Melbourne's Federation Square

Chingshang *

There are some squares in the world that people simply love to circle with. Most of them do not require any further introduction. Their name stands out by itself. Most popular ones will definitely include New York's Times Square and London's Trafalgar Square.

Of course each and every country has certain sort of squares or parks that many people are acquainted with. But they are no match to Times and Trafalgar in every sense of the term even though many of the squares in the world are planned, designed and constructed with more or less similar motives.

These squares are the creation of their far sighted citizens and visionaries with distinctive features and historical lineage. They are the centre of attraction in their respective business districts and a great tourist draw contributing millions of dollars in foreign exchange. They are the most happening places and desired destinations for every international visitors and domestic tourists alike.

Talking and writing about many of the world famous landmarks are relatively easier as most of the required information input is readily available today. However getting the right information that can be filtered to arrive at locally adjustable conditions required still sort of analysis and fresh interpretation.

Most intriguing and interesting part of any landmark is the process of its creation, design, controversy, distinctiveness, sophisticatedness and of course immense popularity across the continents. This article seeks to understand one of the most striking architectural developments of recent times in the southern hemisphere which is of a great interest to many visitors and locals alike.

One of Australia's better known squares and most sought after landmark of modern times is Federation Square, colloquially, Fed Square, located in the heart of Melbourne, Victoria. Despite its relatively new existence as compared to most of the well known squares in the world, Fed Square attained its fame and notoriety in a sort span of time.

I feel understanding Federation Square of Melbourne is indeed a great lesson that can be applied anywhere in the world preferably in most of the developing countries. Even in my wildest dreams, I just could not stop emulating the finer details of Fed Square to Mapal Kangjeibung or Pologround of Imphal.

I know I am silly at the moment thinking to this scale. But we have the space that can be utilized in the near future with the right attitude to grow in a global scale. I am not writing anything about the comparison of space between Fed Square of Melbourne and Mapal Kangjeibung of Imphal at this stage. I am just making a sense of myself what I feel within.

Of course we do not have the required finances and infrastructure to bring dreams into reality as yet. That's what we have been talking and writing all about over the ages and will continue to do so as we think it is our birth right. Actually what we don't have is the right bent of mind and attitude and interest to rectify our follies and foibles.

We are more interested in the present not in the future, of course, that too not doing the best in the present. We don't have future until and unless we do our best and bring results in the present. I don't want to dig all the bad things and times that are happening in our state that everyone knows. We are good in blaming each other and of course in killing each other also lately.

I am really worried how many young people are dying in the state in the name of terrorists and underground activities in the prime of their life everyday. All the dead are young ones who are supposed to be very productive and building blocks for a great and peaceful state. Probably we may not have the right number of young manipuris in the very near future if this killing spree continues.

Everyone, government or personal thinks that they are very clever and whatever they are doing is ultimate. "There's a lot that humans do that's very clever, but ultimately it's not very intelligent" (Grigg, 1997). I know there a lot many people out there who think what the point in writing like this is. Well, sorry about that. I am wandering here and there again instead of sharing these may-be-useful information about Federation Square of Melbourne.

I don't know why I am interested in writing about this place because a lot of information is already in place and on records everywhere. But still I feel this Square gives always space for a fresh perspective. Almost everyday I passed in front of this square on the way to Uni and I find its color changes every moment. I feel the heart beat of Melbourne lies in Federation Square. It has certain features that one can not simply overlook at.

A lively scene at Federation Square

Federation Square is one the most visited cultural precinct and unique happening civic place of international repute of Melbourne. Not less that 40 million people from all over the world have visited this place and still counting since its modest opening on 26 October 2002.

Originally it was planned to open on 1 January 2001 as a part of the celebration of centenary of Australian Federation. Federation Square itself can be considered as a unique urban block which can be accessed from all directions located on the right bank of Yarra river.

Historic Princess bridge across Yarra river in front of Federation Square connects Southbank and South Melbourne. Federation Square is located directly opposite to two another Melbourne landmarks, Flinders street railway station and St. Paul's Cathedral. In fact a major portion of this square is built on top of the concrete deck of the busy flinders street rail lines.

Number of rail lines pass through beneath Federation Square giving it a unique architectural marvel. It has a very distinctive and striking architectural feature popularly addressed as "Labyrinth" which is a passive cooling system formed by a concrete structure that consists of 1.2 km of interlocking, honeycombed walls. It covers 160 m2. The walls have a zig-zag formation to maximize their surface area, and are spaced 60 cm apart.

