There doesn’t seem to be the conformity in
Melbourne that is apparent in other Australian cities. Do you think the city is enjoying
an increased confidence in its architectural
expression?
Absolutely. And we are relatively affluent.
Opportunities abound. So you would expect
creativity to flourish under such luxurious circumstances. We’ve got great design schools
and, really, everything we have is as good as
anywhere in the world. We all live on the coast
looking out to the horizon and we know what’s
behind us. From that position comes confident
expression.
The other thing about Australian creativity and
architectural culture is that we’re well traveled. And yet we choose to come back. I’m a bit
like Dorothy-I click my heels and say, “There’s
no place like home.”
Without the spectacular
topography of Sydney or
the sunny climes of Perth
or Brisbane, this southern
city has had to create its
own character and, in doing
so, has developed a healthy
self-confidence.
Melbourne’s not as geographically impressive
as Sydney, but are there still vistas that
stop you in your tracks?
COVER STORY
Flat Melbourne’s certainly not our flashy northern sister, but Sydney’s one shot. You’d photograph for a lifetime to get the essence of Melbourne. The Yarra River is really Melbourne’s
chief geographical feature, but the city is more
famous (rightly so) for its parks and gardens.
The Carlton Gardens are home to the World
Heritage-listed Royal Exhibition Building, and
behind it is the Melbourne Museum, which symbolizes for me the resurgent confidence of the
late 1990s. It is at once gray and colorful, low
and soaring.
Context 12 // 2013
On the south side of the Yarra is the Tan track,
a 2.3-mile running track that circumnavigates
the Royal Botanic Gardens. Here you can be
passed, quickly, by the likes of Olympian Cathy
Freeman while you see some great buildings,
like architect Rob [