C u l t i v a t i n g
a n
i n
N o r t h
by Ayako Honzawa, Chloe Knowles, Eugenie Foo & James Francis University of Melbourne
R i c h m o n d
W H I C H
WO U L D
YO U
K E E P ?
COMMUNITY
3D GARDEN ARCH ENTRANCE
OPEN SPACE INTERVENTIONS Lawn Chairs, Play Equiptment etc
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PHYSICAL WELLBEING Gym equiptment, Basketball Courts
COMMUNITY HUB
ADVENTURE PLAYGROUND
SOCIAL ENTERPRISE
COMMUNITY GARDENS
ECOLOGICAL / ENVIRONMENT
MARKET SPACE
LIVESTOCK
RENEWABLE ENERGY
FLEXIBLE HOUSING
GALLERY/ EDUCATIONAL SPACE
WATER MANAGEMENT
FOOD FOREST
PRIVATE GREEN SPACE
GREEN SCAFFOLDING
GRASSED CARPARKING
SWALE & RAIN WATER TREATMENT
RAINGARDEN
SHARED PATH
K E Y T H E O RY & D E S I G N G U I DA N C E KEY THEORY AND DESIGN GUIDANCE
Regenerative Framework Methodology, (Mang & Reed, 2011)
Permaculture Flower, https://permacultureprinciples.com/flower/
Living Community Challenge, https://living-future.org/lcc/
U N D E R S TA N D I N G
P L AC E
C O M M U N I T Y
AC T I VAT I O N
U R B A N AGRICULTURE A G R I C U LT U R E URBAN
Livestock
Beekeeping
Private Green Spaces
Keeping Chicken The site has new taller buildings which has a great potential for beekeeping. Not only does beekeeping help to maintain the globally threatened insect, it is also a food source of honey.
To encourage residents to grow their own food and to provide personal relaxation spaces, we propose to retrofit private green spaces into the existing old social housing. Not only does this provide better living quality for the residents, the retrofitted green balconies and scaffolding contribute to sustainable living and the ecology of the area.
The site has large green spaces which has a potential for keeping chicken. Keeping chicken is a great way to ‘grow your own food’ by obtaining delicious eggs, create a more sustainable environment and give a sense of peace and serenity in the residents’ lives.
Beekeeping can be a good way to encourage residents who have similar interests and hobbies to gather and engage with each other.
Free-range chicken eggs are not only tastier, but also have better health benefits. Keeping chickens is the best way to have a fresh supply of delicious and nutritious eggs at any time.
Not only that, bees help provide pollination to local gardens and contribute to the ecology, especially with the green scaffolding, green balconies, the Community Garden and Food Forest.
Keeping chickens is also part of sustainable living – they help eliminate scraps, produce an all natural fertiliser, assist with composting, and of course, eggs.
Potential ‘balcony’ food
Keeping chickens can also help residents to feel more connected with nature, allowing them to feel peace and serenity just by looking at the chickens.
Photos: Melbourne City Rooftop Honey
Potential retrofitted balconies of ‘private green spaces’ for residents
Photos: Backyard Chicken Coops
Community Garden
Limes
Tomatoes
Chilli
Herbs
Food Forest
The Food Forest is a self-sustaining, food-producing ecosystem that consists of nut and fruit-producing trees, shrubs planted with herbs, vines and ground flora that produces fruits, vegetable, edible greens and roots
The site has large green spaces which are extremely underutilised and there is great potential for creating a journey that can engage all of the residents, young and old, as well as people in North Richmond and its surroundings.
Food forest produce food, but also provide shade, keep greenhouse gases out of the atmosphere, improve water quality and may even deter crime. Advocates say they also have a longer lasting impact on communities than vegetable beds.
Starting from the entrance at Lennox street, there is an opening space which has a potential for a local market which can sell second-hand items as well as fresh produce from the residents’ very own Food Forest. Situated between the older buildings of the site, there is a Playgarden and an Exercise Garden which gathers the young and old to interact and engage with each other as they spend their time outside of their individual housing units. The central attraction of this site is the Food Forest where it becomes the main connection between the new and the old buildings. It has the potential to provide some amount of food to the underprivileged families as well as earning some income from selling the produce to the markets around North Richmond or at local markets that can be held at the site.
Before: Empty green space
Before: Empty green space and streets
The under-utilised large plot of green space can be designed to become a community garden which engages the residents and other advocates to participate in gardening. Not only does it give the open green space a programme that everyone can enjoy and engage with, it is a healthy and meaningful way to create identity to the place. It can also help provide food for the local market as well as residents who receive a lower income. This also prevents the possibility of crimes happening in this area as there would be many events being organised at the community garden.
Oranges
Cherries
Apples
Olives
Grapes
Jujubes/Chinese Dates
Before: Empty green space The large plot of green space also has the potential to become a Food Forest which can become a great source of food for the residents. Not only does the Food Forest provide food, it allows residents to come together and interact with each other in this space.
The large plot of green land can also be used as a market to sell the food that is being produced by the Food Forest and the Community Garden. The market also has the potential to be a platform for residents to sell some second-hand goods to earn some extra income.
