Ecological Soup

3553 is proud to present Ecological Soup, curated by Emily Wong.

Opening Times

Friday 29th August 6pm-8pm (Opening Night )

Saturday 30th 2pm-3pm (Panel Discussion )

Ecological Soup

How we grow and produce food has an enormous impact on the environment. This project invited eight teams of spatial design practitioners to design a soup that fosters ecological well-being. How can the way we eat and the design of our food systems address the climate and biodiversity crises? The recipes and corresponding films foreground the complex entanglement of the human and the non-human. From a broth brewed from invasive species to a bouillon that generates poop that’s good for the ocean, the projects examine the spatial and ecological impacts of systems of food production and conventional attitudes to food consumption. Collectively, they recognise humans as cohabitants of the land as well as active agents in the shaping of it, and invite us to consider how we can nurture systems, attitudes and practices that nourish the ecosystems we are a part of.

Contributors

Winsor Kerr; Bede Brennan and Arwen Pichler; Dennis Yong; Chris Williams, Hui-Anne Tan and Dwij Jeetun; Collective Territories, Claudia Lau and Dominic Walker; Heliotope; Fiona Chen and Gary Ma; Playte

Panel Discussion

How can we design our ways of eating and food systems to address the climate and biodiversity crises?

Speakers

Bradley Kerr is a Quandamooka man and an architect living, working and learning on Wurundjeri Country. He is a director of Winsor Kerr and works with communities and stakeholders to develop integrated design responses appropriate to place, Country, peoples and culture.

Rachel Freeman is a horticulturist based in Naarm/Melbourne. She is Head of Horticulture at Collingwood Children's Farm.

Helen Addison-Smith is a retired chef, relational artist, writer, waste researcher, project lead of student food security at RMIT and a maker of foolish cakes. Follow her at @disorderlyhousewife.

Emily Wong is a design editor, writer and curator. She is the editor of Landscape Architecture Australia magazine and a member of Naarm-based landscape architecture research collective Second Place. Her PhD research at RMIT University explores new strategies for design curation.

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3553 is a public event space dedicated to the exploration of ideas that affect the built environment. Operated by OFFICE, a design and research practice committed to advancing critical dialogue, 3553 fosters collaboration across disciplines, communities, and borders. The space offers a platform for local, national, and international practitioners, students, researchers, and academics to showcase innovative work, share insights, and engage in meaningful conversations. Through a diverse program of exhibitions, lectures, workshops, and public events, 3553 invites audiences to engage with the evolving landscape of design, while creating a space for education, critical thought, and creative exchange.