Federation Square secret facelift plans revealed

A MULTISTOREY waterfall, a riverside pool — they’re just some of the suggestions in a secret plan to give Federation Square a facelift. And bosses warn without change, the landmark could become an eyesore.

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SECRET plans to refresh Federation Square proposed a creek, billabongs and a multistorey waterfall flowing from the top of one of its buildings.

A digital art gallery, created by LED screens on building exteriors, was also suggested.

Designs for a possible revamp of the Federation Square riverside. Picture: Supplied

Square managers, warning the government more than a year ago that its controversial design would become “outdated”, argued it needed a facelift to avoid becoming an eyesore and to retain its “popularity and distinctiveness”.

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The presentation, seen by the Herald Sun, combined four projects: greening the square, adding a roof to the Atrium, building the digital gallery and transforming the river frontage.

The suggestions

The Yarra River revamp, drafted by Cox Architecture in 2010, includes a new restaurant strip, bigger carpark and floating forest.

A Copenhagen-style pool built into a riverside boardwalk and open-air cinema were also suggested in the presentation.

It did not mention the controversial Apple superstore announced last week.

A proposal to redevelop the Yarra River frontage at Federation Square. Picture: Supplied

Planning expert Michael Buxton, from RMIT’s Centre for Urban Research, said the “stark” square functioned well but needed a new look to attract more visitors.

“Melbourne is stuck with the design, good or bad, but it should be improved,” he said.

“These ideas, especially environmental improvements like water features, trees and greenery, are potential ways to soften a space like Federation Square.”

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Federation Square ­chiefs dismissed the billabong and ­waterfall plan after a business case found it lacked “economic sense” and public support.

But ideas floated in the Cox riverside redevelopment and the digital art gallery remain.

The gallery was designed by the company behind the lighting of AAMI Park and Perth Stadium, Ramus Illumination.

Federation Square’s controversial current design. Picture: Lawrence Pinder

How Cox Architecture thought the square could open onto the Yarra River. Picture: Supplied

A “luminous LED skin” fitted to the outside of four buildings — the Alfred Deakin and Crossbar buildings, the Atrium and the east shard — would beam videos and art.

The project, costed at $23 million, was submitted to government but missed funding in the latest budget.

Federation Square is instead replacing its failing big screen with a “micro” Ramus design as a “snapshot of what might happen across the whole square”.

Ramus Illumination’s Bruce Ramus said the gallery’s screens would complement, not replace, the architecture.

“This wouldn’t be television screens on the walls, it would be quite striking,” he said.

“The world’s great art galleries could screen their exhibitions into the public space.”

A mock-up of a proposed water wall at the Atrium. Picture: Supplied

But Federation Square’s original architect Professor Donald Bates slammed the proposed gallery, waterfall and greenery.

“It is not necessary,” he said.

“The square operates very well and the last thing it needs is things like that added to it.

“They are short term solutions for the wrong kind of problem.”

Annual visitors numbers to Federation Square have dropped to about 10 million with crowds instead drawn to new public spaces, like QV and Melbourne Quarter.

Events like the AFL Grand Final Parade and Australian Open live site have also been relocated.

Federation Square chief executive Jonathan Tribe said a masterplan was needed for the entire section between St Kilda Rd and Exhibition St, including the square and Birrarung Marr.

“The difference between Fed Square now and when it was built is that the square is operating in a much more competitive environment,” Mr Tribe said.

“The challenge for us moving forward is how we are going to increase activation and bring more people into the square that will give an economic return to our tenants.”

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@moniquehore