'B.Home' (Delacombe Wetlands Competition)

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RESEARCH BACKGROUND: 'b.Home' , a plan for four steel structures (resembling either birdhouses or letterboxes) was developed as an entry into the $80,000 Delacombe Wetlands Sculpture Competition. Delacombe is a fast-growing industrial and residential suburb on the south-west fringe of Ballarat, a city in regional Victoria. The project was funded by the City of Ballarat the the Victoria Government, via the Department of Human Services (a collaborator on the Delacombe Neighbourhood Renewal Project). 'B.Home' was one of only three shortlisted entries in this public art competition and the researchers received $1000 to provide detailed drawings and photomontages of their proposed work. RESEARCH CONTRIBUTION: Well-designed public spaces boost the economic, social and ecological well-being of challenged neighbourhoods on the fringes of cities. Delacombe is one such place. The City of Ballarat asked entrants to highlight how public art could instill community pride and amenity. The innovative design of 'B.Home' exteneded the brief to address issues of public health and safety, place making and contribution to the ecological qualities of the site. 'b.Home' was four witty small houses suspended in the wetlands. Solar cells located on specific individual birdhouse roofs generate renewable energy to power large glowing lights within 'b.Home'. RESEARCH SIGNIFICANCE: The significance of this work is demonstrated by its shortlisting for this major regional public art ward. The researchers won $1000 of competitive funding to develop their entry (see attached brief). The art competition was covered in the 'Ballarat Courier' (8 May 2014). 'b.Home' was an innovative public sculpture that showed how art can engage with social, economic and ecological issues of many levels.