Trains diverted around fire (http://theage.com.au/news/National/Trains-diverted-around-fire/2004/11/03/1099362182414.html)
The Age (www.theage.com.au)
By Marc Moncrief
3 November 2004 10:02AM

Fire broke out in a cinema on the fourth floor of the Melbourne Central shopping complex in the heart of the city this morning.

Metropolitan Fire Brigade commander Peter Doyle said the fire began in an electrical switchboard at about 5am this morning.

"There's considerable smoke, heat and water damage, mainly to the cinema, and water damage to the lower floors," commander Doyle said.

The cinema is under construction in the Melbourne Central complex.

It has not yet been leased to any cinema company and is managed by the Lend Lease Corporation, Mr Doyle said. A Lend Lease representative was not immediately available for comment.

There were no injuries reported at the site.

Train operator Connex said services were bypassing Melbourne Central Station because of the fire. It is not known for how long the station will be closed.

A Connex spokeswoman said there was "no damage at all" to the train line, and scheduled stops at other stations would not be affected.

She said the trains had not been rerouted, but were simply passing by the station at the request of the fire brigade.

Hot buttered popcorn anyone?

fucking both my train stations caught fire. Normally I go from glenhuntly to melbourne central. Both have had fires. At least the trains are still running from them.

Yeah, i go to Glenhuntly too! got in there wednsday (4 day weekend w00t) and, hmm doors are closed. oh well, as long as it don't rain too much in the mornings, untill they get the place back up, its all good, also a new interior would be fantastic/

wah...i love the 300 Lonsdale Street.Here is my contribution to u guys.I've taken some photos of MC's interior yo.Wanted to take the Latrobe building but was closed due to the damage.Enjoy the photos;)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v191/Lovejesse/PB040010.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v191/Lovejesse/PB040011.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v191/Lovejesse/PB040012.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v191/Lovejesse/PB040013.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v191/Lovejesse/PB040016.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v191/Lovejesse/PB040017.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v191/Lovejesse/PB040018.jpg

Here's the exterior:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v191/Lovejesse/PB040020.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v191/Lovejesse/PB040021.jpg

http://www.melbournecentral.com.au/llretail/melbournecentral/main.nsf/images/content_ab_centre.jpg/$file/content_ab_centre.jpg

The Piazza & Shot Tower

Take in the grandeur of the historic Shot Tower and marvel at the architecture of the iconic Melbourne Central cone on the newly created Piazza in the LaTrobe St building.

The Piazza features links to Swanston St via the reactivated Knox Place and the convenient Queen Elizabeth Walk. Both laneways will offer a convenient mix of stores aimed at the CBD worker and student markets.

When completed, The Piazza will be home to a number of exciting stores, including the Metropolitan Museum or Arts Shop, Body Map Australia and the unique Shot Tower Museum, opening in late 2004.

Menzies Alley

Tucked behind the Melbourne Central Office Tower, a new al fresco laneway dining destination has arrived. Menzies Alley caters to everything from a quick bite to a leisurely lunch or dinner, to the ultimate dessert experience.

Menzies Place

Named after the famous Melbourne hotelier Archibald Menzies who opened his first hotel on the site in the 1800's, Menzies Place is a unique precinct linking Melbourne Central to the adjacent Office Tower.

Menzies Place is an architectural marvel, reflecting the evolution of design within the Melbourne CBD in a unique and contemporary fashion.

Menzies Place offers a shopping experience that indulges the senses, whether you're pampering yourself at Dusk, Perfect Potion and Ella Bache or looking for that unique gift at kikki K or Canterbury Lace.

Central Concourse

Central Concourse caters to the many and varied lifestyle needs of local residents, city workers, students and tourists. Incorporating a subterranean mall that links the Melbourne Central train station to Lonsdale St, Central Concourse has been designed to reflect the sense of excitement the city offers.

Conveniently located next to Melbourne Central Station, the Fresh Food Hall caters to the time-poor CBD commuter market with a convenient food offer anchored by Coles Central. Whether it's top up grocery shopping, a gourmet meal on the run or ingredients for that perfect dinner party, the Fresh Food Hall caters to all your needs.

The Concourse retail strip is filled with an eclectic mix of stores, aimed at satisfying the everyday needs of the CBD market.

Central Walk

The striking architecture of Central Walk is home to some of Melbourne's most cutting edge streetwear and urban fashion retailers. With Melbourne's first G-Star, Carhartt and Tommy Hilfiger backed up by Industrie and General Pants Co, the LaTrobe St building offers the fashion-conscious Melbourne shopper the latest in local and international style.

Moving through into the Lonsdale St building, the trend continues with further stores for the fashion purist, including Australia's first Billabong concept store, Youthworks, Sabi, RDX, Dangerfield, Lorna Jane, Grab and Rogues.

Central One

Central One showcases the best in retail with a wide range of exciting new stores across two city blocks.

Explore the latest in contemporary fashion amongst the cutting-edge design of the Lonsdale St building. With names including Witchery, DL, Cue, Midas, Marcs, Sportscraft, Armani Exchange and Pilgrim, Central One is a fashion mecca!

