DETAILS
Free, no booking required
Norla Dome
717 Flinders St, Docklands VIC 3005, Australia
DATES
Fri 23 May 10.30am – 9.30pm
Sat 24 May 10.30am – 9.30pm
Sun 25 May 10.30am – 9.30pm
Re-Formed Nature envisions architecture not as a static construct, but as an evolving entity. Drawing solely from the marine ecosystems, the project reimagines surfaces as fluid, porous, and ever-adaptive—echoing the rhythmic motion of tides, the intricate branching of coral reefs, and the organic formations sculpted by underwater currents.
The exhibition presents a series of architectural component prototypes, biochar material experiments, and AI-generated marine-inspired digital simulations. Biomimetic design, AI-driven generative processes, and digital fabrication converge to create intricate architectural forms that dissolve the boundary between built and natural environments. Biochar, a material born from wildfire remnants and green waste, is repurposed into architectural expression.
Through a series of prototypes, Re-Formed Nature envisions a future where ornamentation is no longer superficial, but deeply performative — a functional interface where surfaces breathe, patterns guide environmental flows, and architecture unfolds as an adaptive extension of the landscapes that inspire it. Through these explorations, visitors are invited to engage with the evolving relationship between architecture and ecological systems, reimagining how built environments can adapt, evolve, and respond to natural cycles.
Re-Formed Nature is proudly supported by Mission to Seafarers Victoria, ANZ Biochar Industry Group, Earth Systems, and Green Man Char.
Participants
Cathy Zihan Fan
Cathy Zihan Fan is the founder of Hefa Design, a studio exploring the intersection of digital fabrication, generative design, and material innovation. Her work explores a deep interest in how technology can reshape ecological and architectural systems.
Hefa Design
Hefa Design is a design studio based in Melbourne, Australia, specializing in advanced digital fabrication, generative design, and material innovation. Founded on the principle that architecture should be adaptive, regenerative, and deeply integrated with ecological systems, it merges computational design with emerging fabrication technologies to develop new models for architecture. It explores 3D-print fabrication, working with clay 3D printing and multi-material 3D-printed formwork to expand the possibilities of architectural production. By integrating cutting-edge technologies with a strong design sensibility, Hefa Design aim to bridge the gap between technical precision and aesthetic expression, ensuring that its work is as visually compelling as it is structurally sound and responsive to environmental conditions.