The large trees would also provide shade and creates a lovely space which could hold festivals and events.
Having a market at the site also helps to liven up the atmosphere and create interest for other residents at North Richmond.
Potential of community gardening at site
Potential ‘forest’ food
Potential of local market at site
Potential food forest and community involvement at site
R EREGENERATIVE G E N E R A T I N GHOUSING H O U S I N G
COMMUNITY SERVICES Community Hub
The most important element of the design is the central community hub. It’s part kitchen, part dining hall, educational facility and lounge. The space allows for all member of the community to come together and share an affordable meal made from food grown on site.
E C O L O G I C A L S Y S T E M S & PSYSTEMS U B L I C &A PUBLIC RT ECOLOGICAL ART NARRATIVE Through our intervention “Ecological systems and public art”, people and fauna and flora in our site can connect with each other and the broader environment beyond the site by green infrastructure and water sensitive design. What should be introduced is discussed in the interactive community engagement process, and the selected interventions would be carried on with community members. The proposed interventions here would enhance health of nature and humans and make us feel that we are a part of nature.
Shop Spaces New affordable spaces can be provided by simply placing shipping containers underneath the existing structure, currently housing only bins. This creates opportunity for social mobility, job creation, creative outlets and interface.
Productive Envelope
The exterior of the building is covered in green scaffolding, which along with ecological benifits gives the residents their own private green space. The space can be used to grow food for themselves, neighbours or the community more widely.
Green Infrastructure
Natural Environment
Lawn chairs
Blank surfaces can be used for creative expression by residents. Adding to the character of the estate, and giving residents pride of place.
Human Activities
Community gardens
Water
Creating water independent sites, buildings and communities
Restoring a healthy coexistence with nature
Celebrating plans that propose transformative change
Green scaffollding
Health & Happiness
Equity
Supporting a just, equitable world
Darling Square
Maximising physical and psychological health and well-being
Citizens Park
POTENTIAL OF THE SITE
NATIVE PLANTS IN CITY OF YARRA
PEOPLE’S VOICE Safety
Active open space
No amenities in the open space
New gallery space on the ground floor of the housing estate, allows for the residents to more strongly experience the culture and art of residents on-site. It provides an creative outlet, and a meaningful sense of place.
Community pride (Capire consulting group 2011)
How to introduce the lawn chairs
SYSTEMS MAP
WIDER IMPACT Storm-water Treatment
OUR IDEA - Introduce lawn chairs in the open space to transform the space into residents’ gathering space - Enhance passive surveillance through the site - Promote ownership of the space and fostering community pride by making lawn chairs in workshops for residents and community
1. Make a mold by recycled cardboard 2. Fill it with mud 3. Grow lawn on the chair
- Large open space covered by lawn - Wide view of the site in the open space
Lomandra longifolia
Ecological
Melaleuca ericifolia
Community Bonding
GRASSED PARKING
Sharing Economy
Social
Involve Wider Community
Cooking Classes
Community Garden
Regenerative Housing
Communal Meals Gallery
Market Stalls
Reduced Waste
Increased Participation
Improvement & Growth of ...
Green Scaffolding Pop- Up Shops
This diagram illustrates our conceptual framework for how the ecological and community infrastructure influence each other, and by establishing strong inter-relationship that are mutually beneficial we can strengthen the community and the ecological systems at play.
Green Roof
Fruit Trees
The system itself is loop, which grows and evolves over time with increased community engagement and awareness.
Elizabeth St divides our site and the other site with high rise buildings
Future
Ecosystem Services
Green Roof
The regenerated housing aims to position itself at the intersection of ecological, social and community needs aiming to integrate these elements, to create a more connected social housing complex.
PEOPLE’S VOICE
POTENTIAL OF THE SITE
Kitchen Community Hub
Private Gardens
Lots of car parking on Elizabeth St
The site channels storm-water in from the road surfaces, through on-site swales and into a pond in the centre of the site. In the process, the water helps to nurture the various plant, animal and bug life on the site, as well as cleansing the water, before releasing it more slowly into storm-water and the Yarra.
Local Produce
Microlaena stipoides
- Remove a part of car parking - Cover the parking space and the ex-parking space with lawn - Increase permeability of the surface and reduce the volume of stormwater run off - Create green connection between our site and the other site with high rise buildings
SWALE & RAINGARDENS
Goodenia ovata
POTENTIAL OF THE SITE Water Recycling
Solar Energy
(City of Yarra 2001, p. 13, 19, 32)
Green Scaffolding
PEOPLE’S VOICE Local food systems from production and preparation occur on-site. They have the potential to spread outwards to the entire community through market stalls and small enterprises. Reducing emissions associated with transporting food and supporting community businesses.
As well as creating opportunities to increase biodiversity. Beekeeping will be launched on-site, creating new habitat for bug life and birds.
Rainwater is collected on-site, if structure permits this water can be stored on the roof, and gravity would allow it to be used, to flush toilets, and water the green roofs.
Solar energy is captured on the roof, allowing the building to generate it’s own electricity.
Scaffolding allows private green space for each apartment, which can be left to grow naturally with selected native plants, or for productive use.
