A First Nations design team comprising Jack Gillmer, Emily McDaniel and Michael Mossman has been named the creative director of the Australia Pavilion at the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale.
The winning scheme Home features a highly sensorial design that incorporates physical, interactive and virtual mediums integrated within the space. It also provides participatory opportunities for visitors and contributors of the project to storytell their understandings of home through the lens of Country.
The creative directors for the 2025 exhibition were selected by the 2025 Venice Biennale Curatorial Committee from twenty-one entries and four finalists. The shortlisted proposals were varied, with one exhibition exploring the impact of asbestos on the Australian landscape, another investigating the markings made on houses to signify certain conditions of the home and positions of occupants, and a third building on an architect-led movement to transform Australia’s cities from being net consumers of energy, waste and water into net producers by the year 2030.
National president of the Australian Institute of Architects and member of the 2025 curatorial committee Jane Cassidy said Home was selected for its storytelling. “The […] committee’s vision was to find a team of creative directors who could present an Australian Exhibition that tells a rich, engaging story while demonstrating the depth of Australian architectural expertise. Michael, Emily and Jack certainly exemplify this with their vision.”
Creative director Michael Mossman said their exhibition was conceptualised as a space for facilitating meaningful dialogue between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples on an international scale. “This is the first Venice Architecture Biennale following the Australian referendum to amend the Australian Constitution for a Voice to Parliament. While the result presented a setback to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander agency and self-determination at a constitutional level, it opened opportunities for impactful dialogue between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, which we will continue with Home.”
Rammed earth will feature prominently throughout the exhibition, as seen in a curved wall and bench seat that have been designed to embrace a sand-filled ceremonial and performance space known as the beating heart. Visitors will be able to contribute to the exhibition by sharing stories of home via a mud paint medium on what is referred to as a “living canvas.”
Creative director Jack Gillmer said the design of the pavilion – along with its participatory format – celebrates cultural exchange, Country and cultural knowledge systems, while simultaneously igniting global conversations on First Nations-led approaches toward sustainability, net-zero carbon emissions and material circularity.
The creative directorial team behind Home were nominated to represent the voices of First Nations design practitioners Clarence Slockee, Kayle Salvatori, Elle Davidson and Bradley Kerr. The team will also engage global ambassadors who will lead certain programmed activities.
“Home is a generous and timely offering to the Venice Architecture Biennale that will welcome visitors as active contributors and participants. Through design, enlivened public conversations, cultural practice and ceremony, we will facilitate a shared and collective experience that resonates with international audiences and recognises the criticality of First Nations knowledge,” said creative director Emily McDaniel.
The Home pavilion will be debuted in Venice in May 2025.
Source: Architecture - architectureau
