In Melbourne’s Docklands, a new 3,500-square-metre public park and $600 million luxury hotel has opened to the public. Located in North Wharf on the north bank of the Yarra River, the revitalised Seafarers precinct was designed by a collaborative team.
According to a release from the project’s developer, Riverlee, the new Seafarers Rest Park is the sole riverfront park to be constructed in the city in more than 20 years. The developer noted that the new 200-metre-long park, which commenced construction in April 2024 with a design by landscape architecture practice Oculus in collaboration with the City of Melbourne, “delivers vital green infrastructure and habitat for Melbourne’s CBD, and connects pedestrians and cyclists directly to the river.”
Adjacent to the park, the design of the newly opened One Hotel and Homes has been led by architecture practice FK, with hotel interiors by One Design Office and residential interiors by Carr. The building, which comprises 277 guest rooms and 114 residences, centres on the adaptive reuse of the historic Goods Shed No. 5.
Constructed in 1939 to replace the site’s original Gold Rush-era shed, the current, heritage-listed Goods Shed remained the most used wharf on Melbourne’s waterfront until access was restricted by the Charles Grimes Bridge built in 1975.
FK principal Falk Peuser noted that the design of the hotel draws upon the forms of the historic shed alongside the precinct’s broader city context.
“Designing a building on an island site in Melbourne’s CBD presented a rare opportunity to craft an architectural form that stands alone yet feels deeply embedded in place – one that can be experienced and admired from every angle,” FK principal Falk Peuser said.
“The facade features two distinct volumetric forms: the lower hotel levels, which reference the angular side panels of Goods Shed No. 5, and the upper levels, which express the dynamic, ever-changing nature of the river,” he added. “The resulting sculptural form is grounded in its history while remaining forward-looking and responsive to its natural surroundings.”
The design of Seafarers Park likewise draws upon the site’s maritime history, with the refurbished shed designated the “hero feature” of the precinct. The park incorporates timber seating inspired by shipping crates, rope swings, historical signage and local maritime artefacts. In addition, over 2,000 original items from the shed have been preserved and more than 4,500-square metres of reclaimed and recycled timber incorporated throughout the precinct.
A preservation-led approach has also informed the restoration of the site’s ecological heritage within the park, which incorporates water-sensitive urban design, habitat-supportive landscaping and “woody meadow” plantings, such as native grasses and wildflowers, that once flourished along the Birrarung/Yarra River.
Oculus director Claire Martin reflected, “As designers, we understand the profound importance that public spaces can have on public life. Inspired by the site’s rich maritime history and cultural significance, we approached this project with a commitment to honour past stories while creating an inclusive landscape to improve future public health and wellbeing.”
City of Melbourne Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece commented, “This part of the Birrarung holds a special place in Australia’s maritime history – once a place ships set off on journeys to Antarctica, and now set to be a new favourite spot for people to stroll, play or take a moment to relax.”
The Seafarers precinct is now open to the public.
Source: Architecture - architectureau
