LIVED IN: Australia’s contribution to the 2027 Venice Architecture Biennale announced

Lived In connects architecture and life.

As one of the world’s most urbanised populations – and contrary to Australia’s perceived suburban identity – many Australians live in apartments. Australia’s history of modern urbanisation has been relatively short but spirited, shaped by a rich body of inventive multi-dwelling architecture that has supported diverse ways of living.

The Australian Institute of Architects has announced Lived In as Australia’s exhibition at the 20th Venice Architecture Biennale, which will take place in Italy from 8 May to 21 November 2027. The Institute has proudly served as Commissioner for Australia’s exhibitions at the global event since 2008, and in 2028 will partner with the Museums of History NSW to see the presentation of Lived In exhibited in Australia. The exhibition is presented on behalf of the nation, and in partnership with Creative Australia.

Lived In will bring to life in Venice the built projects documented through the Housing Atlas of Australia project. This national teaching-led program was initiated by Monash University Adjunct Professor and RAIA Gold Medallist Kerstin Thompson of Kerstin Thompson Architects, and developed collaboratively with Professor Maryam Gusheh, Associate Professor Lee-Anne Khor and Professor Louise Wright from the Monash Urban Lab in the Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture at Monash University. As a nationwide network for housing research and documentation, educators, practitioners and students have collaborated across multiple universities to capture more than a century of inventive multi-dwelling housing exemplars built across all states and territories of Australia.

The theme for the 2027 Venice Architecture Biennale, previously revealed by curators Wang Shu and Lu Wenyu, is Do Architecture – For the Possibility of Coexistence Facing a Real Reality, proposing a vision of architecture that incorporates the past as a living matter of the present. In response, Lived In will exhibit and capture the responses to context, climate and culture across both canonical and lesser-known works in Venice through drawings, data, photographs and film to show how housing shapes and is in turn shaped by everyday life.

The Venice Architecture Biennale states that Wang Shu and Lu Wenyu’s theme aims to “return architecture to its most concrete, physical and essential dimension: that of building in direct relation to the land, to the materials, to the communities, and to the reality of places. Their philosophy reaffirms the value of ‘doing’ as a cultural, ethical and constructive act, shunning spectacle and global standardisation”. Lived In claims and validates architectural knowledge and its impact on people’s lives. It looks backwards at expressions of living and forwards as Australia currently considers its housing supply and the environmental impact of its cities. It will also contribute to the international ongoing conversation around housing.

The Australian Institute of Architects began the 2027 campaign by inviting Australian schools of architecture to put forward future-focused research projects for consideration. Chris Brisbin, President of the Association of Architecture Schools of Australasia (AASA) said that “by working directly with Australia’s schools of architecture to select the 2027 project, the Institute is unlocking the Biennale’s capacity to engage practitioners, academics and students, and create long-term, sector-wide impact beyond the Venice exhibition”.

Twenty-one submissions, from across 11 institutions, were received. The Institute’s selection panel, comprising Adam Haddow, Senlina Mayer, Candice Halliday, Cameron Bruhn and Michelle Newton shortlisted four teams: How 2 Australian Institute of Architects

We Survive, University of New South Wales; Lived In, Monash University; Material Migrations, University of Melbourne; and Making Room, Monash University.

The Institute’s 2025-2026 National President Adam Haddow said, “Australia is facing urgent questions about housing, density, affordability, climate and the future of our cities. Architecture has a critical role to play in these conversations, not only through design, but through the lessons embedded in the housing we already have”.

Background:

Key details for Australia’s contribution to the 2027 Venice Architecture Biennale:

Commissioner: Australian Institute of Architects

Australian Institute of Architects jury: Adam Haddow, Senlina Mayer, Candice Halliday, Cameron Bruhn and Michelle Newton

Creative Directors: Kerstin Thompson of Kerstin Thompson Architects (KTA), Maryam Gusheh, Lee-Anne Khor and Louise Wright (Monash Urban Lab, Monash University)

Partners: Principal Partner, Brickworks; Project Partner, Creative Australia; Curatorial Partner, Alastair Swayn Foundation; Australian Presenting Partner, Museums of History NSW; Venice Partner, Planned Cover; and Media Partner, ArchitectureAU.com

Housing Atlas of Australia participating academic institutions, led by Monash University: Bond University, Adelaide University, Monash University, RMIT University, University of Canberra, University of Queensland, University of Tasmania, University of Western Australia, UNSW, Western Sydney University. It is anticipated that additional academic institutions will contribute to the project in 2026/2027.