Creating great places for community starts with listening.

We bring communities into the design process, creating space for diverse voices to shape places that reflect local needs, shared values and a strong sense of belonging.

Community spaces and place making

Profile project:

Lalor Neighbourhood House

Country: wurundjeri woi wurrung

Location: Lalor

Client: City of Whittlesea

Scale: Small project.

Collaboration: Lalor Neighbourhood House, City of Whittlesea, Bushra Hasan Artist. Alex Kerr Wurundjeri Artist, Ildiko Kormanyos.

Builder: ID Landscaping

Photographer: William Hamilton-Coates

MTLD Studios designed the Lalor Neighbourhood House Community Garden, integrating a custom shade structure, community mural opportunities, Indigenous planting, productive wicking beds and a community orchard. Our design maximises a compact site, creating an inclusive, functional landscape that supports food growing, cultural connection, environmental learning and community building.

“We have so much happiness, shared conversation, plenty of problem solving, and some tears whilst out working in the garden.

We have given custodianship of the veggie beds to local community members to grow their own produce, including those with trauma and others just wanting to connect in a hostile world.

Our plan is to cultivate the produce and make some delicious food together.”

- Damien, Community Gardener Facilitator, 2025