UniSA's Design Construct team undertook a project at the remote Fish River Station, Northern Territory to upgrade their Aboriginal Ranger accommodation. Both staff and students from the Design Construct program worked together to create a new facility to meet the rangers' needs. 

Prior to this upgrade, rangers were accommodated in fabric-roof tent structures, which did not protect against intense sun and tropical downpours, afford visual privacy between occupants, or provide protection from insects. By providing largely insulated and reflective steel roofing, robust floor to ceiling stainless steel insect screening, and individual private raised bed spaces with personal storage and ceiling fans, the improved levels of thermal insulation, ventilation, and insect protection have significantly enhanced the personal comfort, amenity and privacy of the rangers. The project exemplifies a viable cost-effective alternative for remote tropical accommodation compared to remote air-conditioned transportables which are dependent on costly stand-alone power systems and on-going maintenance. 

The project received the following awards:

• 2019 National Architecture Awards: National Commendation for Small Project Architecture
• 2019 Australian Institute of Architects’ NT Architecture Awards: Yali-McNamara Award for Small Project Architecture
• 2019 Australian Institute of Architects’ NT Architecture Awards: The Indigenous Community Architecture Award
• 2019 Design Institute of Australia SA/NT Awards: Gold Award in the Residential category