Equity of access, welcome, sustainability and respect for place guided the Fleming Park project for Merri-bek City Council, creating a place to be enjoyed by the wider Brunswick community. The once tired and underused precinct is now a thriving community hub.
The project began with a series of modest interventions across the precinct: new paths to replace non-compliant ones, new fencing, solar lighting and playground sculptures that separate play from bike paths. The large gravel car park became a basketball half-court and rebound tennis wall, and the remaining car park was turned into bioswales and native garden play areas.
Two new buildings complete the precinct: a community sporting building and the restoration of an old, derelict grandstand. The community building is shaped around several significant eucalyptus trees on the site, and brings many uses together in one building that also connects existing structures, including the Bocce Club, local band rooms and the historic dance hall.
The new form embraces the oval with informal bleacher seating and an outdoor deck for sporting events and everyday gatherings, framing both sides of the oval. The project was shortlisted in the Urban Design category of the 2024 Victorian Architecture Awards.
We thank Merri-bek City Council for commissioning fjcstudio on this project, and Trevor Mein for his photography. Read more about Fleming Park and our work in precincts.
