Tin Alley Connects Placemaking for the Built Environment ABPL90404 Team 5: Gemma Border 路 XinFu Liu 路 Annabelle Roper 路 Wenqi Xu 路 Maria Yanez
tin alley connec ts
executive summary
So far on the University of Melbourne’s Parkville Campus, Tin Alley has been overlooked and underestimated. Once regarded as “The Avenue”, it now has become Parkville’s backstage, dividing the campus into two: faculties to the south, MUS and Colleges to the north. The Alley is currently car-oriented, empty and unutilized. The purpose of this placemaking project is to reverse this situation through a phased process that will transform our Alley into a great place that glues our community together. Our placemaking approach is resilient and subject to constant changes. It will be tested and questioned periodically, through community consultation and engagement, in order to both challenge and improve our initial proposals so that its vision becomes representative to all stakeholders and shared between all members of the community. Lastly, it is important to mention that this placemaking strategy will require funding and engagement from the UoM and other high influence stakeholders for its full realization. That being said, we believe that providing phases of intervention through a prolonged period of time will help to test initiatives with a relatively low budget and proceed to latter phases as these initiatives succeed, or re-purpose them to ensure the budget is used correctly and efficiently. 2
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image from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yi6vuLBMCig
Acknowledgement to Country
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Our group would like to recognise that our project is being held on the lands of the Wurundjeri People and we wish to acknowledge them as Traditional Owners of the land. We would also like to pay our respects to their Elders, past, present & emerging, and Aboriginal Elders of other communities who may be reading this.
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SEC TION ONE
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Introduction
who we are We are a transdisciplinary team of five masters students at the University of Melbourne all studying in the Melbourne School of Design in Architecture and Landscape Architecture. We are a diverse team of people from Chile, Bermuda, China and Australia all brought together by our desire to make a lasting difference in our communities. As a transdisciplinary team, we are able to look at the project from many different perspectives and develop a holistic proposal with each member sharing their strengths. We all recognise Tin Alley as being an underutilised space on the densely active campus in Parkville. As a team, we share the communal wish to maximise the opportunities for students to have agency in the spaces they study and experience the amazing diversity of the university community.
what is placemaking For us, we don’t see placemaking as a tool to just simply modify or beautify an underdeveloped public space. It is more of an agency to interact with the community, hear what the stakeholders want, listen to the places’ stories. We cherish the common grounds between stakeholders, and hope to use placemaking to plan a shared vision collaboratively. It is a chance for the place-makers to use simple yet creative, efficient strategies to engage people and grow their attachment towards the place. Most importantly, it is an ongoing work, gradually transforming the space throughout time, empowering the users to create their own experience which makes the “place” in their memories.
who is this project for We would like to deliver this proposal to the community around the University of Melbourne. With the practical aspects and certain limitations bear in mind, we hope the new Tin Alley project speaks to the students, staff and other stakeholders that have their activities and interaction base around the University. The proposal is closely related to these stakeholders’ interests and daily lives.
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SEC TION TWO
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once upon a time in
Tin Alley...
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History of the site
1896
1923
1919 In the past, Tin Alley used to be called “The Avenue�. There also used to be a creek called Townend Creek which ran from North to South, right across Tin Alley and down to the Yarra river. The Creek was redirected underground with the development of the University. Around the 1830s, the creek was a migration stream for short-finned eel, which, some say, can still be found in the pond of the Redmond Barry Yard. (University of Melbourne Maps, 2017)
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1986
Site Information
Tin Alley has always functioned as the main horizontal connection between the Sydney Road and Swanston Street, right in the middle of the University of Melbourne. Tin Alley also serves as the conjunction point of various teaching, sports, student facilities, and colleges. From west to east, the buildings along Tin Alley are Trinity College School, The GateWay Building, University House, Union House, Beaurepaire Centre, Melbourne University Sport, Redmond Barry Building, St. Mary’s College and David Caro Building. Tin Alley is a busy access point for pedestrians, cyclists and especially vehicles.
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Stakeholders There are many stakeholders for Tin Alley that have a wide variety of backgrounds and interests. The stakeholders can be split into six different larger categories: university decision-makers; businesses on campus; people full-time on campus; people parttime on campus; visitors; and flora and fauna. Each of these stakeholders were considered in the design of this placemaking proposal. The stakeholder analysis diagram outlines the different levels of interest in Tin Alley and the level of influence on the outcome of the proposal that each of the stakeholders are perceived to have. Each stakeholder has varying levels of stake and influence that need to be understood to effectively engage with the community. Care should be taken to consider the
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stakeholders identified as having low influence throughout the project, especially those unable to advocate for themselves such as flora and fauna and champions for such stakeholders, if possible, should be established (J. Bush et al. 2020). The different stakeholders all have different reasons to value Tin Alley which indicate the level of stake. These different causes to value Tin Alley are not outlined in the stakeholder analysis diagram but have been evaluated fully by the team and should continue to be considered throughout the project as they will impact how ongoing changes will be received. The different causes to value Tin Alley may also have cause to change which will impact the stakeholder analysis.