The LaTrobe St building is home to the CBD's first Borders Bookstore, offering the broadest range of books, CD's and DVD's. Whilst you're browsing, relax and enjoy a coffee at Gloria Jeans, conveniently situated within Borders! Central One is also home to a great range of homewares, featuring the modern Asian designs of Bayswiss and the soft furnishings and bed linen at Adairs.

Central Two

Reflected in the rich and contemporary finishings, Central Two is home to some of Melbourne's most unique and innovative retail outlets.

Take the time to browse the latest in international fashion and unique local designers in the sumptuously appointed Lonsdale St building. Your senses (and wallet) will be indulged with a visit to Peter Alexander, Calibre, Morrissey, Oroton, Seduce, Satch, Saba, Batsanis, Zux, Sintra, Hannii, Veronika Maine and Dom Bagnato.
When you have sated your fashion appetite, have a bite to eat at Food on 2, offering a wide range of international food options including Japanese, Chinese, Italian and Lebanese.

Reflecting the growing needs of the CBD dweller, Central Two is home to Freedom Furniture's newest superstore, offering an enormous range of contemporary home styling solutions.

They certainly haven't had any trouble leasing out the new shops in this centre. With the new Melbourne Central, QV and the GPO the Melbourne CBD has cemented it's position as Australia's largest and best shopping precinct.

You guys should have a look at the Galleria too (sorry, no camera, so no pics yet). They have started to open up the Elizabeth St facade and the new Commonwealth Bank is now open on the corner of Bourke & Elizabeth Sts.

and one of the new complex taking shape, ahh Republic Tower!!!

http://silvermb.thehoddlegrid.net/mcr200411.jpg

They certainly haven't had any trouble leasing out the new shops in this centre. With the new Melbourne Central, QV and the GPO the Melbourne CBD has cemented it's position as Australia's largest and best shopping precinct.

But do you think that all these hundreds of new shops will have enough business to keep open and how will it effect Myer and DJs?

I am certain most of these new stores int eh CBD will survive, and I hope that Myer loses out and realises that it needs to shut the city store and start again. Its a dump and very 1980s. It needs a total refurbishment now! Its Australia's largest Department Store and the Myer Flagship Store and look at it!

shut the city store? have u seen the people who go thru there!? definately in need of a re-fit but closing the store is unrealistic.

Just do the same thing as MC, a staggered refit, where only part of the store is closed at a time. Seriously needs to be done anyhow.

They could stage the shut down if they start with one building (Lonsdale St or Bourke St) and down size some departments (e.g. major electrical such as tv, vide, washing machines etc. and furniture could be referred to Megamart) for a few years.

The new Virgin Superstore opened at Myer Lonsdale Street is a good step, that area has potential.

I agree, the Myer Bourke St store is in an atrocious state. This topic has been the subject of previous discussion in a separate thread: check it out. (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=110191)

I've been a bit slack on this forum of late. And this post won't up for any of that.

Here's a pic I took with my phone (hence it's crap quality) a couple of days ago.

http://homepage.mac.com/jbadcock/Melbourne/misc/melb_central_nov04.jpg

they should just leave it like this...

http://members.optusnet.com.au/~wadad/mypic254.jpg
http://members.optusnet.com.au/~wadad/mypic253.jpg

Your point being...?

deconstructivist... melbourne needs more of it

More like constructionist. ;)

Good pics BTW. :okay:

I go to the foodcourt there maybe once or twice a week (mainly to check out progress - honestly). It's a crappy food court, but what will actually be above it? Is that part of the cinema?

I like what they've done from Myer, love the natural light but under the cone is still a shambles IMHO. Still, I'll wait and see once it's done.

Though I still wished they'd connected MC and QV underground, but anyway, bit late now!

It's a crappy food court

ive been sick once :runaway:

don don is is the bomb

The cinemas are being built above the old food court.

The cinemas are being built above the old food court.

I thought so, but I wasn't sure. Thanks :)

ive been sick once :runaway:

don don is is the bomb

I wonder if it's the same don don as the one on Oxford St in Sydney - I loooooooooooooove it! Chicken Katsu Don MMMMMMMMMMMMMMM! :carrot:

Ummmmmm Teriyaki Don.

And Don 2, up near the Vic Uni law school on Eliz St.

If you haven't seen the corner of Swanston & La Trobe Streets in recent weeks, then your in for a wonderful shock!

^ I like the look I think that it will age really nicely.


hmmmmm t*mber

indeed, i drove through there yesterday and it was a case of WTF!
At a glance I'd say great. Need to go back for a longer look. My only worry is, as with most current projects, is the potential to date too quickly.
Otherwise spfferoonee!!

Pics puhlease! Sounds spiffy.

Stu

Melbourne hasn't seen anything quite like this...Lord I wish i had a digicam.

