Coming into the beginning of March, we kick off the month with another installment of architecture project of the week, this time for
University of New South Wales student Justin Wohl and his architecture project Pluralism: a beautiful cultural facility that embraces the customs and practises of people from around the world. This article explores the inspiration behind this diverse and inclusive design and explores how this mixed-use building could become a place to celebrate culture and diversity across Australia.
Pluralism is an idea for a mixed-use facility which houses a marketplace and workshops for the broader Australian public. Situated on busy commercial district of George Street in Sydney, the proposal would be made up of a series of spaces where culturally diverse local artisans can both create and sell their designs, all while celebrating festivities, hosting events, offering workshops, and sharing stories from their respective communities.
The architectural proposal envisions a number of unique cultures harmoniously showcasing their festive holidays, cuisine, textiles, and more. The design features four distinct cultures including Tajik, Chinese, Peruvian, and Hindu, displaying to the public a range of celebrations and customs such as Sada Festival, Chinese New Year, Mid-Autumn Festival, warp-faced weaving, kalamkari weaving, and so much more.
The design of the building is made up of several floors of open space plans which allows for celebrations and cultural events. Each area contains distinct rooms or sections for each represented culture with both indoor and outdoor areas. Pluralism also connects to many public spaces, as well as a Sydney Metro Station that runs along George Street. This allows for cultural demonstrations and invites collaboration with the public, who can listen and learn about the many different world cultures that Pluralism has to offer.
According to Justin, the “complex overlapping of spaces, cultures, stories and interactions are formed to embrace multiculturalism in Australia, addressing discrimination by promoting understanding and shared experiences.” He feels that Pluralism “gives primacy to the cultural practices of marginalised communities, facilitating a platform to make those histories, traditions, and norms visible.”
Be sure to check out some of our previous architecture projects of the week including Haberdasher Nation, Urban Farm, and FireLand.