• Project: St Kilda Triangle Live Music and Performance Venue

• Location: St Kilda

• Client: City of Port Phillip

Project Description

The St Kilda Triangle, situated along the St Kilda foreshore, has long captured the imagination of both local residents and visitors. The former Palais de Danse III, later renamed the Palace Entertainment Centre, faced destruction by fire in 2007, leading to the site’s use as an ageing car park in an important cultural and community location.

Over time, various proposals have been considered for the site, but these plans have encountered challenges, including limited community support and changing economic conditions. The 2016 St Kilda Triangle Masterplan emerged as a guiding framework for potential redevelopment. In September 2022, the City of Port Phillip initiated a feasibility study for the site as a live music and performance venue, coinciding with St Kilda’s official designation as Victoria’s first live music precinct in July 2023.

Once engaged as the lead master planner, MGS Architects adopted a collaborative approach that was instrumental in shaping the project’s design and success to date. Collaborating with Council, GLAS Urban, Waters Consultancy, HIP V. HYPE, Movement and Place, and WT Partnership facilitated a design outcome that addresses the site’s social and cultural role, thoughtfully responds to environmental conditions, and meets the requirements of venue operators. Concurrently, a Challenge Panel, comprising industry experts including Jaddan Comerford, Kate Brennan, and Kate Duncan, were engaged by MGS to provide insights drawn from events, music promotion, and cultural precinct management. In parallel, Patrick Donovan Creative Consulting and M21 played key roles in assessing the viability of the project from an industry and financial perspective.