Blue

Melbourne Central outside as of Friday :)

http://homepage.mac.com/jbadcock/Melbourne/misc/melb_central_dec04.jpg

http://homepage.mac.com/jbadcock/Melbourne/misc/melb_central_la-trobe.jpg

my my my, that is impressive. it'll age fast for sure, but it looks good for the moment.

nice. Shame the swanston st side obscures the cone.

Carter Tucker House, Breamlea, Victoria
Sean Godsell Architects, Melbourne:

http://img.slate.msn.com/media/1/123125/2079215/2093179/2103146/04_EX_CarterTuckerHouse.jpg

Talk about polishing a turd on LaTrobe St though. WTF are those big painted circles anyway?

Those renders looked far better. But i do kinda like the whole wooden look on the corner. Has much better corner definition IMO.

looks sweet, imagine that in say 2 years when it lookes a bit aged, will be awsome.

1 January 2005 (New Years Day):

http://users.bigpond.net.au/ozfrog/pics/melbourne/nye2004/MLNA0008.jpg

http://users.bigpond.net.au/ozfrog/pics/melbourne/nye2004/MLNA0009.jpg

All this talk of gold glass around town - now there's more! Saw some being added to the Swanston Street side facade underneath the wood panelling. The end result should be interesting.

why couldnt they have made melb central 300m! what a waste

Centre at final stage (http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,12568881%255E2862,00.html)
Herald Sun (www.heraldsun.com.au)
Geraldine Mitchell
17 March 2005

THE final stage of Melbourne Central's $200 million redevelopment has begun.

The entertainment precinct featuring restaurants, bars, a cinema, bowling alley and gym is the last stage of the two-year redevelopment and is expected to be completed by August.

Some of Melbourne's most famous restaurateurs and bar owners have committed to the precinct on level three of the complex, known as On3.

Paul Mathis, owner of Federation Square's Transport and Soul Mama at St Kilda, will open another vegetarian restaurant, while Jamie Nasser, who owns the Toorak Lion, will open a traditional English-style tavern. Russell Hammod, from the Hush bar, has plans for a cigar and cocktail bar with tapas.

Melbourne Central project leasing manager Robert Dicintio said the complex aimed to attract students, commuters, tourists and office workers.

"This is a precinct very much looking at the sophisticated market," he said.

where did this come from!!!!! i totally missed this thread when is it due for complet

when it stops catching fire.

^

Yep this was the Latrobe street side a few weeks ago! They have taken all the wood off the side and it needs to be replaced.

http://members.optusnet.com.au/lukekasper/melbcen1.jpg

when it stops catching fire.LOL

Wood is such a stupid idea. They'll need to be replacing it all the time. Fires, water damage, fading. IMO it looks damned ugly too, like an old basketball court hoisted up on its side.

I disagree. You wont get water damage because it would have been treated.
It may fade a bit, but thats fine - it adds to the character.

And how many fires do you think they're gonna get?

there was a fire?

yep. Two within a cpl of months or so. plus, and I was almost tempted to post this after I saw it but about 10 days ago when I was driving down Latrobe St in the afternoon there were no leass that 5 fire trucks outside parked next to it. I shit you not. I thought "oh no not again" but didn't hear anything about a third fire. maybe it was practice for the next one. 8)

Gold glass now mostly installed along La Trobe St. Very very shiny in the afternoon, shines a LOT of gold onto the tramstop outside of Hungry Jacks in La Trobe. Have a crap photo on phone, will post.

Looks kinda fake/cheap, like dark tinting on cars, but gold....which it probably is!

pictures?

http://img50.exs.cx/img50/9899/picture160jt.jpg

Shocking qual, sry
looks clearer small:

http://img125.exs.cx/img125/5168/small4sn.jpg

That's OK, can't expect much form most camera phones. The glass looks like it's good though, the gold hue matches nicely the wooden panel detailing IMHO.

Stu

http://members.optusnet.com.au/lukekasper/melbcen1.jpg

Solid gold! That's full on, fully sick as Thorpe would say.

Ohhhh looking great! will Eurekas be the same? or somehow better? (thats hard to beat)

I was walking down Swanston St today when I noticed (as Aussie Steve mentioned) that the bubble bridge was under construction. Didn't have my camera on me, but I took this pretty dodgy pic on my phone.
http://users.bigpond.net.au/dasa/ssc/mc.jpg

Good work Arunava !!!

I've been dying to see what it actually is gonna look like.
It's looking good. I love all these quirky little things going on in Melbourne's various developments at the moment.

I have come to the conclusion that the work done at the podium of the Office Tower has ruined the development. I also do not like hte facade treatment on La Trobe Street. It looks very cheap.

I agree, what the have done to the glass canopy at the base of the tower is pretty piss poor, nothing like the renders which looked pretty cool. I think this is a project which was a good first proposal but has got worse and worse during the design and construction process. They really should have left it the way it was instead of doing a half arsed effort.

Some realtively minor changed, like active frontages to Latrobe Street and the laneways and a changed layout around Museum Station would have been enough. Inside it was a shrine to the excesses of the late 80's boom, they should have done only minor changes to improve circulation.

