The proposed "great hall" in the upgraded Cowes Cultural and Community Centre. A proposed “great hall” in Cowes might just be the start of visionary architecture to match the island’s grand landscape, writes Robert J Viglietti ... but only if we open our minds.
MAX May, a Melbourne architect of some repute, once said to me: “It is every Australian’s God-given right to be an architectural critic”. Yes, his tongue was firmly planted in his cheek at the time.
It is in this context (and with some amusement) that I read the comments made in the local press under the headline “Cultural centre plans fail community”!
Sure, we can debate ad nauseam the theatrical seating arrangements or how we harvest rainwater from the roof of a new cultural centre; however, it’s ridiculous to state that the plans “fail the community”. No plan will ever be perfectly acceptable to everyone, in particular to those who wish to place personal/local politics above a greater social benefit.
I have complete faith in the consultants engaged by the current Bass Coast Shire Council. They have achieved amazing results in the urban renewal of other communities. The process they followed was thorough and detailed, with over 500 members of the community contributing. Their proposed plans are outstanding.
The critique demonstrates a lack of understanding of the broader impact that a grand redevelopment of the cultural centre will have on our community.
“Architecture is an expression of our values” Norman Foster stated. What values do we express?
Over two million people a year visit Phillip Island, yet very few of those people stay on to visit Cowes. Most of these visitors don’t even bother setting foot in Cowes because they are simply not inspired to do so.
If we had a vibrant, cohesive community with a strong sense of identity, I suggest that we would also have a beautiful built environment to complement the “natural attraction” of Phillip Island. Instead, we struggle with our sense of identity and are more obsessed with the petty politics of division rather than considering how we can work together to improve the social fabric of our main town.
Frank Gehry famously stated “98 per cent of what gets built today is shit”. In the case of Cowes, I suggest it is 99.99 per cent. Property developers and landlords comply with the “minimum standard” because that is the benchmark of our town – minimum standard is the face we show the world.
There is not one example of grand architecture in Cowes. Grand architecture has the ability to inspire and unite a community. Imagine Barcelona without the work of Antoni Gaudi.
We need a Great Hall in Cowes even if it is “only a pedestrian thoroughfare” between a transport hub and Thompson Avenue. At its most basic, Flinders Street Station could also be regarded as “only a pedestrian thoroughfare”, yet that public building is central to the identity of Melbourne and remains a source of inspiration to the community more than 100 years after it was built.
The Museum of Old and New Art in Hobart is another example of outstanding architecture that has inspired the nation and improved the fortune not only of the local community but of the entire state. In 2015 MONA had 350,000 visitors – Phillip Island had two million. How many visitors does it take to justify the construction a “Grand Hall”?
A Great Hall may just prove to be the catalyst for urban renewal so desperately needed in Cowes. Slumlords may finally start improving the quality of their buildings, which may in turn contribute to a sense of place and ultimately encourage visitors to actually come into Cowes and spend time (and money).
The redevelopment of the Jetty Triangle from an impractical car park to a public open space will also contribute to a sense of place. The Jetty Triangle was clearly identified by hundreds of people in the consultation process as the “sweet spot” of the town.
It is a disgrace that the backdrop to the most iconic location of Cowes is a car park. This is symbolic of everything that is wrong with Phillip Island; the cheap, mundane and short term takes precedence over the grand, visionary and iconic.
A car park contributes nothing. The conversion of that space has the potential to attract millions of visitors each year. The conversion is not predicated on a few markets a year, as quoted; it is predicated on everything that is central to contributing to a sense of community.
I already have a dozen proposals for events that can be held in that space that will enhance the sense of community. Surely that is more important than a few car parking spaces. (Note: over 120 parking spaces are directly adjacent to the site with hundreds more planned less than a block away.)
Grand architecture in our public spaces will create a sense of place. Locals will own it because it will be worth owning. This will directly lead to a sense of identity and civic pride. This will start to inspire more people to visit and stay in Cowes. Increased visitor duration and stay will increase the economic benefit to our community, something our local and regional tourism groups have been talking about doing for over 20 years yet have failed to achieve.
Just because we have the “God-given right” to be a critic doesn’t mean we should exercise it. How about we leave the urban design to the experts who have already followed a process, listened to the people and have put forward an inspiring proposal. Argue about seating arrangements if you must, but let’s leave the thinly veiled petty politics out of the debate.
COMMENTS
February 11, 2016
A proposed “great hall” in Cowes writes Robert J Vigglietti. I recall, with some clarity, the controversy surrounding the construction of the Sydney Opera House.
There were those who thought the vision of Jorn Utzon was impractical and not worth the money. Now it stands as one of the great architectural triumphs of the 20th Century or any age for that matter.
I recall as well, the howls of outrage when Gough Whitlam purchased “Blue Poles” by Jackson Pollock on behalf of the emerging Australian National Gallery.
It is those who have a vision, and who pursue it with all their intelligence and energy, who raise the consciousness of society above apathy and mediocrity.
John Adam, Phillip Island.
February 7, 2016
As a member of the Working Group for the Redevelopment of the Cultural Centre in Cowes, I was pleased to read the enthusiastic comments expressed in Great Expectations. Submissions and comments on the concept plans are now being considered and the final plan will go shortly before council for approval.
This exciting building on a site in Cowes, with so much history, will strengthen the values of the Island’s cultural diversity and its rich community life. It will enable an experience to be enjoyed by residents and visitors. When completed it will be a source of great community pride.
The future needs not be something that just happens. We can create the future we want and this building can help to achieve this.
