Melbourne Design Week 2026 Event - The Heart of Coburg: Urban Renewal Through Design

Durbach Block Jaggers, Architecture Associates and Openwork were recently announced as the winners of Merri-bek Council’s Coburg Library and Piazza design competition, articulating a civic vision that will catalyse the development of a new cultural, economic and retail hub in Melbourne’s north.

Join the winning design team along with the Victorian Government Architect, Jill Garner AO, to unpack the concept of restorative urbanism and learn more about the social and environmental aspirations of the design of Coburg Library and Piazza.

We will explore how the design team created the winning vision, and what function design plays in creating civic and cultural spaces.

A public exhibition at Coburg Library will feature the designs shortlisted in the Coburg Library and Piazza design competition, showing drawings, models and renders and showcasing how civic architecture and landscape design can lead urban change.

The exhibition will run from Saturday 23 May to Sunday 31 May.

Hosted by Merri-bek City Council’s Manager of Cultural Development Lisa Dempster, a panel of esteemed experts will delve into the concept of restorative urbanism on the night, unpacking the role of urban design in revitalisation and asking what part can design competitions play.

The lineup of speakers includes:

  • Jill Garner: Jill is a highly respected architect with 40 years experience extending across practice and government in Victoria. Jill became the first woman Victorian Government Architect in 2015. Jill is a passionate advocate for architecture and design in government, and promotes the value of contextual, integrated design thinking and a collaborative approach across design disciplines.
  • Mark Jacques: Mark is an Urban Designer and Landscape Architect with more than thirty years’ experience across a wide scope of public projects. Mark’s studio, Openwork, focuses on public space realised through projects in landscape architecture, urban design, research and speculation. In 2015, Mark was appointed Professor of Architecture (Urbanism) Industry Fellow within RMIT University’s School of Architecture and Urban Design.
  • Samuel Hunter: Sam is a practicing architect who has a deep interest in the cultural value embedded in architecture. Sam joined Architecture Associates as co-Director in 2022 after wrapping up a pivotal role as Principal at celebrated Australian practice Lyons, where Sam worked for over a decade. Sam has extensive experience in projects for both the public and education sectors.

The panel and exhibition are free.

Register for the panel discussion

Contact

Merri-bek City Council
Michael Mattner, Cultural Development Project Coordinator
Phone: 92401111
Email: mmattner@merri-bek.vic.gov.au