The Age this week ran an opinion piece from architect Norman Day that described Prahran Square as a “nightmarish expression of garishness, zing and glitz”.
In the piece, Mr Day failed to recognise the vital community asset Prahran Square has become.
In redeveloping the old above-ground carpark in Izett Street in 2019, Stonnington Council has created one hectare of vibrant community space that cleverly combines an urban park with an amphitheatre, playground and retail spaces that are home to a Council service centre and a library.
The Council’s aim was to create more open space for our residents to enjoy – and that’s exactly what they do every day.
In the past year, hundreds of thousands of people have passed through the Square – using the site recreationally, attending the library or enjoying spectacles such as Candlelight Concerts and Lunar New Year, as well as special events such as Speed The Movie, The Play (as part of the Melbourne Fringe Festival). These events attract visitors from across the municipality and broader Melbourne. The Square also plays an important role in connecting key retail areas including Greville St, Prahran Market and Chapel Street, enabling shoppers to amble within the precinct and support a diverse range of local businesses.
Prahran Square has won a number of awards, including the 2021 CTBUH Award of Excellence for Urban Habitat and the 2021 Good Design Awards for Best in Class – Architectural Design: Urban Design and Public Spaces, and Precinct Design. The site was also a finalist in the 2021 Victorian Premier’s Design Awards for Architectural Design and at the 2021 World Architecture Festival for Urban Context: Landscape.
The car park below Prahran Square is the busiest car park in the Chapel Street activity precinct with an average weekday occupancy of more than 65 per cent.
Council is committed to ensuring Prahran Square remains a vital part of the Stonnington community. With a busy program of events planned for the year, 2024 is shaping up to be its busiest yet.
