Eastland’s Town Square in the running for top design award

It’s got a pointy glass entrance and is only just getting some shelter for its outdoor restaurants. But this shopping centre’s outdoor precinct has wowed judges and is up for a global design award.

One of Melbourne’s biggest shopping centres is in the running for the title of the best-designed outdoor shopping precinct in the world.

Eastland’s Town Square has been named the best shopping mall exterior in South East Asia and the Pacific in the prestigious Prix Versailles architecture awards.

The annual awards are held in conjunction with the United Nations and celebrate design in hotels, restaurants, retail stores and shopping centres.

Eastland's Town Square in Ringwood. Picture: Supplied.

The Ringwood precinct got the nod from judges ahead of mega-malls in Beijing and Dubai.

Town Square was designed by the UK’s ACME and Melbourne’s Buchan Group and opened in 2015 as part of Eastland’s $665 million redevelopment.

Eastland’s Town Square is opposite Ringwood railway station and includes restaurants and green space and the Realm Library.

Its centrepiece is the giant glass entrance ‘The Shard’ which connects visitors with shops underneath. The precinct also features restaurants and pockets of green space and is next to the REALM library.

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“By going beyond a traditional shopping centre design approach, and creating a space which encourages connection and community participation, Town Square has cemented itself as the new heart of Ringwood,” Eastland general manager Greg Balmforth said.

The centre is installing ‘stylish mirrored canopies’ in Town Square for undercover dining which are expected to be ready in spring.

Eastland will now compete for the world title at the Prix Versailles global awards in Paris in September.

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