Master of Urban Design Portfolio by Divya Menon

ACADEMIC PORTFOLIO Div ya Me n o n | Univ e rsit y of Me lb ourn e

DIVYA MENON Urban Designer | Architect Carlton, Victoria

EXPERIENCE Volunteer Planning Consultant | March 2020 Westside Community Desexing Clinic, Melbourne Architectural Intern | Nov 2017-May 2018 Ingrain, Mumbai Summer Intern | May 2017- Jun 2017 Arch Design, Thane EDUCATION Master’s Degree in Urban Design | Mar 2020 - Dec 2021 The University of Melbourne Placemaking | Strategic Plan Making | Public Transport Network Planning | Planning Law | Statutory Planning | Urban Sustainability & Climate Change

URBAN DESIGN | ARCHITECTURE | PLACEMAKING SELECTED ACADEMIC WORKS

Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture | Aug 2014 - Apr 2019 Aditya College of Architecture, University of Mumbai Architectural Design | Theory and Representation | Advanced Building Construction | Theory and Design of Structures | Environmental Studies EXTRA CURRICULARS Croydon South Food For Thought | 2021 Entry for ‘C40 Students Reinventing Cities’, Maroondah City Council Cultural Landscapes and Urban Resilience Workshop | 2019 Bauhaus Summer School, Bauhaus-University Weimar

Index I. Structure Plan Box Hill, Melbourne II. Innovation + Research Hub Fishermans Bend, Melbourne

Rethink the City: Approaches to Global and Local Urban Challenges | 2018 Online Course, Delft University of Technology Documenting Pol Housing Typology, Ahmedabad | 2015 Entry for ‘INTACH Heritage Awards 2016’ SKILLS

Expert - AutoCAD, Sketchup, Adobe Suite Intermediate - QGIS, Rhino, Vray, MS Office Basic - ArchiCad, Grasshopper, DepthMapX

III. Library Park + Vocational Training Centre Ghodbunder Village, Mumbai IV. Gleadell Street Square Richmond, Melbourne +61 450542728 | ar.divyamenon@gmail.com | www.linkedin.com/in/divyamenon96

01 Radhika Goyal | Divya Menon | Larissa Tse Images used are produced by author.

BOX HILL GARDENS

STRUCTURE PLAN

Box Hill, Melbourne

WHITEHORSE ROAD

Box Hill is a suburb 14km east of Melbourne’s CBD. It was part of Melbourne’s eastward expansion of the metropolis in the late 1950s. Box Hill had its own municipality in the former City of Box Hill and its own suburbs. In recent years, Box Hill has become notable for its significant growth of population.Since the 1990’s, numerous restaurants and retailers in its shopping district have contributed to its booming population, making Box Hill a major transportation hub in the eastern suburbs. The proposed structure plan connects Box Hill Station to Box Hill Gardens which has been redesigned as an active public space. Whitehorse Road currently forms a divide between the North and South precincts. An elevated pedestrian walkway forms the spine of the precinct and improves accessibilty across the road. The new structure plan creates a walkable neighbourhood with shared roads and vibrant civic spaces.

BOX HILL STATION

SCALE 1:5,000 @A4

I . S T RU C T URE PL A N | B OX HIL L , MEL B O URNE

Layering of Framework

I . S T RU C T URE PL A N | B OX HIL L , MEL B O URNE

ZONE2

ZONE 1

ZONE 3

I . S T RU C T URE PL A N | B OX HIL L , MEL B O URNE

Detailed Plan of Zone 1: Civic Lounge

Detailed Axonometric of Zone 1: Civic Lounge

SCALE 1:200 @A4

05 Urban Design Thesis | Divya Menon

URBAN FOOD SYSTEMS

Innovation and Research Hub Fishermans

Bend,

Melbourne

Fishermans Bend is currently an industrial site with only a thousand residents. As the site is planned for redevelopment, both residents and jobs are projected to have more than 50% growth rate in the next 30 years. Meanwhile, climate change is a threat affecting urban areas where flooding shocks in particular will hinder people from accessing daily essentials like food in the coming years. As such, Fishermans Bend is proposed to become a self-sufficient, flood-resilient urban food system that caters the needs of different users during extreme weather events. The employment precinct in the north of Fishermans Bend is projected to accommodate 12,900 residents by 2100. The northern precinct has a focus on innovation, research and food production. It is designed to supply a bulk of the food requiremet, hence, flood-resilient, high density innovation hubs form the core of this precinct.

