Michelle Guglielmo Park
Working in partnership with Merri-bek City Council, GLAS led the design team in creating a new pocket park on Sydney Road in the heart of Brunswick. Designed in response to extensive community consultation, the park offers a green oasis with serene spaces to sit and connect with nature. Drawing inspiration from the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people’s connection to Merri Creek and the meaning of Merri-bek—“rocky country"—the design incorporates native materials and planting to honour this cultural heritage.
Previously a concrete site, the park has transformed the landscape by regenerating the soil and returning 80% of the area to garden, providing a welcome respite from the surrounding urban environment. Named in memory of former Counihan Gallery curator Michelle Guglielmo, who passed away from cancer in 2006, the park pays homage to her love of art and connection to the area.
Artistic features include a patterned shade canopy by Mandy Lane, a mural by Mike Makatron, and lighting installations by First Nations artist Jenna Lee—each adding layers of reflection, culture, and beauty to the space.
Traditional Custodians
Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung
Location
Brunswick, VIC
Scale
600 sqm
Year
2024
Client
Merri-bek City Council
Team
Merri-Bek City Council
Marcus Constructions
Urbania
ARUP
OPS Engineers
Manda Lane
Jenna Lee
260 Sydney Road Park Rendered Plan
"Merri Merri" meaning "very rocky" in Woi wurrung—the park immerses visitors in a forested green space featuring ancient rock walls, native planting, and natural materials. This design reconnects the community with the area’s geological roots and reflects a vision for a climate-resilient future.
Planting
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The park is planted with Eucalypt species and flowering Brachychitons to provide over 50% of the site with dappled shade in summer and admit sun in winter.
Soil
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Our design consists of approximately 330 m2 of soft landscaped area, drastically increasing the deep soil provision on site and providing healthy connected soil, supporting resilient planting.
Water
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A large swale runs through the site, capturing runoff and reducing dependence on the main drainage system.
Carbon
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The project will sequester 2000 kg of CO2e per year, which is equivalent to removing the emissions of a Toyota Corolla Sedan driving from Melbourne to Sydney 11 times a year.
Social
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The design also consists of 50 square metres of lawn area to provide the Merri-bek community with a flexible space that can cater a range of events.
