Purcell, in partnership with Hassell and the SO-IL lead design team, is providing built heritage consultancy advice to the design team, to better understand the site's historical significance and manage sensitive change that preserve its cultural values.

Laak Boorndap — a Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung name bestowed on the garden by Traditional Owner, Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Elder, Aunty Gail Smith — is unique in the world in its scale, planting density and climate resiliency.

An 18,000-square-metre, biodiverse garden, the new public space will link the venues across the precinct and support community well-being and connection. It will wrap around the new The Fox: NGV Contemporary, NGV International, Arts Centre Melbourne’s Hamer Hall and Theatres Building (under the Spire), along with adjacent The Primrose Potter Australian Ballet Centre.

Built over Sturt Street between City Road and the back-of-house facilities for the NGV and Arts Centre Melbourne, the garden will feature a vibrant array of sculptures, installations and creative activities. Visitors can expect a dynamic space offering a blend of culture and nature in the city’s heart.

Laak Boorndap and its new amenities promise to revitalise the area, benefiting visitors, residents, businesses, and the numerous arts organisations that call the broader Melbourne Arts Precinct home.

Works on the new urban garden are scheduled to start in 2026, and the Melbourne Arts Precinct Transformation project is expected to be completed in 2028.