Above: Artist’s impression of the building at 582-606 Collins Street, render courtesy ZHA.
Zaha Hadid’s 54-storey Collins Street tower has been given the green light by the Andrews Labor Government.
The $300 million project is the result of ZHA’s collaboration with Plus Architecture and developers Landream. It will include 420 apartments, more than 10,000 square metres of office and retail space and more than 600 square metres of public realm works – including a ground floor art space, and a public plaza and terrace. With much of its lower level given up to the public, the building layout attempts to improve pedestrian congestion, while also proposing a laneway to connect Collins and Francis Streets.
The design features a stacked trio of vases tapering inward at the base, separating the residential, retail, and commercial sectors. Open space is made available around the bottom of each section. “This stand-out design will enhance the city’s skyline, deliver jobs during construction and additional housing for people wanting to live in the CBD,” said Acting Minister for Planning Jill Hennessy.
The approval was supported by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, the City of Melbourne and the Office of Victorian Government Architect.
While the late architect designed buildings for Brisbane and the Gold Coast, the Collins Street tower will be her first in Melbourne. “The late Zaha Hadid has been described as an a starchitect, Melbourne will now have a piece of her artistic flair and I look forward to seeing it come together and provide new public space in the city,” Hennessy said.