Key Points
- Aiming to foster connection and cultural exchange, Sydney couple Mariam Arcilla and Mason Kimber have transformed their home into a vibrant community hub.
- The couple opened their Redfern home, which they called Magenta House, to host intimate workshops, cultural exchange, communal meals, talks, and library sessions.
- Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that there are nearly 400,000 people of Filipino descent in Australia, which is why the Magenta House hopes to further foster Filipino culture in Australia.
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'It’s a dream for Filipinos to come here and feel like they’re home': Sydney couple opens their home for cultural connection
SBS Filipino
27/02/202526:02
'Magenta House'
Sydney couple Mariam Ella Arcilla and Mason Kimber have opened up their home in Redfern for gatherings aimed at learning about the Filipino culture and the diverse community of Australia.
"We opened up our place in Redfern and hosted the community for supper clubs, food sessions, test kitchen, artist talks, reading rooms, screening, and we also have a shop now at the back," art and culture worker Mariam Arcilla says.
They call their place 'Magenta House'.
Whatever the interests of guests visiting Magenta House can choose from the eclectic collection of over 2,000 books available in their library. Credit: Anna Hay, Magenta House
A portion of their home has been dedicated to a library with a collection of over 2,000 books which Mariam and Mason have acquired over the years since they were young.
Their collection includes books from Asia, Southeast Asia, and Australia, and there is a special shelf for Philippine-related books or those written by Filipino authors.
When I was growing up in the Philippines, I couldn’t afford to buy books and I had to go to the library quite a lot so I understand that books are very expensive and so me and my husband saved money from our freelancing so we can buy books so the community can access them if they can’t afford them.Mariam Ella Arcilla
“When I was growing up in the Philippines, I couldn’t afford to buy books and I had to go to the library quite a lot so I understand that books are very expensive and so me and my husband saved money from our freelancing so we can buy books so the community can access them if they can’t afford them.”
Apart from the library, Magenta House's kitchen plays an important role for gatherings.
"We would usually have food demonstrations in our kitchen," says the arts curator who first resided in Brisbane upon moving to Australia when she was a teenager.
"It's really nice to have an intimate engagement with people here so they don't feel overwhelmed."
Ms Arcilla explains that unlike large gatherings, their small space aim to provide close engagement among their guests.
"We have a small amount of people that we are able to let in and host."
For Mariam, it's more than just the gatherings. 'There's a sense of finding your own rhythm and your phase in understanding how you want to get to know your own culture. Learning Tagalog at your phase, finding other like-minded individuals, and being in a very nonjudgmental environment helps.' Credit: Justin Cuenco
"It's quite different when you have big events – 50 or 100 people, you don’t get the intimate close connection as much as you do when you're at somebody’s home."
Working hand-in-hand with her husband Mason, a visual artist, educator and DJ, Mariam’s years of working in art institutions as an art curator played a big role in turning their home into a community hub.
Inspiration and connection
Mariam was born in the Philippines – her mother is Singaporean and her father is from Bicol. Mariam moved to Australia as a teenager, initially lived in Brisbane with her mother in the early 2000s, then to Gold Coast until she moved to Sydney in 2017.
Despite having lived Downunder for more than two decades now, Mariam has never forgetten her Filipino roots.
"One big thing that certainly has inspired me in doing this [Magenta House] is my lola. She ran a bakery in our house [in the Philippines] and she always brought people in to meet with us and buy fruitcake, or pandesal, from us."
"I’m continuing that tradition by expanding our Magenta House into a multi-dimensional platform for the community."
The lola's girl vividly remembers where she grew up and wants to keep her Filipino culture alive.
"The dream is for Filipinos to come in this home and feel like they’re back home like they’re in their family home again."
"And also for non-Filipinos to come in here and understand the hospitality and the warmth of the Filipino people and to know that when they come here, they’ll be fed, they will learn something new about our culture.
Cooking demo featuring Filipino chefs and other Australian chefs like Chef Aheda. Credit: Danish Ravi
Home and stories
Mariam and Mason's haven may be considered limited in space, but every corner is thoughtfully maximised to its full potential.
The two century old space has a history of its own.
"It’s only three-metres wide but we make it work and it’s really nice to have an intimate engagement with people here so they don’t feel overwhelmed."
The very structure of the house has its story.
"Our space is a re-envisioned 19th-century Victorian terrace designed by award-winning New Zealand architect Adele McNab," Mariam shares.
Adele, who previously owned the place, received the Australian Institute of Architects Award in 2021 and was shortlisted for a Houses Award – for the design of the house.
The 62-metre square property is separated by two living pavilions and an internal courtyard where a 200-year-old Gadi or Grass Tree stands.
In 2022, Mariam and Mason purchased the property from Adele. With the previous owner's blessing, they transformed the space by adding several new structures, including a library and a creative studio, bringing life to the homespaces.
Magenta House was opened to the community in April 2023 where various parts of it feature various Filipino products, such as native basket, fans and bags, and sungka.
Magenta House has also opened its online shop featuring Filipino products from local Australian entrepreneurs and social enterprises in the Philippines. Credit: Aubrey Abanico, Magenta House, Isabella Melody Moore
In the past year, the Magenta House events have included food demos,workshops such as the Tagalog Language Jam, a session to learn or practice the Filipino language.
Apart from enriching Filipino culture in Australia, Magenta House also aims to bring products form the Philippines - advocate for various social enterprises that support groups that help disadvantaged Filipino community groups.
"It's always been a dream to work with social enterprises and the community to be able to give back."
Late last year, Magenta House has started their online shop where you can buy featured local crafts and products from the Philippines.
"I feel grateful to be able to do this and we have such a strong community of grassroots artists who really need exposure to support their families, and build their communities back."