II . INNOVAT I ON A ND RE SE A RC H HUB

| FI SHER M A NS BE

Normal Scenario

Extreme Flooding Scenario

The Southern Building reuses an existing corporate office as an intensive food production shed. It consists of a central, enclosed insect farm. It is surrounded by insect cultivation labs, office spaces and has greenhouses on the roof. The tram connects to the block at the upper level creating a network with the building podium. This creates an elevated public realm that remains active throughout flooding events and ensures pedestrian movement remains unhindered.

Central Civic Space The large open insect farm facilitates natural harvesting of insect species. The transparent enclosure of the insect farm forms a visual connection to the lower public space and encourages people to interact with it. This increases awareness and acceptability of alternative food sources. A raised plinth has been incorporated into the ground level to ensure a sufficient clearance from flood levels while providing a suitable interface for people to gather. The plinth protects the insect farm from being flooded.

II . INNOVAT I ON A ND RE SE A RC H HUB | FI SHER M A NS BEN

I . INNOVAT I ON A ND RE SE A RC H HUB | FI SHER M A NS BEN

Internal Bridge

The internal bridge goes through the insect habitat (right), enhancing the experience of visual interaction with the process of food production and leads to the plaza on the other side. It forma a link between the restaurant and the surrounding blocks to facilitate access to food.

II . INNOVAT I ON A ND RE SE A RC H HUB | FI SHER M A NS BEN

Roof Top Plaza

The upper public plaza is located at the intersection of the tram connection and the pedestrian bridge leading to the residential blocks. Retail spaces and food stalls on the upper plaza act as an anchor point for people to gather. The stalls sell food produced in the building and provide a robust marketplace for people to experiment with alternative food types, thus creating a synergy between production and consumption of food.

III. LIBRARY PARK AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING CENTRE

Architecture Thesis | Divya Menon

Ghodbunder, Mumbai

Urban villages form a part of the built landscape of Mumbai and are essential in maintaining cultural diversity and historical context. They have tremendous potential to develop due to their proximity to the city. Due to the current urban-rural dichotomy, there is a need to enhance the livelihood for the community, reviving the traditional occupations and preserve its heritage that spans across generations. The project aims to better integrate the villages into the urban fabric and provide its residents with opportunites to flourish.

Ghodbunder Fort

Proposed Building

Scale 1:500 @ A4

III . L IBR A RY PA RK A ND VO C AT I ON A L T R A INING C ENT RE, MU M

should be aimed at a new space. Taking into account the budget provided for Summer 2022, a sum of $10,000, it was decided that providing a village centre in the short-term would be an efficient, temporary and cost effective way to activate the entire street in the long run. Gleadell Street Square is to become a community hub that stimulates ongoing momentum, usership and awareness, for the mid-term and longterm strategies to be put in place.

Implementation

Yingan Huo, Minpeng Ma, Andrew MacKinnon, Divya Menon & Rose Ong

timeline

mid-term

3-12 months of community-driven planting & events

Activate Lynall Hall car park as activate lynall hall car park as a meeting place for the existing a meeting place for the existing Saturday market satuday market

short-term

Implementation

IV. GLEADELL STREET SQUARE

Promote Indigenous culutral promote indigenous cultural Increase the community community heritage through heritage through community participation adding plantationbyactivities plantation activities

