Flinders St station needs redevelopment to meet Melbourne’s needs: expert
It’s a Melbourne icon but Flinders St Station is due for a redevelopment, a leading architect says. It comes several years after the grand — but controversial — design that won the Baillieu government’s competition was ditched.
VIC News
Don't miss out on the headlines from VIC News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Flinders St Station will need to be redeveloped to meet the transport needs of the growing city, says a top architect.
Ingrid Bakker, a partner with Hassell architects, said that recent conservation work on the station to stop it falling apart was welcome.
“But the building does need to be added to and developed to meet the needs of the city, especially with the opening of the nearby Metro Town Hall station,” she said.
Former premier Ted Baillieu had launched a global competition for a station redevelopment, but the idea was ditched after he lost office.
Ms Bakker is also chair of juries for the Victorian Architecture Awards, run by the Australian Institute of Architects, with winners to be announced on Friday.
Some of her favourite buildings have been short-listed for the heritage award, such as the State Library (Architectus and Schmidt Hammer Lassen), Regent Theatre and Trades Hall (both Lovell Chen).
Ms Bakker said that all three were amazing buildings of their own time, and had been lovingly restored to their former glory.
“The great thing about the library redevelopment is there’s know 40 per cent more area that’s accessible by the public,” she said.
“And the incredible Queen’s Hall reading room, which was closed for 16 years, is now open to the public for them to enjoy.”
Ms Bakker said the Regent Theatre was a Melbourne gem.
“It was neglected for 25 years and brought back to life — it’s an amazing example of some of the great heritage architecture that Melbourne has.”
Ms Bakker also likes the Shrine of Remembrance and the Melbourne GPO, which was converted into a shopping centre.
Other buildings short-listed for the heritage award include RMIT Capitol Theatre (Six Degrees), Abbotsford Convent Magdalen Laundry (Williams Boag Architects) and Sorrento House (Cera Stribley).
Ms Bakker said she felt lucky to live in a city with such a diverse range of architecture, and with strong interest in restoring heritage buildings.
“I’m a big fan of Federation Square, it’s a great space for the public,” she said.
This year’s awards were visited and judged online due to the pandemic.
MORE NEWS
GRIM SIGN COVID-19 HAS DECIMATED MELBOURNE CBD
POWERHOUSE WHO DROVE VICTORIAN RAILWAYS’ GOLDEN AGE
MELBOURNE’S MOST DANGEROUS TRAIN STATIONS REVEALED
.