The Prahran Square redevelopment represents a significant transformation in urban space utilisation, turning what was once a ground-level car park into a vibrant, multifunctional urban parkland.
The Prahran Square redevelopment represents a significant transformation in urban space utilisation, turning what was once a ground-level car park into a vibrant, multifunctional urban parkland.
This project, costing over $60 million, showcases innovative urban design, creating a new “civic village” that serves as the cultural and recreational heart of Prahran.
The redevelopment includes two levels of underground parking, allowing the ground level to be dedicated entirely to public space.
This space is designed to be a magnetic destination for residents, traders, shoppers, and visitors, featuring a diverse mix of areas including a square, amphitheater, playground, lawn, streets, and retail spaces, all integrated into a cohesive urban park.
They removed a carpark and put up paradise
Putting a different spin on the lyrics “they paved paradise and put up a parking lot” – Prahran Square is an example of a new form of urban space that fuses various elements to reflect the energy and complexity of its environment.
It offers commerce and private enterprise opportunities without compromising its essential public nature.
The design incorporates sinuous edges that wrap the square in a continuous “ribbon,” creating a unique streetscape that accommodates various elements such as carpark entry, stair access, retail frontages, community spaces, and service areas.
This approach creates an “interior” landscape sheltered from surrounding traffic, enhancing the user experience.
What else can we do?
While the redevelopment successfully addresses many aspects of urban renewal and provides a much-needed open space in a densely developed community, it also presents a missed opportunity in terms of creating corridors for wildlife.
The focus on plants and human-centered design elements is commendable, but the inclusion of features that could attract and support urban wildlife, such as bird-friendly plants, small mammal habitats, and insect hotels, seems to have been overlooked.
Such features could have enriched the biodiversity of the area and provided educational opportunities about the importance of urban ecology.
Creating corridors for animals within urban developments is crucial for maintaining biodiversity and ecological balance.
These corridors allow animals to move safely across urban areas, access different habitats, and contribute to the genetic diversity of species.
The absence of such features in Prahran Square’s redevelopment might be viewed as a missed opportunity to integrate urban development with nature conservation efforts more comprehensively.
While Prahran Square serves as a significant achievement in urban design, reflecting on what could have been done differently to incorporate wildlife corridors invites a broader conversation about future urban redevelopment projects.
It reflects the importance of considering all aspects of biodiversity and ecosystem services in urban planning to create spaces that are not only for human enjoyment but also for the benefit of the wider natural environment.