The cafe lined laneways that are now around the base of the tower are very cool and crowded during the day. I can tell you that the atmosphere around the tower is fantastic.

BigVman i disagree, Although the tower area is alot busier now because of the redirection to the station you cant really walk around at ease because you feel like you are standing in the throughfare of people trying to get to the station. I feel that although the complex was a monstrocity to begin with it still had a grandness about it and the shot tower up the middle made it unique. Its not very 'melbourne' but lets face it..tourists loved it, everything in the city cant be about laneways and cafes - you need a variety. All the place needed was just a major facelift and opening up of the street fronts, but what they have done with adding another ground level has destroyed any grandness the space ever had and taken away all the focus of the tower which is what that place is all about. When i look at it now all i can see is that they've tried to cram as much retail space as possible to maximise their profits and have not even given a thought of what the finished product will look like and nor do they care. The only positive i see coming out of this whole development is the bubble bridge (which i'm sure they'll manage to stuff up as well some how) and is sitting in a lifeless part of a laneway that was destroyed when the development was first built anyway - too little too late.

i agree with pixaus and grollo on that...melb central isn't a shade of its former self. But the opening up of the laneways on the perimeter has been quite good. But as Grollo said, the bastardisation of the grand glass canopy on elizabeth street is just heartbreaking. i wonder what kisho kurokawa thinks of all this...

Does anyone have any pictures of the new Elizabeth Street entrance completed? I only remember how it was when the complex first opened.

Does anyone have any pictures of the new Elizabeth Street entrance completed? I only remember how it was when the complex first opened.
Lucky for you!

Good God! Is it that bad?

sorry if i've missed something, but is all of the outside of MC being renovated? and does anyone have the floor plan or a birds eye view? this will be added to my diagram.
cheers.

well here it is with Eureka. i never noticed how werid the facade is :uh:
anyway, is that dark enough? or do you guys want it completely black?
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y260/sC_apache/MCEFacade.jpg

not dark enough. the glass is black/very dark grey. plain and simple. the glass is not blue at all. sometimes it looks blue because it sometimes reflects the sky, in which case it will look a light blue, but the glass is still black. i'm looking out my window and i swear it's black. the glass doesn't have a tinge of blue to it at all.

This should help:
http://www.kisho.co.jp/WorksAndProjects/Works/melbourne/62.jpg

http://img41.echo.cx/img41/7250/dsc000699al.jpg

http://img41.echo.cx/img41/4125/dsc000700xv.jpg

http://img41.echo.cx/img41/4638/dsc000714gq.jpg

http://img41.echo.cx/img41/5682/dsc000730zu.jpg

http://img41.echo.cx/img41/1452/dsc000746mc.jpg

http://img41.echo.cx/img41/5825/dsc000758ua.jpg

http://img41.echo.cx/img41/9251/dsc000769av.jpg

http://img41.echo.cx/img41/9751/dsc000783wd.jpg

:D thanks guys! i'll finish it tonight

Steve - Thanks for posting those pics of the re-developed entrance ways. I'm not really sure what to think of it?? The base of the tower looked better as it was but regardless the entire complex certainly isn't boring. Its downright bizzare all round - at all corners. Must be plenty more stores at Melbourne Central with Diamaru gone.

Now what I want to see when I'm down next is the view under the cone. Can't believe the clock is gone. The hot air baloon thingy is best gone though.

The clock is still there, but it is not nearly as prominent as it used to be.

the clock doesn't chime waltzing matilda anymore either...
how crap does the elizabeth street redevelopment look? and that latrobe street side better open up damn good when the cinemas open - because at the moment, it's as dead as a roast duck hanging in front of a chinatown restaurant.

the clock doesn't chime waltzing matilda anymore either...

Yes it does. I was there on Saturday and it was loud and clear :(

Cool pics Aussie Steve, me also not liking the appearance of the new facade there. As already mentioned, circulation needed to be improved and maybe some tidying up, but the new look of those entrances looks quite terrible unfortunately.

As for the rest of the centre, I myself am happy with the changes, aside from the loss of the huge space around the shot tower- although I can see that it would be hard to make retail space on the upper levels around such a huge space work effectively.

As for the whole project, what is there left to do?

I think the works done inside the building are fantastic. I am just dissapointed with the La Trobe Street facade and the clutter under the "great space" entrance to the office tower on Elizabeth St. I think it should have remained wide open with a small cafe/bar built under it clear of the roof itself.

For my tuppence worth, i am rather disappointed with the results. When Daimaru was there it made for a brilliant and different shopping experience. Now (I visited over Easter) the lower levels especially seem very dim, like the food court, and more like one of those underground malls that are connected to train stations etc (which i guess it is?)

yeah, it's a POS compared to QV.

