Jury Comments
Melbourne
has been searching for what could be perceived as "our city square".
Previous locations have all focused on spaces within the city grid,
with mixed successes. The project has shifted the centre of town and
become the new civic centre for the city.
The rolling topography becomes an informal amphitheatre, the gathering
space for protests and celebrations. The jury saw the
strongest contribution of the scheme to be the plaza’s ‘built
topography’. The surface rises up in almost a ‘geological
manner’ providing a unique experience of the square, the
surrounding architecture, the city and the spaces in between.
The seamless assimilation of public art in the stone pavement offers a
further means of navigating the project.
Dramatic use of lighting references the neighboring transport systems
and the canteri lighting systems of backyards everywhere.
The “junk” usually associated with public space of this type has been
successful located in the intense moments that also include the
“handkerchiefs” of lawn and the tree plantings. The jury looks forward
to the maturing for these trees and the accompanying shady nooks that
will be provided. The design successfully provides incidental seating
with the stairs and walls that are inserted in the undulating square.
The use of the multicoloured Kimberly stone, contributes greatly to
the squares uniqueness with the unifying “fingerprint” pattern
differentiating Federation Square from other comparable projects in
Melbourne, with their ubiquitous use of bluestone.
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