Coburg Library will be a dynamic place of creativity, lifelong learning, and social connection.

Curated collections and programs will respond to the social and cultural needs of the whole community.

The dedicated children’s and family area will spark imaginations and foster early learning.

The new library will embrace technological innovation and support digital access throughout.

Adaptable opening hours and different types of spaces to meet, study and gather will enable more people to access the library more often.

Coburg Library will serve as a vibrant hub for culture and creativity, expanding Merri-bek’s rich history of supporting the arts.

The new library will create opportunities for the whole community to engage in arts and culture through performances, exhibitions and hands-on creative activities.

It will also provide a platform for sharing and celebrating the stories, identities, histories, and values of our diverse community.

The library’s design will integrate engaging and innovative public art approaches.

Coburg Library will feature a distinctive and welcoming civic identity that reflects the community’s unique character, including the rich culture of the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung peoples.

Accessibility, inclusivity and safety will be prioritised through thoughtful design ensuring people from all backgrounds, faiths and abilities can fully enjoy the facility.

The library will serve as a vibrant hub that maximises visitation and benefits for the community and provides essential social services.

Coburg Library will be designed for maximum flexibility and adaptability, allowing for multiple uses, services and activities to occur simultaneously.

The provision of quiet spaces and louder areas will ensure the library remains a dynamic and inclusive space for all.

This flexible space design will ensure the library is future proofed for changing demand and evolving populations, as spaces will be able to have the ability to adapt over time and respond to emerging community needs.

Coburg Library will be a leading example of sustainability and respond to climate challenges by reducing its environmental impact during construction, operation and end-of-life reuse with user comfort and safety front of mind.

It will showcase principles of the circular economy with recycled materials and smart design to save energy and water.

The building will feature thriving plants and greenery, and the spaces in and around the building will have flexible areas for people to relax and gather.

The building will be equipped to serve as a refuge during extreme weather events, providing a safe place for the community.

The Civic Space will engage people of different background, genders, abilities and ages. It will be universally accessible, and active throughout the day and evening. It will be a place that all people feel equally safe and welcome to visit and use.

The Civic Space will be interactive, multifunctional and creative. It will foster a variety of experiences, interactions and activities, from quiet gathering to large events and celebrations. Its well-proportioned scale will provide a sense of place and enclosure, creating a vibrant urban space.

The Civic Space will contribute to the resilience of the local environment through climate positive design, leadership in integrated water management, regenerative landscape and urban biodiversity, and sustainable and durable materials. The design will feature native plant species and celebrate the local ecology while embracing innovative technology and solutions.

The Civic Space will be a place where people feel connected to nature and which maximises soft landscape, water and shade. It will be a comfortable, well-greened space featuring natural materials and integrating extensive planting and tree canopy.

The Civic Space will be a vital focal point and connector in the network of streets and spaces in central Coburg, linking an east-west green spine from the Upfield rail corridor to the civic precinct. It will be edged by streets full of activity supporting vibrant public life. It will provide a welcoming arrival to the library and seamlessly connect the indoor and outdoor spaces of the new facility.