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October 14, 2004
There are so many of these kind of windswept, lifeless public spaces in our cities, which have been created by corporate modernist architecture.
ABN Amro Headquarters
Our cities are full of them. The people over Projects for Public Spaces say about modernist buildings such as these:
"The design of these buildings, like the Canary Wharf complex, is driven by fear. They are designed to be separate and apart, aloof and indifferent to the world that they have removed themselves from. It is scary to think what the people are like inside these building, what decisions they make and what impact they have on the rest of the world."
They add that we should build on what is there, rather than destroying centuries of growth and imposing something so superficial and empty in its place.
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Recently in Melbourne I visited Federation Square which, by design, seems similarly to be a space designed with a corporate sense of artifice in mind. The area of fed square is mostly concrete and lacks any features that seems welcoming to the general public such as adequate seating etc.
Yet fed square was well populated by the public, both tourists and locals. A large group of art students were using the space to draw and there was a great deal of people simply walking around or sitting on the ground enjoying the area. As a public space it is a huge success despite seeming cold and a little ugly.
Perhaps the position of the square was conductive to public gathering - by the river, just outside of the busy CBD to add relief for shoppers. In a way the squares unique design seemed to attract people. At least it attracted me. It was like standing on an art canvas and acted a bit like a blank canvas for the imagination of visitors.
It reminded me of the front of Adelaide library but more unusal more inventive. We need a bit of design daring in Adelaide. We need to move away from our anal 'pretty' aesthetic.