Melbourne Arts Precinct
Australia's largest cultural infrastructure project
Laak Boorndap, an immersive landscape planted entirely on an elevated deck, will help to reshape the Melbourne Arts Precinct into one of the most richly layered planting designs of any public garden in the world.
In partnership with Hassell and the SO-IL lead design team, we are providing built heritage consultancy advice to the design team, to better understand the site's historical significance and manage sensitive change that preserve its cultural values.
An urban garden rooted in culture
Laak Boorndap — a Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung name bestowed on the garden by its traditional owner, Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Elder, Aunty Gail Smith — is unique in the world in its scale, planting density, and climate resiliency.
An 18,000 square metre biodiverse garden, the new public space will link the venues across the precinct and support community well-being and connection. It will wrap around The Fox: NGV Contemporary, NGV International, Melbourne’s Arts Centre and Hamer Hall , and adjacent Primrose Potter Australian Ballet Centre.
Built over Sturt Street, between City Road and the back of NGV and Arts Centre Melbourne, the garden will feature a vibrant array of sculptures, installations, and creative activities. Visitors can expect a dynamic space offering a blend of culture and nature in the city’s heart.
Laak Boorndap and its new amenities promise to revitalise the area, benefiting visitors, residents, businesses, and the numerous arts organisations that call the broader Melbourne Arts Precinct home.
Works on the new urban garden are scheduled to start in the next 12 months, with the Melbourne Arts Precinct Transformation project expected to be complete in the 24 months after.
Team
- Tracey Skovronek Managing Director
- Alistair Ravenscroft Associate Partner
Details
- Client Hassell (for Development Victoria)
- Team Melbourne Studio
- Location Wurundjeri Country, Melbourne
- Country Australia
- Photography MAP Co
