Green Mall Space

Melbourne Central have cleverly converted the elevated space that was the glass footbridge to Myer into an indoor green-space. It started with a herb garden, park benches and artificial turf promoting the GPT Group’s (owners of Melbourne Central) partnership with Stephanie Alexander’s Kitchen Garden Foundation.

Whilst the herbs and signs of the Foundation have disappeared, the Centre has clearly recognised it as a space where shoppers can take five in a more tranquil setting and to raise awareness of local community organisations. They’ve added more tables and stools and painted the pillars to resemble tree trunks. The Social Studio wagon promotes the space in Collingwood that has been established to assist members of the refugee community to create their own clothing through skills training and provision of materials.

It’s great to see GPT utilise the space in this way rather than to convert it to an additional rent-revenue generator.