Ankita Mallick Urban Design Portfolio MUD | The University of Melbourne | 2023 1 . U r b a n Fa b r i c T ra n s f o r m a t i o n s ( T h e s i s ) 2 . R e W i l d We t l a n d s c a p e s 3 . Ce l e b ra t i n g B a l l a ra t
Complete thesis
Field Trip Compilation
South Yarra VR
Collingwood VR
Urban Fabric Transformations Alternative model for urban densification Site: South Yarra & Collingwood Master of Urban Design | Studio D Thesis, 2023 | Individual & Collaborative Studio Leads: Dr. David Mah
The increasing population density and urbanization in Melbourne’s inner-city suburbs have led to a demand for innovative approaches to accommodate growth while preserving the unique character of these neighborhoods. This thesis proposes an alternative method for introducing medium density built form in these areas through the implementation of solar access-based urban fabric and open space contributions. By emphasizing solar access and open space, the objective is to create sustainable, diverse and livable built environment while addressing the challenges associated with increased density. The guidelines incorporate solar access considerations. These guidelines define parameters such as maximum building height, building envelope, and ground coverage, ensuring optimal solar exposure for both existing and new developments. Additionally, the guidelines emphasize the integration of open spaces within the built environment, promoting community interaction and ecological sustainability. Further the guidelines are implemented through testing them in a block in South Yarra and Collingwood each. This is a collaboration with other students of the studio, each of them focusing in different aspect of built environment.
South Yarra The selected block is the block along the Claremont Street, which over the past 15 years has seen major transformations. At present the high rise towers overlook and overshadow each other and do not have green open spaces. The block is long and is surrounded by vehicular streets with footpath being crossed by cars due to the car parking access. This block is susceptible to flooding due to close proximity to the yarra river. The guidelines below are a example of the types of the buildings, scan the QR code to see the complete guideline catalogue.
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LOCATION
MAX. HEIGHT
SIDE SETBACK
Urban Design Framework
South Yarra
Re-imagined Public Plaza in South Yarra
Event spaces between the buildings in the urban voids.
Pedestrian street with activities
spilling over from the buildings. Public plaza with new play spaces for children.
Collingwood Collingwood is industrial land the grain is coarse, with long blocks sometimes owned by singular stakeholders and further developed into one building. The same pattern of consolidated development can be seen here, the urban renewal precincts has the most number of developments happening at the moment. The new building typologies is the same, high rise, in some cases overshadowing each other and due to its history as industrial area there aren’t as many green spaces to begin with. The guidelines below are a example of the types of the buildings, scan the QR code to see the complete guideline catalogue.
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LOCATION
MAX. HEIGHT
SIDE SETBACK
Urban Design Framework
Collingwood
Re-imagined Public Plaza in Collingwood
Event spaces between the buildings in the urban voids.
Residential Street as an active sp
pace.
Public plaza with new play spaces for children.
Complete proposal
ReWild Wetlandscapes
Urban Regeneration through wetlands Site: Fishermans Bend Master of Urban Design | Studio C, 2023 | Group work (two) Studio Leads: Justyna Karakiewicz, Theo Blankley
The Fisherman’s Bend is intended to be a state-level hub for employment and innovation as well as an opportunity to build additional residences to address the current housing crisis and the upcoming demands. Environmental sustainability and climate change, two of the most urgent concerns facing modern cities and a global crisis, have been accorded secondary priority when evaluating the potential of the post-industrial urban renewal site. This thesis aims to propose a vision and a framework for Fisherman’s Bend with ecology and environmental resilience as the primary driver that can create equal or greater value for the society in terms of environmental and leading to economic benefits, in contrast with the traditional economy-driven planning approach. The proposal combines the concept of ecological succession and water tendency lines to propose methods to regenerate the contaminated land. Various tools such as slime and water tendency line analysis on the software, Rhino and Grasshopper were used to inform the proposal. Later the proposal also integrates other Architecture and Urban Design proposals in the Studio of other students.
West gate Freeway Public Park Recreational Zone Parks Sports Fields Inaccessible
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private
open spaces
Fisherman’s Bend is located in the south-west of the Melbourne CBD, across the Yarra from the Docklands. It is the former industrial area of the Melbourne, the industries have now moved from the Fisherman’s’ Bend (FB) leaving the opportunity to transform (FB) as an urban renewal project as an extension of the CBD. As it was industrial area there are not a lot of green cover, but West Gate Park holds a variety and range of species of Flora and Fauna. The West Gate Freeway connects the western suburbs to the northern and the eastern suburbs. There are various types of contamination in the soil subsurface and also in the aquifer in some areas. Due to the presence of variety of industries in the area over the year the soil has been contaminated and has become hazardous for habitation. This presents a challenge for the stakeholders as to how to re-mediate the soil. This process can be very expensive and treating it can be a time taking process.
The proposal has been staged in three phases, each phases provides strategies to achieve resilience in three aspects of urban ecology, i.e., environment, social and economy. The first stage is focused on the environmental regeneration, this stage is expected to end after 5 years of the commencement. During these years the regenerated spaces will have to be left undisturbed with human interactions for the nature to take over with time and the phyto-remediation sites would also be tested at the end of this stage to examine if these spaces would be safe for public use. The second stage is focused on linking the social and environmental values that we have achieved. This stage is expected to complete in 20 years after the end of stage 1. In this stage the landscape will connect to other projects and provide social linkages to the environment.
Stage 01
The third stage focuses on building a framework for expansion of the resilience approach and focus on a time when the water level rises based on the map of water level inundation in 100 years.
