultural Center new construction
• Total area: 1,500 m2
• Commencement of planning: 1990
• Completion: 1995
• Architects: Gregory Burgess, Peter Ryan and Steve Duddy