PLACEnews April 2010 Issue 6
Melbourne's meeting place
It’s increasingly hard to imagine Melbourne without Federation Square. Home to major cultural attractions, tourism experiences, restaurants, bars, specialty stores and more than 2000 events each year, this modern piazza has become’s the city’s focal point, it’s heartbeat.
The size of an entire city block, the development of Federation Square offered a unique opportunity. Melbourne badly needed a civic space and public debate about this particular site, located in close proximity to Melbourne’s arts precinct, sporting venues, parkland and the business district had raged for decades.
The construction of Federation Square, which required the removal of the widely disliked Gas and Fuel Buildings and a concrete deck to be built over the Jolimont Railyards opened up the space for public use for the very first time. The project was constructed over a period of four years as a result of an international design competition awarded to Lab architecture studio and Bates Smart. The new public square was envisaged as space for civic celebration, community events and creative expression, capable of accommodating up to 20,000 people.
Given its bold architectural form and large aspiration, the project had its share of changes to the brief, controversy over the design and costs, heated debate and skepticism. Since opening in 2002 however, Federation Square has been embraced by locals and visitors alike, with a total of more than 58 million visits. It is ranked in the top two of Victoria’s leading destinations for domestic and international travelers and receives an average of more than 8 million visits each year.
Unlike traditional public spaces like Venice’s San Marco or New York’s Rockefeller Centre, Federation Square is made up of a series of interlocking and cascading spaces. Buildings open at all angles into the city, creating unexpected connections and vistas.
The strength of this open and engaging design is supported by Federation Square’s Cultural and Civic Charter. This document details Federation Square’s guiding role as a focal point for cultural and community activity and underpins our daily operations and program of events. As a result of this Charter, which aligns closely with place-making theory, Federation Square has become very successful in engaging with local communities. Whether it’s National Apology Day, a political protest or the AFL Grand Final, people instinctively gather at Federation Square to share the experience and to engage in the space.
Moving beyond these incidents of mass celebration and participation, Federation Square has also been working extensively on the practical issues of what makes a great place. From simple things, like installing additional bike racks and upgrading signage to major accessibility improvements and the use of comfort zones, Federation Square is constantly working to create a stimulating and engaging visitor experience.
