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A new Apple Store proposed for Federation Square has been labelled a "Pizza Hut pagoda" as the Melbourne City Council voted to step up pressure for a redesign.
Tuesday night's city council meeting heard the proposal has overwhelmingly been rejected by the community, with the council receiving about 800 submissions rejecting the design.
Councillors unanimously backed a motion by Greens Councillor Rohan Leppert to lobby the Government for a new design for the store and public consultation.
If the Government rejects the council's proposal, then the administration will encourage Upper House MPs to disallow the planning scheme amendment enabling the project.
Councillor Leppert said the council lacked the power to block the development from going ahead.
"This is one of the strongest positions we have taken," he said.
"It is very rare for councils to encourage non-Government MPs to overturn decisions of the Government.
"I'm quite sure that if the Government doesn't deal with this that there will be a motion in the Upper House."
While all councillors have rejected the proposed design, they are divided on whether further commercial development should be allowed in the square.
Councillor Nicholas Reece believes with the right design, an Apple Store could actually improve the square.
"Provided it's done in the right way it could be a good thing for Federation Square," Cr Reece said.
But he said he had not found anyone who liked the design.
"It reminds me of a Pizza Hut pagoda and I just think it's like something that's rolled off an Apple Store production line," Cr Reece said.
The State Government has yet to comment.
Topics: architecture, state-parliament, government-and-politics, computers-and-technology, tourism, local-government, melbourne-3000, vic
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