Woods Bagot Projects
Adaptive Reuse

Moving Melbourne

Pivotal, once in a generation infrastructure development relieves and revitalise Melbourne’s CBD corridor

Melbourne Metro

RailUnbuilt

AU

Woods Bagot, together with COX, were lead architects on the $12  billion Melbourne Metro bid with CPB Contractors, Ghella and Salini Impregilo consortium. The project comprised of:

  • A new twin tunnel 9km underground rail line to relieve capacity constrained existing rail network to carry up to 39,000 customers in morning peak;
  • Five new stations located at Arden, Parkville, CBD North, CBD South & Domain;
  • Integrated Station Development, corridor public domain, Station infrastructure and ancillary buildings.
Project details

The design team were located to project bid office located within the same building as CPB offices in Melbourne. Each station had complex and challenging landscapes in which to design; historic landmarks at CBD South, complex existing underground infrastructure at CBD North, sentimental and political drivers at Domain, hospital and university sensitivities in Parkville and the free rein of a blank canvas at Arden. The stations needed to sit together with a strong line wide identity, being recognisable as a Melbourne Metro entity but still be symbolic of their individual precinct. This uniformity was achieved through a strong use of materials and concept at platform level with each station entrance in addition to signage and wayfinding. Each station exhibited its individual character through a sculptural entrance, a concept derived from the strong artistic character of Melbourne. These sculptural pieces were symbolic of each precinct and their surrounds creating a functional artwork for both the metro users and all Melburnians to enjoy.

Location
Melbourne, Australia
Client
Victorian Government
Competition Date
2017
Collaborators
Cox
CPB Contractors

Melbourne Metro is a unique opportunity to reposition one of the world’s most liveable cities with a state of the art Metro system unique to Melbourne’s raw and refined creative culture

Neil Hill, W-B Regional Transport Leader (Rail) – Australia and New Zealand

Architectural Model Flythrough Video

Flythrough Video

The Domain Station is respectful with a sensitive architectural solution designed for a location that is critical to Melbourne’s identity and civic memory – the juncture of parkland, history, memorialising, arts and sports.

 

Bronze details in the station’s interior finishes are a civic reminder of the in the precinct’s bronze monuments, statues and memorials.

The CBD North Station design coalesces the vibrant diversity of its precinct to form a connected network of surface and sub-surface places for Melbourne.

 

Inserting this station into the CBD North urban realm creates a significant shift in movement patterns in this high density urban environment. The design solution draws upon the adjacent heritage buildings resulting in a modern but integrated solution for the customer journey.

Arden Station’s design narrative draws extensively on the precinct’s geographical and historical evolution to express an architectural and urban design response which is functional, imaginative and inspiring.

 

The new station has been conceived as a catalyst to drive the transformation of this emerging inner-city area, serving to complement the anticipated Arden Macaulay urban renewal project. The station is recognisable, providing a landmark for current users and the precinct to come but allows flexibility for adjacent development.

Competition Video

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