So #FederationSquare has been confirmed by #HeritageVictoria as having state heritage significance, which should mean no Apple Store !
This might be subject to an appeal, but unless the State Government intervenes to overturn it I’m sure it will be confirmed, and that should mean the Apple store won’t happen, unless they just go into the existing building.
They used some of the words I contributed to the application, but they did more research and clarified that it’s not exactly #Deconstructivist, in fact they didn’t apply a style name, instead saying that it has “….visually distinctive non-orthogonal forms and uses a unique design grammar of lines and fractal geometries combined to achieve a complex architectural aesthetic of coherence and difference.” So that explains it.
These photos are mainly the #pinwheeltiling of the facades.
Other people’s photos :
My photos from October 2018:
crap_art_australia
I don’t think its a palette of sandstone that works that well in Melbourne light. Sandstone works much better in Sydney whereas Melbourne, being monochromatic, it just doesn’t work. While we’re here, is their any chance of the return of the missing shard? That would’ve at least made the design a bit more meaningful and cut through the never ending pink, beige and grey…….it’s the combination of grey, beige and washed out pink. Awful.
it’s the disruptive nature of it. It’s a visual slap in the face. There’s no subtly. In materials or form. And the colours! ‘cat spew’ someone else called it here. I couldn’t agree more. Mostly it’s the vibe of it (driven by the aesthetics) that just isn’t inspiring. It looks like a shed with a camo net chucked over it. The low entry point on the most prominent corner (crossing from middle swanston pedestrian crossing makes it look unninviting. I actually don’t mind a building not looking like a ‘building’ just not here. My favourite building in Melbourne is IMO the beautiful ACCA at Southbank. My beef with Fed square as it stands is more than the current bad building though. As a square for a capital city it’s pretty poor… more like a court. I’d like to see a proper square with the building pushed back to Russel street and the view to the river and botanical gardens opened up
And of course there is the elephant in the room….that one of the judges on the competition panel was a former boss of the winning architects. There are way too many similarities between this building and the #jewishmuseum
it’s the combination of grey, beige and washed out pink. Awful.
Reasons why it shouldn’t be heritage listed:
1. It’s plagiarist
2. Structural design is pointlessly complex.
3. All materials inappropriate
4. Spaces create no sense of place
5. It’s not built as the architect intended. Missing shard.
6. The building it replaced was superior urban design
7. Listing based on historical event is debatable. Is measurement of years an achievement?
8. Low aesthetic value. Appalling palette not suitable for its context.
9.Insecure mid 90s design commemorating Melbourne’s struggle for identity.
10. No connection to the Yarra River.
11. Poorly orientated in terms of daily weather.
12. I don’t like it.
Have a lovely day.
georgia_goring
for me personally a special place, my father’s steel fabrication business made much of the cladding. A big project given the fractal geometries meant many, many variations, and no easy mass-production … but made here with pride in Melbourne #australianmade
troymendham
@tallstorey hmmm I’d hoped something better could be built at some point in the future. That means we’re stuck with it forever. 👎🏻 Def NOT an Apple store though.. …getting rid of that horrible fractual claddng or painting the whole thing matt black would be a major improvement …it’s the disruptive nature of it. It’s a visual slap in the face. There’s no subtly. In materials or form. And the colours! ‘cat spew’ someone else called it here. I couldn’t agree more. Mostly it’s the vibe of it (driven by the aesthetics) that just isn’t inspiring. It looks like a shed with a camo net chucked over it. The low entry point on the most prominent corner (crossing from middle swanston pedestrian crossing makes it look unninviting. I actually don’t mind a building not looking like a ‘building’ just not here. My favourite building in Melbourne is IMO the beautiful ACCA at Southbank. My beef with Fed square as it stands is more than the current bad building though. As a square for a capital city it’s pretty poor… more like a court. I’d like to see a proper square with the building pushed back to Russel street and the view to the river and botanical gardens opened up
kynetonoldrectory
I too find the whole complex unworthy. I believe the NGV demanded major changes to the gallery spaces as the original designs weren’t practical. As for the open space it’s totally unfriendly to anyone with mobility issues as the surfaces are uneven. For a key public space at the entrance to the city I think it fails on lots of levels. It blocks views to the river. It’s open to the west so in summer everyone fries: don’t even think of dining in Taxi (is it still called that) on a hot summers night unless you’ve got factor 50 and dark glasses on… To think the Romans knew how to orientate a building and two thousand years later we don’t……cafes facing the river with a terrace to their front to get at least some sun would surely have been more effective? The pink paving and panels are inappropriate for a city built on bluestone… And of course the original design of the “arcade” entrance to the site on the north didn’t allow for Melbourne’s weather and a new entrance had to be added….the atrium… freezing! I guess as I don’t know the criteria for a heritage listing I shouldn’t comment, but shouldn’t suitability be a factor? And sustainability: bring materials thousands of kilometers doesn’t sound like something to be encouraged!
pringle68
Yes.. budgeted at M$110, cost M$394, officially (officially rubbish and the rest!) THANKYOU Vic tax payer 15 yrs ago…. place still runs at a loss… health and aged services??? I pray I die young. …..the acceptance to just keep spending taxpayers money and the cost of other services to save face. Suppose we all approach our employer with “yes, that was my yearly income we agreed to but this is the actual cost” no employer would agree to those contracts, so why does the Govt simply agree with builder variations that were caused by them? Simple, it’s not their money and there held by the balls…. that’s ok, it will all be forgotten about in a few weeks…. I see so much waste…
lynreidmoroco
@tallstorey Hmmm 🧐 I do appreciate some positives but generally, to me, the building feels harsh and unwelcoming… top-heavy, jagged, hard and sharp, erratic, warren-like, not friendly enough but also not exciting enough to entice me to come closer…
maryrosethorn
Oh it’s kind of ugly 🤦♀️ sorry! I’m sure it’s an architectural feat. Anyway, good on ya for contributing to the application. I will probably appreciate it more as I age and have kids of my own.
lynreidmoroco
It just feels unwelcoming…
Storey of Melbourne 