Affordable housing — we all want it, but what does it really mean? The Australian Dream of owning a house and land is now out of reach for many, especially the young, and homelessness is on the rise. In this timely conversation, architects Michelle Blakeley and Jonathan Lake discuss why quality housing should be available to everyone and how that can be achieved. They’ll share their work on different housing models, from modern communes to Michelle’s ‘My Home’ project, which is providing vulnerable people with pre-fab ‘tiny homes’ on vacant government land.

This event is part of the Fremantle Design Week Conversations Series. Tickets are available for individual sessions, a whole day or the whole weekend.

Michelle Blakeley

Michelle’s first career was in marketing and advertising as a Director and Creative in Perth and Sydney.

In 2000, she returned to Perth to study architecture at the University of Western Australia.

Michelle now has her own practice, Michelle Blakeley, Architect Pty Ltd, which has a focus on developing efficient, thermally comfortable and joyful spaces that respond to the lifestyle of the occupants. This includes developing high performing models for social and low-income affordable housing.

Michelle is Chair of “My Home”, an initiative to deliver housing for people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

Jonathan Lake

A practicing architect for almost 25 years, Jonathan is Design Leader at GresleyAbas Architects and an Adjunct Research Fellow at Notre Dame University. He has worked across all scales and sectors and is committed to creative and innovative design that elevates the experience of people and places.

Jonathan believes that good architecture can change peoples lives and has the opportunity to contribute to the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of all people.