Revolutionising the Learning Experience Through Indigenous-Centred Carpet Design at North Melbourne Primary School.

North Melbourne Primary School is located on Country of the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and the Bunurong Boonwurrung people of the Kulin nation. ARM Architecture collaborated with N’arweet Dr Carolyn Briggs AM, Boon Wurrung Elder, in a bespoke co-design process for the project.

The Bundjil Creation Story and Barraeemal Story became the foundation for naming spaces and the learning environments’ character. North Melbourne Primary School’s new six-storey campus, located on a complex triangular site, was designed to accommodate 525 students.

The school features innovative design elements, including multiple entries for safe access, a grand main entry overlooking a large outdoor play area, and dedicated spaces for various activities such as reception, library, auditorium, specialist learning areas, and a competition gymnasium. The campus embraces inclusivity and creativity, aiming to provide a vibrant and adaptable learning environment for students and staff alike.

A Hallmark in Education Design Excellence.

The design of the North Melbourne Primary School, Molesworth Street Campus, sets a new benchmark for educational facilities in Australia. Informed by previous vertical school projects, the design team prioritised creativity, placemaking, and inclusivity. High-quality materials sourced from local manufacturers were used throughout the facility, with colour playing a pivotal role in creating distinct identities on each level, aiding navigation for students and teachers while fostering creativity and storytelling throughout the building. The campus’s landscape was meticulously designed to be wheelchair accessible, ensuring that all students could fully engage with the outdoor environment.

Design Rationale.

The school’s design exceeds traditional standards by prioritising an enhanced experience that encourages inclusivity and originality. Notably, North Melbourne Primary School integrates carpet design to enhance its interiors and uplift the overall experience for everyone. In collaboration with Milliken, the ARM design team carefully selected designs and a variety of colours from the Water Yuludarla and Beyond Chroma collections, seamlessly blending them to enhance and complement the school’s lively aesthetic.?

Each floor features a distinctive identity and colour scheme inspired by the diverse natural landscapes of Wurundjeri and Bunurong country. The unique architectural and interior design inspirations and their accompanying colour palettes were brought to life through Water Yuludarla and Beyond Chroma collections, strategically arranged to delineate various learning and play areas, support wayfinding, and infuse the environment with energy and a sense of community. The carpet is the core colour scheme for each level, establishing the ambience for other finishes like cabinetry, furnishings, wallpapers, pinboards, and lighting.

Key aspects of the storytelling were translated into the palette for each level, as demonstrated by the rich collection of colours and designs made possible through Milliken’s complimentary carpet collections. The result is a distinct identification of each space, adding an all-encompassing sense of connection to the learning spaces for the children and staff.

Water Yuludarla – Capturing the Essence of the Design Philosophy.

Embracing reconciliation as a central principle, Milliken leads by example, shifting the conversation to incorporate authentic indigenous design perspectives into commercial interior design. Through collaborative projects with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, Milliken magnifies the rich heritage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Art on a grand scale, emphasising inclusivity and celebrating diversity.

The selection of the Water Yuludarla Collection for the North Melbourne School supports the design philosophy inspired by the Wurundjeri and Bunurong country. This collection authentically interprets Gumbaynggirr Artist Brentyn Lugnan ’s original artwork, embodying Milliken’s commitment to their “Reconciliation Through Design” initiative. By providing tangible benefits and support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, this initiative is a platform for meaningful partnerships that directly benefit the artists and promote their voices within the commercial interior industry.

For the North Melbourne School project, Mayala and Jagun designs were selected in various colourways that complement the school’s placemaking and design inspiration for each level.?

Mayala (Moving) captures the natural wind-worn rock formations of the cracked earth from an aerial perspective. The organic movement of land and water are blended elements within this design, creating an abstract and contemporary look. Jagun (Birthplace) is a layered pattern capturing elements of the Mayala (Moving) design in the background while incorporating the dot elements from Brentyn’s artwork in the foreground. Combined with the complimentary Beyond Chroma Collection, the floor plane throughout the school sits as a welcoming and vibrant foundation of colour, storytelling, definition of learning zones and wayfinding.

