The Big ‘V

An architects vision for Melbourne’s iconic waterfront

George Zhuo, founder and design director of CX Landscape, shares his masterplan for a waterfront make-over at St. Kilda beach in Melbourne. “Our design intention is to create an iconic waterfront landmark at St Kilda beach, integrating a jetty, water park and marine habitats.

The proposed Big ‘V footprint echoes the plot shape of the nearby Luna Park and the future

Triangle Park. It starts from the existing Brookes Jetty stump and circuits back to the beachfront on the north, creating a path looping the promenade and over the sea.

This ‘Wild Urbanism’ has three components: a living pier, a floating boardwalk, and the enclosed Sea World Water Park.

Inspired by Victoria’s scenic coastal shoreline,

the living pier is a chain of modular pod-like pillars. Each unit has an undulating topography, and a textured skin of aboriginal artwork, made from a pile encapsulation material ECOncrete® to help marine life to establish and grow. The activity pods are covered by endemic grasses so people can sit along the edge or recline on native lawn to enjoy the sunset; and the habitat pods are covered by ground-hugging indigenous plants, that forms a slice of pristine wildness, celebrating the natural geography before colonial period.

The floating boardwalk is a modern retrofit of the previous jetty. Acrylic Panels with hues of orange to reflect the sunset are attached to the living pier by cantilever structure frames, its floating form represents the graceful Antarctica Aurora. The ‘Sunset Summit’ at the far end offers a spectacular vista that frames the stunning sunset in Port Phillip Bay.

The Sea World Water Park can be set as a state initial project, leased to raise funds for pier construction and long-term maintenance. Seasonal facilities and events could emerge within this encapsulation of the ocean with the permeable living pier curtaining around the edge. People could enjoy the safe open natural pool in summer, or the floating ice rink in winter.”

Design Team: George Zhuo, CX Landscape Founder and Design Director Jing Peng, CX Landscape Design Director Simon Zhao, Denton Corker Marshall Architect/3D Visualiser