New $1 billion public space in Melbourne’s arts precinct

Southbank will be gifted a $1 billion new arts precinct that will include an elevated park, garden and community spaces to link the NGV Contemporary, the Arts Centre and the newly built Performing Arts Museum.

18,000 square metres of public space is expected to be revamped by Australian architects, Hassell, and New York-based design firm Solid Objects Idenburg Liu (SO-IL) who have been awarded the joint contract.

Both firms have previous experience in designing cultural institutions. Hassell recently completed the revamp of the Australian Ballet’s headquarters in Melbourne and The Museum of Western Australia. In addition, the Melbourne Metro Tunnel, Sydney’s Olympic Park and the redevelopment of Geelong Performing Arts Centre were two other projects they had involvement in.

SO-IL designed the Lon University of Art’s Fashion school and had the public spaces on the banks of the Seine in Paris.

The state government project will create 10,000 jobs during construction with 260 ongoing jobs and hopes to attract an additional 3 million people to the precinct annually.

Works are already under way to create more green spaces for the community on Southbank Boulevard, outside the Southbank Theatre, Melbourne Recital Centre and ABC Melbourne.