Its estimated a solar array of this scale will produce nearly 200KWh per average day.
Scaffolding has the added benefit of reducing the buildings heat load, providing shade and beautifying the estate.
The Green Rood also creates a private green space for the buildings tenants, away from the business of Richmond
3D GARDENS & GATEWAYS
As part of out plan to regenerate the social housing, we are aiming to bring the surrounding communities of North Richmond and residents of the site together. We intend to create a series of green, gateways or ‘‘3D gardens’’, covered with various native species and some fruit trees, to encourage residents from outside the estate to enter and enjoy the space. With these wooden structures, we can bring plant life right to the street edge, bringing much needed greenery to a busy urban strip.
It also creates connection between neighbors, by encouraging sharing of produce and potentially provoking conversation.
GALLERY AND COMMUNITY SPACE
- Increase permeability of the surface and reduce the volume of stormwater run off - Create tangible connection among green spaces through the site - Organise community workshops of making rain gardens and crease a sense of place - Introduce pavement art like CERES to connect pavement of asphalt with green space on the site
Community pride
No connection between the community garden and other green spaces (Capire consulting group 2011)
- Community garden (shown in the right photo) - Large open space covered by lawn - Wide view of the site in the open space - A street having a slope and drainage ditch which may suit swale (This street connects Victoria St and the site) - Medium size housing having its downpipes outside of the building which may suit raingardens
Grey water and rain water are returned to the site, where they form part of the swales and water treatment.
OUR IDEA
Community garden is closed (surrounded by high fences and hardly seen)
Increased Permeability
Green Roofing provides insulation to the ceilng of the building - reducing the need to heat and cool
SWALE Future
RAINGARDENS
Future
Increased permeability through the site encourages the community to enter and pass through, creating potential for people to engage with the biophilic, ecological and community elements of our site.
The space underneath the main structure is currently unused and creating a barrier between the site and the street. This space could be re purposed and used to house a gallery & community space. The space would display artworks creating by those living on the site, as well as local artists. We hope to create a valued public space, shared between the social housing residents and the broader community.
Poa labillardieri
OUR IDEA - Rich public transportation network (train, trams and buses) - Law level of car use - Potential demand for activating the open space and for safety
Wellbeing
Social Mobility
Green Roofing
Raingardens
Yarra Park
Future
ECOLOGICAL SERVICES
Green roofs
Powlett Reserve
Fitzroy Gardens
The creation of more relevant, playful spaces for members of the community to use and enjoy. This makes the site a more valued community space.
Community
Swale
Yarra River
Water Sensitive Urban Design
New Public Space
Gallery Space
Grassed parking
Place
Beauty
Our site
Our site
LAWN CHAIRS
Art Murals
PETALS
SYSTEM MAP
Future
Infiltration raingarden
Inground raingarden
Planter box raingarden
Vegetable raingarden
- Minimum width: 1m - Use native plants - Use native plants which can contribute to removing pollutants in stormwater and/or can live in a dry environment with occasional wet periods (Melbourne water 2013)
PUBLIC ART
POTENTIAL OF THE SITE
PEOPLE’S VOICE Active open space Community pride (Capire consulting group 2011)
Future
- A big and symbolic tree in the site - Many trees on the large lawn space - Public art already can be seen in the site
OUR IDEA - Make the already existing big tree as the community symbol by creating community art surrounding the tree - Organise community workshops for creating the community art - Promote ownership of the space and fostering community pride by the workshops and the art - Enhance passive surveillance through the site Image source: Lawn chairs: http://miraie-future.net/house/diy/3step_lawn_kraft-paper/ Grassed parking: http://www.ohshimazoen.co.jp/technology/gtp Tree with public art: https://ecoscape.com.au/portfolio/st-john-bosco-college-water-sensitive-urban-design/ Swale: http://boe.lacity.org/lariverrmp/CommunityOutreach/pdf/04Chapter3-IssuesAffectingthePlan42407.pdf Swale: http://sudsnet.abertay.ac.uk/images/photos/Swales/Ardlerswale.jpg Green scaffolding: http://www.constructionglobal.com/equipment-and-it/arups-living-wall-scaffolding-will-reduce-noise-and-air-pollution Green rood: http://www.zinco-greenroof.com/EN/greenroof_systems/extensive_green_roofs/index.php Raingarden: https://www.melbournewater.com.au/getinvolved/protecttheenvironment/raingardens/Documents/PLANTER%20BOX.pdf Infiltration raingarden: https://www.melbournewater.com.au/getinvolved/protecttheenvironment/raingardens/Documents/Infiltration.pdf Inground raingarden: https://www.melbournewater.com.au/getinvolved/protecttheenvironment/raingardens/Documents/INGROUND.pdf Planter box rain garden: https://www.melbournewater.com.au/getinvolved/protecttheenvironment/raingardens/Documents/PLANTER%20BOX.pdf Vegetable raingarden: https://www.melbournewater.com.au/getinvolved/protecttheenvironment/raingardens/Documents/Vegetable.pdf
T I M E L I N E
K E Y
I N T E RV E N T I O N S
TIMELINE KEY INTERVENTIONS