The Stokehouse was a great restaurant: but it was not a great building. Let’s not confuse the two!
It was, without doubt, a building of significant cultural identity, due to the memories of the many people who celebrated special events there.
Everyone has a different opinion as to how the building should be rebuilt. Perhaps a replica, perhaps a new architectural statement, or best of all, a well-designed and high quality addition to the waterfront, in the tradition of Melbourne’s best buildings. Whatever is constructed, the memories will remain.
This is a project of an approachable scale, on a critical site on Melbourne’s waterfront. The loss of the Stokehouse represents a fabulous and rare opportunity to hold an architectural competition, which allows a variety of proposals to be put forward, and then judged.
Architectural Competitions worked for Flinders Street Station, for the Sydney Opera House, and for Federation Square. Let’s have a competition and get a great result for Melbourne.
Rosemary Ross, on behalf of The Directors of ArchiTeam
ArchiTeam is a members organisation representing over 440 architectural practices
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