Placemaking

The Parliamentary Zone derives grandeur from its scale and the open sweep of the vista from Parliament House to the Australian War Memorial and Mount Ainslie.

The undeniable political focus of the Zone is evident in the visual dominance of Parliament House at the apex of the national triangle. At its base, along Lake Burley Griffin, the Parliamentary Zone has a remarkable water frontage and promenade. However, the inherent beauty of this place is often difficult for the visitor to grasp.

Contemporary buildings, which were sited in conformity with earlier masterplans, do not have a strong relationship to one another or to their surroundings. It is hard to get around on foot. Pathways often fail to connect obvious destinations, and are generally uninspiring. Orientation is difficult for visitors. Landmarks, identifiers or memorable places are underdeveloped or are not publicly recognisable. Signage is fragmented and interpretative information is limited. With one exception, all restaurants, cafes and visitor amenities such as public toilets are housed within the major cultural or government institutions.

Many remarkable national events have occurred in the public spaces of the Parliamentary Zone. Federation Mall and Parkes Place are rich with a history of people gathering for protest, commemoration and celebration. The Parliamentary Zone already has a long history as the place of the people.

Interest in the use of Parkes Place for Centenary of Federation events, and a sharp increase in the use of the foreshore promenade since the International Flag Display was installed, illustrate the potential, and need, for a people focus.

The National Capital Plan draws attention to the essential, yet mostly intangible, function of the National Capital as the symbol of Australian national life and values. At present there is little evidence of this in the public spaces of the Zone.

The landscape spaces have both quality and beauty, and include a number of discrete places such as the National Rose Garden, and yet there is little to draw people to these special places. The Zone gives little or no recognition to Indigenous people and our multicultural heritage. With the exception of the King George V Memorial, there is scant recognition of the persons and events that have shaped Australian history.