QUT Carumba Institute & Oodgeroo Unit, Gardens Point Campus
Project: QUT Carumba Institute & Oodgeroo Unit, Gardens Point Campus
Practice: PDT Architects & Blaklash Studio
Location: Brisbane, Queensland
Planex products: xLocker2 System
Lock technology: Gallagher Smart Reader
PDT were provided with the exciting opportunity to design a space for the colocation of the Carumba Institute, Oodgeroo Unit, Elders & Community Space in B Block of the QUT Gardens Point Campus. We embarked on this culturally significant project with QUT, Blaklash (Aboriginal Design Agency specialising in First Nations Placemaking) and worked closely with renowned indigenous artists.
As part of the cultural design narrative for the Carumba Institute and Oodgeroo Unit at QUT’s Gardens Point Campus, Planex was engaged to work with Blaklash to incorporate the artwork of esteemed artist Delvene Cockatoo-Collins into the xLocker2 system.
Delvene’s artwork, Cockatoo Feathers, was seamlessly applied to the face of the lockers, creating a visual connection across space and materials. The design also features on textile furnishings and glass privacy panels throughout the Elders and Community Space in B Block, reinforcing a unified aesthetic and cultural presence.
This integration was part of a broader vision guided by the concept of Infinite Pathways, developed by Uncle Cheg – QUT’s former Elder-in-Residence whose insights and lived experience were foundational to the cultural framework. PDT Architects, in close collaboration with Blaklash and through a series of workshops and community consultations, ensured the design outcome authentically reflected the voices and aspirations of the community.
The result is a meaningful, multi-sensory environment where country, culture, and community are embedded in the architecture. Planex is proud to support this project through the xLocker2 system, enabling functional design to contribute to a deeper sense of identity, respect, and connection within the built environment.
Photography by Josef Ruckli Photography