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

Awards

2025 AILA VIC Landscape Architecture Award for Parks and Open Space
2025 AILA VIC Climate Positive Design Award

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.

'Michelle Guglielmo Park inserts much needed public space into the dense urban fabric of Brunswick. A multi-functional and culturally resonant space, the design embraced community through both form and process. The park now supports a considered range of activities and experiences within a small footprint. A strong environmental agenda addresses climate resilience, water and biodiversity with overt responsibility. This revitalised space is testament to client aspiration, thoughtful design, collaborative process and a shared commitment to environmental and social sustainability.'

2025 AILA VIC Landscape Architecture Award for Parks and Open Space Award Citation
This project demonstrates a regenerative design process, through its translation from a former concrete hardstand to a responsibly designed new urban space. The project team has considered multiple approaches to sustainability, including the substantial reuse of stone, brick and timber materials. The design increases site permeability for improved soil health, integrated water management, and the use of native plant species. Together these strategies have delivered a well-designed local park which minimises its carbon footprint, mitigates microclimate, and targets improved biodiversity.

2025 AILA VIC Climate Positive Design Award Citation

Planting

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

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

A large swale runs through the site, capturing runoff and reducing dependence on the main drainage system.

Carbon

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

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.