We’ve seen some truly incredible architecture commissions at NGV. From a reimagining of the Parthenon, to a pretty pink lake, and the current breathing, inflatable sphere, there have been plenty of cool installations to admire over the years. And now, you can explore a house within a house, at the 2024 NGV Architecture Commission, Home Truth. Designed by architecture studio Breathe, this installation invites you to reflect on how small-scale architecture can encourage more sustainable living environments. Home Truth is free to visit, and is open daily from 10am to 5pm. It will be on display until April 2025.
Home Truth at NGV
The installation features an external house frame, representing the oversized average Australian home. Tucked inside it, you’ll find a wooden retreat that depicts the footprint of a smaller house. As you pass through the garage door of the larger house, you’ll move through a maze of rooms and corridors. Then, you’ll emerge inside a smaller space, made entirely of timber studs. This quiet spot will offer a glimpse into an alternative housing future, one that mindful of the community and the planet. Smaller homes would reduce urban sprawl, lessen the environmental impact of housing construction, encourage a better quality of life for communities and more.
The installation is made out of just two materials. The frame of the larger house, and the maze-like walls inside, are made from framing pine, which is a common building material. Meanwhile, the skin of the labyrinth is made from silver flecked Saveboard, symbolising the thin layer of foil insulation used in many Australian houses today.
This installation looks towards the future of housing, but it also draws inspiration from Melbourne’s past. In the 20th century, there were homes that offered both density and community, such as the terrace houses, Carlton’s Cairo apartment complex for working single men and the Small Homes Services, which delivered homes in under 100 square metres.
In contrast, in 2020 the average Australian home was among the largest in the world according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. On average, homes in Australia are 236 square metres, ahead of the United States, the UK, France and Canada.
Home Truth is designed by Melbourne-based studio, Breathe, which has a history of sustainable building design. Learn more about the installation here.