MC only lasted 10 or so years in its previous state, maybe in another 10 they might actually get it right - 10 years is plenty of time for a new property trust to takeover and potentially get a SMRTCITECT (:D) to do something truly weird and wonderful as opposed to the truly woeful attempt at something weird and wonderful in this reno cycle.

and to think who's responsible for this...ARM?! how could they get it soooo wrong?!

and to think who's responsible for this...ARM?! how could they get it soooo wrong?!
They were compromised, remember.
Cost cutting reared its ugly head!
Having said that, I don't think it's all that bad. :)

old school melbourne central :)
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y260/sC_apache/MC.bmp

Anyone know if work's started on the new cinemas yet?

I also heard a bowling alley has opened at Melb Central. True?

The cinemas should be ready by the end of the year, as should everything else like the bars, gym etc. Oh by the way, the bubble bridge is moving alone quite well.

There's a strike across the road at QV..I don't think theres anything at MC itself.

This may sound a little fruity but I'm disappointed they couldn't build the old school flower print box on the corner of Elizabeth and LaTrobe, where the 7 eleven is.

I also heard a bowling alley has opened at Melb Central. True?A couple of links referring to a Kingpin bowling alley being built at MC:

http://tol.aaatourism.com.au/attdetails.asp?sit=2&sid=VIC&rid=-1&aid=2&pid=%7B978A4116-7F6E-4498-BAF1-568651538525%7D

http://www.gpt.com.au/gpt/main.nsf/all/newsgpt_20021120

Thnaks. All the city need now is an iceskating rink. And for Toys R Us to return.

Well that second article metions kingpin on the 3rd level with Hoyts - so it could be for real given that's still not open yet. I haven't been in town for 6 weeks, any update on how close it LOOKS like till opening that area?

I went to this shopping centre while I was in Melbourne over the weekend. And a nice one it is! Took the photo below, I like the facade, makes for an interesting streetscape.

http://photos23.flickr.com/25669544_c01be978a1_b.jpg

Wow, nice pic fro.

Expect the Bourke St cinema district to be broken up when Hoyts opens. Pretty deadsville there @ most times anyway. Shame coz it's the tradtional movie area, but ya know....

Yeah good pic.

You can't see any of the new works, but thought people might like anyway. From Sunday (QV, Sensis building)

http://homepage.mac.com/jbadcock/Melbourne/misc/P1000614.jpg

MC's got a news ticker thing now, just below the gold windows.

Yes, the news ticker was being tested late last week. It looks great.

I'll finally get to see the new MC when I move back to Melb next week. Very exciting. So long boring Auckland.

I'll finally get to see the new MC when I move back to Melb next week. Very exciting. So long boring Auckland.

You missed MC when it caught fire then... in the pic above the right hand side where the diagonal split is there was massive fire damage and they had to shut down the shopping centre, also I think it was the second time they had a fire during construction. Oh hey has Auckland started using our crappy old hitachi trains yet? If Auckland still has that crappy subway that has no loop and trains have to back out of these trains would suit it... everything looks so 80s there!! By the way I reckon there's going to be far more than just MC you should look forward to seeing when you get back!!!

Auckland's rail network runs on diesel and is operating Perth's old trains from before the Perth network got electrified. And the crappy underground section you speak of is basically brand new. :)

As for the Hitachis, most of them are in storage either waiting to be scrapped or sold. Saw one sitting on the edge of the Hume Highway on the way to Sydney a few months ago.

If Auckland still has that crappy subway that has no loop and trains have to back out of these trains would suit it... everything looks so 80s there!! By the way I reckon there's going to be far more than just MC you should look forward to seeing when you get back!!!Don't get me started on Auckland. It has no train network at all essentially. Buses rarely run either.

Far worse than public transport here though is the city itself. It's a town planning disaster with swathes of freeways running every which way thru it.

And yeah, lots for me to see when I get back. GPO refurbishment, MC, QV1 , SSX and last but not least Southbank and Eureka. :)

It'll be funny seeing Freshwater Place. When I left it was still an ice skating rink.

The docks are coming along nicely too.

Wow, nice pic fro.

Expect the Bourke St cinema district to be broken up when Hoyts opens. Pretty deadsville there @ most times anyway. Shame coz it's the tradtional movie area, but ya know....

That whole area needs revitalisation. Close down the amusement precinct and drive the junkies out and maybe some street beautification works.

Auckland's rail network runs on diesel and is operating Perth's old trains from before the Perth network got electrified. And the crappy underground section you speak of is basically brand new. :)

As for the Hitachis, most of them are in storage either waiting to be scrapped or sold. Saw one sitting on the edge of the Hume Highway on the way to Sydney a few months ago.

Saw that one as well. I think it was bought by a farmer who put it on his property to use as storage

The bubble bridge is getting there. It's got some cool pink and green neon lights too, but they only get switched on when I haven't got a camera on me :(

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v474/mugley/bubble01.jpg

Saw the new Melbourne Central on the weekend. It is a real mich-mash of styles inside. And outside too - the La Trobe st frontage is a mess. And what's with the concrete floors on the shopping levels? It looks like they're not actually going to tile them...? I don't know if it is supposed to look 'industrial' or minimalist or stylish, but it just looks cr@p and cheap.

