In December 2019, the City of Stonnington completed the successful transformation of the old Cato Street carpark into a modern urban parkland.
Adopting the new name of Prahran Square, the expansive urban park has introduced 10,000m2 of much-needed open space to the dense Chapel Street precinct, creating a new setting for markets, festivals, gatherings and community activities. Parking has not been compromised – rather, improved, with two underground storeys of car parking able to accommodate 500 vehicles.
The area was thoughtfully designed by Lyons Architecture and Aspect Studios, with separate spaces within the square having a different purpose and feel. Much like an amphitheatre, each side of Prahran Square faces downward into the centre, enabling opportunities for future activities such as open-air concerts. The widened corners of the square provide increased visibility from the ground level, and are furnished with large circular planter seats that entice passers-by to enter the square.
The circular planter seats were pieced together using curved concrete modules manufactured locally by Anston (then SVC Urban). Gleaming white in the sunlight, the large-format planters can only be described as things of beauty, demonstrating a smooth, silky finish and impressive curvature.
Elsewhere in the precinct surrounding the main plaza, concrete seat blocks and bench seats in charcoal and warm white provide additional options for pedestrian seating, which is welcomed within the highly-trafficked area.
One section of the square is reserved for a sloping Nature Walk, which features a pathway paved with exposed aggregate paving planks that add organic, earthy tones to complement the landscape.
