Merri-bek City Council has announced the finalists in its design competition for a new library and piazza in Coburg, in Melbourne’s north.
Launched in May, the two-stage design competition has been coordinated by CityLab. Among the jury are Victorian government architect Jill Garner (chair), Merri-bek City Council director of community Eamonn Fennessy, associate professor at Monash University Maryam Gusheh, director of Jones and Whitehead Ron Jones, and director of Sibling Architecture Qianyi Lim.
The council’s website states, “Coburg Library will be a place of connection, cultural expression and life-long learning … with flexible spaces to read, learn, make and connect.
“The adjacent piazza will welcome all to gather, participate, play and rest. It will reflect and respect Country and contribute to environmental regeneration, resilience and biodiversity.
“Together, the library and piazza will embody Coburg’s unique identity and form the heart of the precinct.”
During the competition’s first-stage expression of interest, entrants were required to assemble a multidisciplinary team with an experienced leading architect. The selected finalists were then tasked with providing a concept design response to the brief.
These teams include:
- FJC Studio, TCL and The Indigenuity Lab
- Durbach Block Jaggers, Architecture Associates and Openwork
- Edition Office, Blaklash, Hassell, Finding Infinity and Kate Rhodes
- Studio Bright, Oculus, Board Grove, Blaklash, Five Mile Radius and Barbara Flynn.
Garner commented, “These shortlisted teams are an exciting and diverse mix of experienced and innovative younger practices,” and added that the project is “an exciting proposition for Coburg.”
Mayor of Merri-bek City Council Helen Davidson added, “The library and piazza project is an important first step to revitalising central Coburg, and we are also currently exploring other ideas to better utilise space in the heart of Coburg.
“This design competition challenges creative minds to launch our innovative vision for a new library and piazza. By allowing submissions from many design teams, we want to ensure we have a design which will best capture what is needed for Coburg, including a design which captures Coburg’s neighbourhood character.”
Situated on a current car park among a collection of churches and retail spaces, the $60 million project is intended to substitute the council’s existing library, which will be sold or leased to partially fund the project.
The proposed library is scoped with 3,000 square metres of floor area for cultural and community uses, which include a cafe, artist studios and exhibition spaces. The new 2,000-square-metre piazza is expected to provide a multifunctional space and increased tree canopy connected to the Upfield rail corridor. Merri-bek City Council has also outlined the possibility of basement car parking.
Following endorsement from the Merri-bek City Council, the winning team is expected to be announced later this year, with the draft concept design presented to the public for feedback in early 2026.
Source: Architecture - architectureau
