Southern Cross Station
Southern Cross Railway Station evolved out of the redevelopment of Spencer Street Station. It turned the site into an efficient transport interchange, allowing connections between suburban, intrastate and interstate trains, local and airport buses, taxis and trams. Over 15 million passengers pass through the station annually, so it was important that its design allow for large number of passengers to move easily and quickly through the terminal with unimpeded sightlines and pathways. Completed in 2006, this extensive makeover was doubly necessary as the station is sited between Melbourne s CBD grid and the recently regenerated Docklands precinct. The design sought to connect these traditionally disparate urban realms, by providing a seamless interface between the two.The shape of the roof is, though, a happily functional form, and its beauty is purely accidental according to the Architect. It has been thoughtfully designed to expel hot air and diesel fumes (some of the the lines have yet to be electrified). To assist the roof in its role as one great exhaust funnel, the glass walls beneath the roof do not meet the pavement, ushering in gentle breezes. A gap right around the largely transparent building ensures that, unlike the office blocks that overlook it, the station is, by and large, naturally ventilated.
Railway staff occupy brightly coloured elevated pods set beneath the roof, leaving the entire ground floor free for passengers. In essence, the station is a giant parasol and occasional umbrella, of course showing how it s possible to build for a hot climate, and on a large scale, using natural ventilation. The benefit is not just a cool, smoke-free building in summer, but one that enjoys a transparency designed to welcome passengers in, while looking after them gently inside.
Architect: Grimshaw Jackson JV
