QLD State Architecture Awards recognise Mari-Mari-Ba

The Mari-Mari-Ba Affordable Housing and Bushland Communal Hub has won a number of awards at the QLD State Architecture Awards.

The project, located in Eight Mile Plains on Brisbane’s south side, has received the State Award for Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing, the Hayes & Scott Award for Small Project Architecture, and the inaugural Social Impact Prize – an initiative of the Queensland Awards Jury.

The project is a redevelopment of the former Joyce Wilding Hostel, a refuge for First Nations women and children. It was formerly known as Kaggarabah but has been renamed by its operators, ATICHS.

The jury said:

“The Mari-Mari-Ba Affordable Housing and Bushland Communal Hub is an essential addition to the redevelopment of the former Joyce Wilding Hostel. Since the 1970s, the site has served as a refuge for vulnerable First Nations women and children. The new development directly confronts the societal challenges related to domestic violence and at-risk women and children by establishing a safe, accessible, and culturally appropriate campus. This project makes a significant contribution to supporting cultural sustainability and exemplifies the positive impact architecture can have on our communities, addressing critical social issues with care and purpose.

Mari-Mari-Ba sets a precedent for supported emergency accommodation; demonstrating that facilities of this kind can deliver quality, economic design, and meaningful, empathetic outcomes for people in need”.