Australian Pavilion -
Venice Biennale
The backyard is becoming an endangered icon of Australian architecture. The vast reduction in space allocated for the backyard, as well as public park facilities (Freestone, & Nichols, 2004), is a cultural change being regretfully accepted by Australian residences (Kellett, 2011). It is argued that through disregard, rather than panicked 'lack of space', is the reason this reality of a disconnected residence is developing.
The backyard has allowed its owners the researched value of celebration, imagination (Morgan et al., 2005) relaxation (Hall, 2010). Among many citizens, both new and longstanding, this has also come in the form of an adaptable canvas for one’s own identity (Chessell, 2004). Irish, Chinese, German, Greek, Vietnamese, Italian, Iranian, Syrian, Sri Lankan, South African… the backyard has allowed for a space where cultural traditions can be enjoyed freely and fully (Hall, 2010), where one could find solace in their home culture, renewed.
This project hopes to celebrate the backyard, but also start a conversation of how Australians will manage expectations with the reality of densification.