Fifty years after Cyclone Tracy caused devastation and destruction across the suburbs of Darwin, the Northern Territory will soon have its own crop of locally educated architects designing buildings to withstand such forces. 

Charles Darwin University’s (CDU) new Bachelor of Architectural Design, which is open for enrolment now, is specifically tailored for students to understand the unique tropical design needs and challenges faced in Northern Australia.

The new course will allow students to explore the concepts and theories behind some of the marvels of Northern Australian architecture – including Darwin’s tropical- and cyclone-proof homes, the iconic Queenslanders and desert dwellings.

CDU’s Academy of the Arts director Dr Amanda Morris says the new course will help grow the Territory workforce, limiting the reliance on architects from southern states and giving Territory students a chance to study at home.

“Following the destruction of much of the domestic housing in the northern suburbs of Darwin from Cyclone Tracy, new building codes were introduced and new homes were constructed, but these were built as replicas of southern designs which didn’t suit the tropical environment of Darwin,” Morris explains. 

“Fifty years on, we are starting to design domestic houses and public buildings for the tropical environment with the Territory having only a small workforce of architects.

“We need more architects who understand the unique challenges of designing buildings for tropical environments and this is where CDU’s new course fits in, providing a local workforce which understands the unique tropical and arid environments of the Territory.” 

What does CDU’s Bachelor of Architectural Design offer?

Morris said students would get a unique experience studying architecture at CDU, having the chance to gain industry experience through potential work placements, knowledge of different climates and the effect this has on building designs through a desert project based in Alice Springs. 

“Students will be able to create architectural designs in response to extreme environments as well as being able to build sustainably for domestic and public infrastructure and develop methodologies to engage with Indigenous communities and those living in regional and remote areas,” Morris says. 

“Students will also have the ability to study in a collaborative environment with our design studio offering the opportunity for students to work together to brainstorm ideas and receive feedback as well as utilise design and modelling technologies.”

CDU acting vice-chancellor professor Fiona Coulson said the new degree will help create industry-ready graduates. 

“There is a high employability demand for architects in the Territory, and with the unique focus on Northern Australian architecture that this course offers, students will graduate with extensive industry knowledge,” Coulson says. 

Addressing shortages of architects in the Territory

Previously, CDU has offered a major in Architectural Design within its Bachelor of Arts, however the architecture industry highlighted the need for a specific course to help with worker shortages. 

President of the Northern Territory Chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects Miriam Wallace says a local profession with experience and detailed understanding of the Territory is critical to the sustainable development of cities and communities. 

“Long-term strategic attention to a locally grown Territory architecture profession does deliver dividends,” Wallace explains. 

“This is evident, for example, in the Alumni from CDU’s previous Built Environment degrees who now fill key positions in NT Government and local industry, and who have made long-term commitments to living and working in the NT.”

A path to the Master of Architecture

Students seeking to gain registration and practice as an architect also generally need to complete a Master of Architecture (MArch) after their Bachelor’s degree, Wallace says.

“We look forward to future announcements as to when an MArch program will also commence being offered in the Territory so graduates of this new program, as well as other eligible undergraduate degrees, can complete a Master of Architecture in the Territory.”

To become an accredited architect, students need to complete a total of five years of study including a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree. 

To accommodate this, CDU’s Academy of the Arts will grow its architecture team by appointing a Professor in Architecture and is in the process of implementing a Master of Architecture to ensure students can complete their study in entirety at CDU and achieve accreditation. 

The Bachelor of Architectural Design will begin in Semester One 2025 with students able to enrol now. The Master of Architecture will be available for enrolment in 2026.

Learn more on the CDU website.

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