Colour driving Sensory Impact and an Emotional Response.

The Beyond Chroma Collection offered a multitude of benefits for the school project, aligning perfectly with its ethos of creativity and vibrancy. As colour is known to awaken emotions and influence mood, the collection’s diverse palette of shades and tones creates dynamic and powerful atmospheres within the school’s interiors. Whether it’s fostering a sense of fun and energy or promoting harmony and subtlety, the Beyond Chroma Collection enhances the learning environment by stimulating individualistic human responses. Through its experiential effects of colour, this collection not only enriches the aesthetic appeal of the project but also contributes to creating inspiring spaces that engage students and staff, fostering creativity and positivity within the educational settings.

Creating a Better World through Milliken’s partnership with the Property Industry Foundation (PIF).

The Beyond Chroma Collection is part of the “purpose-oriented” product pathway initiative to pro-actively raise funds for homeless youth. A percentage of the revenue from every Beyond Chroma specification is donated to the Property Industry Foundation

ARM and Milliken – A Collaborative Approach to Overcome Challenges.

Managing the sheer number of coloured carpets presented a significant challenge during the project. Extensive documentation and quality assurance processes were implemented to ensure accuracy and consistency in selecting and installing carpet colours. Despite the challenge, the Project Architect remarked,

“The collaboration experience has been fantastic. Milliken are always very happy to prepare samples for us to ensure that we have the end user’s approval prior to installation.”

Milliken’s Comprehensive Strategy Towards Well Being, Safe Material Health, Carbon Neutrality and Circularity.

The integration of carpet design at North Melbourne Primary School has transformed the interiors and the overall learning experience. Beyond its aesthetic appeal, the carpet’s hardwearing properties and resistance to staining ensure durability and longevity, making it an ideal choice for educational environments. Milliken’s modular flooring also supports the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) categories of Air, Water, Materials, Movement and Mind. It has earned the Works with WELL mark, giving specifiers the maximum confidence in their materials selections. All WELL-certified products by Milliken can be sourced through the Works WELL directory.

Milliken carpet tiles come standard with integrated WellBAC? cushion backing, which provides superior comfort for children in floor-seated positions and improves acoustics by up to 50%. The open-cell technology absorbs impact in the lively school environment, extending life up to 50% longer than hardback tiles.?

Ensuring the safety of the children at North Melbourne Public School was paramount. Milliken’s dedication to material health guaranteed the absence of harmful chemicals in their products, facilitating recycling at the?end of their lifecycle.?

In addition, Milliken’s MGUARD+ treatment has created the world’s first self-sanitising carpet, available in over 300+ patterns and unlimited custom designs. The MGUARD+ treatment offers a solution free of harmful chemicals, safe for skin contact, and prioritises environmental sustainability, further enhancing the health and safety of the children and staff at North Melbourne School. Simply put the MGUARD+ treatment bonds to the carpet fibre and breaks down the outside of the virus or bacteria. Once exposed, the bacteria are destroyed.

Moreover, Milliken’s commitment to carbon neutrality was evident through its use of third-party Verified Carbon Standard Credits, actively supporting renewable energy and carbon reduction technologies. This initiative is part of the M/PACT? program, ensuring carbon neutrality for all Milliken products globally. Sustainability efforts were further reinforced by rigorous Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) processes, ensuring transparency and accountability in minimising environmental impact.

The North Melbourne Primary School exemplifies design excellence and innovation in educational architecture and design. By leveraging carpet design as a key element of the interiors, the school has created vibrant and inclusive spaces that inspire learning and creativity.

The successful collaboration between ARM Architecture, our Indigenous Community and Milliken underscores the importance of strategic partnerships in delivering exceptional design outcomes. As Australia’s newest vertical format school, North Melbourne Primary School sets a new standard for educational facilities, enriching the lives of students and the community and preserving the rich history that is designing on Country.

Photography by John Gollings