Melbourne’s Southern Cross railway station by Grimshaw Jackson JV is now ten years old and Grimshaw, in collaboration with Open House Melbourne, is hosting a photo competition to mark the occasion.
Connecting Melbourne’s Docklands with the CBD, the station, distinctive for its grand scale and vast, undulating roof canopy, was recognized at the 2007 National Architecture Awards with the Walter Burley Griffin Award for Urban Design.
The jury noted at the time that the project showed “how successful urban design can contribute significantly to the public and civic realm of a city.”
During the month of July, architecture and photography enthusiasts are being invited to share their photos of Southern Cross Station to “celebrate the role the building plays in the city, and what it means to the people of Melbourne and Victoria.”
Shortlisted entries will be featured as part of a week-long exhibition to be held during August at Grimshaw’s Melbourne studio and the top three entries will be announced on the opening day of the exhibition.
Lord Mayor Robert Doyle, Open House Melbourne executive director Emma Telfer and celebrated architectural photographer John Gollings will judge the shortlisted entries, with the winning images selected for their artistic merit, originality, and their celebration of Southern Cross station as a key part of Melbourne’s built environment and identity.
Cr Doyle was a member of parliament at the time of Southern Cross’s development and said he has vivid memories of the old Spencer Street Station.
“The station has been an iconic part of our city for as long as I can remember. Interestingly, where once it was perhaps on the edge of the city it is now firmly in the middle of the city as we have grown.”
John Gollings was one of the photographers Grimshaw commissioned to capture the station upon its completion.
“Southern Cross Station is an iconic Melbourne building and fundamental to our civic infrastructure,” he said. “It is a major responsibility to document it for posterity, to describe its function and find art in its structure and use.”
Neil Stonell, partner at Grimshaw, who was a key member of the team which delivered Southern Cross Station, will also judge the shortlisted entries.
The public will also be able to vote for their favourite image at the exhibition, to be held at Grimshaw’s Melbourne studio from 17-23 August 2017.
Emma Telfer said the photography competition perfectly aligns with Open House Melbourne’s mission to advocate for better-designed cities through civic participation.
“The competition is an invitation to celebrate Melbourne and consider how Southern Cross Station influences our city culture,” she said.
The first-prize winner will receive a framed drawing of Southern Cross Station, signed by Sir Nicholas Grimshaw, founder of Grimshaw Architects. A framed and signed photographic print of Southern Cross Station by John Gollings will be awarded to the second-prize winner, while the third-prize winner will receive a framed print of their own successful entry into the competition.
The winner of the People’s Choice Award will receive a $200 Michaels video and digital voucher. To be eligible for entry into the competition, images must be uploaded to Instagram between Monday 3 July and Monday 31 July 2017, and tagged @grimshawarch and #scssnap2017. The competition will run in conjunction with the Open House Melbourne programme, which is also celebrating its 10-year anniversary.
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