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The on the street itself, providing a social space school is located next to the Saturday market Wurundjeri Council and Yarra City Council to establish aGleadell resilient and biodiverse Street Square isupgrading focused a bottomwithin the market its existing and holds by potential to be aon resting space for market goers,new a approach place for conversation up, iterative, regenerative to achieve facilities and adding amenities, but onor Gleadell Street Precinct. The idea starts small and iteratively builds upon themes to meet with As a that starting point,sowe afurther holistic final vision through small, affordable consideration itfriends. was found doing long-term propose to utilise the school’s parking lot to short-term 36 interventions. The original vision was to that focus would spread the resources at hand over a very of native planting and increased inclusive events to achieve a future proof, thriving 1-2 years of community & council collaboration accommodate various social events are to Gleadell Street Square is focused on a bottomsummer 2022 over a month of intense activities on thearea. street itself, providing a social space large To activate the andThese preserve be conducted on thestreet weekends. activities up, iterative, regenerative approach to achieve community hub. include: Saturday Nightof Music and a within the character, market bythe upgrading itsFestivals existing its existing idea a central focal a holistic final vision through affordable Food and Drink Marketsmall, that celebrate Bridge facilities and new amenities, butmeet on point where people socialise and short-term 36addingcould interventions. The original vision was to focus Road eateries. summer 2022 over a month of intense activities further consideration it was found doing so became the short-term goal. Thethat contestation on the street itself, providing a social space would resources at hand overas a very of thespread Citizens Park and the parking, 36 the Palazzo E. “Design for change: an adaptive towell urban within the market by upgrading itsapproach existing places in transformation.” In Hes D. and C. Hernandez eds., Placemaklarge To activate themeant street the andresources preserve as thearea. market’s success, ing fundamentals for the built environment, Palgrave/MacMillan, 2019. facilities and adding new amenities, but on 28 its existing ideaspace. of a central should be character, aimed at the a new Takingfocal into further consideration it was found that doing so point where people provided could socialise and meet account the budget for Summer 2022, would spread the resources at hand over a very became short-term Thethat contestation a sum ofthe $10,000, it was goal. decided providing large area. To activate the street and preserve of the Citizens the parking, asbe well a village centrePark in theand short-term would an its existing character, the idea of a central focal as the market’s success, the resources efficient, temporary and meant cost effective way to mid-term point where people could socialise and meet should a new space. Taking into activatebe theaimed entire at street in the long run. Gleadell 3-12 months of community-driven planting & events became the short-term goal. The contestation account the budget Summer 2022, Street Square is to provided become for a community hub of the Citizens Park and the parking, as well athat sumstimulates of $10,000,ongoing it was decided that providing momentum, usership as the market’s success, meant the resources Mid-term aand village centre infor thethe short-term would an awareness, mid-term and be longshould be aimed at a new space. Taking into 3-12 months of community-driven efficient, temporary effective way to term strategies to beand put cost in place. mid-term account the budget provided for Summer 2022, & events activate the entire street in the long run. Gleadell 3-12 monthsplanting of community-driven planting & events a sum of $10,000, it was decided that providing Street is to becomeSchool a community hub Lynall Square Hall Community is located a village centre in the short-term would be an that usership on stimulates Gleadell ongoing Street momentum, and usually runs efficient, temporary and cost effective way to mid-term and awareness, for the mid-term and longclasses for students from Monday to activate the entire street in the long run. Gleadell 3-12 months of community-driven planting & events term strategies to be put in place. Friday. Site observations and community Street Square is to become a community hub recommendations suggested the vacant car that stimulates ongoing momentum, usership Lynall Hall Community weekend School isspace. located park was an underutilised The and awareness, for the mid-term and longon Gleadell Street usually market runs school is located next toand the Saturday term strategies to be put in place. classes students Monday to and holdsfor potential to befrom a resting space for Friday. community market Site goers,observations a place for and conversation or Lynall Hall Community School is located recommendations suggested the vacant to meet with friends. As a starting point, car we on Gleadell Street and usually runs long-term park was an weekend space.lot The propose to underutilised utilise the school’s parking to classes for students from Monday to 1-2 years of community & council collaboration36 school is located next to the Saturday market accommodate various social events that are to Friday. Site observations and community and holds potential be a resting space for be conducted on theto weekends. These activities recommendations suggested the vacant car market a place for conversation include: goers, Saturday Night Music Festivals andora park was an underutilised weekend space. The to meet with friends. Asthat a starting point, we Food and Drink Market celebrate Bridge school is located next to the Saturday market long-term propose to utilise the school’s parking lot to Road eateries. and holds potential to be a resting space for 1-2 years of community & council collaboration accommodate various social events that are to market goers, a place for conversation or Long-term be conducted onfor the weekends. These activities 36 Palazzowith E. “Design change: approach to urban to meet friends. Asanaadaptive starting point, we community & council places in transformation.” Hes D. and C. Hernandez eds., Placemakinclude: Saturday InNight Music Festivals and a 1-2 years of long-term propose to utilise the school’s parking lot2019. to ing fundamentals for the built environment, Palgrave/MacMillan, collaboration 28 Food and Drink Market that celebrate Bridge 1-2 years of community & council collaboration accommodate various social events that are to Road eateries. be conducted on the weekends. These activities include: Saturday Night Music Festivals and a 36 Palazzo change: an adaptive approach toBridge urban Food andE. “Design DrinkforMarket that celebrate places in transformation.” In Hes D. and C. Hernandez eds., PlacemakRoad eateries. ing fundamentals for the built environment, Palgrave/MacMillan, 2019.

