Lyons transform car park into integrated park, square and events space - and car park
by Stu Robarts | 06 Feb 2020
– Adrian Stanic
Lyons with Aspect Studios, have transformed a car park in Melbourne, Australia, into a 10,000sq m (107,600sq ft) urban park with nine distinct areas and two levels of car parking retained underneath.
Prahran Square was conceived to provide much needed new open public space in the Prahran suburb of the city, which has the second-lowest amount in the state of Victoria.
it combines a park, a square and a network of pathways with access at its corners to provide a community amenity as well as a means of navigating the immediate area.
The focal point is a central plaza, which was designed both for day-to-day use and to host events like markets, late-night cinemas, festivals and concerts, as well as a programme of activities like yoga, pilates and dance classes.
Along each side of the plaza are parklets offering different environments for different purposes. There's a lawn for activities and relaxing on, stepped terraces that provide seating, a mudstone forest landscape and a sensory garden with a garden café.
Each of the parklets slopes upwards away from the plaza, creating a bowl-type facility with views from all around for events in the centre.
The four corners of the square are public spaces in their own right, celebrating and connecting the adjacent parklets and providing additional space for day-to-day and event use. In addition, they all host parts of an immersive digital art installation based on Prahran's history and environment.
The below-ground car park has been designed to be safe and feel safe for users, with sloping access points that provide sightlines to and from the street and also allow natural light inside.
"Prahran Square has been designed exclusively for positive and diverse human experiences," said Adrian Stanic, director at Lyons. "It creates an immersive multifaceted public space in the heart of this inner-city suburb that has been desperate for accessible urban space dedicated to the wellbeing and amenity of the local community."
Lyons car park park square events public space
Access at each of the corners provides a means of navigating the immediate area Credit: John Gollings
The focal point is a central plaza, which was designed both for day-to-day use and to host events Credit: John Gollings
Along each side of the plaza are parklets offering different environments for different purposes Credit: John Gollings
The four corners of the square are public spaces in their own right Credit: John Gollings
The corners all host parts of an immersive digital art installation based on Prahran's history and environment Credit: John Gollings
One of the parklets provides a lawn for activities and relaxing on Credit: John Gollings
There are activity spaces for children around the square Credit: John Gollings
There are a variety of different places to sit and relax Credit: John Gollings
One parklet comprises a sensory garden with a garden café Credit: John Gollings
Space for car parking has been retained but moved underground Credit: John Gollings
The below-ground car park has been designed to be safe and feel safe for users Credit: John Gollings
there are sightlines between the street and car-park and ways for natural light to get into the space Credit: John Gollings
Lyons with Aspect Studios, have transformed a car park in Melbourne, Australia, into a 10,000sq m (107,600sq ft) urban park with nine distinct areas and two levels of car parking retained underneath. Prahran Square was conceived to provide much needed new open public space in the Prahran suburb of the city, which has the second-lowest amount in the state of Victoria. it combines a park, a square and a network
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