Community Engagement The objectives of the community engagement for Tin Alley are: - To get clarity on the diversity of the community and their values - To realise a greater attachment to Tin Alley - To get people on-board with the project and contributing - To get different teams and organisations interested such as fab lab - As a seed to inspire different ideas for the project so that the community obtains control of the formation of Tin Alley - To uncover the potential limitations and challenges
An initial community engagement was conducted with students enrolled in the subject Place Making for The Built Environment (ABPL90404_2020_JUL). There were a range of questions that intended to discover if people used Tin Alley and if so how. It revealed that the majority of the responders walked along Tin Alley and a quarter of people didn’t use Tin Alley at all. When asked about what words people would use to describe Tin Alley the most common responses described it as not inviting with words such as empty, cold and populated with cars. The areas people responded that they use on Tin Alley most, indicate that Tin Alley is usually
The ongoing stakeholder engagemnt is designed to be integral to the project. Community engament activities will be essential to parts of the proposal ensuring that the community is involved into the creating and definintion of their own space. These engagment activities are inspired by the IAP2 values (International Association for Public Participation, 2019). By ensuring stakeholders have an active role in creating the placemaking project sense of belonging, agency and stewardship are all built in the process (Nursey-Bray, M. J, 2019).
used as a thoroughfare to get to various other locations. Finally when asked how they would feel if Tin Alley was pedestrianised a fifth of people said they would feel safer and another fifth said they would use Tin Alley more. This initial community engagement survey was a great canvasing exercise to get an idea of what some peoples opinions may be. These results will help us write more survey questions for a wider audience that are more refined and cover additional questions that this survey has raised with us. 13
SEC TION THREE
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https://digitised-collections.unimelb.edu.au/ handle/11343/111535
Issues and Opportunities The current issues for Tin Alley are: - Intended to serve as a street for vehicle transportation but underutilised, - Ignored as an important edge for the University and surrounding community, - Does not have a friendly environment (materials, vegetation, building fabrics etc.), - Lacking in functions and activities make it an inadequate public space, - Lacking its own characters, and not telling the stories of the place. However, through the site analysis and investigation, the group found that the Tin Alley still has great potential to turn into a new public space for the University. - The alley’s locality allows it to turn from a division into a connection, - The nature of its shape provides great opportunities for variation in activities across different locations, - Various sizes of open spaces scattered along Tin Alley can be utilised to add more functions, characters, and encourage people to engage with campus life, - Most of the people use the alley as footpath or bike track currently, therefore, a suitable level of pedestrianization will be able to populate the space, - Great existing green spaces can be connected by BSUD to develop a biodiversity network for the wild lives in University.
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https://www.film.vic.gov.au/choose-victoria/ locations/university-of-melbourne-tin-alley
from
Dividing...
Tin Alley is a long-existing public space at the University of Melbourne. It is currently overlooked and under-utilised. Our focus is to use place-making strategies and interventions to activate the site and bring out the full potential of Tin Alley. Firstly, we want to create a safer campus by pedestrianising the street and use its unique location to connect the surroundings. When working with a site that has such rich historical context, we make sure our development is based on Tin Alley’s own characters and traits, then inspire the people and community to participate in our new place-making activities. Gradually, people’s engagement will create their own stories and memories of this place.
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...To Connecting!
Our Vision: By bringing a whole new public space for the University community, we are hoping that people can get attached to Tin Alley, and it will no longer be a division, but rather a connection that bonds the University of Melbourne and the people within it.
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Hassel Master Plan
image from: https://aila.awardsplatform.com/gallery/xDMAkbDz
Brief Description: This design by Hassel Architects highlights the recognized importance of Tin Alley as an underutilized space in need of development. The current masterplan for pedestrianisation is an infrastructure scheme which we see enabling our placemaking vision. Hopefully, a conversation can begin to develop the current Hassel scheme to a more vibrant and social space through input from students and other key community members.
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SEC TION FOUR
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Our approach
Our Master Plan focuses on identifying five key places that have the potential to become great places:
1) Vibrant Welcome 2) Community Hub 3) Study Hub 4) Exercise Hub 5) Community Garden
Each of these connections has its own identity and vibe, and their ultimate goal is to create that missing glueing ingredient that Tin Alley needs to become a place of cohesion within our beloved community. These connections are not isolated, on the contrary, they work as a whole, each one of them contributing to the overall placemaking intervention for Tin Alley. Different activities can be happening at the same time at different spots, and that is the whole point! We also expect all connections to change and adapt through time, so that Tin Alley becomes a resilient placemaking project where ideas are constantly tested and challenged. By doing so, the Alley will ultimately become a new lovable and vibrant place at the University, that our community has created, together. So, let’s start exploring!
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Map of Connections
N
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Timeline
The timeline for the proposal is suggestive of the process that can be taken to implement each of the placemaking strategies throughout the length of the project and ensure ongoing management and stewardship. The timeline is flexible to change in response to stakeholder engagement, evaluation findings and unexpected societal/ environmental adjustments as the project progresses. The proposal is composed of four phases: Activation, Engagement, Sense of Place, Stewardship.
The Four Phases Each of the four phases identifies the core objective of the placemaking activities at that time and ensures that they are front of mind. The four phases focus on the transition from initiation through creating an identity for Tin Alley and onto enduring community stewardship.
