MKids, MTalks—A stage for new parenthood: CITY • 16 January 2018

Having a baby changes your perception of the city. Suddenly, things become less accessible: trams are difficult to lift a pram into, there’s no space in your favourite cafe to change a nappy and events happen at night while you soothe your baby to sleep—and so the trials of new parenthood are mostly screened off from public view. (Some public institutions do offer parenting facilities, but they’re usually hidden away next to the toilets.) Collaborative duo Guest, Riggs will invert this private spectacle and take us with them, by turning MPavilion 2017 into a public performance of the banalities of new parenthood, where the rotating grandstand of Rem Koolhaas and David Gianotten’s amphitheatre-style structure will raise nappy-changing to new cultural heights. Guest, Riggs take Rem Koolhaas’s and David Gianotten’s statement that the space could function as a playground literally: the floor will be given over to babies’ exploits, made possible with a series of baby-friendly interventions within the pavilion. Across four events in our summer program, a rolling line-up of speakers will address the exclusion of parents from cultural events and the architecture of new parenthood by creating a space for parents and babies. (Non-parents welcome too!) The fourth and final instalment of this gathering, ‘CITY’, will focus on the cityscape of parenthood: How can we improve experiences of parenthood, citywide? And what are the major infrastructural and cultural changes that could improve parent amenity? Carla Pascoe will discuss the history of motherhood in Melbourne; and Carolyn Whitzman will speak about how urban planning might better accommodate babies and parents in the city. We’ll also be celebrating the first birthday of Stephanie Guest’s baby! This event is proudly supported by Baby Rest.