11. Federation Square

Federation Square, Melbourne

Dovey, Kim and Woodcock, Ian (2005). ‘Federation’, in Fluid City: Transforming Melbourne’s Urban Waterfront, K.Dovey, UNSW Press, Sydney, pp 93-121

The location where Federation Square stands today used to be ‘the river and the civic axis, which are the two primary linear elements of Melbourne’s urban morphology’ (pp93). Dovey & Woodcock’s chapter speaks about how Federation has modernize and influence Melbourne’s urban image, the development and the construction of Federations and the requirements of the brief to contemplate with the urban lifestyle.

This chapter begins with Federation Square is to introduce Melbourne city and as a gateway connecting both river & parkland. Endured with much hardship, criticism & considerations from every angle like cost and cultural aspect, winners Davidson & Bates fulfilled the challenges of the creative brief by bringing out the identity of Melbourne city.

The critical point of this chapter is how extraordinary and unique the architectural of Federation Square building, that ‘constructs a new “face” & identity for Melbourne city’ (pp105). It is an “enigmatic signifier” which ‘brand Melbourne in both global & local markets’ (pp110). This exceptional masterpiece ‘contains a complex mix of cultural institutions, civic spaces, and commercial activities’ (Davidson & Bates 1999, pp60) for the urban life.

Federation Square bring people locally and internationally together and ‘creates a complex network of experiences, a reaffirmation of the interactive nature of civic life’(Davidson & Bates 1999, pp60). Since winning the Federation Square project in 1997, Melbourne has actually gain 2 valuable citizens when Davidson and Bates resided in Melbourne, Australia.   

   

Extra reference:

Bates, Donald L. and Davidson, Peter (1999). ‘Federation Square, Melbourne, Australia Lab Architecture Studio’, Assemblage, No. 40, The MIT Press, pp 56-67