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Phase 1- Activation: the focus is on small interventions to introduce the project and get the community’s interest.
Phase 2Engagement: the focus is towards interventions that actively engage a diverse range of the community in meaningful ways.
Phase 3- Sense of Place: interventions are focused on developing and consolidating the identity with more significant projects
Phase 4Stewardship: this final phase identifies the end of the active placemaking by the team and focuses on the natural transferral of leadership and management to the community. This stewardship will be valuable for the ongoing sustainability and resilience of Tin Alley (J. Bush et al. 2020).
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Tin Alley after a month... This is our vibrant welcome, as it becomes activated one month into our project. Planting of indigenous species begins in re-used tires, whilst wheeled planter boxes are used to pedestrianization the area. A wishing wall is created for community members to share ideas, layering them together. Street murals by indigenous artists provide the area with vibrancy and connection to country through storytelling.
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SEC TION FIVE
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Pedestrianization
image from: https://www.dezeen.com/2020/06/26/outdoor-spaces-social-distancing-coronavirus/
Why Pedestrianising Tin Alley? Pedestrianisation is a key factor in making Tin Alley a focal point for the campus community. As a one way road, there is no through traffic, and the car parking space outside of Union House is reserved for disabled vehicles. Therefore vehicle access is infrequent, usually limited to event access at union house, uber pick up / drop off and service vehicles. Pedestrianisation can, therefore, be implemented at certain times without interfering with necessary access, whilst allowing a clear lane of access for disabled and emergency vehicles). As this street space is reclaimed from cars opportunities for various social uses arise, as there is now room for engagement whilst providing the necessary COVID distancing. Our placemaking scheme therefore utilizes this space by introducing a student-run flea market, an outdoor cinema, and
exercising islands across Tin Alley as temporary engagements. Furthermore, pedestrianisation also increases space for movement which is currently a necessity, as the sidewalk is tight in areas and does not allow sufficient room for pedestrians to safely pass one another without having to enter the road. Pedestrianisation will be slowly implemented in stages to allow for feedback and adjustments to be made as we progress. This can begin with sections of Tin Alley being pedestrianized for specific periods during the day, with temporary events to showcase the benefits of utilizing the space for social purposes. In the future we hope to replace the asphalt with a more environment and aesthetic alternative such as grass planted concrete pavers.
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Connections - step by step
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Connection one:
vibrant welcome
Our placemaking journey begins with a vibrant welcome, transforming Tin Alley to a celebrated community entrance and social space. A sense of belonging is sparked for all campus members, as they engage with the design of their campus environment, and can join together to create a diverse space for everyone to enjoy.
image from: https://www.theurbanlist.com/ melbourne/a-list/best-street-art-melbourne
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Wishing Wall
Purpose: We want our placemaking process to be community-driven, therefore a Wishing Wall is created for all members of the campus community to share ideas, layering them together with flyers for activities, societies and art. It is also key our placemaking is responsive and adapts over time, and therefore this Wishing Wall will stay and hopefully evolve over time in response to a changing campus.
Intervention
This will be a wall created from boards of plywood with a heavy base structure, which will stand at the entrance to Tin Alley. Along its base will be stacks of repurposed tires joined together and placed at intervals filled with drawing media encouraging people to share their ideas and layer them on top of each other directly on the wall. This will be erected before the semester, and there will be paid students there throughout the day to encourage passers-by to share their thoughts and inspirations for Tin Alley’s development. The listening wall will also be a good canvassing tool to pre-empt any conflict and can be used to conduct a conflict analysis (Nursey-Bray, M. J, 2019).
Sensitive to Nature
Instead of doing paper surveys, the use of erasable drawing media (e.g. chalk and blackboard) and digital platforms are not only more interesting in terms of engagement, but also more sustainable for the environment.
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image from: https://www.leezair.com/blog/my-life-wish-is/
Corona Virus Response
The repurposed tires along the base of the Wishing Wall will be placed at intervals of 1.5 meters, to ensure adequate distance between people whilst engaging.
How is it happening?
This is an easily implementable intervention that doesn’t require a large amount of resources or labour but contributes greatly to the proposal. Initially, the wishing wall is intended to last for a week, however, if there is more engagement than foreseen, it could be held up until the completion of Phase 2. In terms of costs, all that is required are 5 standard large plywoods panels (1200 mm x 810 mm, $14 each), plus coloured thick chalks ($18 a pack). Recycled panels can be a cheaper and more sustainable alternative.
Evaluation
The wishing wall acts as a way of evaluating the overall project in Tin Alley by receiving feedback throughout the project with qualitative responses and quantitative data. The evaluation of the wishing wall itself can be measured by the amount of responses and the quality of responses.
Street Art
Purpose: Incorporating art will bring much needed liveness and personality to the Alley. Murals are rightly a highly valued cultural asset within Melbourne, and this will be a means of viusally strenghtening the connection between our campus and our city. Indigenous artists will be hired to share their stories as a means of engaging the campus with a connection to image from: https://www.welcometocountry.org/adnatescountry. aboriginal-mural-journey/
How is it happening? Intervention
This intervention will begin with asking people to engage artistically with the wishing wall, to start generating ideas and themes for a street art project. Indigenous artists will then be engaged and paid by the university to create a series of murals across 3 large blank walls along Tin Alley, to tell a story which reconnects the campus to a precolonial Australia.
