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Finn Pedersen, principal of Iredale Pedersen Hook
Architects speaks with Vision editor Peter Hyatt
about a collaboration that has helped to shape a
radical, if not revolutionary, prison facility
How many prisoners are accommodated?
There are some 450 prisoners from the Kimberley in
custody at any one time. This holds 150 of those.
What are the project’s key features?
It includes accommodation, gatehouse,
administration, prisoner reception, crisis care,
commercial kitchen and laundry, education,
workshops and programs, gymnasium, medical
centre, women’s service delivery facility, spiritual
centre and family visits centre.
And general community reaction?
It is being seen as a model for a whole new way
of housing and rehabilitating prisoners. There was
criticism that people might want to come and stay. I
don’t think anyone wants to actually come and stay
in a prison. Staff have been very supportive and
praiseworthy of the facility and the prisoners are
really over