How Design Drives Inclusion and Social Change: A Conversation with Folk Architects
By Bree Pagliuso|
Design has the power to include and inspire change. When spaces are designed with empathy and accessibility in mind, they do more than welcome individuals. They help shift mindsets and build a more inclusive society. That belief guided the creation of our new Changing Places facility and upgraded parenting amenities.
Working alongside Folk Architects and with funding from a Victorian Government Changing Places Grant, we set out to do more than just meet standards. We wanted to listen, understand and design with real empathy, creating spaces that reflect not only universal design principles but also the real experiences and needs of the people who will use them.
Designing with people, not just for them, we shaped every detail of our new facility based on feedback from people with lived experience, carers and advocates.
Their insights guided every element, from the warmth of the environment and soft lighting to the textures of materials and the placement of seating.
In Conversation with Folk Architects
To celebrate the unveiling of our new Changing Places facility, we spoke with Tim Wilson, Director of Folk Architects, about the process behind creating these spaces.
Can you tell us how the partnership between Folk Architects and MCEC began?
We have a long-standing relationship with Denton Corker Marshall, the architect behind the original Melbourne Exhibition Centre, which opened in 1996 and is still one of our favourite buildings in Melbourne. In 2017, the Directors at DCM introduced us to MCEC, and we were engaged to design a new cold storage facility. A few years later, in 2021, we were approached again to review the new Changing Places facility and Parenting Rooms.
What was the initial brief, and how did it evolve through your conversations with our team?
The initial brief was to retrofit a new Changing Places facility into a previously underutilised Parenting Room adjacent to the Goldfields Café. After several design reviews with the MCEC team and other stakeholders, the project grew to include upgrades to the Parenting Room, Feeding Room, Baby Change Room and Parent/Child Toilet.
You mentioned Folk’s ethos around user-generated design and equitable access. How did that shape your approach here?
As a practice, we always strive to stay curious. We are constantly asking how architecture and design can contribute to people's daily lives and create spaces everyone can access and enjoy.
After more than 15 years, we know achieving that means deeply understanding the needs of the people we are designing for.
Before starting the design, we spent a lot of time talking to people with lived experience, their support networks and therapists.
Those conversations informed a questionnaire we distributed widely across disability, carer and advocacy groups.
The feedback gave us a real insight into what makes a positive Changing Places experience, thinking beyond basic safety to creating something memorable and dignified.
After speaking with users and carers, what insights stood out most and shaped your thinking?
One of the biggest things we heard was how important it is to have a space that feels calm, warm and inviting. Many shared that facilities can feel cold and clinical, especially after spending so much time in medical environments.
We also learned that people often spend longer in a Changing Places facility than in a traditional bathroom, so it was really important to make the space as comfortable as possible. Having seating for carers and family members was a big part of helping people feel safe, supported and treated with dignity.
Was there anything in that feedback that surprised you or made you rethink the design?
Yes, definitely. One memorable request came from a 12-year-old girl with quadriplegic cerebral palsy. She asked for music and something to look at on the ceiling.
It reminded us that users with limited mobility often spend a lot of time looking upward, especially when using a change table. In response, we suggested ceiling artwork, and we are currently liaising with MCEC and Arts Project Australia to bring that idea to life.
Do small design details like seating height or armrest shape really make a big difference for accessibility?
Absolutely.
It is often the small details, like getting the right seat height, providing supportive armrests and designing intuitive layouts, that transform a space from simply compliant to genuinely comfortable and accessible.
How do you hope these spaces change the experience of visiting MCEC for people with high support needs and their families?
We hope this new facility makes a real difference.
For people with higher support needs, whether or not a Changing Places facility is available can be the deciding factor in whether they leave home at all or whether they can enjoy a full day out instead of just a few hours.
It is about giving people more freedom, more choices and the confidence to take part in everything the precinct has to offer.
You mentioned how important warmth, privacy and dignity were to users. How did you bring that feeling into the design?
Working with the Access Consultant made sure we met compliance standards, but translating those technical requirements into a genuinely warm and welcoming space was a key focus for us. We drew on our experience designing textured, residential-style spaces and brought that same feeling into a public environment.
How did you apply universal design principles practically, through elements like seating, wayfinding and sensory details?
We looked closely at how people with different functional abilities would move through and use the space, always aiming to minimise physical effort.
The built-in seating includes backrests, ergonomic armrests and spaces for wheelchairs and prams, designed to support a broad range of users including parents, grandparents, carers and children.
Looking beyond MCEC, what broader impact do you hope this project might have on other public venues in Melbourne?
We hope it encourages broader participation across the board.
Just as importantly, we hope it sends a strong message that people with disability, and their friends, families and support networks, deserve to be included in all aspects of public life.
Explore the new Changing Places facility at MCEC
Located near Plenary Theatre, Goldfields Café and the Exhibition Centre car park, the facility offers easy access to nearby retail and South Wharf dining.
Inside, warm materials, soft lighting, bespoke furniture and a welcoming palette create a safe, inclusive environment.
Features include a height-adjustable adult change table, ceiling track hoist system and centrally positioned peninsula toilet.
Universal design principles guide every element, with intuitive layouts, supportive armrests and inclusive seating.