THE ISSUES
LIMITED ACCESS
CASE STUDY Park Bench • Fresh Air Squares • WMB Studio • London • 2015 - ongoing
Wyndham residents have poor access to proximate green space compared 1
with many municipalities in Melbourne. Green space is mostly located outside the urban growth boundary THE
and not integrated into the urban fabric.2
ISSUE
that instigated this project was London’s poor air quality caused by
pollution, therefore the Fresh Air Squares program was developed.6
C A R D O M I N A T E D Upon observation, the spatial arrangement of Werribee Town Centre
THE AIM
prioritses cars instead of pedestrians which hinders access and creates safety issues.
THE
3
protected from heat.
A P L A C E F O R P E O P L E ? The Wyndham City Council aims to create a ‘place for people’
develop green space for people to gather that provides equitable access to all members of the community
THE
C O N C E P T was to create a micro-park, or parklet, that utilises two car parking
spaces. Trees and plants are integrated into a sculptural seating arrangement that creates a barrier between the footpath and road.7
yet Werribee is dominated by car parking, inhibiting pedestrian zones.4 THE
WHAT DOES THE COMMUNITY WANT?
of the project was to improve air quality while promoting urban greening and
stimulating social interaction.7
U R B A N H E A T I S L A N D E F F E C T Wyndham has little tree canopy cover, partially as there is little rainfall and the area does not favour tree growth. Therefore the urban environment is not
AIM
B E N E F I T S include an enlarged footpath and seating for pedestrians to
Residents feel Werribee Town
gather and relax. Safety is improved through the physical buffer between pedestrians and
Centre could be improved through the provision of parks and open space and young people are especially
traffic. Air quality has improved due to an increase in vegetation cover as found through a
interested in places to create, gather and engage.5
monitoring device. The project was low cost due to materials and the adaptable design.6, 7 Figures 1 & 2: London Park Bench (WMB Studio, 2015)
W E R R I B E E M I C R O - PA R K transforming car parks into places for people
FEASIBILITY SMALL-SCALE This project only requires two car parking spaces therefore has little impact on the overall parking amenity, yet pedestrian space is activated and enlarged. Although this project does improve access to green space in Werribee on a small-scale, it does not solve Wyndham’s larger issue of lack of accessible green space.
THE CONCEPT create a micro-park, with sculptural seating and native vegetation using car parking space in Werribee Town Centre
THE BENEFITS ACTIVATED SPACE
IMPROVE SAFETY
The design activates space for people to gather and
The micro-park provides a threshold and physical
socialise. The micro-park aims to create opportunities
distinction between car and pedestrians zones, in an
for encounter and encourage a convivial urban
effort to improve pedestrian safety.8
9
ADAPTABLE
environment.
The key elements of the design can easily be adapted to suit Werribee, such as using local materials and native vegetation.
REDUCE STRESS
ROAD
LOW-COST 8
CAR PARKING
Due to the small-scale of this project, the cost is low. Recycled and local materials may be used.
PILOT
MICRO-PARK
This project may be implemented temporarily in Werribee Town Centre and if successful repeated in other activity centres in Wyndham. The Pavement to Park Program by the City of San Francisco calls for community 8 proposals for micro-parks, led by ‘merchants, neighbourhood groups and other organisations’. The City of
Wyndham may adopt a similar initiative as part of the Wyndham Open Space Strategy.
Ella Anderson - 757195
INTEGRATING NATURE Canopy cover is increased and the local context is
Green space is proven to improve mental health as
recognised through native vegetation. Urban greenery
vegetation has restorative effects, as well as providing
is proven to reduce temperature and mitigate the
a connection with nature amongst the urban
urban heat island effect.
environment.
11
10
A PLACE FOR EVERYONE The sculptural design of the seating creates affordance as all users can access
FOOTPATH
comfortable seating in Werribee Town Centre. The United Nations states the right of everyone, especially vulnerable people, to have access to inclusive green space.12
13
Figure 3: Plan of Micro-park (author)
Background image: by author, based on photograph by WMB Studio. (2015). Parked Bench. Retrieved from http://www.wmbstudio.co.uk/#/parkedbench/ 1 - Victoria Environmental Assessment Council (VEAC). (2010). Metropolitan Melbourne Investigation Discussion Paper. Retrieved from http://www.veac.vic.gov.au/reports/Discussion%20Paper%20-%20Full%20Report%20MMI.pdf 2 - Victoria Environmental Assessment Council (VEAC). (2011). Metropolitan Melbourne Investigation. Retrieved from http://www.veac.vic.gov.au/documents/VEAC152-MMI-Final-Report-FINAL-low-res.pdf 3 - Wyndham City Council. (2017). City Forest & Habitat Strategy: 2017-2040. Retrieved from https://www.wyndham.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2018-02/City%20Forest%20%26%20Habitat%20Strategy.pdf 4 - Wyndham City. (2015). Wyndham 2040 Vision. Retrieved from https://www.wyndham.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2016-06/Wyndham%202040%20Vision%20-%20Resource.pdf 5 - Wyndham City Council. (2018). Wyndham’s Activity Centres: Results and Analysis of Fieldwork. Wyndham, Victoria: Bishop, A. & Visser, R. 6 - Butler, E. (2015). WMB Studio installs bench micro-park on busy London street. Design Boom. Retrieved from https://www.designboom.com/architecture/wmbstudio-bench-micro-park-london-12-01-2015/?utm_campaign=daily&utm_medium=email&utm_source=subscribers 7 - WMB Studio. (2015). Parked Bench. Retrieved from http://www.wmbstudio.co.uk/#/parkedbench/ 8 - City of San Francisco. (2015). Parklet Manual. Retrieved from http://pavementtoparks.org/wp-content/uploads//2015/12/SF_P2P_Parklet_Manual_2.2_FULL1.pdf 9 - Fincher, R., & Iveson, K. (2008). Planning and Diversity in the City: Redistribution, recognition and encounter. Palgrave: New York. 10 - Wolch, J. W., Byrne, J., & Newell, J. P. (2014). Urban green space, public health and environmental justice: The challenge of making cities ‘just green enough’. Landscape and Urban Planning 125, 234-244. 11 - Kendel, D., Lee, K., Ramalho, C., Bowen, K. & Bush, J. (2016). Benefits of Urban Green Space in the Australian Context. Clean Air and Urban Landscapes Hub. Retrieved from https://www.nespurban.edu.au/publications-resources/research-reports/CAULHub_BenefitsUrbanGreeningReport_20160912.pdf 12 - United Nations. (n.d.). Envision 2030 Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. Retrieved from https://www.un.org/development/desa/disabilities/envision2030-goal11.html 13 - Wyndham City Council. (2016). Wyndham Open Space Strategy. Retrieved from https://www.wyndham.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2016-06/Wyndham%20Open%20Space%20Strategy%20-%20WOSS%20FINAL%20-%20MAIN.pdf