Victoria
The Munro development is a community oriented mixed-use project spanning 16,000 m2, integral to the Queen Victoria Market renewal masterplan. Delivered for PDG Corporation and the City of Melbourne, with an adjacent apartment tower and basement carpark by Bates Smart.
Central is the first library to open in the City of Melbourne in nearly a decade, narrm ngarrgu Library and Family Services, which blends art gallery, makerspace and community services. Over three levels and 4400 m2, the project prioritises community needs and sustainability principles. Reflected in Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung language and art integration, a 960 m2 landscaped terrace with access to a dedicated children’s library, an expansive solar array, and special needs facilities. It includes the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation offices and social housing dwellings managed by Housing Choices.
The project achieves 5-star Greenstar and Well sustainability ratings. Costing approximately $55m, the Munro development exemplifies effective collaboration, community engagement, and sustainable design.
Award for Public Architecture
Located at the central city edge, where the corner site meets the expanses of the Queen Victoria Market, Six Degrees have wonderfully woven a complex and community-based project into the very fabric of our city. Centered around a contextual response to a multi–layered program, interlaced with community aspirations and services, the Munro Development features a new library, family support services, social housing, community rooftop garden terrace, retail offerings and laneway connections that collectively knit function and design to city life.
Within a very cost-efficient delivery, this project duly achieves its aim to integrate the locations’ given city masterplan, adeptly connecting surrounding buildings, carparks, access routes and pedestrian walkways for exemplary public amenity, opportunity and discovery. Through a collaborative design process involving extensive Indigenous collaboration, sustainable design, social equity and a simple yet layered material palette, the texture, colour and life of the project exudes a sense of the city in all its manifestations. To cap this off, the super graphic signage with ambiguous text adorning the perforated metal screens, completes a micro to maxi scale strategy that epitomises the nature and joys of an integrated urban life. The project is a welcome addition to the city and public of Melbourne.
‘The five things that make a good city are density, mixed use, connectivity, high quality public realm and local character. This project hits all five and as such will have financial, social and environmental benefits for the City.
Bates Smart and Six Degrees have skillfully designed an outstanding set of buildings that exceeded our expectations.’
Peter Malatt, Project Director
Michael Frazzetto, Design Director
Luke Braakhuis, Documentation Lead
Mastura Mokhtar, Project Lead
Ryan Weybury, Documentation
Architecture & Access, Access Consultant
Ark Resources, ESD Consultant
Bush Projects, Landscape Consultant
Codus, Building Surveyor
Introba, Services (fitout)
PDG, Developer
RED Fire, Engineer
Simpson Kotzman, Services Consultant
Tract, Town Planner
Webber Design, Structural Engineer
The Australian Institute of Architects acknowledges First Nations peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the lands, waters, and skies of the continent now called Australia.
We express our gratitude to their Elders and Knowledge Holders whose wisdom, actions and knowledge have kept culture alive.
We recognise First Nations peoples as the first architects and builders. We appreciate their continuing work on Country from pre-invasion times to contemporary First Nations architects, and respect their rights to continue to care for Country.
