With Home Truth, Breathe Architecture takes us on a journey into an architectural labyrinth—a house within a house—that questions Australia’s approach to housing size and sustainability.
This project, the winning design of the NGV Architecture Commission for 2024, brings forward a striking, thought-provoking commentary on Australia’s housing norms. By emphasising the nation’s average home size—the largest in the world—Home Truth challenges us to consider more sustainable, community-focused alternatives.
Visitors enter an oversized timber frame, symbolising the 236 square metres of a typical Australian home. Passing through this frame, they encounter a smaller, reflective structure representing a compact, sustainable home.
This inner sanctum, made entirely of tightly packed timber studs, evokes calm and simplicity, presenting a tangible contrast to the outer frame. This visual and spatial contrast underscores the potential benefits of small-scale housing, from curbing suburban sprawl to enhancing environmental sustainability.
Home Truth also draws inspiration from Melbourne’s historical small-scale housing models, such as early 20th-century terrace houses and mid-century affordable housing.
This blend of past and future highlights a vision not of unattainable dreams, but of a possible return to thoughtfully designed, human-centreed living spaces that prioritise community and the environment.
The NGV Architecture Commission 2024: Home Truth will be on display from 13 November 2024 to April 2025 at NGV International, St Kilda Road. Entry is FREE. For further information, please visit the NGV website: NGV.MELBOURNE
