Location
Melbourne, Australia
Sector
Commercial, infrastructure
Project
Architecture, interior architecture
Long known for its laneways, trams, and layered architectural heritage, Melbourne has always had a uniquely urban identity.
Now, with the unveiling of the Central station located in the Melbourne Metro project, the city marks a bold new chapter in public transport design — one that balances civic tradition with contemporary urbanism.
Replacing an existing structure, the residence introduces a rhythmic composition of planar volumes and voids, arranged to modulate privacy, shadow, and light.
Ochre-colored stucco wraps the interlocking forms, seamlessly integrating the architecture into the muted, sun-drenched landscape. Sharp-edged silhouettes contrast gently with soft desert vegetation and the ever-changing sky.
This network-wide renewal introduces a suite of newly completed metro stations and transit upgrades that redefine how Melburnians move through their city.
Thoughtfully designed, each space merges natural light, intuitive wayfinding, and layered materiality with a sense of calm that feels distinctly Melbourne: understated, tactile, and quietly confident.
At the heart of this transformation is Central Exchange Station, where a sweeping timber-clad ceiling arcs above a pristine concourse, diffusing daylight and offering a sculptural nod to Melbourne’s long relationship with public meeting spaces, from Federation Square to Flinders Street’s grand concourse. The warmth of natural materials sits in deliberate contrast to the cool precision of glazed curtain walls and metallic surfaces.
Out at North Terminal, the station’s linear glazed façade frames transit lines against the skyline, while digital art displays bring both utility and contemporary culture to the platforms.
Inside, the palette is rich in natural materiality. Smooth plaster, light wood cabinetry, and hand-finished concrete floors speak in soft tones. Warm LED coves line ceilings and niches, creating a diffused glow that emphasizes texture.
This commitment to embedding infrastructure within the city’s cultural and architectural fabric is perhaps most evident at Central station. Here, precast concrete and modulated brickwork reference the area’s industrial past, while corten cladding and lightweight louvres offer contemporary solutions for climate and ventilation, a balance of past and present that feels uniquely Melbourne.
In a city where transport and architecture have long shaped public identity, Central station sets a new benchmark. It’s not just about getting from A to B, but about creating civic spaces that invite pause, engagement, and reflection. A transit system designed for the city it serves, and the people who shape it.
