The City of Melbourne has opened a new three-storey library and family services facility at the Munro precinct, adjacent to the Queen Victoria Market.
Designed by Six Degrees and Bush Projects, the $15.7 million facility accommodates the first ever dedicated children’s library in the City of Melbourne, as well as reading rooms, study areas and computer spaces.
The facility has been named “narrm ngarrgu,” which means Melbourne knowledge in Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung language. It contains a collection of 30,000 new print books, an extensive digital book collection, audiobooks, magazines, music and film.
The library also has a dedicated maker space, with paint and photography stations, sewing and embroidery machines, 3D printers and laser cutters, as well as a sound studio for podcasting and recording.
A 960-square-metre outdoor terrace which overlooks the historic sheds of the Queen Victoria Market. The terrace features native plantings, an outdoor play area and an interactive six-metre-long tunnel in the shape of an eel trap.
A 960-square-metre rooftop terrace at narrm ngarrgu overlooks the historic sheds of the Queen Victoria Gardens.
Image:
Courtesy City of Melbourne
The library has a collection of 80 artworks, including newly commissioned works by Aboriginal artist Maree Clarke, a Mutti Mutti, Yorta Yorta, Boon Wurrung and Wemba Wemba woman, who created the carpet artwork in the children’s library.
As well as the library, the facility also include family services for child and adult immunisations, family support and counselling, parenting services, and child and maternal health support services.
“narrm ngarrgu is a remarkable new facility which will make it easier than ever for Melburnians to access essential family and health services, books and information,” said lord mayor of Melbourne Sally Capp.
“In the last financial year, our collection of libraries welcomed nearly 1 million visitors – and we’re expecting this patronage to nearly double with the opening of narrm ngarrgu.”
Source: Architecture - architectureau
