The aged structure of Port Melbourne's municipal library, adjacent to
the local shopping centre, need replacing. After much community debate, it was resolved to locate the new library at the back of the old Town Hall, a building made largely redundant by council amalgamations.

Our challenge was to design a new building that would fit in with
the petite Victorian Town Hall, attract the local community and provide the diverse facilities expected of a contemporary library.

Sitting easily in the Port Melbourne heritage streetscape, the building is low in scale, with alternating recessed panels of brown/black glazed brick along its frontage. It is screened by mature maple trees and has its own entrance. Its structure is a simple steel portal frame, providing a very wide clear space, with deep-reveal windows running down one side. As the building is all on one level, there is easy access for all.