Stage 02
Stage 03
STAGE 01: ENVIRONMENTAL REGENERATION The first stage focuses on binging back nature to the post industrial site. In this stage various analysis of the topography and the concept of ecological succession will be used to provide the maximum opportunity for the environment to take over the site. The Fisherman’s Bend has faced a lot of flooding issues due to lack of impervious surfaces and industrial contamination. The strategies are directed to regenerate the environment by rehabilitating and constructing new wetlands on the basis of the current topographical data. This stage also includes an architectural project proposal “Symbiosis Delta-scape” which focuses on the regeneration of the riparian edge. This stage also takes assistance of the “PPU engines”, from the “PPU Hub” to break the concrete and composting for remediation.
Section showing the tran
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nsforming water edge of Fishermans Bend after Stage 01.
STAGE 02: LINKING SOCIAL AND ENVIRONME This stage focuses on connecting people to the natural environment and to the components that will provide social opportunities for people to engage with nature. The first strategy focuses on the expansion of the wetlands on the basis of the further analysis of the topography and the ecological succession analysis. In this stage we also establish two potential water reservoirs that can hold water and also treat it through natural processes. The strategies further focuses on providing access to the wetlands by connecting to the Livable Transit Corridor and the AquaInno Hub. The Livable Transit corridor provides train connectivity and bridges that connects to the various parts of the landscapes and the AquaInno Hub provides connection to FB via the waterways.
Section showing the tran
ENTAL VALUES
nsforming water edge of Fishermans Bend after Stage 02.
STAGE 03: APPROACHING ENVIRONMENTAL The third stage focuses on building a framework for expansion of the resilience approach and focus on a time when the water level rises based on the map of water level inundation in 100 years. In this stage the increased water level will submerge some of the wetlands with water permanently and some of them will be for a short while. These connected wetlands will distribute the increased water to a larger area and reduce the impact on the waterfront area. The wetlands will provide channels for the water to be absorbed and also spread the water to the larger areas, reducing the impact of the flood.
Section showing the tran
L RESILIENCE
nsforming water edge of Fishermans Bend after Stage 03.
Celebrating Ballarat! 2026 Commonwealth games Village Site: Ballarat Master of Urban Design | Studio B, 2022 | Group work (three) Studio Leads: Dr. Marjan Hajjari, James Whitten The 2026 Commonwealth Games will be another pivotal moment in the history of Ballarat because it will again put the city on the world stage and provide an opportunity to celebrate its rich culture and heritage. This urban design project frames the Canadian Creek as a space to interpret and explore the meaning of the aboriginal place name for Ballarat (pronounced ‘Ballaarat’ in the Wadawurrung traditional owners’ language) as ‘a place to rest’ or ‘resting place’. The project is for a series of new public spaces that could connect residents and visitors alike to local indigenous culture and remnant pre-colonial landscapes while moving between the city centre and tourist attractions at Sovereign Hill. The design proposal re-imagines the detached single-family house—the dominant residential typology of Ballarat— and explores opportunities to introduce higher-density typologies that support Council’s ambition for Ballarat to become a 20-minute city (with enhanced walking and cycling infrastructures, urban services and local amenities). The built form and spatial structure of the athletes’ village is intended to provide an open and flexible framework for urban development that supports a diversity of dwelling types and public and communal programs. Additionally, new development on the site is structured to support the redevelopment of surrounding sites (including the city centre) by increasing levels of urban activity and the potential for new physical connections through the Golden Point precinct.
SITE ANALYSIS
Precinct Scale Analysis Our site is located in between the CBD and the Sovereign hill precinct and is connected by a creek called the Canadian creek. It is 1.4km away from the Ballarat regional train station and lies between two bus route networks.
The daily amenities are located mostly towards the CBD. At present it is a community sports center with an athletics track. The precinct has an organic morphology which was created as result of the gold mining and it transposes with the grid of the CBD towards the west and north-west of the site.
City Scale Analysis
City Scale Transit Network
Land Use Analysis
The precinct is predominantly residential with detached dwellings, and concentrated amenities not in walkable distances from the site. There is a need to create more public spaces in this highly private residential area, which would provide opportunities for social interaction for the residents and also the people coming to visit the sovereign hill.
There is an opportunity to spread the amenities in the precinct for easy access from all areas, which would also provide active frontages and provision of permeable blocks would enhance the walking experience and promote walking over driving to these amenities.
Socio- Economic Analysis
SECTIONS
DESIGN PRINCIPLES
Active modes of circulation
Active Public Spaces
Housing Diversity Opportunity
Cultura
Civic Well-Being
al Heritage Integration
URBAN DESIGN FRAMEWORKS
EXISTING PRECINCT CONDITION
The site and precinct has low density housing, impermeable blocks, the creek is secluded and separated from the public access so the green spaces along the creek is underutilized.
URBAN TRANSFORMATION BY 2032
Redevelop the existing adjacent derelict-ed dwellings in the immediate context. Increase walk-ability by providing more permeable short blocks and using this opportunity to increase more public small green open spaces along those connections.
URBAN TRANSFORMATION BY 2026
We are providing medium density housing in the site to accommodate the 1750 athletes for the game, which would have diverse housing typology. New connections through the existing fabric to increase walk-ability in and around the site. The rejuvenation of the creek with active frontages.
URBAN TRANSFORMATION BY 2052
Spread of this decentralized medium density housing typology to f the precinct along the public transport corridors and then to other parts of Ballarat.
1. 1. The re-imagined creek section with series of various public spaces engaging and involving the diverse cultural heritage of the city integrated with the natural landscape. 2. The Promenade next to the central field, with a temporary market in place at the moment with flexible spaces on the ground level of the buildings along the promenade. 3. The Public plaza in the north of the site at the intersection of the creek and the promenade. The plaza has space for performances and open spaces for temporary functions to be set up.
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