Laak Boorndap Urban Garden
Melbourne Arts Precinct Transformation
NATURE: Major Public Realm, Partnership, Planting Design +
TIMELINE:In Design and Construction for 2028 opening.
DESIGN PARTNERS: Hassell, SO-IL, James Hitchmough & Nigel Dunnett for Development Victoria and Melbourne Arts Precinct Co.
OVERVIEW:
In the beating heart of Melbourne’s city centre will sit the 18,000 square metre development Laak Boondap, meaning ‘sky country’. In amongst the bustle and rigidity of city buildings, Laak Boondap will be a celebration of nature - bringing the wilderness and the gentle notes of nature to the heart of the city.
Planted entirely on an elevated deck, this remarkable new public garden is at the forefront of contemporary garden design – being unique in the world in its planting density, scale and climate resiliency.
Laak Boondap forms part of the Melbourne Arts Precinct Transformation Project and will be a world first in its planting density, scale and climate resiliency. The public experience of the garden will be one of wonder and delight, with highly dynamic and multi-layered plantings reminiscent of a fairytale - whimsy and joy are front and centre with year-round floral abundance.
The planting design will use a mix of native and introduced species including carefully selected trees, perennials, grasses and flora to each bring their own delight to the tapestry of delight the garden will offer - each chosen for their resilience and tolerance in an ever changing climate.
The human heart hungers for beauty and Laak Boondap will greet this, offering a biodiverse landscape that will create much needed habitat for butterflies, bees and birds. The garden will prioritise ecological sustainability whilst offering visitors the chance to be immersed in nature in a way that mimics the natural environment. The planting selection will have a distinctly Australian identity and will be especially curated for our dry summer climate.
Image credit: Hassell Studios
‘The idea is both brazen and shocking. It runs counter to all we’ve come to expect from public urban spaces in the 21st century. “Fill it with flowering plants” is just not the sort of thing we do with an open 18,000 square metres in the heart of one of Australia’s most built-up cities.’
Megan Backhouse, The Age
A LIVING ART EXHIBITION
At its location at the Melbourne Arts Precinct, Laak Boondap will connect the NGV International with The Fox: NGV Contemporary and the Melbourne Arts Centre, functioning as a way for the public to move through and between the buildings and also as a living, ever changing art exhibit.
Plants will respond to the seasons and variations in environmental conditions, so that no day will ever look the same. This plant-driven, living exhibition will be wild, soft and full with plants taking centre stage and inviting visitors to experience the luminosity and wonder of nature.
A FUTURE PROOF GARDEN
As climate change increasingly impacts our world with ever-changing weather patterns, extreme temperatures and increasing urban density, Laak Boondap is part of a global movement to bring more green spaces into our cities.
The garden has been strategically designed to ensure that the plants thrive in these extreme conditions and are able to navigate the unpredictable environmental factors.
The densely layered planting schemes have been rigorously tested and selected based on their ability to flourish in this difficult environment - demonstrating that beauty and wonder need not be at the expense of climate compatibility - paving the way for future large-scale planting projects across the world.
THE SEASONS OF LAAK BOONDAP
THE TEST GARDEN
The Test Garden is a living demonstration of the floral planting scheme that will be seen on a larger scale at Laak Boondap.
LINK TO TEST GARDEN
THE PLANT TRIALS
The plants for Laak Boondap are going through rigorous testing to ensure they will be able to withstand extreme conditions, ensuring they will thrive and flourish once in place.
LINK TO PLANT TRIALS
WILD AT HEART
Laak Boondap was featured in The Age with a story ‘Wild At Heart’ by Megan Backhouse which goes into generous detail about the development and how it is being cultivated.
LINK TO WILD AT HEART ARTICLE