Melbourne Needs A Makeover

"The boom years have, in many areas, sculpted Melbourne into a city driven by commercialism rather than quality design, says Mr Cox, winner of some of Australia's most prestigious architecture awards."

"Melbourne - in recent years widely recognised as a "hot" design city - is slipping down the scale as one of the world's best designed cities, he believes."

"Melbourne's buildings are also evolving on commercial rather than aesthetic or environmental grounds, he says."

"'If you take Paris, it's culture that is the dominant thing.'"

"Sitting in the much-criticised shopping centre adjoining Southern Cross Station, Mr Cox says commerce has had too much impact on the look of Melbourne, and public-private partnerships have had a negative effect on the architectural outcome of some projects."

"He believes there must be more developments focused on people."