In Melbourne’s Docklands, HASSELL and Lend Lease design have given ANZ its own intriguing hill town.
November 29th, 2010
WORDS PAUL MCGILLICK
PHOTOGRAPHY EARL CARTER, PETER BENNETTS
Not so long ago, following the slope of Melbourne’s Collins Street was literally a journey from the top end of town to the bottom, reaching a demoralising dead end at raffish Spencer Street and its grim country and interstate railway station.
How things have changed! Spencer Street Station has been brilliantly re-invented and opened up. Opposite, the glowing Age building and its landscaped forecourt seem to signal a new beginning – which it is, because Collins Street now surges on like the Yellow Brick Road in The Wizard of Oz towards the horizon, towards Emerald City (Docklands) where the new ANZ Centre stands as a beacon to the promised land.
Docklands is a work in progress and despite a degree of criticism it is undeniable that the Docklands project has transformed the city of Melbourne. It represents a kind of cultural renewal which can be seen as an extension of the rejuvenated laneways in the sense that it has added to the grain of an already richly textured CBD.
There is a new permeability to Melbourne. Spaces have been opened up and linked, while Docklands (with its mix of commercial, residential, hospitality and entertainment amenity) offers a whole new dimension to city living.
The new ANZ Centre is emblematic of this transformation. At the same time, it literally embodies the new permeability and transparency. In fact, it is a kind of town-within-a-town.
Read the full story on page 76 of Indesign magazine Issue #43, in stores now.
A searchable and comprehensive guide for specifying leading products and their suppliers
Keep up to date with the latest and greatest from our industry BFF's!
Marylou Cafaro’s first trendjournal sparked a powerful, decades-long movement in joinery designs and finishes which eventually saw Australian design develop its independence and characteristic style. Now, polytec offers all-new insights into the future of Australian design.
In the pursuit of an uplifting synergy between the inner world and the surrounding environment, internationally acclaimed Interior Architect and Designer Lorena Gaxiola transform the vibration of the auspicious number ‘8’ into mesmerising artistry alongside the Feltex design team, brought to you by GH Commercial.
The Sub-Zero Wolf showrooms in Sydney and Melbourne provide a creative experience unlike any other. Now showcasing all-new product ranges, the showrooms present a unique perspective on the future of kitchens, homes and lifestyles.
Sub-Zero and Wolf’s prestigious Kitchen Design Contest (KDC) has celebrated the very best in kitchen innovation and aesthetics for three decades now. Recognising premier kitchen design professionals from around the globe, the KDC facilitates innovation, style and functionality that pushes boundaries.
A diverse team of designers developed V-ZUG’s ground-breaking Excellence line, and looked beyond their appliance peers to the automotive, lifestyle and fashion industries to achieve a new standard in individualisation.
Design:Made:Trade is a new trade event showcasing Australia’s small manufacturers, product designers, and design makers. It is specifically created for designers seeking collaboration with manufacturers, retail and export buyers.
The internet never sleeps! Here's the stuff you might have missed
Caring for our mental health is paramount these days and architecture and design can lead the way as Hassell shows in its latest project in Queensland.
Drawing on the concept of a watering hole as a gathering place in nature, GroupGSA has rejuvenated Sydney Water’s headquarters located in Parramatta.