Now in its tenth year, Melbourne Design Week celebrates the breadth and depth of Australian design through a diverse program of exhibitions, installations, talks, workshops and events.
The Sibling team were involved in various events over the week; Michael Strack led a project tour through the Music Market at Collingwood Yards, Qianyi Lim was on a panel discussing off the plan design, and Timothy Moore led conversations with local celebrated designers and architects.
Design Intelligence: What Designing Schools Teaches Architects, was an event hosted by the Victorian AIA in March. Speaking alongside ARM and Kosloff Architects, Sibling directors Amelia and Nick presented our approach and learnings on education projects and how these have shaped other project typologies.
Thank you to Dr Ben Cleveland of the University of Melbourne for hosting and leading this engaging discussion.
“What’s next for practice?” was the title of the most recent Architecture Symposium hosted in Sydney, bringing together an inspiring bill of emerging architects who are expanding the definition of architectural practice.
Sibling director Amelia Borg presented Sibling’s trajectory as a research based architectural practice and our recent explorations into sensory design. She shared some of Sibling’s earliest projects – such as the Sleeping Den and Space Cookie – to more recent works such as the Wangaratta District Specialist School and South East Centre for Contemporary Art.
You may have seen this in the news, but we are excited to present our upcoming exhibition Deep Calm at this year’s Melbourne Design Week.
Deep Calm explores how furniture can hug, hold and squeeze its users. Drawing on the therapeutic benefits of deep pressure – often experienced through sensations of being hugged, held, or squeezed – this exhibit highlights how such sensations can induce relaxation and reduce anxiety. This effect, known to trigger the release of serotonin, has been harnessed in an array of therapeutic tools such as weighted blankets, toys, and even hugging machines.
The exhibition features custom-designed floor rugs which are designed as a sensory tactile base for visitors to lay down along with weighted soft forms, or sofas, that give you a heavy hug. A soundscape by Jeanette Little will relax visitors under the weight of Deep Calm and invigilators dressed in SUKU Home will guide and tuck them in.
Deep Calm is one of the outcomes of a year-long research project funded by Creative Victoria that investigates approaches to designing for the senses. This builds upon our post-occupancy evaluation of the Wangaratta District Specialist School, which saw the integration of calm/focus areas, sensory spaces, social areas, and support facilities for students with different abilities. It also included guest editing the current issue of Architect Victoria entitled Sensory Design in Architecture.
The space will be open for visitors to drop in from the 15th -17th of May, or you can book in for the full Deep Calm experience 21st-24th of May. Link here.
Sibling co-director Amelia Borg will be speaking at the annual Victorian Chapter 2025 International Women’s Day Breakfast, aligning with the United Nations IWD theme ‘March Forward’
Since 1995, women have broken barriers, reshaped policies, and ignited powerful movements worldwide. But despite these advances, millions of women and girls still face systemic inequalities, rising violence, and economic disparities that hold them back from reaching their full potential. Minister for Women, Senator the Hon Katy Gallagher, said, “Australia is committed to leading the charge on gender equality. As our Beijing+30 Gender Equality Report to the United Nations shows, we have made significant strides, but there is still much work ahead to close the gender pay gap, ensure women’s safety, and fairly value both paid and unpaid care work.” “The theme ‘March Forward’ reminds us that progress is not just about reflection but about taking decisive, bold steps to turn our commitments into action. This is our moment to drive change and ensure a truly equal future for all women and girls,” she continued.
Moderated by the Victorian Government Architect Jill Garner, she will be speaking alongside other industry professionals Emma Dawson, Lucinda Arundel and Eleanor Jackson.
Register for tickets here.
Sibling is an architecture practice that cares about making people’s lives better. We do this by creating environments, experiences and strategies that respond to social needs and desires, making everyday life easier, more engaging, and more fun.
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