| When | Where | Admission |
|---|---|---|
Thu 14 May, 11am & 1pm | University Square, | Free Booked out Join the waitlist |
Get hands-on with earth, hemp and straw in this practical workshop on building with bio-based materials.
Work directly with earth, hemp and straw – materials with long histories and renewed relevance today. Mix and tamp earth for blockmaking and clay renders, cast hemp-lime composites for insulated wall systems and assemble straw-based insulation panels finished with natural plasters.
Led by educators and researchers Andre Bonnice (University of Melbourne) and Anna Jankovic (RMIT) from architectural practice Simulaa, these immersive sessions bridge practice, research and material experimentation.
With small wall prototypes installed on site at MPavilion Parkville, you’ll not only have the chance to try low-impact construction for yourself, but you can also see these materials in action and how the assemblies behave at full scale.
After the Saturday workshop, stay for an informal conversation reflecting on the building process and material discoveries that emerged over the three days.
Workshops
Free workshops are held Thursday and Friday at 11am and 1pm and Saturday at 11am and run for 1.5 hours.
Please wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty and closed-toe shoes for the workshops. No prior experience is required, and all materials are non-toxic and safe to handle. You’re also welcome to drop by and observe the making process without booking.
Stay after the Saturday 16 May workshop for a reflective conversation at 1pm.
About
MPavilion Parkville is the University of Melbourne’s open-air space for art, ideas and experimentation. The program offers a series of curated experiences that invite you to experience familiar spaces in new ways.
All events are free and open to everyone.
Presenters
Simulaa is an architectural practice established in Naarm by Andre Bonnice and Anna Jankovic. The work of the practice is defined by a considered analysis and a research-based approach that prioritises time-based design thinking. Their work spans a broad range of scales and contexts, exploring how architecture might respond and act in a world defined by environmental limits, interrelational systems, and layered temporalities. Bonnice and Jankovic both serve as lecturers in architecture, teaching and undertaking research, at the University of Melbourne and RMIT University, respectively.