Mini-Maddern Pop-up Playground

Project Details

This project is a study of the critical elements in designing temporary play spaces for children. The project is a collaboration with REEaCh researchers, colleagues in the Melbourne School of Design and architects at Public Realm Lab. The Mini Maddern Pop-up Playground was an installation in Footscray that ran for 12 weeks in 2021. Public Realm Lab worked with Maribyrnong City Council, Victoria University and community volunteers to transform Maddern Square into a place where children could explore and engage in play, and families could meet in the community. This project will document the experience of families and children as users of Mini Maddern, and aims to make recommendations for future projects that seek to transform urban spaces into places for play, creativity and wellbeing for children and their families.