The Parliament of Victoria is situated on the edge of Melbourne’s CBD, the epicentre of a growing wave of discontent. Surveys have shown that working, living, commuting to, or studying in the CBD are the state’s biggest contributors to unhappiness.

In contrast, Bhutan has a government ministry that measures the nation’s Gross National Happiness. What, then, is the Victorian Government’s responsibility in recognising and prioritising this overlooked measure of well-being?

This proposal aims to enhance our state government by establishing a complex for a Ministry of Happiness.

The southern wing of Parliament House would feature a gallery for artefacts gifted to the state. Surrounding the gallery, bars would offer inebriating substances and generate revenue. A Happiness Convention Centre would provide the government with a space for state functions or even the challenge of mass speed dating. The Births, Deaths, and Marriages Chambers would intertwine our most significant life events into one profound experience.

The essence of this project is the belief that architecture, through subtle or overt interventions, can enhance our happiness.