Rethinking Sustainability Notes

Preconceptions of Sustainability

  • Initial thoughts on sustainability often vary.

Country-Led Practice: Rethinking Sustainability

  • Overview of the Lecture:
    • Exploring the intersection of Western sustainability and Indigenous Australian concepts of Country.
    • Challenging preconceived notions around sustainability and its implications for design.
    • Uncovering how Country-centered approaches can create more social-ecological responsible built environments.
    • Understanding Country as a living entity with agency and knowledge that informs sustainable practices.

Learning Objectives

  • Critically Analyse 'Sustainability'
    • Examine the philosophical foundations of sustainability and its historical context.
  • Explore Knowledge Integration
    • Investigate how diverse knowledge systems can be integrated into design practice.
  • Understand 'Country'
    • Explore the Indigenous concept of Country as a living entity with cultural significance.
  • Reflect on Your Role
    • Consider your positioning as future designers and builders in relation to these ideas.
  • Identify Assumptions
    • Recognise and challenge the assumptions within Western sustainability frameworks.

The Emergence of 'Sustainability'

  • Forestry Origins
    • Hans Carl von Carlowitz introduced 'Nachhaltigkeit' in 1713, advocating sustainable forestry to prevent timber depletion.
  • Brundtland Report
    • In 1987, the report defined sustainable development as meeting present needs without compromising future generations.
  • Earth Summit
    • The first major international conference on sustainability occurred in 1992, leading to Agenda 21, a plan for global sustainable development.
  • Mainstream Focus
    • In the 2000s, increased awareness of climate change made sustainability a central focus in policy-making and public discourse.

Philosophical Underpinnings of Sustainability

  • Cartesian Dualism: Humans vs. Nature
    • Separation of mind and matter leads to viewing nature as a resource.
    • Human advancement often based on extraction from nature.
    • Progress narrative prioritises development over ecological health.
  • A Relational View of Sustainability
    • Sustainability could involve caring for nature as part of ourselves.
    • Challenges the notion of limitless development and resource use.
    • Encourages integrated and interconnected thinking about ecosystems.

Critiques of 'Sustainable Development'

  • Semantic Ambiguity
    • The term 'sustainability' lacks clarity, making it difficult to pin down what exactly is being sustained.
  • Conflicting Interests
    • Various stakeholders define 'sustainability' differently, leading to misunderstandings and misapplications.
  • Western-Centric Models
    • Many sustainability frameworks impose Western concepts globally, marginalising local knowledge and practices.
  • Co-option of Sustainability
    • The broadness of the term allows it to be co-opted for agendas like greenwashing, diluting its effectiveness.

Country as a Living Entity

  • Definition of Country
    • In Indigenous Australian context, 'Country' refers to land, waters, and all living systems, embodying a deep connection to identity.
  • Reciprocal Relationship
    • The relationship with Country is reciprocal; people have responsibilities to care for it, and in return, it nurtures them.
  • Country as Kin
    • Country is often described as 'mother' or 'teacher', reflecting the relational bond between people and the land.
  • Cultural Significance
    • Country is integral to identity and culture, shaping laws, practices, and community connections.
  • Knowledge Embedded in Country
    • Country holds knowledge, memory, and stories, serving as a living library of cultural heritage.
  • Quote by Neale (2023):
    • “Country is more than a view of landscape; it is a belief system and a worldview. For First Nations people, your identity is totally related to Country… We see Country as a personage, as a living being. It holds the wisdom and knowledge and all the features are the result of the ancestral beings who have travelled the country and created it.”

Country, Identity, and Knowledge

  • Key Aspects of Country and Identity
    • For Indigenous Australians, identity is intrinsically linked to one’s ancestral Country, often identified by language and kinship ties.
    • Country embodies knowledge passed down through generations, teaching Indigenous peoples about sustainable living and cultural practices.
    • This relationship fosters a sense of duty to care for Country, ensuring its health for future generations.
    • The connection with Country emphasises the importance of relationships between people, place, and ancestors, shaping cultural identity.

Listening to Country

  • Country Speaks
    • Indigenous Australians believe that Country communicates through its environment. By observing natural signs and changes, they can interpret what the land is telling them about seasons, resources, and ecological health.
    • "Dialogue with place" (Rose 2002), where humans and Country are in ongoing two-way communication.
  • Knowledge Embedded in Place
    • Every Country has specific signals and knowledge unique to its environment. This deep understanding is built through generations and is crucial for sustainable living and decision-making.
  • Country-Led Decision-Making
    • Indigenous decision-making follows the cues from Country, such as animal behavior and seasonal indicators, rather than imposed schedules. This approach embodies “listening” to Country.

