Australia’s official entry at the 24th Triennale Milano International Exhibition will shine a spotlight on the environmental consequences of Melbourne’s rapid housing growth, with Monash University creatives using large-scale video installations to reveal the toll on habitats, ancient ecosystems, and culturally significant sites.
The Triennale Milano, one of the world’s leading art, design, and architecture events, runs in Italy from 13 May to 9 November 2025, with this year’s theme, Inequalities, focusing on the disparities shaping contemporary cities and societies.
Representing Australia, the Monash Art, Design and Architecture (MADA) team will present their exhibition, Australia: Land Use Inequality, as part of the international program.
The Monash Urban Lab team — Professor Louise Wright, Associate Professor Catherine Murphy, and Professor Nigel Bertram — alongside creatives Eugene Perepletchikov, Ziga Testen, and Mauro Baracco of Baracco+Wright Architects, will use immersive video works to illustrate how Melbourne’s urban sprawl is impacting the environment.
The videos document three case studies:
- In Beveridge (north Melbourne), housing construction is scraping away the topsoil of the Volcanic Plains Grasslands, of which less than 1 per cent remains.
- In Cranbourne (south-east), new housing and associated changes threaten the endangered Southern Brown Bandicoot’s wildlife corridor.
- In Sunbury (north-west), new estates are encroaching on First Nations’ cultural landscapes, including ceremonial ‘Bora Rings’.
Professor Louise Wright highlighted the deep costs of this expansion, stating: “In recent years, a significant population increase, tax policies and inflation has led to a housing supply and affordability crisis in Melbourne.
“To address this crisis, large supplies of land continue to be rezoned on the city’s edge for low-rise housing that can be delivered quickly.
“These lands hold ecological values essential for the life of vegetation, animals, birds and insects endemic to Australia and some under threat of extinction. Yet despite the critical need to protect this non-human life, inefficient land use continues.”
Associate Professor Catherine Murphy emphasised the need for a new approach, stating: “Australia is home to many unique, endemic species, and with that comes a global responsibility to protect them and ensure their survival.
“We must align with international commitments that support reduced land clearing and greater respect for non-human life.
“We need to explore alternative housing models that prioritise urban greening and biodiversity.”
Professor Nigel Bertram explained the Monash Urban Lab’s research focus, stating: “Some of our research examines retrofitting and infilling housing to create a more compact city, one that can also make more space for natural ecosystems.”
The Triennale Milano’s 24th edition brings together artists, designers, and architects from 43 countries to address urgent global inequalities, including those arising from urban development and environmental degradation.
The Australian exhibit aims to provoke international dialogue about balancing housing needs with ecological preservation.
The exhibition runs at Triennale Milano from 13 May to 9 November 2025.
