The Marvel Stadium Upgrade represents a $225 million investment by the Victorian Government, providing a unique opportunity to revitalise Marvel Stadium. Working closely with Grimshaw Architects and Oculus Studio, Greenaway Architects collaborated with Traditional Owners to anchor the stadium firmly in Country:

1.0 The ground plane

The design for the ground plane reflects the landscape that once existed in the area on which the stadium is located, specifically the wetlands and water country represented by the blue lake and Birrung Marr. The precolonial landscape will be created through etching and painting curvilinear shapes representing the shapes the plants made within the waterways, in particular the native pigface which was endemic in this landscape.

2.0 Columns

The design for the columns expresses the idea of caring for country. This is translated using three cultural precedents important to the Wurundjeri that were shared with us: the scar tree, the manna gum and cultural burning. These ideas are reflected in the texture, patterns, and form of the columns.

3.0 Ceiling

The design for the ceiling represents the sky country over Wurundjeri land. The knowledge that is represented in this translation is of Bunjil the local deity and creator of Wurundjeri Country and Lore who also takes the form of the wedge tailed eagle. It is intended that the perforations are created using a diamond shape which is an important pattern used in Wurundjeri culture. Stars and constellations play an important navigational and caring for country role in our First Peoples lives and are a part of sky country.

4.0 Column Artwork

Within the column design there are deep recesses to represent scar trees. As the scar tree is both a marker in the landscape and representing taking only what you need to care for country, there is now opportunity for artists to create and install artwork within these new columns.