4 October 2024

There was a fuss on St Kilda Facebook pages about this elec box plonked right in front of the Palais, so local artist Colin Shepard saved the day by painting it (a bit daggy pseudo art deco though), which looks a bit better, though it’s not exactly on axis anyway. No idea what’s in it, does it just control the new lighting ? but really it doesn’t stand out that much, and it’ll eventually be lost in the planting, which if too bushy will distract in views of the Palais much more I fear. No idea who designed it all, presumably by Council staff, worth a critique, and I’m very hard to please. Firstly, great there’s now a plaza in front of the Palais, but it’s a vast area of just plain concrete, the design render (pic 5) implied varied pavers, even the plain pavers used on the existing footpath (pic 8) are better, but I’m sure they worried about future unevenness. Having the grass is nice too, though not actually all that inviting somehow. The crossing of Cavell Street is all one surface, with multiple bollards to warn pedestrians I guess ? Might as well close it I say, better for the hordes of pedestrians. There’s an unattractive concrete wall along the Esplanade that puts the cars into a track, with ped crossings either end for the tram stop, might encourage faster driving, and just the planting would have done if the idea was to keep pedestrians off the street. All the edges and seating are plain concrete, all white now, but not for long, that stuff will stain and chip, and why make some randomly curved ? Nice there’s a few actual seats built in. It’ll be interesting to see how it all works. First pic not mine.

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