Participatory Culture as a Site for the Reception of Architecture: Making a Giant Sydney Opera House Cake

A giant, edible replica of the Sydney Opera House, created by volunteers for Australia Day 2011, offers a unique lens to understand public reception and cultural significance of iconic architecture. This study reveals that participatory activities like cake-making can serve as meaningful sites for engaging with and interpreting landmark structures, bridging traditional social practices and contemporary participatory culture theories. By analyzing the event through Henry Jenkins' framework on participatory culture, the research demonstrates how such grassroots initiatives contribute to the broader cultural uptake of architectural landmarks, highlighting the role of collaborative creativity in shaping public perception.

Freeman, C. G. (2013). Participatory Culture as a Site for the Reception of Architecture: Making a Giant Sydney Opera House Cake. Architectural Theory Review, 18(3), 325–339. https://doi.org/10.1080/13264826.2013.890008