Federation Square, Melbourne, Australia

This civic centre in the heart of Melbourne, Victoria was built as a focal point for the city, to mask the unattractive railway lines that ran through the city centre. The railway had to be covered with 3,000 tons of steel beams and 4,000 spring coils to absorb vibrations. The unusual design of the square makes copious use of sandstone, zinc and glass. Taking 8 years to design and build, Federation Square hosts several shops, restaurants and coffee shops, as well as the Ian Potter Centre, the first major museum dedicated exclusively to Australian art.