support local arts & performances as well as small businesses by providing a platform for the community to showcase their talents & productslocal arts & support performances as well as small businesses by providing a platform for the community support localtheir arts talents & to showcase & performances as well as small products businesses by providing a platform for the community to showcase their talents & products

timeline Implementation

short-term

timeline

short-term

additional programmes that build on the existing Saturday Market

Increase and extend

long-term

Increase and extend the reach of the reach of community program to community planatation to and nature to plantation represent theprogram Seven walls planter boxes, green planter boxes, green Seasons of the Kulin People strips

walls and nature strips

Decrease car traffic on the

Decrease car traffic on the street street by way, making it retaining one way, by making it one but but retaining much of thethe pedestrianise gleadell street much of Soften the edge between the parking for cars and parking forthecars or pocket park and street with a pocket parks grassy slope parks

activate lynall hall car park as a meeting place for the existing satuday market

promote heritage plantati

activate lynall hall car park as a meeting place for the existing satuday market

promote heritage plantatio

activate lynall hall car park as a meeting place for the existing satuday market

promote heritage plantatio

Increase permeability through Increase permeability through beds garden beds , plant out garden peripheral Plant out peripheral Citizens Park Gardens citizens park gardens

Embed Indigenious cultural values Embed Indigenous cultural values through through landscape landscape

36 Palazzo E. “Design for change: an adaptive approach to urban places in transformation.” In Hes D. and C. Hernandez eds., Placemaking fundamentals for the built environment, Palgrave/MacMillan, 2019.

Fig.

Fig. 40

Fig.

I V . GL E A DEL L S T REE T S Q U A RE, RI C HMOND

Community Consultation Session

Community Engagement Activity Images

The success of Gleadell Street Square and the Gleadell Precinct relies on a continued community relationship and active engagement. Place governance strategies to establish stewardship is integral, as well as an ethos of collaboration with the Wurundjeri, Council and schools. Activity 1: Ice breaker table. Several views of the street are provided and people are allowed to draw anything they want to see on the street on the picture. Activity 2: A series of representative icons including natural elements, facilities, and activities are prepared, individuals are asked to attach the icons that interest them or want to see in the future to a map of the street. Questions related to their choices are asked. Activity 3: A slide about the initial proposal is presented to the people to communicate our ideas and to get feedback from the community.

Results from Activity 02

I V . GL E A DEL L S T REE T S Q U A RE, RI C HMOND

Short-Term Strategy | Source: Yingan Huo

Short-Term Strategy | Source: Divya Menon

Enriched by its connection to nature and an ongoing collaboration with the schools, the Gleadell Street Cooperative, Wurundjeri Council, and the community - Gleadell Street Square’s gardens, events and open active space aim to ensure continued engagement, allowing for the space to evolve as the community sees fit.

Mid -Term Strategy |

Source: Yingan Huo

Gleadell Street Square will become a meeting place at the heart of Richmond. A greener, cooler village centre, opening out into a biodiverse and resilient Citizens Park and greater precinct that plays host to year round community events and activities.

I V . GL E A DEL L S T REE T S Q U A RE, RI C HMOND Long-Term Strategy | Source: Divya Menon