LXRP Indigenous Design Guidelines
At a glance
To embed Indigenous design into the high quality, context-sensitive urban design outcomes across the entire Level Crossing Removal Project program, creating a range of benefits for the community, now and in the future.
The challenge
The Level Crossing Removal Project (LXRP) was established by the Victorian Government to oversee one of the largest rail infrastructure projects in the State’s history. The challenge is to remove 85 dangerous and congested level crossings by 2025, while also enhancing station and neighbourhood precincts to leave an enduring legacy for communities across Melbourne.
One of the largest rail infrastructure projects in the state’s history, this project touches many parts of Country – presenting an opportunity to celebrate Aboriginal culture and knowledge through design.
Our response
The Indigenous Design Guidelines (Guidelines), prepared in partnership with Victorian Traditional Owners, set out an integrated and inclusive Indigenous design approach that can be applied in Victoria. Building on the International Indigenous Design Charter (IIDC), the Guidelines outline principles for Traditional Owner engagement and the process of designing with Country that are applied across all LXRP projects.
The Guidelines are concise but comprehensive, using local examples to illustrate clearly-presented guidance regarding the respectful integration of Aboriginal knowledge and culture into the design of the built environment.
The impact
As they are accessible to non-specialist audiences, the Guidelines are a powerful advocacy tool and a valuable resource that can be adapted for use beyond the LXRP to other disciplines and project types.
They are also an important contribution to the national discourse regarding the acknowledgment, elevation and celebration of Indigenous culture through urban design.
The Guidelines received the National Award of Excellence for Research, Policy and Communications at the 2021 National Landscape Architecture Awards.
The following was recognised by the award jury:
“The LXRP Indigenous Design Guidelines introduce a new dimension to the thinking around infrastructure in Victoria and form a valuable Indigenous-led design and advocacy resource for Australian designers. The guidelines recast infrastructure as spaces that can express and support culture and promote the role of landscape architects in developing Indigenous-led design approaches and outcomes.”
The guidelines also received a Commendation for Leadership, Advocacy and Research – City and Regional Scale at the 2021 Australian Urban Design Awards.
The LXRP Indigenous Design Guidelines is an exemplary guiding document for collaboration and engagement with Aboriginal culture and knowledge in the built environments.