From Human-Centred to Country-Centred Design

  • Key Principles of Country-Centred Design
    • Traditional design often prioritises human needs over environmental considerations, treating land as a mere backdrop.
    • A Country-centred approach recognises the land, ecosystems, and cultural significance as essential collaborators in the design process.
    • Frameworks like NSW's Connecting with Country guide designers to incorporate Indigenous knowledge and perspectives from the outset.
    • The principle 'If we care for Country, Country will care for us' emphasises sustainable, mutual relationships between design and the environment.

Principles of Designing with Country

  • Process Over Style
    • Indigenous design is defined by culturally appropriate processes rather than aesthetic styles. It emphasises the importance of the design journey and relationships built throughout.
  • Broader Landscape Context
    • Consider how the project fits within the surrounding landscape, including local features, ecosystems, and cultural significance beyond the immediate site boundaries.
  • Co-Creation
    • Engage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander custodians as integral team members from the start. Their knowledge shapes the foundational vision of the design.
  • Supporting Living Culture
    • Design outcomes should actively encourage and support ongoing cultural practices, ensuring that spaces are adaptable for contemporary Indigenous needs.
  • Revealing Layers of Country
    • Design should uncover and represent the historical and cultural layers of a site, making invisible narratives and connections visible in the built environment.
  • Reciprocal Relationships
    • Foster a reciprocal relationship with Country, where design respects and nurtures the land, recognising the responsibilities to both the environment and the community.

Complementary Knowledge Systems in Sustainability

  • Similarities
    • Long-term Thinking: Both Western sustainability and Indigenous knowledge emphasise the importance of considering future generations, urging us to think beyond immediate needs.
    • Systems Understanding: Both perspectives recognise the interconnectedness of ecological, social, and economic factors, promoting a holistic approach to sustainability.
    • Place-based Solutions: Sustainable design should respect local context, as both Indigenous knowledge and best practices in Western sustainability advocate for site-specific approaches.
    • Enriched Practice: Combining strengths from both knowledge systems can lead to innovative and responsible design solutions that honor both technological and cultural insights.

Tensions and Considerations

  • Power Imbalances in Practice
    • Historical legacies have led to unequal decision-making. Genuine leadership and direction from Indigenous communities are essential to ensure respect and avoid repeating past harms.
  • Ontological Differences
    • Western frameworks often see land as a resource, while Indigenous perspectives view Country as a living relative. These differing worldviews can lead to conflicts in priorities and outcomes.
  • Timeframe Conflicts
    • Mainstream projects may focus on short-term gains, whereas Indigenous stewardship considers impacts over many generations. Aligning these timelines requires a shift in project planning and values.
  • Ethical Engagement
    • Respectful integration means involving Indigenous people from the start, building trust, and supporting community control over knowledge and design processes.

Wrapping Up

  • Sustainability is not just a technical fix; it's fundamentally about relationships. It involves a reciprocal give-and-take between humans and the environment, guided by the principles of Country. By listening to Country, we can learn to create a built environment that not only meets immediate needs but also promotes regeneration. This approach encourages us to consider our role in fostering a deeper connection with the environments we inhabit, leading to architecture that truly belongs to its place and culture.

References and Resources

  • Government Architect NSW. (2020). Connecting with Country: A draft framework for understanding the value of Aboriginal knowledge in the design and planning of places. NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment.
  • Graham, M. (2008). Some thoughts about the philosophical underpinnings of Aboriginal worldviews. Australian Humanities Review, (45). https://doi.org/10.22459/AHR.45.2008.04\text{https://doi.org/10.22459/AHR.45.2008.04}
  • Kennedy, M., Buxton, M., & Lane, R. (2017). Interpreting Melbourne’s Aboriginal past through the landscape. Historic Environment, 29(3), 84–102.
  • Page, A., & Memmott, P. (2021). Design: Building on Country. Thames & Hudson.
  • Plumwood, V. (2002). Environmental culture: The ecological crisis of reason. Routledge.
  • Rose, D. B. (1996). Nourishing terrains: Australian Aboriginal views of landscape and wilderness. Australian Heritage Commission.
  • Thorpe, A., & Hart, M. A. (2019). Indigenous knowledge, research and sustainability. In W. Leal Filho (Ed.), Encyclopedia of sustainability in higher education (pp. 1–9). \text{https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-63951-2_64-1}