Children’s Court

Sibling Architecture was engaged by the Children’s Court of Victoria to transform its central Melbourne facility into a warm, safe and supportive environment that is flexible, future-minded and intuitively legible. As a specialist court operating across both Family and Criminal Divisions, the Court hears and determines all matters involving children and young people. The project focused on reimagining the ground floor to accommodate a new clinic and conferencing centre, supporting a wide range of users and operational requirements. Spaces range from a generous shared entry lobby and reception through to individual consultation rooms that enable private, sensitive conversations. The facility also incorporates offices, welfare and support rooms, observation rooms, family assessment spaces and bookable conference rooms.
Sibling’s design response embeds human-centred design principles, strengthening visual connections and circulation clarity while introducing warmer, softer finishes that combine natural materials and colour to support intuitive wayfinding. Strategic use of glazing improves daylight penetration deep into the floorplate, enhancing comfort, safety and spatial legibility. The project required a nuanced understanding of movement, privacy and security within a highly regulated environment. Multiple user groups move through the building via distinct access routes and controlled interfaces, requiring careful coordination of physical planning, sightlines and electronic security systems. This layered operational complexity provided Sibling with deep experience in designing environments that balance dignity, safety and clarity while maintaining robust operational performance.