This refurb gets the big thumbs down from me.

Wow, so much has changed since last I saw it.

I hate the Swedish hardwood floor style facarde on the Swanston St frontage. It's very 70s and clashes horribly with oh, everything else on the street. And the bubble bridge looks like something out of a bad 60s Science Fiction movie.

OK, bitching over, I'll save full judgement until I can take a proper tour.

Yeh, i'm not too happy with the buble bridge either. Its not as good as the renderings :(

I love how they've tried to mimic Melbourne's lanes though.

The bubble bridge isn't finished yet is it? Because it looks nothing like the renders. But then again neither does the facade on the corner of Elizabeth and LaTrobe. Wtf is Flip and whats it got to do with anything? It reminds me of all those floating words you come across in the Spring City Zone in Sonic the Hedgehog 1 on Mega Drive. I liked the old floral wallpaper box design.

http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/9435/melbcentral2ls.png (http://imageshack.us)
http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/8421/melbcentral21on.png (http://imageshack.us)

IMO they should have got rid of the messy space frame structure and started from scratch. No part of the new entrance does justice to the skyscraper. It's like a wart on a beautiful face. A try hard wart.

The bubble bridge isn't finished yet is it? Because it looks nothing like the renders. But then again neither does the facade on the corner of Elizabeth and LaTrobe. Wtf is Flip and whats it got to do with anything? It reminds me of all those floating words you come across in the Spring City Zone in Sonic the Hedgehog 1 on Mega Drive. I liked the old floral wallpaper box design.


I was going to ask that too - what the heck is FLIP? That Elizabeth St corner is just butt-ugly.

Cinema explosion has city on edge

By Simon Kidd
From Melbourne Times

Melbourne’s city cinema market is poised for a profound shake-up with the opening of a suburban-style multiplex predicted to threaten the viability of its competitors.
Hoyts will next month launch its $10-million cinema centre at Melbourne Central shopping centre.
The 11-screen complex, featuring state-of-the-art sound, projection and seating, will be the CBD’s biggest.
Hoyts spokesman Mark Callanan said the new complex would be a significant competitor to Crown’s 14-cinema complex, and bring more movie-goers back to the city.
Originally scheduled to begin screenings last year, the opening was set back by a fire last November.
The wait would be worth it, Mr Callanan said, with patrons to receive “second-to-none facilities that haven’t been seen in cinemas”.
The new movie theatres, amid the shops and eateries of a renovated Melbourne Central, follow the suburban trend of offering cinema-goers an entertainment and lifestyle experience, rather than just screening movies.
“We need to be where the people are”, Mr Callanan said. “Bourke Street is where the people aren’t”.
Neither of Hoyts’ main city competitors, Village and Greater Union, responded to requests for comment.
However, RMIT cinema senior lecturer Deb Verhoeven said that the two competitors could struggle.
They may have to consider upgrading or abandoning the city.
With cinema attendances 14 percent down on last year, on top an exodus of city audiences, the move appeared a calculated risk to win the lion’s share of the city cinema market. In particular, the new venture could be aimed at capitalizing on the city centre’s residential boom.
Mark Sarfaty, head of Dendy cinemas, owners of Kino, questioned the need for a further 11 screens in the city.
In 2003, the competition watchdog barred Greater Union joining Hoyts at Melbourne Central – a venture that could have seen Greater Union close its Russell Street centre. But the “mystifying” decision guaranteed many more screens, and Mr Safaty was concerned that Hoyts or its mainstream competitors could branch out into traditional arthouse territory.
Hoyts’ Mark Callanan said the company would not immediately move to close its Bourke Street Cinema Centre. The huge capacity theatres suited “big burn-up’ movies, and Hoyts would experiment.
It would review operations at its former flagship within 12 months.
Drapac Properties bought the Bourke Street building from Hoyts last year for around $14 million, amid rumours it could become a bulk goods retail space.

i heard the cinemas open 9 sept

Bourke & Russell Streets will continue to decline for as long as that part of Bourke street remains a street that everyone walks past to get from Parliament station & Bourke Street mall.

it has shitloads of foot traffic going through it but hardly any stopping / sitting in it apart from the smokers & tryhard latte set outside RMIT Business, Delifrance, Gloria Jeans & MCC employees (old CBA building).

make it part of the fucking mall for crying out loud!

^^
I hate the mall, sooo 1970's, what is the purpose.....

Whatever your preference, one thing's for sure, successive city councils have sat on their behinds and done sweet FA to improve things over the last 20 years. Occasionally they'll do something ill-conceived, like demolish an entire block of buildings for a city square, or suggest something stupid, like roofing over the mall. Mostly though they do nothing. It's apathetic central. Where is the vision So and co?

As things remain Swanston St is a claytons st and Bourke St Mall is a claytons mall, thanks to the trams. Swanston is improving, but with no traffic along it it's still not right. In fact it's really a joke.

