Architecture Thesis Studio 01

Centre for Creative Peace-making…
at the Shrine of Remembrance

Studio leaders: Professor Anoma Pieris and Athanasios Tsakonas

As the most significant memorial space in Victoria, Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance occupies a prominent position in the city, commanding the view northward up Swanstson Street. The Shrine’s precinct and its internal spaces are animated annually by commemorative ceremonies. The parklands around the Shrine are dotted with smaller memorials such as sculptures, gardens and trees that likewise commemorate military and civilian participation in various global conflicts in which Australians have been involved.  This studio focuses on the human dimension of conflict, public awareness and critical discussion of related issues. It asks you to creatively consider the civilian experience of conflict in a Peace Precinct set within the less-developed southern end of the Kings Domain, abutting Domain Road, where the new ANZAC Train Station is being constructed. Your design should incorporate a peace plaza with access to the station, a theatre space and other facilities. The core of this precinct should comprise a centre for creative peace-making with programs including informal artistic collaboration that will build public awareness of Australia’s many global peace keeping efforts alongside critical scrutiny of related issues.

The facilities you might consider may also include an open-air theatre/plaza, library and gallery space, a restaurant, practice rooms and a small number of accommodation units to be used by veterans during ceremonial events. When proposing these facilities you are asked to design them sympathetically so as to minimise impact on the visual authority of the Shrine and its surrounding landscape. The expectation is that you will enhance the urban connection to and appreciation of the memorial’s southern aspect by exploring under and above ground location of facilities, cut-and-fill options and raised landscaping.

Anoma Pieris is a professor at the Faculty of Architecture Building and Planning. She holds a BSc from the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, an MArch and SMArchS from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a PhD from UC Berkeley and an MPhil in geography from the University of Melbourne.

Athanasios Tsakonas a practicing architect, builder and writer with over 30 years of experience in both Australia and overseas. He is a partner in Singapore based firm Tan + Tsakonas Architects, and also runs a studio in Melbourne undertaking design & build projects. He holds BArch Studies and BArch degrees from the University of Adelaide, and MA (Urban Design) from the National University of Singapore.

Architecture 2021_winter