This year's Australia Pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale, guided by Dr. Michael Mossman, Emily McDaniel, and Jack Gillmer-Lilley, delves into the concept of “What does home mean to you?” by exploring elements such as memory, sensation, relationships, and the future.

The pavilion merges with the overarching theme of Intelligens, Natural, Artificial, Collective, while placing a strong emphasis on Indigenous practices of dialogue, storytelling, and cultural preservation as vital components of community interaction.

Significantly, this is the first occasion that an entirely First Nations design team has represented Australia, showcasing the rich cultural perspectives that reflect the resilience of the world's oldest living cultures. The pavilion will be transformed into a space of cultural exchange, allowing visitors to engage with the stories of Country and their personal interpretations of Home.

This presentation encourages participants to connect deeply with the emotional essence of Home.

A workshop will precede this talk, featuring hands-on activities where students from the AA will create plaster panels that will facilitate interactive mark-making. These processes aim to foster connections and share stories that resonate with personal and Indigenous contexts, linking culture and the built environment to promote comprehensive knowledge sharing and collaborative practices.

DR. MICHAEL MOSSMAN is a Kuku Yalanji individual who teaches and researches at the University of Sydney's School of Architecture, Design, and Planning. He advocates for the incorporation of Country and First Nations cultures within the architectural field to foster structural change at various levels including education and policy.

EMILY MCDANIEL is a Wiradjuri woman from the Kalari (Lachlan River) and serves as a Professor of Practice at the University of Technology, Sydney. Her work focuses on Country-centered methodologies and emphasizes storytelling and truth-telling in her collaborations with First Nations communities, architects, and artists.

JACK GILLMER-LILLEY is a Worimi & Biripi Guri, serving as an Associate and First Nations lead at SJB Architecture in Sydney. He is passionate about bridging cultural knowledge systems with architectural practices, aiming to position Country as an active collaborator in shaping narratives and design.

Image: Australian Pavilion Creative Directors. Photographer: Maclay Heriot

For inquiries related to access requirements, feel free to reach out so accommodations can be made. If participation is not possible in person, please contact us to discuss remote engagement options.