Construction contracts signed for Explain Home No. 1

A HUGE MILESTONE

We’re thrilled to share a huge milestone for Wilya Janta — after more than a year of design, negotiation and groundwork, the construction contract for our very first Explain Home has officially been signed!

This isn’t just a build, it’s a bold step toward reimagining how housing is designed, delivered and valued in remote Australia. With the support of construction partner SHAPE, we’re set to build the most energy-efficient remote home in the NT. Our first home will be one that is culturally guided, climate-responsive, and cost-effective, coming in well below the cost per square metre of current government builds.

We’re incredibly proud to be working with SHAPE, a national construction and fit-out company with 35+ years of experience. Not many would take on the level of uncertainty, experimentation and collaboration that this project has required. But through a deeply iterative process — one that prioritised community outcomes, performance and cultural leadership — we’ve found a way forward that others can follow.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Explain Home No. 1 will be constructed by SHAPE in a factory in Adelaide, then transported in five parts over 1,700km to Tennant Creek. Once on Warumungu Country, it will be assembled on site alongside our bloody beautiful, locally made mud bricks, bringing together modular innovation with local materials, jobs and a whole heap of pride.

We’re aiming to finish construction before the wet season, with plans for the biggest housewarming the Barkly has ever seen before the end of the year. We’ll be documenting the process from start to finish, so if you’re not already following along, you’ll find us on Instagram and Facebook.

But this is more than just a home. It’s a challenge to a construction industry that has too often made big profits off remote builds while delivering little value for the people who live in them. We're opening the door to new ways of working, bringing down costs, lifting up cultural integrity, and proving that Aboriginal-led innovation can lead the way.

We’re so grateful for every conversation, every brick, and every bit of support that’s brought us to this moment. It’s been nearly 20 years since Simon and Norman first began dreaming of better housing for remote communities and signing this contract marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter.

Huge thanks to our lead architects at OFFICE, along with Troppo Architects, Original Power, CSIRO, and the ongoing support of the Reece Foundation, who have all been integral in getting us here.