Canberrans are used to developments going up around them, but recent construction near Green Square in Kingston has been stopping them in their tracks.
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Artists are putting the finishing touches to the work, the latest creation by a group of young architects and designers known as Canberra Lab.
Creator Ronan Moss said the laneway installation off Jardine Street was representative of the group's overall aim, to engage with the local community and inspire Canberrans to think about the smaller spaces around them.
''Canberra is full of the big picture stuff,'' he said.
''But if you remove the Burley Griffin Plan and the Parliamentary Triangle, you're left with a suburban [or] country town … This is all about these quirky small spaces that sit within the larger plan for Canberra.''
The initiative began 18 months ago after Moss returned to the capital, which he said is ''almost stifled by its own planning''.
Alongside his industry colleagues in commercial practices, the architect began working on small scale projects to re-energise parts of Canberra and encourage passers-by to think about the city's spaces.
Designer and Canberra Lab co-creator Sophie Clement said that although the community was vocal when it came to development, it was often a single point of view being repeatedly voiced.
''This is looking at getting the younger voice and the creative voice out there and part of that conversation,'' she said.
The team issues an online publication every two months and is working towards reviving the vision of Walter Burley Griffin through street art and social media such as Facebook and Twitter.
Clement said the historic figure had already appeared in a number of street art installations throughout the city, as well as a comic strip on the group's website: www.canberralab.com.
Canberra Lab has completed projects for the Canberra International Music Festival and You Are Here Festival, with support from industry groups such as the Australian Institute of Architects.
ACT chapter president Tony Trobe said the group's energy was a welcome addition to local planning and architecture circles.
Update: Ronan Moss says he was not involved personally in the laneway work. His comments were made as the spokesman for Canberra Lab.
