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Federation Square: Postmodern Heritage
Date
2018 – 2022
Location
Melbourne
Awards
Australian Institute of Architects – Victorian Chapter – Bates Smart Award for Architecture in Media (Advocacy Award) + ArchiTeam Cooperative – Sustainability Medal
Project type
Strategy, Advice, Planning, Placemaking
THE CHALLENGE
Federation Square is Melbourne's civic heart, yet its architectural and social significance faced an uncertain future. The challenge was to secure heritage protection for a site that was less than 20 years old—making it the first twenty-first century place to be considered for the Victorian Heritage Register.
OUR APPROACH
Founding Director Dr James Lesh played a pivotal role in establishing the heritage rationale for the site:
► Technical Strategy: We provided the historical research for the Victorian Heritage Register nomination (with the National Trust) and authored the "Historical Community Response" for the Conservation Management Plan (with Lovell Chen).
► Community Advocacy: As co-founder of the "Our City Our Square" campaign, Dr Lesh mobilized the wider community to demonstrate the square's immense social value as a public gathering place.
THE OUTCOME
Federation Square was successfully included in the Victorian Heritage Register. This landmark decision not only protected the square but set a new precedent for the conservation of modern heritage in Australia.