Who is involved?
- Students and Staff alike are welcome, as we are all artists in our own way! - Local street artists representing the broader community of Melbourne - Local indigenous representatives and invited to offer indigenous perspective and represent indigenous values
The proposal contemplates three murals. Initially, they will be painted as a student’s collaborative process, thus the initial budget would only consider painting material costs. At this phase, murals will only cover reachable height. Further into ‘Stewardship’ phase, as street artists in Melbourne engage, costs will increase, including artists’ fees around $200 per sqm and scaffolding around $250 per week. Art murals attract tourism which could in turn provide income through donations. The murals can also attract city festivals such as White Night, which will provide further monetary benefits.
Evaluation
Lack of covering graffiti and tagging will be a clear indicator of the success of the artwork. Mentions of the artwork on blogs and other media will also measure the success. How often the artwork is instagram-ed, and the frequency artists and location are tagged.
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Wheeled Planter Boxes
Purpose: Planter boxes will be used as a method to indicate and enable the pedestrianisation of Tin Alley in a way which is both adaptable and visually appealing. image from: http://urbgardenllc.com/
Who is involved? Intervention
These boxes will be significantly solid and heavy as they are filled with soil, which will allow protection to pedestrians during times when the area is pedestrianised. However the wheels (when not locked) will allow for these boxes to be easily moved.
Sensitive to Nature
The temporary and flexible traits of wheeled planter boxes allow variety in the planting scheme, and establish a more suitable testing ground for plant livability in terms of size. Since the plantation is in rather small scale, the modification and removal of the plants are quite easy, avoiding large scale construction and the waste of funds. Moreover, the planter boxes add biodiversity and greenery at the new entrance of Tin Alley.
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-Volunteer students and staff: to construct the boxes -Fab Lab staff, space and equipment: to construct the boxes -BSUD Advisor: to indicate suggested planting
How is it happening?
Initially the construction of the wheeled planting boxes will be done through material donation, recycled timber/plywood from FabLab and recycled tires, and discarded pallets from local markets such as QVM. Therefore, the budget for this item will remain low. If the community approves this recycled approach, the idea is to continue with this scheme throughout all phases. Wheels could potentially be recycled too, with the help of the Furniture and Equipment Re-use service at UoM.
Evaluation
Number of people signed up to build boxes Feedback from the staff running and teaching the workshop on general feelings and participation of the group.
Projection Art Festival
Purpose: To encourage engagement between the campus and the Melbourne community, our placemaking proposal will be staging a projection art festival during White Night in Melbourne. This will be a way of inviting a diverse group of people across the city to participate in social activities along Tin Alley. image from: https://awol.junkee.com/night-party-white-nightset-light-another-aussie-city/29906
Intervention
A series of projection art will be collated from students, faculty, local residents and indigenous artists. This will be an opportunity to showcase stories through art from people with diverse backgrounds, celebrating Melbourne University as a melting pot of global cultures. This projection festival will first be held on White Night, however following its success there is the opportunity to make this a bi-annual event.
Sensitive to Nature
This intervention only requires existing building walls and projector, instead of using painting materials. In this way the sharing of arts is more environmentally-friendly and has more flexibility beyond media.
Who is involved?
How is it happening?
Audio/Visual equipment can be sourced through the University’s Faculty of Arts Department. Funding will be required to appropriately pay artists for their contributions. Latter phases would look into adhering to Melbourne’s White Night Festival, attracting tourism.
Corona Virus Response
During this festival Tin Alley will be pedestrianised, whilst painting across the ground will indicate distancing zones in a fun and vibrant fashion ensuring people engage socially whilst distancing physically.
Evaluation
Observation of the foot traffic and connection to university wifi. Mention of the projection festival in review articles online.
-Local Artists -Students and staff volunteers -University maintenance and events teams -Local indigenous representatives
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Connection two:
community hub
Aims to create a convivial public space for recreation, gathering and temporary Night Market and a Furniture Workshop that all the community can enjoy. All these activities contribute to the gradual pedestrianisation of Tin Alley.
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https://www.uow.edu.au/student/get-started/orientation/
festive events, hosting a Flea Market, a
https://heylilahey.com/the-best-flea-markets-in-berlin/
Flea Market
Purpose: The flea market aims to create a platform of sharing things and memories for the University community, meanwhile bringing economic revenue for the students and staff. The market gives people the opportunities to bring their stuff and to decorate their stores in the way they want. The liveliness and vibrancy of the temporary market can add unique characters to the Alley, encourage people to linger and spend more time on campus. Corona Virus Response
Intervention
A corridor of trial flea market will be set up along the St. Mary’s side of Tin Alley. The students and staff act as vendors to sell their collections and exchange their stories. Under regulations, temporary customized pop-up spaces will be set up by vendors to establish their own shops. If the trial is successful, the flea market will be held every two weeks to add vibrancy for Tin Alley. Colourful mats will be provided for participants to position their products for an overall joyful ambience. Each member will be required to bring their own seats/ cushions.
