Presented by Uro Publications as part of Melbourne Art Book Fair
Gardens are more than just ornamental backdrops: they provide shade for neighbourhoods, food for pollinating insects, habitat for wildlife, hubs for both social interaction and moments of respite. They are platforms for research into resilient futures, experiments in sustainability and places for families to grow. They have been designed in response to their contexts and exemplify the singular and joyous spaces that can result from a deep appreciation of place.
The Australian garden, in particular, was born mid-20th-century, a time of postwar confidence and growing national identity. Gardens became outdoor rooms for recreation and healthy living – removing the barriers between inside and out – and bold designs celebrated native Australian plants.
Join the authors of a new book, Living Outside: Reviving the Australian Modernist Garden, Sharon Mackay and Diana Snape, in conversation with Emma Appleton, as they discuss the new context of the modernist Australian garden.
Speakers
Sharon Mackay is a landscape architect and has been a presenter on Australia by Design: Landscapes on Channel TEN. She has designed many award-winning places, been a speaker at the World Architecture Festival and had her work exhibited in the Australian Pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale.
Diana Snape is trained in architecture and urban design policy and is the host of podcast series Architecture Insights for the NSW Architects Registration Board.
Emma Appleton is an Australian landscape architect and urban designer notable for her contributions to urban planning and development. She is the Director of City Strategy at the City of Melbourne, Victoria.