Jinndii Waijung, current

Haven House is a pro-bono project that Blight Rayner has undertaken to provide homes for young women and their children who have experienced domestic and family violence. The name Jinndii Waijung means ‘mother’s nest’ in local First Nations language.

The project was developed by the Lady Musgrave Trust and the Property Industry Foundation (PIF) which generates housing for homeless youth. Our director Michael Rayner has been a Board Member of PIF in Queensland since its establishment in 2014, and our practice was excited to become involved in the project when it was confirmed in 2022.

The design was developed in consultation with the young women who will live in the apartments, this process revealing insights into their needs, both physical and psychological. Foremost among these was actual and sensory protection. From a number of conceptual options, the classic Queenslander with its projecting overhangs was chosen as the base model.

As importantly in this choice was the familiar sense of ‘home’ as distinct from ‘house’, the women not having previously experienced what could be called a home. While surrounded by secure fencing and gates, the design allows a central communal space and apartment balconies to open up to breezes and outlook. Within the space a communal kitchen facilitates cooking classes, and it adjoins an office for visiting counsellors.

Most of the materials, finishes, fixtures and furnishings were sourced from generous donations, the design process having to manage design integration. However, there is something uplifting about the diversity of products, creating a sense of relaxed laissez-faire. Within the apartments, the most critical need was a layout that maximised surveillance from mothers of their children for psychological wellbeing. The consultation process was the most rewarding part of the project, the women often challenging us with questions like what is the meaning of home?.

Have House is also seen as a model for future suburban Lady Musgrave Trust/PIF projects.