Bunjil Place
Bunjil Place Library, Kulin Country, Narre Warren
Flowing from the foyer
The library at Bunjil Place opens from the main foyer through a wide entry and rises over three levels. It is one of a series of spaces that flow from the foyer like billabongs. Its interiors carry the building’s warm timber palette, layered with colour drawn from the local landscape.
A spiral of white
At the heart of the library, a white stair spirals up through an elliptical void, pulling daylight and movement into the centre of the space. Its curved balustrades echo the white ribbons that flow through the building, and timber treads and softly lit edges draw the eye upwards. Below, a circle of green carpet marks the ground like a clearing.
Steps to linger on
Higher up, a broad stair of tiered blue steps rises to the upper level. Cushions in yellow, blue and grey turn the steps into informal seating for reading alone, meeting in small groups or hosting occasional events.
Wattle and blackbutt
Indigenous flora of the City of Casey inspired the library’s colour palette. Yellow draws on the blossom of Golden Wattle (Acacia pycnantha), soft blue on the bluish foliage of local wattles, and fresh green brings the outdoors in. Curved walls lined in blackbutt veneer wrap the service areas and frame the black shelving. All 6,000 m² of veneer across the library and foyer came from one blackbutt tree. It was removed from a private property in NSW to make way for a road and reserve. White desks follow the curves of the stair.
Places for every reader
On the ground floor, an intimate storytelling room sits within the children’s area. Upstairs, the Young Adult area sits next to the Digital Games area. It has its own distinct character, visible from other areas yet set apart.
Explore the architecture (libraries), interiors (culture), architecture (galleries), interiors (workplace) and landscape of Bunjil Place.
Awards
| 2019 | World Architecture Festival | Completed Buildings: Civic and Community, shortlist | |
| 2018 | Australian Institute of Architects (Victorian Chapter) | William Wardell Award for Public Architecture | |
| 2017 | International Design Awards | Architecture of the Year | |
| 2017 | International Design Awards | Gold, Institutional | |
| 2017 | International Design Awards | Gold, Landmarks, Symbolic Structures, Memorials and Public | |
Press
| 6 Nov 2021 | Arch2O | Bunjil Place | fjmt | |
| 5 Jul 2019 | Bustler | A glimpse of the 2019 World Architecture Festival shortlist | |
| 14 Nov 2018 | ArchitectureAU | Taking flight: Bunjil Place | |
| 8 Jul 2018 | ArchDaily | Bunjil Place / fjmt | |
| 29 Jun 2018 | ArchitectureAU | 2018 Victorian Architecture Awards | |
| 13 Dec 2017 | ArchitectureAU | FJMT-designed cultural centre opens in Melbourne’s outer south-east | |