This is an article from the Architecture Australia archives and may use outdated formatting
CBD Laneways
Urban Design Commendation
CITY PROJECTS, CITY OF MELBOURNE
top Bank Place. above The Causeway
Appreciated for their intimacy, sense of
intrigue, convenience and visual charm,
Melbourne’s north-south lanes weave a
finer and more chaotic pattern across
the city’s street grid: increasing the
permeability of the CBD. Since the City
of Melbourne identified the importance
of these routes in its 1985 strategy
plan, many of them have been
upgraded with new bluestone paving,
street furniture and lighting. The
submitted examples are Centre Place,
The Causeway, Bank Place, Hosier Lane
and Tattersalls.
Jury Verdict
The celebration of the laneways of
Melbourne’s CBD has contributed
significantly to the revitalisation of the
city. The historic treatment of Bank
Place and the sophisticated elegance of
café culture, new shopfronts and
rejuvenated facades add another
dimension to a once neglected element
of the city’s environment.
The laneways were an under-appreciated
asset, often high volume
channels for commuters but neglected,
badly lit and with paving in poor repair.
However, the eccentric and narrow lanes
gave an authentic and intimate flavour
to a city which is best known for its
wide streets and regular grid.
The council’s range of strategies has
been applied according to the usage
and the nature of the lanes. Some less
frequently used lanes have had their
lighting improved but have retained their
original bluestone pavers. Others have
had new paving, specially designed
lighting and canopies installed. This has
added immensely to the richness of the
urban fabric of Melbourne. Melbourne’s
City Projects Division is to be
commended for their dedication and
vision in implementing this rejuvenation
in the heart of the city.
The Causeway.
CBD Laneways, Melbourne Architects and Landscape Architects Melbourne
City Council City Projects design branch—
Malcolm Snow, R. Jones, I Dryden, F. Harrison,
P. Eggleston. Developer and Civil Engineers
Melbourne City Council Engineering Services.
Electrical Engineers Barry Webb & Associates.
Artist Daryl Cowie.