Who is involved?
- University Events - Student/staff vendors - University maintenance (coordination of pedestrianisation with schedule) - UMSU and Social Clubs
Chalk will be used as a temporary and vibrant method to mark the ground in front of the stalls, so people engaging with the market can easily practice socialdistancing.
How is it happening?
This intervention requires a minimal budget throughout all phases, to cover basic materials cost such as blanket and chalk. Starting at the Engagement Phase and held fortnightly, students will be asked to pay a low amount — initially $5, then $10 at latter phases — for a spot. The profits will go directly to Tin Alley Funding. The profits of products goes entirely to the sellers. This is both a social and an economic benefit, since it will trigger satisfaction and a sense of belonging from participants thus promoting more community members to participate. To promote an environmental benefit, the Flea Market will provide a $2 discount incentive for members who have a sustainable approach to their products.
Evaluation
- Amount of vendors - Feedback from the vendors about the experience
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Purpose: The furniture workshop has multiple purposes. Firstly, it utilises the left-over materials in FabLab from different studios, and recycles them in a meaningful way. This also brings opportunities for the students to construct their own work, add their ideas and perspective for Tin Alley through their furniture. Resultantly, the students develop a sense of place and attachment towards the connection since they put effort in creating the space collaboratively. Adding permanent furniture also increases the functionality, invites people to stay longer on site, and allows people to relax in Who is involved? between classes and working - Staff skilled in construction hours.
Intervention
During the early stage, temporary furniture will be placed on the green space in front of David Caro Building and Redmond Barry Building during lunch time to bring more people for utilisation. Once the community realises and acknowledges the development of this recreational space, the furniture workshop will be held by the University, run by students and staff to produce more permanent outdoor furniture for this connection. The FabLab can provide left-over materials and technical support and students will work together.
Sensitive to Nature
The reusing and recycling will be able to save plenty of waste in funds and materials. Throughout different studios, there are many unwanted and trimmed-down wood planks, concrete and plastics etc. These can be used to create something new for the Tin Alley, reducing the impact of disposal (burning, landfilling) towards the environment.
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- Volunteering students eager to participate and learn - Fab Lab staff, left over materials and equipment
How is it happening?
In its initial phases, the furniture workshop will work alongside FabLab, who will provide discarded materials for its re-use. Later phases could look into the possibility of being part of the existing Ex-Lab and Furniture electives at MSD, where the money spent by students for their designs could turn into something that actually stays as a permanent feature on campus. Plus, these furniture could potentially be sold at Tin Alley’s Flea Market.
Evaluation
- Number of students signing up for the workshop - Diversity of students - data gathered by student id and relating info (discipline, nationality, age, course type)
https://revistacasaejardim.globo.com/Casa-e-Jardim/Arquitetura/noticia/2019/11/ arquitetos-criam-biblioteca-itinerante-que-imita-curvas-de-uma-minhoca.html
https://students.unimelb.edu.au/student-precinct/project-updates/landscapematerialities-student-activated-structures
Furniture Workshop
https://www.timeout.com/melbourne/shopping/melbournes-winter-markets
Night Market
Purpose:
The shops and restaurants are all closed during the night, leaving inconvenience for students having nighttime classes or works.Introducing the night market will fill in the blank and bring more diversity for the campus after hours. Most importantly, it will make the campus safer during the night by adding lighting and population. Overtime, people will develop their responsibility and sense of protection towards Tin Alley during nighttime since it is gradually becoming part of their lives. This intervention is a complementary tool for daytime activation, making sure the site is multifunctional and fully activated.
Intervention
A Night Market will be held fortnightly with the involvement of wide range activities such as live music performance, food court, among others. Stores will be set up by the University, supported and supplied by surrounding restaurants and businesses. Night decoration and fairy lights will light up the space and attract people to activate the night life on campus.
Corona Virus Response
Luminescent paint will be used as a temporary and vibrant method to mark the ground in front of the stalls, so people engaging with the market can easily practice social-distancing at this night market.
How is it happening? Maria’s text missing.
Evaluation
Revenue and traffic at the market stalls
Who is involved?
- Local restaurants and businesses to have a temporary university branch - Street vendors - University events - Event coordinator - elected/employed by team
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Connection three:
This is the study hub, close to the indoor study locations of Baldwin Spencer, Redmond Barry and the MSD building, this hub can become the outdoor wing of these academic and collaborative spaces. The Study hub is not purely for study though with social activities hosted too.
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https://www.pps.org/places/perth-cultural-centre
study hub
Temporary Parklet
Purpose:
The small parklet is intended to invite more people to spend time in Tin Alley, help people see its potential and inspire imagination about how the place can change. The flexible types of seating offered will allow people to arrange the space how they feel comfortable amongst the temporary natural elements we place there and provide agency over the space. Informal engagement surveys can be run at the parklet to understand https://christicompass.com/tactical-urbanism-lesson-plan/ the place connection people have to Tin Alley and how they think it could change after seeing the potential of the project.
