Pentridge Piazza Coburg, Coburg, Victoria
Built on the land of the Wurundjeri people
Aspect Studios
Pentridge Piazza Coburg is Aspect Studios’ recently completed public space in the former prison administration block, and the latest element in the reinvention of the historic prison, which closed in 1997. Shayher Properties purchased this portion of the former prison complex in 2013 and has now completed the first stage of a shopping centre and apartment development.
My first visit is on a clear, sunny day – one of those glorious autumnal moments Melbourne does so perfectly. Bright sunshine, with just enough snap in the air to warrant seeking out the sun. The square is absolutely buzzing with the clamour of the weekend: shoppers walk purposefully through swarms of kids, adults gather with their small superheroes to mark a birthday, toddlers with outstretched arms charge through the splashing of the water feature. There are people everywhere – some on a mission, but