Anne Davie, Ventnor
I agree with everything said and it is about time we have buildings to match our stunning natural beauty which is so unique in the world, a building that will move us in to the 21st century!
Marilyn Shaw
It is in this context (and with some amusement) that I read the comments made in the local press under the headline “Cultural centre plans fail community”!
Sure, we can debate ad nauseam the theatrical seating arrangements or how we harvest rainwater from the roof of a new cultural centre; however, it’s ridiculous to state that the plans “fail the community”. No plan will ever be perfectly acceptable to everyone, in particular to those who wish to place personal/local politics above a greater social benefit.
I have complete faith in the consultants engaged by the current Bass Coast Shire Council. They have achieved amazing results in the urban renewal of other communities. The process they followed was thorough and detailed, with over 500 members of the community contributing. Their proposed plans are outstanding.
The critique demonstrates a lack of understanding of the broader impact that a grand redevelopment of the cultural centre will have on our community.
“Architecture is an expression of our values” Norman Foster stated. What values do we express?
Over two million people a year visit Phillip Island, yet very few of those people stay on to visit Cowes. Most of these visitors don’t even bother setting foot in Cowes because they are simply not inspired to do so.
If we had a vibrant, cohesive community with a strong sense of identity, I suggest that we would also have a beautiful built environment to complement the “natural attraction” of Phillip Island. Instead, we struggle with our sense of identity and are more obsessed with the petty politics of division rather than considering how we can work together to improve the social fabric of our main town.
Frank Gehry famously stated “98 per cent of what gets built today is shit”. In the case of Cowes, I suggest it is 99.99 per cent. Property developers and landlords comply with the “minimum standard” because that is the benchmark of our town – minimum standard is the face we show the world.
There is not one example of grand architecture in Cowes. Grand architecture has the ability to inspire and unite a community. Imagine Barcelona without the work of Antoni Gaudi.
We need a Great Hall in Cowes even if it is “only a pedestrian thoroughfare” between a transport hub and Thompson Avenue. At its most basic, Flinders Street Station could also be regarded as “only a pedestrian thoroughfare”, yet that public building is central to the identity of Melbourne and remains a source of inspiration to the community more than 100 years after it was built.
The Museum of Old and New Art in Hobart is another example of outstanding architecture that has inspired the nation and improved the fortune not only of the local community but of the entire state. In 2015 MONA had 350,000 visitors – Phillip Island had two million. How many visitors does it take to justify the construction a “Grand Hall”?
A Great Hall may just prove to be the catalyst for urban renewal so desperately needed in Cowes. Slumlords may finally start improving the quality of their buildings, which may in turn contribute to a sense of place and ultimately encourage visitors to actually come into Cowes and spend time (and money).
The redevelopment of the Jetty Triangle from an impractical car park to a public open space will also contribute to a sense of place. The Jetty Triangle was clearly identified by hundreds of people in the consultation process as the “sweet spot” of the town.
It is a disgrace that the backdrop to the most iconic location of Cowes is a car park. This is symbolic of everything that is wrong with Phillip Island; the cheap, mundane and short term takes precedence over the grand, visionary and iconic.
A car park contributes nothing. The conversion of that space has the potential to attract millions of visitors each year. The conversion is not predicated on a few markets a year, as quoted; it is predicated on everything that is central to contributing to a sense of community.
I already have a dozen proposals for events that can be held in that space that will enhance the sense of community. Surely that is more important than a few car parking spaces. (Note: over 120 parking spaces are directly adjacent to the site with hundreds more planned less than a block away.)
Grand architecture in our public spaces will create a sense of place. Locals will own it because it will be worth owning. This will directly lead to a sense of identity and civic pride. This will start to inspire more people to visit and stay in Cowes. Increased visitor duration and stay will increase the economic benefit to our community, something our local and regional tourism groups have been talking about doing for over 20 years yet have failed to achieve.
Just because we have the “God-given right” to be a critic doesn’t mean we should exercise it. How about we leave the urban design to the experts who have already followed a process, listened to the people and have put forward an inspiring proposal. Argue about seating arrangements if you must, but let’s leave the thinly veiled petty politics out of the debate.
COMMENTS
February 11, 2016
A proposed “great hall” in Cowes writes Robert J Vigglietti. I recall, with some clarity, the controversy surrounding the construction of the Sydney Opera House.
There were those who thought the vision of Jorn Utzon was impractical and not worth the money. Now it stands as one of the great architectural triumphs of the 20th Century or any age for that matter.
I recall as well, the howls of outrage when Gough Whitlam purchased “Blue Poles” by Jackson Pollock on behalf of the emerging Australian National Gallery.
It is those who have a vision, and who pursue it with all their intelligence and energy, who raise the consciousness of society above apathy and mediocrity.
John Adam, Phillip Island.
February 7, 2016
As a member of the Working Group for the Redevelopment of the Cultural Centre in Cowes, I was pleased to read the enthusiastic comments expressed in Great Expectations. Submissions and comments on the concept plans are now being considered and the final plan will go shortly before council for approval.
This exciting building on a site in Cowes, with so much history, will strengthen the values of the Island’s cultural diversity and its rich community life. It will enable an experience to be enjoyed by residents and visitors. When completed it will be a source of great community pride.
The future needs not be something that just happens. We can create the future we want and this building can help to achieve this.
Anne Davie, Ventnor
I agree with everything said and it is about time we have buildings to match our stunning natural beauty which is so unique in the world, a building that will move us in to the 21st century!
Marilyn Shaw