Intervention
A small temporary gathering space will be set up with spaces to sit and recline inviting people to spend more time relaxing in Tin Alley. Techniques like rolling out fake grass and bringing in plants in pots will also be used to soften the space and make it more enjoyable. Arrangement of free coffee at particular times of the day would also bring more people to the space.
Sensitive to Nature
The placing of plants will bring relaxation and refreshment both physically and mentally. Nature elements will bring health benefits for the users due to human’s biophilic trait (Bush et al, 2020).
Corona Virus Response
Seating will be appropriately distanced 1.5 meters with planting in between, to enable the campus community to engage socially whilst distancing physically.
How is it happening? Maria’s text missing.
Evaluation
The qualitative results of the informal surveys can be used to gauge people’s engagement in the place and to gather information on the diversity of the community and their values.
Who is involved?
Unimelb Support - furniture organisation UMSU - organising free coffee Team Staff Local Residents Pets
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Outdoor Cinema
Purpose:
The outdoor cinema will become an ongoing project if it is successful and help build the sense of community and place attachment to a currently underutilised portion of the alley. It can facilitate the creation of new connections within the community strengthening the social cohesion of the stakeholders. It can also provide an opportunity to update the viewers on the vision for Tin Alley and the progress being made. Invitations can be made for feedback and participation in the workshops for the next projects.
Intervention
An outdoor cinema will be set up to project onto the outside wall of the Redmond Barry lecture theatre or a temporary screen. The area of Tin Alley at the study hub will be closed off and pedestrianised for the nights that the cinema runs.
Sesitive to Nature
Documentaries and movies about nature, climate change, and biodiversity will be encouraged.
Who is involved?
University Events Students UMSU and Social Clubs Staff Unimelb Support - furniture organisation
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http://funtaceeparties.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/ outdoor-movie-night-f.jpg
Corona Virus Response
The seating of fold out chairs and beanbags will be placed on marked spots chalked across the ground appropriately distanced to allow people to experience cinema whilst keeping the community safe.
How is it happening?
Comfortable furniture, fake grass, lighting and more will transform the portion of road into a relaxing space. Snacks and beverages can be sold to the viewers that will help fund the running of the cinema. Contact with UMSU and different social clubs will help determine what will be shown at the cinema, such as student work, documentaries and films.
Evaluation
The number of people at the cinema and the number of purchases made. If people have feedback after the event on the project or ask how to get involved. As part of the experience a short survey can be conducted at the end of the event in exchange for a ticket.
Lovability Workshops
Purpose: Handing over the design and organisation responsibilities to the community members offers a chance to really build on the communities agency which can lead to a greater sense of stewardship and connection to place. To build the long term physical changes begin making a permanent expression of the identity of the place.
Intervention
Workshops and activities will be set up to begin increasing the loveability and identity of the study hub. These activities will be greatly influenced by the results of the early engagement activities of the project and largely designed and organised by the community.
Sensitive to Nature
Small scale decorations and beautification avoid large size construction, and the destruction of current characters and fabric of Tin Alley. It minimises the impact of modification towards on site vegetation and biodiversity groups.
https://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/tugun-lights-up-2019-50851. html?override=true https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn%3AANd9GcR ecSqcCUlIJ6HEr61-f9d-8Ij1NH-li7W44g&usqp=CAU
Corona Virus Response
Hygiene protocols will be encouraged and social distancing measures will be applied in order to engage socially whilst distancing physically.
How is it happening?
Maria how is it happening??????
Evaluation
Number of people that attend the workshops Informal survey on the feelings evoked by the changes made
Who is involved? Community members UMSU Social Clubs
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Furniture and Biodiversity builds
Purpose: The project will really define what the study hub has become to all the people who have been involved in and followed the project. It will reflect the values, ambitions and changed perspectives that have resulted from all the placemaking activities along Tin Alley and not just at the study hub.
Intervention
Custom furniture and design of greater biodiversity within the study hub will happen with the strong team of community members and stakeholders that have been brought together throughout the project. This may include digging up the pavement for planting and moving the bike racks, as well as flexible furniture.
Sensitive to Nature
The increase of biodiversity will be part of BSUD by using sensitive public landscape to create habitats and resources for small animals and insects (Weber et al, 2014), creating a connection of green spaces along the Tin Alley.
Who is involved?
ABPL Faculty Staff, or Ex Lab or Fab Lab (possibly run a subject that designs and build the furniture and another class that will design the landscaping). Students Local Aboriginal Leaders/Representatives Biodiversity Representatives
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Corona Virus Response
Custom furniture will be designed with planting to create a ‘soft’ and calming barrier between people, to ensure adequate physical distancing whilst also providing opportunities for greenery.
How is it happening?
Maria how is it happening??????
Evaluation
Student experience survey - if classes are run to design/build the area. Observation on the use of the furniture. Observation of the increase in biodiversity.
Connection four:
Taking advantage of the proximity to the University of Melbourne Sports Centers (MUS), the aim of this connection is to become an hub for outdoor exercise and casual gathering and increased biodiversity.
www.meatpacking-district.com/events/the-sweat-sessions/
exercise hub
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Outdoor Exercise Classes
Purpose: This will become the hub for outdoor exercise at Tin Alley, promoting well-being and health. It is located right in between the Beaurepaire Center and the Nona Lee Center, with direct access to the Athletics Club, running https://ozsquad.com.au/faqs/ tracks and pool.
