But councillors said the design of the seven-storey concrete car park with its sloping floors and low ceilings made it difficult to adapt for alternative uses,so the car park could still be demolished despite the heritage listing.
“The heritage overlay does not necessarily mean a prohibition on demolition,” Councillor Jamal Hakim told the meeting. “Including the car park in the planning scheme amendment... does not preclude development on the site in the future that can be considered.”
The car park was designed by architecture firm Mockridge Stahle&Mitchell and built in 1974. For many years,it was the Royal Women’s Hospital car park until the hospital moved to Parkville.
It was one of 24 new places that the Carlton Heritage Review recommended be covered by the heritage overlay.
The independent Planning Panels Victoria’s report into the Carlton Heritage Review,delivered in November last year,found the car park was “striking,robust and bold” and it was highlighted as an important example of brutalist architecture.
Brutalism is a style of architecture developed in the 20th century,characterised by minimalist constructions showcasing bare building materials and structural elements over decorative design.