Registrations have opened for the $1 million international design competition for Melbourne’s Flinders Street Station, with the judges appointed including MasterChef’s George Calombaris and international urban planning expert Caroline Bos.
Minister for Major Projects Denis Napthine announced the jury:
“I am delighted with the depth and range of qualifications and experience we have on this jury,” Dr Napthine said.
“I am confident they will select a winning design that will preserve what we already love about Flinders Street Station and further realise the site’s unique potential.”
The jury includes:
- Victorian Government Architect Professor Geoffrey London (jury chair)
- Renowned urban planner Professor Rob Adams
- Internationally acclaimed urban planner Caroline Bos
- Restaurateur and television presenter George Calombaris
- Lawyer with expertise in property and infrastructure John Curtis
- Award winning Melbourne-based architect Cassandra Fahey
- Heritage architecture expert Peter Lovell
- Transport expert Gillian Miles
“We have worked hard to get the right mix of jurors to cover off the key objectives of the competition: preserving the station’s heritage features; improving its transport function; integrating the station with its surrounds; and developing its underutilised areas,” Dr Napthine said.
“The jury will evaluate all entries to choose the best ideas to upgrade, restore and re-invigorate this iconic building and fully explore the opportunities the whole precinct presents.
“The Victorian Coalition Government wants to attract the best and brightest ideas from across the globe and this jury will help us do that,” Dr Napthine said.
Dr Napthine said registrations for the competition would close on August 1, while applicants could begin submitting their initial designs from August 9.
“This is an open competition and anyone who is interested can access the registration documents on Major Projects Victoria’s web site at www.mpv.vic.gov.au, ” Dr Napthine said.
“For the first stage of the competition we are calling for broad, conceptual designs. The jury will then meet in October to evaluate these submissions.
“The next stage will see shortlisted applicants develop their ideas in detail with the final submissions due midway through 2013.
Dr Napthine said the Victorian public would also have an opportunity to provide feedback on the final shortlisted designs.
“This will be in the form of a People’s Choice Award vote. The Coalition Government wants to give all Victorians a chance to have their say on the future of the station precinct,” Dr Napthine said.
“We are calling for the most creative and innovative ideas to re-imagine this iconic building and the entire precinct around it. Some of these designs may challenge us and I think we will need to have an open mind to fully appreciate the opportunities the competition presents,” Dr Napthine said.
Key competition dates:
- Registration period: Friday 29 June to Wednesday 1 August 2012.
- Stage 1 of the competition: Thursday 9 August to Thursday 20 September 2012 — followed by assessment and short listing.
- Stage 2 of the competition: Tuesday 23 April 2013 to Thursday 4 July 2013 — this stage will be preceded by technical briefings and workshops for short listed entrants.
- People’s Choice Award: After the completion of Stage 2, short listed entries will be made available for a public vote.
- The winning design, place-getters and people’s choice award will be announced later in 2013.
To register for the competition or find out more information please visit www.mpv.vic.gov.au.