Intervention
The intervention consists of encouraging students and all the community to get involved in guided exercise activities such as outdoor yoga, crossfit and meditation.
Sensitive to Nature
The intervention consists of encouraging students and all the community to get involved in guided exercise activities such as outdoor yoga, crossfit and meditation.
Who is involved?
Staff at University Sport Training Staff at University Sport UMSU Students Staff Locals Residents -Pets
Corona Virus Response
Chalk and rope will be used as a temporary method of marking out individual spaces for exercise, ensuring appropriate distance between people. This will provide a vibrant and personal aesthetic, which allows the campus community the chance to engage in communal exercise whilst keeping each other safe.
How is it happening?
With the support of MUS and UMSU, the idea is to promote outdoor exercise as part of the free yoga classes and meditation sessions already imparted at UoM. In later phases, these classes will become part of the Sports Center Schedule for subscribed members, adding outdoor crossfit to the list. Every first Tuesday and Thursday of the month the activities will continue to run for free, in order to encourage more students to participate.
Evaluation
- Number of people in the classes - Feedback from the participants - New subscriptions to the gym
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Gathering and Cafe
Purpose: To create a place for informal gathering alongside a coffee, allowing the place to be more welcoming for students to stay, procrastinate and relax, after a workout, or anytime! www.lizmarieblog.com/2018/09/the-found-cottage-mercantile-market-2018/ https://outdoorbeanbaghire.com.au/gallery/
Intervention
The existing coffee caravan on site can help to easily kickstart this connection. Incorporating informal seatings such as recycled pallets and bean bags will allow the place to be more welcoming for students to stay, procrastinate and relax. Eventually, in later phases, we believe the coffee caravan could become permanent feature for the Hub.
Sensitive to Nature
The informal types of furniture such as pallets can also be made from recycled materials. Also, the temporality and movability of the installation will cause less environmental impact to the grass lawn.
Who is involved?
Corona Virus Response
Informal seating will be distanced 1.5 meters with planting in between, to enable the campus community to engage socially whilst distancing physically.
How is it happening?
Initially, the use of recycled pallets and cushions will help lower the start-up costs. In later phases, this hub will look into incorporating colorful bean bags (cheapest options cost around $40 each).
Evaluation
Observation on the use of the furniture and overall use of the space. Coffees sold.
Unimelb support (furniture organisation) Students - design of space/furniture and use of the space
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Increased Biodiversity
Purpose: To enhance native biodiversity with help from Local Aboriginal Elders and help from the UoM Community. This intervention introduces more species to the site, and allows people and wild lives to enjoy a more diverse environment.
pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/articles/plants-tell-stories-of-culturalconnection/
Intervention
This intervention introduces more native species to the site, and allows people and wild lives to enjoy a more diverse environment of local flora and consequently, fauna.
Sensitive to Nature
The current green space towards the running track is under utilised with only the implementation of grass lawn. It is a BSUD strategy to enhance the existing green space with trees and understory vegetations (Ikin et al, 2015).
Who is involved?
Local Aboriginal Leaders/Representatives advisory/collaboration Biodiversity Representative - advisory/ collaboration Students - design/build/coordinate Staff - design/build/coordinate Local residents - design/build
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Corona Virus Response
Chalk and rope will be used as a temporary method of marking out individual spaces for exercise, ensuring appropriate distance between people. This will provide a vibrant and personal aesthetic, which allows the campus community the chance to engage in communal exercise whilst keeping each other safe.
How is it happening?
With help and guidance from Local Aboriginal Elders and their support in the knowledge of native species. We will also engage with the creators of The Living Pavilion at UoM, in order to orient our intervention to something feasible and that can last on campus.
Evaluation
Observation of the increase in biodiversity, both flora and fauna.
Connection five:
This connection is deeply connected to nature. It intends to be a produce hub, where honey, vegetables, fruits and herbs are carefully taken care of by our community. It hosts two main workshops: The Apiary Workshop and the New Community Garden, which will eventually replace the existing one at UoM.
https://www.moneycrashers.com/start-community-garden-benefits/
community garden
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https://mucgarden.weebly.com/garden-blog
New Community Garden
Purpose: The purpose of community garden is to become a stop point for the large amount of human flow, and eventually become a new gathering space for students to communicate with each other. Also the biodiversity will be engaged in this garden to tie this place strongly to nature.
Intervention
A New Community Garden as a continuation of the existing one on Campus.
Sensitive to Nature
The community garden is another way to help increase biodiversity on campus. By providing variety of plants species (edible, aroma etc.), the garden does not only give fresh produce, but also a chance for the community to learn about biodiversity and suitable plants for planting (Ikin et al, 2015). It will follow sustainable gardening practices such as compost soil and rainwater collection methods.
Who is involved?
Social clubs - design/build/maintain Students - design/build/maintain Horticulture experts - advisory/collaboration Local Aboriginal Leaders/Representatives advisory/collaboration
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Corona Virus Response
Planters will be 1.5 meters apart, to enable the campus community to engage socially whilst distancing physically. Hygiene measures will be encouraged.
