Designed by SHoP Architects and Woods Bagot, 447 Collins encompasses residences, a five-star W Melbourne hotel, commercial office space, retail and dining offerings, and over 2000m² of public open space, including the new Market Street Park and tiered amphitheatre.

Tasked with developing a conceptual framework and strategic approach integrating site identity, public domain wayfinding signage and an interpretive placemaking overlay to bring together the site’s multiple uses, Civitas was established as a cohesive design thematic; recognising the importance of Citizenship, a common purpose, and sense of community.

Drawing from the site’s historical connections with public space as Melbourne’s first fruit and vegetable market in 1841 and later the National Mutual Plaza in 1961. Trade at the Western Fruit Market was the direct inspiration behind the interpretive pattern developed for the central laneway’s bronze grate. Elements of the civitas narrative are also expressed through other areas of the space including three-dimensional street numbers announcing the three Collins Street addresses.

Responding to the cohesive and refined material palette of the building’s design, the wayfinding and signage solution draws on the themes of community and classical timelessness.

The civitas narrative is expressed through all areas of the space with supersized cast concrete numerals heralding the three Collins Street addresses of 447 Collins Street Commercial Tower and 433 + 439 Collins Street Residential Towers. The custom-designed three-dimensional street numbers become both sculptures and signifiers, contributing to a sense of place and reinforcing intuitive orientation.

Corbelled stone totems with inlaid bronze text create a language of external public wayfinding elements, reinforcing the architectural legacy and contributing to the sense of a new civic precinct. Within the commercial and residential towers, a series of extruded and floating wayfinding signage elements add a layer of considered design detail to the interiors.