Mini Living - Invert

Taking over a small space in Melbourne’s CBD, fourteen leading and emerging architects from Australia and New Zealand explore the design potential presented by unconventional spaces. The brief involved re-imagining a home suitable for a young family of four, fitting onto a small six-by-ten-metre footprint sitting at the rear of a property on 200 Little Collins St. Plans and 3D model designs in a 1:20 scale were to be submitted for the exhibit.

Given the unique spatial characteristics of the location, the architects needed to take logistics and construction into consideration. The design brief also required flora and greenery to ensure the home existed harmoniously in its inner-city surrounds. The exhibit scale models will be suspended inside a glasshouse on the site, sitting alongside a feature botanical display by Loose Leaf.

An enthusiastic response from the architects has seen submitted designs from Austin Maynard Architects, Architecture Architecture, David Luck Architecture, Folk Architects, Studio Edwards, Wolveridge Architects, and Archiblox to name a few. Green Magazine are also celebrating the works of the architects by featuring an online Mini Profile series in the lead up to the exhibition.

On the nights of October 5 and 6, the architects will share their inspiration behind the designs in a series of design talks. These free talks will start at 6pm and be hosted onsite in the greenhouse. Bookings are now open for the limited seats.

The brief was also extended into the course for RMIT Master of Architecture Design Studio students. These entries will be judged by a panel including the City of Melbourne’s principal architect, Garry Ormiston, and the selected design will be displayed along with the architect’s models at 200 Little Collins St. The additional designs from emerging architects will be on exhibition at RMIT’s Design Hub from October 4-8.

Tamsin O’Neill, editor of Green Magazine, says: “Green Magazine has always had an interest in small scale residential projects and this opportunity will bring together some of our favourite architects working in this space. We hope that the exhibition will provide inspiration to those considering tackling issues of scale, urban sprawl and livability.”

MINI Australia general manager, Tony Sesto, states how he is pleased to exhibit an adaptation of MINI’s global initiative in Melbourne. “Creative use of space is at the heart of MINI DNA. ‘Mini Living’ allows us to apply this philosophy to a small footprint within the urban landscape.”

Ian Nazareth, Associate Lecturer Architecture and Urban Design at RMIT, says: “Between established design practices and architecture students, MINI-LIVING – INVERT is a unique platform and forum for the exchange of ideas through design propositions that speculate about an imminent future, revisiting every aspect of the domestic environment in order to point to a possible, counterfactual city.”