In a bold reimagining of Australian home design, Home Truth by Breathe has been announced as the winner of the NGV Architecture Commission for 2024.
This captivating installation takes the form of a labyrinthine house-within-a-house, challenging the notion of ever-expanding home sizes in Australia. At the heart of this design is a powerful message: rethink how we build to create more sustainable, higher-quality, and community-orientated living spaces.
Home Truth invites visitors to step into a space that questions the ethical and ecological ramifications of the sprawling, oversized homes that have become prevalent across the nation. An external frame mirrors the silhouette of the average Australian home, which, at 236 square metres, ranks as the largest globally. Nestled within this silhouette is a serene timber structure, representing a smaller, more sustainable living footprint.
This juxtaposition of scales is not just an architectural statement but a call to action. By contrasting these two structures, Home Truth shines a light on how smaller, more considered homes could help reduce suburban sprawl, mitigate environmental impacts, and enhance community wellbeing. It is a thought-provoking invitation for audiences to consider alternative, sustainable housing models that could lead to positive lifestyle changes.
Visitors entering through the expansive garage door of the larger house find themselves navigating a maze of rooms and corridors, eventually arriving at the intimate timber retreat. This wooden haven offers a space for meditation and reflection, presenting a tangible vision of a more sustainable housing future.
Constructed from framing pine and Saveboard, Home Truth uses materials emblematic of current construction practices. The framing pine forms the structure, while Saveboard, made entirely from post-consumer waste, serves as the labyrinth’s outer layer, symbolising the inadequate insulation often found in modern Australian homes.
While forward-looking, Home Truth draws inspiration from Melbourne’s historical housing solutions. It echoes the terrace houses of the 1900s, which balanced density with community, and nods to Carlton’s Cairo apartments that provided small-scale living for working singles. It also references the mid-century Small Homes Service, which offered affordable, architect-designed houses under 100 square metres.
By revisiting these historical precedents, the architects at Breathe demonstrate that their vision is not a distant dream but a return to a more thoughtful, appropriate scale of living that considers the needs of both people and the planet. Home Truth is a clarion call for a shift towards more sustainable living, urging us to embrace the wisdom of the past to forge a better future.
The NGV Architecture Commission 2024: Home Truth will be on display from 13 November 2024 to April 2025 at NGV International, St Kilda Road. Entry is FREE. For further information, please visit the NGV website: NGV.MELBOURNE