MINI LIVING-INVERT challenges architects to design within melbourne's urban landscape

MINI LIVING – INVERT is a design exhibition created in response to a brief for a residence on a unique 6 m x 10 m site in melbourne‘s CBD. fourteen architects have responded enthusiastically and their designs and 3D models will be exhibited on the site from october 4th-8th 2017. additionally, the brief has been incorporated into the course for RMIT university‘s master of architecture studio students. the space will be re-imagined as a home suitable for a young family of four. given the unique spatial characteristics of the location, the architects must consider construction logistics in their designs. most important for the harmony of an inner-city home, their designs must also include some kind of garden vegetation.

david luck architects
image © tamsin o’neill

the chosen models and designs will feature in MINI LIVING – INVERT‘s one-week exhibition, alongside a series of talks hosted inside the on-site greenhouse in october. the models will be suspended inside a glasshouse, next to a botanical display by loose leaf. on october 5th and 6th, the architects will share the inspiration behind their designs. these free talks will be held on site, bookings are now open for the limited seats. videos of the talks will be posted after the event. meanwhile, the RMIT master of architecture studio students have commenced work on their models.

austin maynard architects
image © tess kelly

australian based green magazine is thrilled to observe the talent of these emerging architects, one of whom will have their work shown at the MINI LIVING – INVERT site, the rest will be on exhibition at RMIT’s design hub from october 4th–8th. ian nazareth, associate lecturer of architecture and urban design at RMIT reflected on the project: ‘MINI LIVING – INVERT is an opportunity to interrogate the discourse of small scale living in dense inner urban conditions. it engages with broader issues around the sustainability, adaptability and vitality of the home – these are all critical concerns in the context of the contemporary city. our interest in the project is to also explore the spatial, cultural and urban identity of residential architectural projects that recognizes the domestic as a piece of city-making. 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.’

austin maynard architects
image © tess kelly

MINI australia general manager, tony sesto, commented that he is pleased to exhibit an adaptation of their global initiative in melbourne, australia. ‘creative use of space is at the heart of the our DNA. MINI LIVING allows us to apply this philosophy to a small footprint within the urban landscape,’ said sesto. ‘we are excited to work with both green magazine and city of melbourne to bring these values to our shores and challenge the best architectural minds from australia and new zealand to respond to the MINI LIVING – INVERT brief,’ he said.

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: apostolos costarangos | designboom