Abstract
Violence and discrimination against the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, intersex, and queer community (LGBTIQ+) persist globally, prompting the emergence of purpose-built community centres as spaces of advocacy, support, and celebration. This chapter explores the recent establishment of the Victorian Pride Centre (VPC) in Melbourne, Australia, to examine how architecture contributes to the representation of diverse LGBTIQ+ identities. Drawing on a project review, it investigates the challenges of representing a multifaceted community within a physical structure, navigating tensions around identity, inclusivity, and political activism. The VPC’s design, characterised by architectural motifs inspired by local history rather than overt LGBTIQ+ symbols, offers a nuanced approach to community representation. However, this chapter also examines how the centre’s existence intersects with broader social and political dynamics, including urban gentrification, far-right opposition, and ongoing struggles for equality. Through an analysis of the VPC’s architecture and its sociopolitical context, this chapter underscores the complexities of creating physical spaces that both celebrate and safeguard the rights and freedoms of the LGBTIQ+ community.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Designing Gender Sensitive Spaces for Consenting Cities |
| Subtitle of host publication | Practices and Provocations |
| Editors | Jess Berry, Nicole Kalms, Timothy Moore, Gene Bawden |
| Place of Publication | Oxon UK |
| Publisher | Routledge |
| Chapter | 8 |
| Pages | 110-120 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 9781003561514 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9781032911274 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2025 |
