Design Architect: Frank Godsell
Project Team: Patricia Corrigan & Frank Godsell
READ PRESS RELEASE
In response to the growing civil unrest sparked by the ‘Occupy Melbourne’ demonstrations, Godsell & Corrigan have been engaged by local government to create a wall that will ensure ongoing peace in the City of Melbourne. In these uncertain economic times and in the wake of the Jasmine Revolution, we feel a new kind of wall is required – a wall that not only divides, but one that inspires the city’s disenfranchised.
Indeed, the new Melbourne Wall will be a beautiful instrument of division within the urban landscape. Drawing influence from the masters of German Brick Expressionism, the Wall employs a decorative Flemish Bond to bring texture and life to the greyest corners of Melbourne.
Distinguishing itself from the relentless, precast concrete wall which divided Melbourne from 1931-1956, the new Wall employs electrically charged razor wire as a decorative element, completing the sensitive composition of duotone brickwork.
Surrounding the Wall, a 200 meter wide ‘dead-man zone’ will be abundantly planted with native Australian grasses, providing habitat for local fauna. Finally, in keeping with the City of Melbourne’s Eco-city Sustainability Campaign, it is proposed that all electric fences will be fully solar-powered and energy efficient.
READ REVIEW BY ARCHITECTURE AUSTRALIA’S TIMOTHY MOORE
This is a joke right??
Again, Doyle is completely over-reacting to our peaceful protests. Where on earth does he get these ludicrous ideas?!
So, a bunch of hypocritical rich-kids complain about corporate greed and we build a wall??? This whole occupy Melbourne thing is a big joke. Turns out the punchline ain’t that funny.
If it’s possible to build a wall around corporate greed, I say let’s do it!
Who gets the hospitals, the markets, the trains and trams? I really don’t see how it could ever work.
Occupy Melbourne is about looking after the 99%. This wall does nothing but divide us down the middle.
Doyle’s been wanting this for years. It’s nothing more than a divisive move to keep the so-called ‘bogans’ out of Melbourne. There’s a really interesting article on it here http://godsellandcorrigan.com/media-release-the-melbourne-wall/
A wall to keep the bogan’s out? Looks more like a wall to keep the hipsters in to me!
Finally – a bogan wall! Now the enlightened folk of the inner-city can roam free (kind of) in a sanctuary of hipster tranquillity. A momentous day for fixies, colourful tattoo art and ironic facial hair!
Will they be flying-in their cafe latte’s? :)
Yet another case of architects favouring aesthetics over function. The so-called ‘expressed brickwork’ provides the perfect footing for people to climb – fools!
Yes, and I imagine there’ll be a lot of escapes when the sun goes behind the clouds. Solar powered electric fences. Tee hee.
If this is going to be a hipster sanctuary, what about Footscray, Coburg and Thornbury? What about Brunswick West? Someone hasn’t done their homework!!
Where fulsome beards can grow unimpeded. Aaaah, bliss!
Right on! So very inspiring! If I was disenfranchised this sensitive and eco-friendly work of beauty would completely dispel any thoughts of protest.
It’s clearly a fake. Fitzroy has been incorrectly spelled.
Little known fact – Fitzory was the original spelling of the suburb – Fitz, from old french ‘Fils’ (Son) and -ory, an adjective ending derived from the Latin ‘Orius.’ Literally, Fitzory means – of, or pertaining to a son, or, more simply, ‘sonnish.’ As the first suburb outside of Melbourne proper, this makes some etymological sense. The misattribution or misspelling that led to Fitzroy is more mysterious.
Didnt the world tear down the Berlin Wall! or did we just misplace it and bring it here to Melbourne??