Collins Arch – lumpy, and a public space fail

Original post 23 Feb 2019:

CollinsArch is massive, not so much an arch as a lump, not helped by the steppyness, as I said to anyone who would listen, which was nobody. You’ll only see that it actually is an arch from pretty much directly north or south, the rest of the time it’ll be a tall glassy iceberg, with sheer walls on all sides. Still makes me angry that the site, which had a huge 60s plaza, was sold off by the City of Melbourne in the 90s with no thought of preserving the open space, and still no action taken when the site was sold back in about 2010.

20 October 2019:

There just isn’t an angle that makes this look good – maybe from 20 floors up ? It’s massive, solid, sharp and shiny, quite at odds with everything around. Makes the demolished 1965 #NationalMutualPlaza look elegant. It’s an arch, but you have to stand right in front tower through. Other angles it’s just walls. Supposed to be a ‘park’ in one corner, looks like it’ll be tiny. Plus some steps to sit on under one leg. Designed by @shoparchitects with @woodsbagot.

16 December 2022:

Finally got to have a good look at Collins Arch (🙄) and I’m warming a bit to the reflective zig-zaggery, but it’s still a monster, filling the block, with some bits carved out to create public space – most of which is uninviting on a 3.30 on a summer afternoon. The central gap was quite gloomy, there was a bit of sun in the small park at the front, and two people in the dim stepped seating area under the east tower. There’s more open space/greenery on the east side, but Council built that by taking half of Market Street (and it was all boarded off?). Very poor compared to the large often sunny open space there before, though it was very badly landscaped. The arch itself you can only see by looking straight up, or from the other side of the river. The original open space happened because the @cityofmelbourne owned the site and leased it in 1960 with the proviso of a big plaza, then sold it under the commissioners in 1996 without adding any protections for the plaza, so the next owner didn’t have to keep it – lucky we got any I suppose ! Architects @woodsbagot with @shoparchitects (who have done big textured lumps elsewhere), developer @cbusproperty.