Here's a proposal. Let's lose the trams on the mall. Then let's lose them right up to Russell St as well, so we can extend the mall to Russell. This idea gets brought up from time to time. Let's stop talking about it and do it. Who cares if it means people have to get off a tram and walk further. Exercise is good for you. Next, let's lose trams on Swanston St between Collins and Bourke. Whallah, we have a spacious T-shaped pedestrian-friendly mall. I'd then restore traffic to the remainder of Swanston. Yes it would mean people travelling to Uni along Swanston would have to alight and board another tram. But I think this would be small price to pay.

Otherwise I have a different suggestion. Restore traffic to Swanston St and turn Elizabeth St between Flinders and Bourke into a mall, creating an L shapped pedestrian-friendly zone.

There, that took 20 seconds to think up 2 ideas. In 5 years all the MCC can up with is to spend $200,000+ on blue paving stones.

too bad they arn't blue anymore, i read an artical in the HUN a few weeks back saying it would be mostly browns/blacks and whites, with diffrent materials, gems, mirrors and stones... to make the middle bit look like the milkyway, waste of money i say.

Trams Rock! Malls suck!

What needs to happen is the council needs to have a plan to convince property owners along Swanston Street to develop thier properties to create a 40 metre high streetwall on both side of Swanston Street, execept where significant heritage buildings don't allow this.

They have to provide some incentive for property owners to redeveloped because although Swanston Street has improved 100% at street level over the past decade above the awnings is mostly crap.

Look at this pic, apart from the heritage buildings there is just awful building after awful building, most of Swanston Street looks more like Ringwood or Dandenong than a street in the Melbourne CBD:

http://defacto2.zftp.com/photos/mel05/DSCF2344.jpg

Trams Rock! Malls suck!

Agreed. City malls can never compete with vast shopping centres such as Southland and Chadstone in both floor size and car park-size, plus the rent for stores would be cheaper there than in the city. People come into the city to shop and go to cafes on traditional streets. People, such as myself who live out in the suburbs go to the city for different reasons than if I just want a new pair of cargos or whatever. If it's just pants then it's off to Southland, if it's a rare CD or a decent coffee with ambience, then it's off to the city.

I don't know why there's so much tram-rage on this forum, I like the trams, they're quintisential Melbourne and I don't find them a nuiscance either on Bourke St or Swantson St, sure there's one every minute or so, but it's public transit? That's kind of the point. Better trams than cars though, everyone can agree on that.

That ever-so-important corner site of Young & Jacksons is such a disgrace. It's one corner of a really significant intersection (architecturally speaking) - but it lets the whole intersection down. It's a bloody pub, for god's sakes. Not everything over 50 years old in melbourne needs to be protected. Either knock it down, or build something above it that 'completes' the corner. In other words, two high walls of a well designed building that meets the Nicholas Building on one side (therefore covering up that horrible green blank wall) and stretching down to whichever building it meets that is of a similar height down Flinders Street (I can't think of which building that would be - the Ramada???). On Swanston St. McDonalds could go, KFC could go and whatever crappy $2 shoppes also line that pitiful stretch of retail could not only go, but would probably save Swanston Street from becoming the arse end of Melbourne. Great development opportunities going to waste
Swanston Street would then have a clearly defined 'entrance' from both Fed Square and Flinders Street Station. At this moment it's just an absolute mess.
Swanston Street makes me really angry, so I'm with you on this one Grollo. Such potential, but ultimately quite depressing.

You can't knock down Young And Jacksons just because the large green building behind it is stands out so much. And besides the pub has too much history, it's an icon.

I don't know why there's so much tram-rage on this forum.I love trams but I think they should be removed along the mall because they stop it from being a mall. And salls are good IMO, they're not a 70's idea. They are relevant today I think because they serve as a car free zone and are somewhere to sit and relax. Malls are mini city squares in a way.

Anyway, is there no money to make changes to Swanston St? Is there no political will? How long has it been since traffic was halted along Swanston St? It's about 15 years isn't it. Isn't it about time to admit the experiment hasn't worked.

Swanston St isn't so bad, but like the mall, and like Elizabeth St, it could be so much better.

Remove the mall, not the trams, I hate the mall, so cheap and nasty, Melbourne needs to move away from other Australian cities. The thing I love about melbourne are the streets, just imagine if Bourke Street was restored to a street, I would love it, Department stores such as Myer looks great on streets...and a once grand street will once again rise from the depths that it is in...how can you cut a major street in a grid..the mall needs to go.

I think Swanston Street works well with the only disfunctional item being the the tourist bus parking. If they pick up and dropped off passengers quickly and then went on their way, it would not be a problem - but they just hang around for ages and clog up the traffic lane.

I remember what it was like before the footpath was widened and trees planted. It was a dusty noisy smell place where you couldn't linger to talk meet people etc because it was so inhospitable. Now it is really busy with pedestrians and a friendly place to meet and greet people, shop and have a coffee.

By the way I look at the Bourke Street mall as two parallel malls separated by tracks which carry fewer and fewer trams. It is quite easy to walk near trams as you know exactly where they are going; no danger of them veering into you path.

