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Architectus and Public Realm Lab reveal concept designs for Creative West in Footscray

A new library, performing arts venue and town park will come together on the site of Footscray's ageing library to form a civic heart for Melbourne's west, closely shaped with Wurundjeri Elders and more than 1,100 community voices.

By Architecture & Design | 24 July 2026

The City of Maribyrnong has released the first concept designs for Creative West, a landmark cultural precinct that will transform the site of the current Footscray Library into a connected civic destination for learning, creativity and performance. The design has been delivered by Architectus and Public Realm Lab in collaboration with GLAS Landscape Architects, following one of the most extensive community co-design processes the Council has undertaken.

Paisley Street entry view, Creative West Footscray | Credit: Architectus / Public Realm Lab

Creative West brings together three distinct but interconnected elements: a next-generation library, a highly flexible performing arts venue, and a new town park. The concept draws inspiration from the pre-colonial topography of the Maribyrnong River escarpment, with a roofline that unfolds toward the park to draw natural light into the interior while forming a series of sheltered terraces along the building's edge.

"Creative West's design is grounded in connection, between people, between the artforms you'll encounter in the library and the theatre, and between the building and landscape," says Ruth Wilson, Principal at Architectus. "We've focused on creating a design that's welcoming and inclusive, where people can feel like they belong, just like they do in the current library."

A civic hub shaped by community

Since early 2026, Wurundjeri Elders, more than 1,100 community responses, 19 focus groups and a 27-member Community Voice Co-design Group have helped refine the design, informing everything from how people arrive and feel safe to how indoor and outdoor spaces connect and adapt over time.

City of Maribyrnong Mayor Cr Mohamed Semra says the result reflects what the community has long called for. "We are dreaming big for Footscray's future. Creative West will be a home base for Footscray and will help strengthen both the daytime and night-time economy, addressing the gap in cultural infrastructure in Melbourne's west," he says.

Library, theatre and town park

Visitors to Creative West will arrive at a shared foyer connecting both the library and the performing arts venue. The three-level library places a large, light-filled reading room at its centre, with bookable rooms, maker spaces and digital facilities arranged around the central volume. A dedicated children's level on the upper floor opens to an outdoor terrace overlooking the park.

Library lounge concept render, Creative West Footscray | Credit: Architectus / Public Realm Lab

The performing arts venue seats more than 500, with a stage that can extend into the audience to dissolve the boundary between performer and crowd. Automated and adaptable, the theatre will support professional productions alongside community events. A studio space with a window to Paisley Street will accommodate rehearsals, lessons and more intimate performances.

The town park, fronting Paisley Street, provides a communal lawn for everyday use as well as outdoor events and performances. Native and climate-adaptive planting lines the street edge, enhancing biodiversity and creating a greener, safer streetscape.

Public Realm Lab on why it matters now

"Now, perhaps more than ever, our cities need green spaces, free public places like libraries, and space for expression, where we can connect, encounter new ideas and artistic practice to help make sense of the times we live in," says Anna Maskiell, Director and Co-founder of Public Realm Lab. "We are proud to be involved in Creative West, led by the City of Maribyrnong. It is by and for Melbourne's west, one of the most vibrant, diverse and youthful parts of our city."

The design and planning phase received $5 million from the Australian Government under the Urban Precincts and Partnerships Program, matched by the City of Maribyrnong. The full project is expected to cost around $148 million, with the Council actively seeking state and federal investment to deliver the build. The final design is on track for early 2027, with delivery targeted for March 2027.

The Architectus and Public Realm Lab team is supported by an extensive consultant group including Schuler Shook, LCI Consultants, TTW, Marshall Day Acoustics, McKenzie Group Consulting, Salus Design and Sundew Ecology.

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