This provides a natural ventilation system beneath the square and neutralizes the summer and winter temperatures. Not less than $ 440 million publicly funded money was spent on the construction of this square. Federation Square consists of a series of buildings. Some of the most prominent buildings in the square consist of NGV Australia (National Gallery of Victoria), ACMI (Australian Centre for the Moving Image), BMW amphitheatre, Australian Racing Museum and Hall of Fame, National Design Centre, Melbourne Visitor centre and SBS broadcasting centre.

The square also housed a number of restaurants, bars, shops and cafes. There are more than 15 restaurants in the square catering to a variety of tastebuds. Mention can be made of Funkfish and Transport Bar and restaurant which are quite popular to visitors. The complex of buildings forms almost a rough U-shape around the main open-air squares with a slight orientation towards the west.

The building on the western edge of the square is fixed with a large broadcasting screen beaming news, cultural and sporting events continuously. The eastern end of the square is formed by the glazed walls of The Atrium. The paving on the main square is done with using more that 470,000 ochre coloured sandstone blocks giving a distinctive image resembling a typical Australian Outback setting. The paving of the blocks gently rises from the street level in an undulating manner and it also contains a number of textual blocks inlaid in the pavement itself providing a unique design on its own.

A lively scene at Federation Square

There are few aspects of Federation Square which really enthused me in knowing during the process of its construction. Federation Square is not completely scathed from its share of controversy. It took almost eight years to complete to arrive its present form. The major controversy that surrounds during its construction was its striking architecture and huge cost involving public money.

Even there was a change of government during the construction period. Its unique architectural design was selected after commissioning an international design competition held in 1997 that received 177 entries. The winning design entry of Don Bates and Peter Davidson of Lab Architecture Studio was a centre of great controversy in its initial phase between the pro design community and the cultural heritage advocates.

The original design was consisting of several five storey buildings that can potentially obstruct the heritage vista of the existing St.Paul's cathedral. The controversy continued for quite some time until its compromised version of a single storey spread as of now. Federation square was opened to public almost one year later than was originally planned. Construction of such a large project involving number of logistical problems including building above railway lines without disrupting the rail travel was indeed an enormous task on the part of the builders.

However the controversy that marred during the construction phase of Federation Square was short lived since its opening to public. The square has proved to be the most popular place for all kinds of rallies, performances, cultural gatherings, celebrations and just 'hanging out'. It is the most convenient one stop shop for all the visitors to Victoria and Australia. It is estimated that not less than 2000 events of various hues and colours are hosted each year in the Square.

Even the recent Deepawali celebration by Indian communities of Victoria at Federation Square was a great fanfare for the multicultural crowd of Melbourne. Weekends are the most happening days in the Square. An exciting array of events and exhibitions are synonymous with weekends at Federation Square. Sometimes I feel that all the people of Melbourne gathered here for no reason.

Today, Federation Square stands as a 'must see' destination for every visitor to Victoria. I know you must be still wondering why Federation Square is so great about. To line up in few words, I must not reluctant to say that there is no other place in Melbourne which can be so easily approachable as Federation Square whether travelling on foot, by rail, bike, car, tram, or any other means.

It operates around the clock with security and cleaning staff present 24 hours, meaning it is a safe and secure place for all occasions. It is one of the best places to have a glimpse of the best of Melbourne at one go as major institutional landmarks of Victoria are located here. It's striking and eye catching architecture is definitely one of the greatest highlights for every visitor here.

There is one hour guided tour facility of Federation Square which provides a nutshell about the striking architecture, major phases in the project development and main attractions in the Square. Indeed, Federation Square is the ultimate one stop shop from which any visitors begin their exploration of all that Melbourne has to offer.

Apart from the factual information discussed so far what I was really interested in knowing was that Federation Square came out as one of the most significant architectural developments in the history of Melbourne and Australia given its time, amount and share of controversy for a public space.

Any well thought out project with a determined focus for a solid purpose can be executed in spite of all hurdles and developmental bottlenecks is what Federation Square dare to convey today. This is something that any struggling governmental machinery elsewhere should believe.

Everything may not be impossible provided the vision of the mission is sustained to its ultimate clarity which is somewhat missing in many of the developing economies. Today Federation Square always invokes a sense of pride and completeness in the face of every Melburnians which I just could not stop admiring.

It makes me think time and again that we all like good things in life but we meshed up somewhere knowingly or unknowingly before attaining its share of perseverance to perfection. More details of Federation Square are available in their dedicated site.



Check out the photo gallery on this report here.

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* Chingshang, a Graduate student at University of Melbourne, contributes regularly to e-pao.net. The writer can be contacted at rockm(at)rediffmail(dot)com . This article was webcasted on December 21st 2008.

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