Kids flock to the new play space - Mini Maddern in Footscray

Published on 02 April 2021

Footscray’s Maddern Square has been transformed into an imaginative play space ‘Mini Maddern’ by our local mini designers, it is also featured in National Gallery of Victoria’s Melbourne Design Week’s program of events.

Children are flocking to this outdoor centre of play and learning, and are expected to continue enjoying the activities over the next twelve weeks, with VU Early Childhood students  delivering a series of kids craft and fun play sessions until Friday 26 June.

Local children created the play space with supplied materials under the guidance of Public Realm Lab, a group of Architects and Urban Designers based in Footscray. It is presented as part of the Footscray University Town initiative, a partnership between Maribyrnong City Council and Victoria University.

Public Realm Lab’s Mini Maddern ‘Build Party’ coincided with the opening of Melbourne Design Week (26 March – 5 April) which is themed ‘design the world you want’ where designers demonstrate how they can collaborate to create a better and healthier future for the planet. Mini Maddern was selected as a highlight of the Week as it was an example of good design and promoted a caring community.

The program is supported by Footscray University Town, Bunnings, Dulux, Ecodynamics and Susu Studio.