MPavilion

Architecture operates within colonial systems. These systems are often at odds with caring for Country practices, genuine participatory design practices and equity of opportunity.

If you trace the systems back to their core, the problem is often a misalignment in the values that govern decision making. Some work has been done to align Aboriginal and Western systems more closely, but it is by no means perfect, and we certainly aren’t done. While one might find themselves thinking ‘just burn it all down and start again’ when confronted with their scale and deeply ingrained nature… If we don’t continue evolving built environment processes, we will continue to destroy Country and impact the health and wellbeing of communities.

Tune into this yarn that stepped through built environment processes and explored opportunities for how and why systems could and should change, and how everyone can play a role in effecting positive change.

Listen to Sarah Lynn Rees in conversation with Sophie Patitsas, Alek Kennedy and Paul Paton.

MPavilion’s sixth annual BLAKitecture forum aims to centralise Indigenous voices in conversations about architecture, the representation of histories, and the present and future states of our built environments. Blakitecture is curated by MPavilion’s program consultant Sarah Lynn Rees.

Listen to an engaging discussion that explored the relationship between design and worldview—and how they both influence, shape and transform each other.

The talk delved into concepts like ontological design, eco literacy and a systems-informed view of life. It investigated how the language we use shapes our reality—which, in turn, informs the beliefs and values that make up our worldview.

As part of the discussion, the panelists shared their insights and experiences, providing practical tips and tricks that we can all use in our daily lives to become more conscious of the role design plays in shaping our worldview.

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn more about the power of design and how it can influence the way we see and interact with the world!

Renting is the fastest growing tenure in Australia, and is increasingly a way of life. Today, more than half a million households rent their homes in metropolitan Melbourne.

Tune in to this interactive open mic session, where you’ll hear the stories of other Melbourne renters as they examined the past and future of renting in our big city.

How do we navigate the complexities of the renting lifestyle? How do we forge meaningful connections with our neighbours and build communities of trust? These are some of the questions that were raised in this cultural, social and economic exploration of the experience of renting in the expanding metropolis.

How can we ensure the perspectives of women and gender-diverse people are factored into residential building design? Equity in gender representation is essential at all stages of the process, from the earliest architectural plans, to decorating, to engaging with communities in need of affordable housing.

Tune in to hear about the important subtleties of creating spaces that improve the lives of women and girls.

The panel discussion featured people working in community housing, policy and architecture, and will be moderated by a representative from Nightingale Housing.

Melbourne prides itself on its parks, gardens and waterways, but with biodiversity loss threatening our quality of life, how is the private sector stepping up to care for our natural assets?

When the Global Biodiversity Framework emerged from COP15 in December 2022 it was a huge moment for nature. Business and finance had its strongest presence yet, so now is the time for leadership and Victoria—’The Garden State’—to play a unique role.

Tune in to a gathering that brought together some of our cities most forward-thinking leaders and organisations, who explored how Melbourne’s business community can become more active in caring for Kulin Country.

Tune in to a keynote lecture, presented by Dr Leanne Zilka of ZILKA Studios, as she explained her research and practice on ‘Floppy Architecture’. The premise of ‘Floppy Architecture’ is focussed on light weight fabric-based structures that look at techniques embedded in fashion and textile design in order to develop novel approaches to the fabrication of architectural elements.

The combination of practice and research has produced installations, architectural projects, and been published nationally and internationally, most recently in a book titled Floppy Logic by international publisher, Actar.

Leanne’s specialist knowledge and approach to fabric-based structures has assisted in the realisation of both the 2018 MPavilion designed by Carme Pinos and this summer’s 2022 MPavilion designed by all(zone).

Australia prides itself on its multiculturalism, yet the diversity of culture, character and community is not often reflected in its media landscape—or felt by the many minority populations that comprise the nation’s identity.

How do we change this? We know it’s a problem, but there is widespread apathy about the path to evolution.

What are the steps to take to from here? How can we work together to make sure we understand systemic change?

By taking stock of what we take for granted, and the inherent biases and policies that impact members of the Asian diaspora, we can look towards the policies that impact our everyday lives. And rally behind a solution.

Hear from global media platform Eastern Standard Times—the voice of Asian youth—and a diverse panel of speakers, discussing how we can work together to redesign years of unseen prejudice and to ensure stories are authentically told.

Tune in to the launch event and discussion around Kummargi Yulendj (Rising Knowledge Project)—an urban adventure leading you through lost markers, with Boon Wurrung elder N’arweet Carolyn Briggs.

Connections between a tree, a rock and a beach are remade through increasing awareness of the ways in which Indigenous knowledge is central to the regeneration of our natural environments. This Indigenous-led cross-cultural walking and listening experience is part of Kummargi Yulendj (Rising Knowledge Project) that weaves together Boon Wurrung knowledge on caring for Country and western tools for regenerative living and working.

Beginning at the Ngargee tree, in this journey N’arweet Carolyn Briggs shares her deep knowledge of place through experiences created in collaboration with artist Jarra Karalinar Steel and musician Allara Briggs-Pattison.

Listen to the people behind the project as they discussed reimagining what a mobile device can do, how speculative play design can be a mindful engagement with place, and the role of augmented reality and other creative technologies in sharing stories, knowledge and reflections on the Yalukut Weelam clan of the Boon Wurrung.

Wellness lifestyle real estate—or homes designed to build and support their residents’ health in a holistic manner—is emerging as the next frontier in housing trends. As more people question where and how they want to live, investors, developers and city-makers are awakening to a powerful opportunity to build homes and neighbourhoods that put residents’ wellness at the centre of their conception and design.

Curated by Neometro, this conversation explored how our recent reshuffling of priorities has left people wanting more from their living environments.

Is built-in wellness the key?

It takes a village to build a better city!

Listen in to short presentations from various designers and experts who spoke about their experiences in urbanism and the future potential of their disciplines. Following this, the discussion moved onto a ‘citizen-sourced’ design workshop where people and panellists worked together to draw, model and list the future city they wish to see and why.

It’s easy for individual experiences of cities to go unheard, yet people experience cities in many different ways. This event highlighted the depth and power of tapping into the collective experience of local citizens.