Genton unveils Pakenham Station as a landmark transport hub in Melbourne’s southeast.
Australian architecture practice Genton has completed Pakenham Station, a new transport hub on Melbourne’s south-eastern rail corridor that seamlessly integrates cutting-edge digital fabrication with an expansive public realm transformation.
Spanning 2.5 kilometres, the project forms part of Victoria’s Level Crossing Removal initiative, elevating the railway and removing three road crossings to create an uninterrupted connection through Pakenham. The resulting infrastructure not only enhances safety and traffic flow but also introduces over 20,000 square metres of newly landscaped community space beneath the viaduct, featuring parks, fitness circuits, and recreational facilities.
Transparency and civic scale
Positioned as a ‘gateway’ to Gippsland, Pakenham Station departs from conventional rail architecture through its radical openness. Unlike typical enclosed station structures, Genton stripped away the facade, embracing a fully transparent design. The approach enhances visibility, daylight penetration, and passive ventilation while reinforcing safety and connectivity within the precinct.
“We saw an opportunity to remove the traditional station enclosure and instead focus on a dramatic roof structure that defines the architectural language,” said Marc Debney, Principal at Genton. “This decision not only opens the station up to its surroundings but also makes the roof the dominant design element, creating a striking civic presence.”
Extending well beyond the platform edges, the oversized canopy provides substantial weather protection, mitigating wind and rain exposure without reliance on heavy cladding. The soffit, punctuated with skylights, channels natural light deep into the station, creating a bright, inviting transport environment.
Digital fabrication and material innovation
A key element of Pakenham Station’s design is its digitally fabricated wave-like roof structure, an outcome of advanced manufacturing processes that significantly reduce material waste and embodied carbon.
“By designing and manufacturing through a digital fabrication process, we’ve delivered a more sustainable solution, reducing the need for raw materials, minimising prototypes, and cutting CO2 emissions,” explained Jamie McCutchen, who led the engineering of the station’s structural components.
Utilising reinforced thermoset in place of conventional steel, the project achieved a lighter, more efficient structural system with reduced environmental impact. “This shift not only lightens the structure but also supports a more sustainable approach to infrastructure,” McCutchen added. The precision of digital fabrication ensured millimetre-accurate assembly, a crucial factor given the complexities of building within a live rail environment.
Indigenous co-design and local narratives
Genton also worked with Indigenous designers to incorporate meaningful cultural elements into the station’s architecture. Perforated screens along the rail bridges reference the movement of smoke, while station wall patterns echo the wings of Bunjil, the wedge-tailed eagle, a figure of deep significance in Indigenous mythology.
“These elements are subtle yet powerful acknowledgements of Country,” said Debney. “They root the station in the history and stories of the land while contributing to its overall material and textural quality.”
A new urban connection
Beyond the station itself, the project has reconfigured Pakenham’s urban landscape. By elevating the railway, the once-divided suburb gains a seamless pedestrian and cycle connection, linking the town centre with the new parklands.
The bus interchange, integrated with six local and five regional routes, enhances multimodal connectivity, ensuring a smoother transfer between train and road networks. The removal of the boom gates at McGregor Road, Main Street, and Racecourse Road alleviates congestion for the 63,000 vehicles that previously passed through these intersections daily.
As Melbourne’s rail network continues its evolution, Pakenham Station stands as a benchmark for integrating civic architecture, advanced technology, and urban renewal. By prioritising transparency, material efficiency, and public space, Genton has redefined the role of transport infrastructure, proving that stations can be more than transit points, they can be urban landmarks that shape the future of a community.