Hey Garmatt - at least $2 shops and McDonalds attract people - where are the so called better people who were supposed to make the Shop of Shops and Georges work. Even the big name prestige brands seem to be struggling - you seldom see people in the shops and maybe they area disguising unappealing sales with ever more expenditure on relocations and fit-outs subsidized by the parent organisations.

Remove the mall, not the trams, I hate the mall, so cheap and nasty, Melbourne needs to move away from other Australian cities. The thing I love about melbourne are the streets, just imagine if Bourke Street was restored to a street, I would love it, Department stores such as Myer looks great on streets...and a once grand street will once again rise from the depths that it is in...how can you cut a major street in a grid..the mall needs to go.It's unlikey to happen. Have you ever seen Perth's Hay St mall btw? Now this is a mall that works IMO.

Anyway, other modern cities have malls. London for example has a few. The old Covent garden markets area, in a way, is a mall. Really a mall is just a paved area similar to a square.

Hoyts seems to be open...or very close to opening...after long last!

Is this finished?

http://members.optusnet.com.au/lukekasper/melbcen1.jpg

^Hate to say it but methinks so. Cost cutting at its worst.

Yes, the awful bubble bridge is finished and Hoyts MC opens tomorrow, Thursday 8 September 2005. Yipeeee (about Hoyts that is not the bridge)

Yeah so much for ultra shiny inspiring spheres they showed in the render, and whats the deal with that inflatable raft looking roof on the swanston latrobe corner?

ARM having fun with 3ds max I reckon.

It's not a tumor!

At least most of the crap on Melbourne central looks tempory so it can be restored to it's fromer glory by future generations or be given a decent makeover.

let's just hope it doesn't become maligant though.

well... it's looking that way anyhow.

That bubble bridge looks like something the US military would use to remove kids and aliens from a house a la E.T. Shocking....

I went out to the RMIT Brunswick campus recently to preview the new VRML planning stuff they are doing so people can see what a street would look like if a building was changed, or streetscapes were changed... anyway if anyone has been there they would know that RMIT Brunswick has a wooden building... an it looks absolutely disgraceful. The wood on melbourne central IMO looks good... but exposed wood, no matter how much oil is put into it, gets sun and water damaged... so eventually it will be faded to a dirty brownish grey and look horrible. A bit of foresight never goes a stray!!

I think you're talking about the Textile Facility by H2o and Bates Smart. And yes it's not that great a building, glad I go to the city campus but then Corrigan's building isn't that great either.

Bubble bridge certainly isn't complete. The colour changing glass is being made and its final clad will appear soon. :)

If the final cladding is to be installed, then why was all the scaffolding removed and why are there colored lights behind the plastic that shine on it and change color in place?

I wish I was as optimistic as you AUboy.

I'm with Aussie on this one. There also doesn't seem to be any system in place for any cladding.

like i have said before the whole refurbishment of the shot tower area is rubbish. They have mangaged to completely destroy the tacky tourist destination it once was (which i somehow liked for some wierd reason) and turned it into a mishmash of bolt on design finishes and striped the whole cone area of any of the wow factor that it once had.

The only hope i have for the place is the new level with the Hoyts cinemas was not bad and will help bring life to that area of the city instead of Crown and Jam Factory cinemas which are heading past their use-by date.

Also, i am only speaking for the Cone area of Melb central, i think the shopping area between lonsdale and little lonsdale is a big improvment to the confusing space it once was.

Loving the gold-coloured glass that appeared a while ago. Tick tick ticker:

http://img394.imageshack.us/img394/443/mcentral6lm.jpg

Timber cladding is already starting to fade :cry:

the whole lot of the timber should of been the gold glass, would of looked cool, oh well i guess they can replace it next fire, or when they refurbish it in 5 years or so when it all rots.

I think it would have been cool to have some sort of plant growing on the facade for some bizarre reason or red glass, you don't see that too often.

I think a bluestone wall would have been both imposing and destinctive, plus a good link to the past as a lot of classic Melbourne buildings were built from local bluestone and heck, even Ned Kelly was quarrying the stuff at one point while in goal, so there's a lot of history there. And MC would look more Melbourne and less like something that had been clad by rejected ideas from the Ikea catalogue.

The ticker looks a bit obscured.

Is it really bright and obvious though when in the area? Also, does it glide around the corner and is it just used for Hoyts?

Its as bright as it needs to be considering it on a busy intersection with plenty of tarffic around. You don't want to distract drivers, otherwise there will be even more accidents. I am certain VicRoads had a say in teh design and brightness. And yes, it does wrap around the side into Swanston St, justa little.

Not sure if this topic is old ground but Melb Central are keen to put a tower on Lonsdale Street - interesting now that they are rumored to also be bidding to buy the Myer properties - maybe Myer could anchor the new tower ?[img=http://img503.imageshack.us/img503/4839/aerialviewqo7.th.jpg] (http://img503.imageshack.us/my.php?image=aerialviewqo7.jpg)