Word count: 1000
Melbourne’s urbanism in the heart of its city has been shaped over the years by its growing population of locals, immigrants and tourists. Being ranked as no.1 cultural destination in Australia (State Government of Victoria, 2018), its public spaces (Tibbalds, F., 1992, p.9) have been given unique identities, rooted in their socio-political and historical context (Tibbalds, F., 1992, p.9). They serve to represent the city’s popular cultures and cater to its growing community’s needs and interests. Some of these spaces, like laneways, form an important part of Melbourne’s inner city “pedestrian network” (Carmichael, 2011, p.2) and provide unique experiences of its culture. These laneways contain within them layers of urbanism – visible and symbolic, which have been shaped by their significance and surrounding developments in terms of built infrastructure and the diversity of people who use them (see Appendix image 03). This paper analyses two such laneways, namely Degraves lane and Hosier lane. It aims to understand the kind of urbanism developed in these public spaces and the main forces that has shaped its development.
1 Manasi Chopdekar (935401) Urban Design for People and Places (PLAN20002) Assignment 1: Visual Critical Essay
Urbanism in Degraves lane Degraves lane exits out onto Flinders street, opposite Flinders street station (see Fig. 1) which is crowded with tourists and locals. The laneway has been developed and shaped under the influence of its visitors’ interests to a path with activated edges and a place (E. White, 1999, p.186) that caters to flat white urbanism and vibrant street art (see Fig. 1 for path and place distribution). Its street art urbanism is evident in the beautiful spray-painted drawings that serve as backdrop against outdoor restaurant seating. Its flat white urbanism (Timothy Moore, 2017) is prominent in the long line of espresso shops and café setups (see Appendix image 04), and may have developed with increase in popularity of café culture in Melbourne. Its symbolic urbanism has emerged from its name, which refers to prominent Degraves merchants and links the laneway to its use as a place of trade (see Appendix image 04), and interaction (see Appendix image 07).
Fig. 1 Path-portal-place diagram for Degraves lane
Exclusive to pedestrians, it gives a unique understanding of Melbourne’s street art and café culture, and provides public surveillance, safety, comfort and an engaging experience.
2 Manasi Chopdekar (935401) Urban Design for People and Places (PLAN20002) Assignment 1: Visual Critical Essay
Urbanism in Hosier lane Hosier lane is located in front of Federation Square (see Fig. 2), which is Melbourne’s most prominent civic space, symbolizing the effect general public has on influencing change (Ogden and Florance, 2017). It is a path with an activated edge (E. White, 1999, p.186) that links Flinders Lane and Flinders street (see Fig. 2). Including both pedestrians and vehicles, it is primarily a movement zone (see Appendix image 02) and thereby offers no public seating (see Appendix image 06), instead encouraging its tourists to walk and view the art of public expression. Along with this street art urbanism, pop-up urbanism (Barnett, J., 2011, p. 21) can be observed through the coffee shop (see Appendix image 05) which closes its outdoor coffee setup and resumes its dining establishment at night, owing to the difference in use of space by people throughout the day. Its symbolic urbanism is evident in the ideas expressed in the artwork. With time, Hosier lane has attained a unique identity, one that establishes it as a street art exhibit showcasing Melbourne’s pop culture and socio-political views, ideas and interests (see Appendix image 10).
Conclusion
Fig. 2 Path-portal-place diagram for Hosier lane
Degraves and Hosier laneways serve as excellent examples of a revitalized laneway (Carmichael 2011, p.2) that has been shaped by its users interests into layers of urbanisms which create active and vibrant spaces for its tourists.
3 Manasi Chopdekar (935401) Urban Design for People and Places (PLAN20002) Assignment 1: Visual Critical Essay
Link: https://www.instagram.com/p/B1YS38BlYRo/?utm_source=ig _web_copy_link
Link: https://www.instagram.com/p/B1YSTXVFjYn/?utm_source=i g_web_copy_link
Link: https://www.instagram.com/p/B1YRQQWF2g1/?utm_source= ig_web_copy_link
Link: https://www.instagram.com/p/B1YQG2Hlt5F/?utm_source=ig _web_copy_link
4 Manasi Chopdekar (935401) Urban Design for People and Places (PLAN20002) Assignment 1: Visual Critical Essay
Link: https://www.instagram.com/p/B1YDvX1Fha0/?utm_source=ig _web_copy_link
Link: https://www.instagram.com/p/B1YC_bBls7X/?utm_source=ig_we b_copy_link
Link: https://www.instagram.com/p/B1YBzSTF7QZ/?utm_source=i g_web_copy_link
Link: https://www.instagram.com/p/B1YAlSaFJLB/?utm_source=ig_ web_copy_link
5 Manasi Chopdekar (935401) Urban Design for People and Places (PLAN20002) Assignment 1: Visual Critical Essay
Link: https://www.instagram.com/p/B1X0FUcFRlz/?utm_source=ig_ web_copy_link
Link: https://www.instagram.com/p/B1XtZLplXqL/?utm_source=ig_ web_copy_link
6 Manasi Chopdekar (935401) Urban Design for People and Places (PLAN20002) Assignment 1: Visual Critical Essay
References Barnett, J. (2011). A Short Guide to 60 of the Newest Urbanisms. Planning, 77(4), 19–21. Retrieved from https://ezp.lib.unimelb.edu.au/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true &db=edsbl&AN=RN289835918&site=eds-live&scope=site Carmichael, J. 2011. Revitalizing laneways in inner city Brisbane. Retrieved from https://www.planning.org.au/documents/item/3253 Moore, T. (2017). Flat white urbanism: there must be better ways to foster a vibrant street life. Retrieved from https://theconversation.com/flat-white-urbanism-there-must-be-betterways-to-foster-a-vibrant-street-life-78338 Ogden, M. and Florance, L. (2017). Federation Square Apple store backlash based on 'misunderstanding', site designer says. Retrieved from https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-1221/federation-square-apple-store-reaction/9279910 State Government of Victoria. (2018). Melbourne as a Global Cultural Destination. Retrieved from https://creative.vic.gov.au/research/reports/melbourne-as-a-global-cultural-destination Tibbalds, F. (1992). ‘Places’ matter most. In Urban Design Reader (pp. 9-11). Architectural Media Ltd. Retrieved from https://mekhea.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/urban-designreader.pdf White, E. (1999). Path – Portal – Place. In Urban Design Reader (pp. 185-198). Architectural Media Ltd. Retrieved from https://mekhea.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/urban-designreader.pdf
Appendix references Carmichael, J. 2011. Revitalizing laneways in inner city Brisbane. Retrieved from https://www.planning.org.au/documents/item/3253 Carmona, M. (2010). Journal of urban design. Contemporary Public Space: Critique and Classification, Part One: Critique, 15. City of Melbourne. (2018, Aug 1). Melbourne laneways: a guide to Degraves Street [Blog post]. Retrieved from https://whatsonblog.melbourne.vic.gov.au/your-laneway-hit-listexploring-degraves-street/ Hansen 2004, Melbourne CBD laneways built form review. Hansen Partnership Moore, T. (2017). Flat white urbanism: there must be better ways to foster a vibrant street life. Retrieved from https://theconversation.com/flat-white-urbanism-there-must-be-betterways-to-foster-a-vibrant-street-life-78338 [Note: all sketches and pictures were drawn and taken on site by Manasi Chopdekar]
7 Manasi Chopdekar (935401) Urban Design for People and Places (PLAN20002) Assignment 1: Visual Critical Essay