08 // PRINCIPLE 4: COVID-19

08 //

PRINCIPLE 4 // COVID-19

PRINCIPLE 4 // COVID-19

STRATEGY 4.1 // DYNAMIC EMPLOYMENT Create opportunities for co-working spaces and promote flexible working conditions. Provide jobs and services for blue-collar workers. Action 4.1.1 // Residents have free access to study and work spaces in Council owned community facilities Action 4.1.2 // All dwellings must have a study space i.e. niche or large bedroom. In at least 50% of dwellings the space should be a minimum of 4sqm and not counted as a bedroom Action 4.1.3 // Small, creative and manufacturing businesses are supported by the implementation of the Commercial 3 Zone Action 4.1.4 // Encourage small business and start up companies by providing reduced rent for the first 5 years of tenancy STRATEGY 4.2 // WORK-LIFE BALANCE Provide urban forms which improve work life balance, which have been made vulnerable by COVID-19 Action 4.2.1 // All properties within 400m of an outdoor space and within 800m of a space suitable for exercise and urban trails Action 4.2.2 // Provide built form outcomes which encourages place making and a sense of ownership. This could be inclusive of amphitheatres and co working spaces.

STRATEGY 4.3 // RETAIL & HOSPITALITY Integrate a vibrant local activity centre that supports safe public open spaces, and promote technology and smart city principles

Action 4.3.1 // The activity centre is a pedestrian friendly zone with high quality active transport and public transport connections

Action 4.3.2 // Open and semi-open seating space as a buffer for children, youth and elderly. Use landscaping and street furniture to create buffers around roads and high activity areas

Action 4.3.3 // Provide appropriate sized public spaces and footpaths to ensure safe social distancing and outdoor dining

Figure 8.0 Coworking space in St. Kilda

STRATEGY 4.1 // Dynamic Employment //

The new future anticipates profound societal and organizational shifts in the work culture. While most industries have made it compulsory to work from home, there are still some industries that do not have that option. Organizations of these industries have taken precautionary measures to protect the employee’s health, safety, and productivity through the provision of essential services to support the workers during this time (Deloitte,2020).

As companies currently restage the return to work, their approach to understand worker’s workstyle, needs, and flexibility is reconsidered. The lockdown restrictions have made designers rethink the design and model of the current office space, work stations, and co-working spaces. The Global Coworking Growth Study 2020 estimates that, although growth this year will be slow, working in the office will rebound and develop even more rapidly from 2021 onwards, with a yearly growth rate of 21.3% (Work Tech Academy, 2020).

Co-working spaces offer an alternative to traditional office leases and work formats. Hub Australia has set out new standards, procedures, and layouts to offer safe and hygienic workplaces (Hub Australia, 2020). The Sybil Craig Quarter plan offers an accessible library and educational hub with indoor and outdoor study and work spaces, providing resources such as a pantry, free wi-fi, media-studios and end-of-trip facilities. Based on flexibility, businesses and individuals could access spaces and benefit from the resources provided.

Action 4.1.3 // Commercial 3 Zone //

The employment hub on the south side of the Sybil Craig Quarter aims to foster dynamic employment by using the Commercial 3 Zone (see page 23). This recently invented zone allows for offices, creative employment and small scale manufacturing and start-ups. The commercial 3 zone specifically provides jobs for blue-collar workers, that have been pushed out of Melbourne since 2000. This happened due to the rezoning of much industrial land to mixed-use residential development (Grodach, Gibson & O’Connor, 2019). The Pivot City Innovation District in Geelong (figure 8.1) forms an inspiration for the Sybil Craig Quarter as it offers affordable renting space for starting businesses while celebrating the site’s industrial heritage.

Figure 8.2 Current Community Groups in Maribyrnong who could benefit from the site

Figure 8.3 Northcote Golf Course During Covid Lockdown

STRATEGY 4.2 // Work-Life Balance //

Under the current COVID-19 circumstances, many employees are working from home. This is an unprecedented time for many people, and the combination of work, caregiving and leisure all situated under one roof has been a cause of stress for many individuals. It is estimated that the current working from home conditions has resulted in a 49% rise in mental distress reported by employees (Marsh, 2020).

Many households are not properly equipped to maintain productivity under working from home conditions, with many not having access to a study or an adequate space for work.The proposed housing forms in this report will ensure that all dwellings have adequate space for work and creation, as well as good proximity to green open spaces and community facilities. 50% of the dwelling are required to have at least 4 sqm of a separate study space, which is not counted as a bedroom.

Now more than ever community cohesion needs to be fostered. Access to support groups and community driven activities can boost morale and help ease the mental health pressures caused by the pandemic. Figure 8.2 illustrates how current community groups in Maribyrnong could benefit from the development of our site.

Figure 8.3 illustrates the importance of meaningful green space in times of restricted mobility due to events such as pandemics. This belief that green space should be easily accessible and come in a range of types has driven our planning of green space outlined on the following page.

Figure 8.4 Green open spaces in the Sybil Craig Quarter

STRATEGY 4.2 // Work-Life Balance // Green Space

Green space is an important part of Work-Life balance as it provides a context which is, more often than not, seen as an escape from the world we are in. Whilst green space is often thought of as one thing, different activities take place in different types of green spaces. Thus we have provided a variety of green space types. We consider green space to fall into two types, those which are for ‘staying’ and those which are for ‘moving’.

We have three types of ‘staying’ green space; parks, plazas and, courtyards. We have purposely provided building typologies which include shared green space through their central courts. This in addition to the private balconies and shared roof gardens these buildings will have. Plazas are provided in the employment region and recognise that grassy surfaces are not always the best surface for staying activities i.e. markets. Whilst the central park is envisaged as the main green space and would support a variety of uses including sport, aged care centre, community centre and playground, we have also provided a number of smaller local parks which would provide local meeting places and playgrounds for different areas of the suburb.

Green space for ‘moving’ is principally in the form of the linear reserve along the Maribyrnong river. Returning the south bank to the community was highly desired by the community in the VPA’s 2018 engagement. In terms of ecology, sustainability and mitigating flood risk, it is most sensible for the south bank to be restored as native habitat threaded with walking trails. This will provide a significantly different type of green space for the sites residents improve the ecology of the area.

Figure 8.5 Customers getting a take away coffee in Prahran

STRATEGY 4.3 // Retail and Hospitality //

The retail and hospitality industry of Melbourne has been impacted severely by the restrictions that have been put into place to battle the COVID-19 virus. Many retail spaces have been forced to close and cafes and restaurants are allowed to only operate on a take away and delivery service basis. Especially Melbourne’s CBD hospitality sector is suffering, as many people have no need and are not allowed to travel into the district anymore (Lasker, 2020). More locally, some businesses have flourished. The suburban activity centre has become more important as people working from home have become more dependent on them (Rachwani, 2020).

At the same time, the retail sector has been struggling even before the pandemic. Internet shopping has been growing in the past year and boomed since the pandemic. Several shopping precincts in Melbourne have been dealing with retail vacancy. Shoppers nowadays expect an ‘experience’ rather than just shopping.

The Sybil Craig Quarter has one main local activity centre where residents can enjoy hospitality and shop for their daily needs. High quality urban design and mixed land-use aims to attract people and to provide them an ‘experience’. The public park will be entangled with the shopping precinct. At the same time, the activity centre is modest enough not seriously compete with Highpoint Shopping centre.

Figure 8.6 Square in Massachusetts