When our team were chosen to design a new look and feel for Frankston Station, as winners of the Frankston Station redesign competition in 2017, we knew it was an important responsibility that would have a lasting impact on both locals and visitors to this busy railway link. The train station, in Melbourne’s south-east, is the terminus hub for both the Frankston and Stony Point lines and has a history stretching back to 1882. Now, with the news that the station’s completed redevelopment sees Genton shortlisted in the Public Architecture category of the prestigious 2019 Victorian Architecture Awards, our team’s pride in this project is made even more significant, with the recognition from our respected industry peers. “Being awarded for our work on the redevelopment of Frankston Station is important to us because it helps us understand and appreciate – as a team – the high quality of work we do for our clients,” says our Principal Steven Toia.
The industry’s show of confidence in our work on Frankston Station benefits our reputation and with a range of positive opportunities already flowing from this success, the potential to make our mark on other important infrastructure projects ensures a growing reputation as industry innovators. “When you are have a reputation as an Architectural team that works in one specific area and you are awarded for design excellence in an area that other people may not associate you with, the accolade provides huge potential for growth – and for our Genton team that means an appreciation that we can deliver quality infrastructure projects,” says Marc Debney.
The train station redevelopment at Frankston was not a project that was taken on lightly. Having crafted a design ethos that is essential to a sustainable, long-term vision – we are committed to delivering successful outcomes on projects that create a genuine sense of belonging. “By belonging, we mean truly belonging to the land – not owning the land,” says Toia. “Our design on the Frankston rail project needed to reflect the significance of the community’s connection to the station. We achieved that because we invested a lot of time in learning about the local community – as well as visitors who pass through the area – and made strategic design decisions to create a station that offered something to everyone.”
Starting with a bold vision created a foundation for design excellence that meshed the need for practical, effective space with elements that lifted the project to become something more memorable and special. Working on public buildings is a great privilege and responsibility that really hit home when a commuter wrote to us directly to share how their journey had improved with the work we did in re-planning the station buildings to improve the process of boarding and disembarking.
Meeting the technical requirements that a functional, busy train station has to adhere to underpinned every decision and with the announcement of the awards’ shortlist, the entire team at Genton are proud that improving amenity for the users of this busy rail link has also enhanced a positive connection with the essence of this coastal community. Train stations are functional but, no matter what we do, we look at projects from a broader, urban perspective. We love creating things that are uplifting. Architectural infrastructure is most successful when it elevates the space around it.