How is it happening?
The UMSU Environment Department allocates a $2000 budget for UoM’s existing Community Garden. However, there are multiple strategies that can be followed to minimize start-up and maintenance costs. For example, re-locating the existing CG means that beds and plants can be fully transplanted thus lowering the initial costs and time. Other cost cutting strategies include working with volunteers, re-purposing old furniture and tires and promoting a collaborative tools. At later phases, workshop membership fees will also help finance the maintenance of the the garden. The NCG produce —herbs, fruits and vegetables — will be sold every 3 months through an informal Produce Market on site.
Evaluation
University students & stuffs participate in this program. New educational subjects Social media tags of the location and or the hashtag #newcguom
https://www.begadistrictnews.com.au/story/6014935/new-apiary-opened-atbega-high-to-educate-students-about-bees/digital-subscription/
Apiary Workshop
Purpose: The apiary workshop will cooperate with the Bees@ UniMelb, which can teach the communities the knowledge of this outstanding insects. It also provides opportunities to become the teaching space for veterinary, biology and bioscience students.
Intervention
A Bee Keeping place for students & community, with an Apiary Workshop held for all interested in learning the fundamental role that these insects play in our daily lives.
Sensitive to Nature
The Apiary can be benefited by bees and eventually other insects, becoming pollinators and natural pesticides, thus increasing its biodiversity. Meanwhile, the location is near to the System Garden. The advantage of locality can create patches of activity areas for the bees, helping to expand the biodiversity range across the campus. In terms of biodiversity sensitivity, Introducing the Apiary workshop also allows the community to understand the nature processes (Cooper et al, 2007), hence develop the knowledge towards species in University.
Who is involved?
Corona Virus Response
People not complying with Melbourne’s current COVID restrictions will be covered in honey and released to the bees.
How is it happening?
Overall startup costs of bee hives is around $150 to $300, which includes two timber boxes with both frame and foundations. Good news is, since the place is a natural habitat for bees, this intervention requires no initial budget for buying bees. However, if existing bees don’t engage with the new hives, the estimate for buying a startup Bee package (3 pounds of bees!) is around $100-$135. Membership fees for the Apiary Workshop will also help finance the maintenance of the Apiary.
Evaluation
Social media tags of the location and Bees@ UniMelb, or the hashtag #apiaryuom Number of people participating in educational workshops and working bees
Volunteering students, staff and local residents eager to participate and learn Bees@Unimelb
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Purpose: The Informal Produce Market aims to sell the by-product that come from the New Community Garden and Apiary such as honey, vegetables, fruits and herbs. Community members will be able to engage directly with their buyers and be conscious about the advantages of local produce.
Intervention
An informal Produce Market held every month which serves as an opportunity for members of the Community Garden and the Apiary to sell their produce.
Sensitive to Nature
The Informal Produce Market sells all-natural products such as organic honey, vegetables, flowers from community garden. The garden will utilise all organic and natural methods of growing, not using pesticides and inorganic fertiliser. Workshops and information will be shared with the community to use at other gardens.The market itself also uses all recycled material for its shelves and sells some of the small items made by recycled materials. This market can directly connect the students, staff and the community to the end product of nature which can share the gift of nature to all the people.
Who is involved?
Social clubs - design/build/maintain Students - design/build/maintain Agriculture experts - Guide/collaboration Marketing Students - Sales/Marketing Local Aboriginal Leaders/Representatives advisory/collaboration
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https://bywaterdesign.com.au/woodworking-classes
https://bywaterdesign.com.au/woodworking-classes
Informal Produce Market
Corona Virus Response
The Produce Market will require all members to wear personal protective equipment including face masks and gloves to ensure safety of everyone. Good hygiene practices will be followed for the handling of money and produce to prevent spread through handling of cash. Throughout the market there will be indicators of 1.5m spacings on the ground to keep safe social distancing.
How is it happening?
The University of Melbourne will spend around $1000 per month to support the market which sells organic and green products. This informal produce market will require less supporting funds due to the product it sell is from other university programs. Despite the initial starting funds, this market can make enough revenue to support itself. It is also able to provide the positive impact to the community which will help its financial situation.
Evaluation
Customer Numbers - the increasing number of the customers will indicate the success of the market Social media tags of the Informal Produce Market.
Tin Alley after a year...
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Sense of Place This is our community hub as it is instilled with a sense of place one year into use. Asphalt is replaced by grass springing up from concrete pavers, whilst the garden wall is replaced with covered seating areas engulfed in climbing vines and flowers. A street market occurs weekly, where honey from the new student apiary is sold. Social distancing is encouraged throughout, with the use of spaced interaction and socialisation areas. Tin Alley is truely loveable.
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Conclusion
Tin Alley will no longer be a dividing road in the backstage of the campus, but rather a vibrant community entrance which connects us with each other, and our university. This grass roots project will be developed from the ideas and input of a diverse campus, creating a place as vibrant and social as its students. Engagement at all stages of placemaking will generate stewardship, ensuring Tin Alley evolves as our campus community does.
image from: https://www.facebook.com/vintagemarketroma/
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