MUNRO LIBRARY & COMMUNITY HUB

Darkon was engaged as the lighting supplier for a transformative development of the Munro Library and Community Hub, located in the Queen Victoria Market precinct in the heart of Melbourne. The project, part of the City of Melbourne’s $500 million Munro development, aims to create a dynamic centre for imagination, learning, and well-being. The Library and Community Hub, spanning 3,100 square meters across three levels, has redefined public libraries in Australia. Key features include a dedicated children’s library, a 300-square-meter Family Services Centre, a rooftop terrace with outdoor reading areas, a creative makers’ space equipped with 3D printers and other tools, two sound studios for podcast and audio recording, communal study and events spaces, bookable meeting rooms, and specifically curated artworks.

Developed by Six Degrees Architects, the design prioritises accessibility, inclusivity, and community engagement, reflecting and honouring Aboriginal culture through collaboration with Traditional Owners and Elders. Acting Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece highlights the project’s significance in meeting the demands of a rapidly growing neighbourhood and boosting the local economy by attracting more visitors. Additionally, narrm ngarrgu Library and Family Services, a part of the Munro development, will open in November 2023. The design, influenced by community consultation and the Future Libraries Framework 2021, respects Aboriginal culture and knowledge systems.

The Munro project, with its commitment to sustainability, has achieved a 5-star Green Star rating. The linear profiles used throughout are HIP SUS, and the suspended pendants are HUNG DEEP can lights, locally made with integral LED drivers, accommodating the exposed ceiling architectural design.