5Speaker’s Corner

Research Speculative/ Idyllic Public Space

Chandigarh, 1950The political idea of a new India.

A new capital for the state of Punjab.

One after the independence and seperation of India and Pakistan.

The first planned city Post-Independence.

A political and social symbol for Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first Prime Minister to reflect the nation’s new modern and progressive outlook.

Chandigarh contained many of Le Corbusier’s Open Hand sculptures.

It was a sign for him of “peace and reconciliation. It is open to give and open to receive.” It represents the give and take of ideas

A social representation of giving back to the people utilizing the public spaces.

New capital of Brazil, replacing Rio de Janeiro.

Juscelino Kubitschek, President of Brazil from 1956-1961, ordered the construction of Brasília, fulfilling the promise of the Constitution since 1891.

Brasilia became part of Juscelino’s “fifty years of prosperity in five” plan.

In the Square of Three Powers, Oscar Niemeyer created as a focal point the dramatic Congressional Palace, which is composed of five parts: twin administrative towers flanked by a large, white concrete dome and by an equally massive concrete bowl (the Chamber of Deputies), which is joined to the dome by an underlying, flat-roofed building.

The city has been seen as an example for its use of modernist architecture on a grand scale and for its somewhat utopian city plan

Three Powers Square, 1956-58

A small municipal public park located across First Avenue from the United Nations headquarters.

Due to its proximity to the United Nations, the park is a popular site for demonstrations and rallies concerning peace and other international issues.

In 1985 the park was dedicated as New York City’s first Peace Park.

On July 9th, 2011 2pm in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Bersih 2.0 is a peacefull rally.

The goal of Bersih 2.0 is straight forward: demanding a clean and fair election for the people of Malaysia. It is about electoral reform that long needed in Malaysia.

Ralph Bunche Park, 1948

Research Visit

Speakers Corner Birrarung MarSpeaker’s Corner, in the south-eastern corner of Birrarung Marr.

It was a remnant of Yarra Park between the Jolimont Rail Yards and Yarra River that was used as a location for public lectures, protests and demonstrations.

In 1916, an estimated 50,000 people came to protest against conscription.

These activities had been moved to the north bank of the Yarra River after construction of the Queen Victoria Monument at their earlier venue on the south bank.

The site was one of the few public spaces in Melbourne where large public assemblies and speeches were allowed without a prior permit.

The mounds that speakers used to stand on to address these crowds can still be seen in this corner of Birrarung Marr.

Cavendish Square and Hanover Square

Federation SquareFederation Square occupies roughly a whole urban block bounded by Swanston, Flinders, and Russell Streets and the Yarra River.

The main square is paved in 470,000 ochre-coloured sandstone blocks from Western Australia and invokes images of the Outback.

The paving is designed as a huge urban artwork, called Nearamnew, by Paul Carter and gently rises above street level, containing a number of textual pieces inlaid in its undulating surface.

Piazza del Campidoglio

State Library StepsOn Sundays between 2:30 pm and 5:30 pm, a speakers’ forum takes place on the library forecourt, where orators take turns in speaking on various subjects.

Judiciary Square

Research Brief

ANU Chifley Library, 1946

Joseph Benedict Chifley (1885–1951) was Prime Minister of Australia from 1945 to 1949 and his government introduced the Bill which led to the establishment of the Australian National University in 1946.

Chifley took a strong interest in the development of the University and played a role in attracting eminent Australian-born academics to return to Australia to staff the new University.

He also saw clearly the need for generous expenditure on long-range research projects.

Dag Hammarskjöld Library, 1946

The Library’s primary function is to enable the delegations, Secretariat and other official groups of the United Nations to obtain, with the greatest possible speed, convenience and economy, the library materials and information needed in the execution of their duties.

It is the main depository for United Nations documents and publications and maintains a selected collection of materials of the specialized agencies and United Nations affiliated bodies

Woodrow Wilson Reading Room which seats 36 persons, houses the collections of books and documents presented to the United Nations in 1950 by the Woodrow Wilson Foundation.

St. Louis Public Library, 2012

The original three-story building was designed in Beaux Arts style featuring a ceremonial granite stair, vaulted reception foyer and centrally located Great Hall.

The North Wing transformation truly rejuvenates the library and brings it into the 21st century with the removal of old book stacks and the insertion of a new “building within the building.”

Now, a multi story public atrium provides and accessible and welcoming entry. Glass enclosed upper levels house the collection with compact density bookshelves. These books are now visible to the public as visual elements of the space. The North wall windows, now clear glass, bounce natural light deep into the interior and provide striking views.

John Curtin Prime Ministerial Librarty, 1997

Construction of the John Curtin Centre is completed at the Bentley campus, to house the John Curtin Gallery, John Curtin Prime Ministerial Library and Bankwest Theatre.

The JCPML develops and manages a unique collection of scholarly resources focusing on the life and times of John Curtin and provides modern facilities and services to support research within the archives.

Speaker’s Corner