Melbourne Design Week

Date: Jun 02, 2024

Category: Events and exhibitions

Spanning 242 kilometres from the top of Mt Baw Baw in the Yarra Ranges to Port Phillip Bay, Birrarung (Yarra River) is being reimagined for 2070. The "Reimagining Birrarung" symposium brought together Indigenous Elders, scientists, policymakers, advocates, and leading landscape architects to discuss future ideas and concepts for Melbourne’s iconic river.

2024

2070

Opening the event was Wurundjeri Elder Uncle Andrew Gardiner delivering a Welcome to Country together with Chris Chesterfield, Chair of the Birrarung Council. ASPECT Studios’ Kirsten Bauer participated in a panel, moderated by Gemma Savio and Ewan McEoin, exploring how knowledge systems, climate change, policy, emerging technologies, and design might shape our relationship with Birrarung over the next five decades. Landscape design was well represented in the discussion with panellists from SBLA Studio, Taylor Cullity Lethlean, Openwork Pty Ltd, REALMstudios, McGregor Coxall and Bush Projects Landscape Architecture and contributing alongside Tim Flannery, Erin O’Donnell and city advocates Regen Melbourne.

This event is a precursor to a major National Gallery of Victoria exhibition opening in August 2024 – "Reimagining Birrarung: Design Concepts for 2070." The exhibition will feature leading landscape designers and architects presenting their visions for key sites along the Birrarung corridor, from the city centre and eastern suburbs to its source in the Yarra Ranges.

Thank you to the NGV for hosting such a great event and facilitating the discussion around one of Melbourne’s greatest natural assets.