Urban Design & Planning

DESIGN PROPOSAL FOR HOWARD STREET RESERVE OLIVIA GOODLIFFE 722120

Vision: To promote a vibrant, sustainable and interactive community and improve livability for the growing residential population on West Melbourne by creating a community hub that incorporates useful facilities, services and open space.

SITE ANALYSIS

3x

INCREASE IN POPULATION BY 2036

1

46%

FAMILY HOUSEHOLDS

1

The growing density means there will be more families in the area, increasing SITE the demand SITE for services for this population.

TRAIN LINE TRAM LINE Howard Street BUS ROUTE

There are currently not many reasons to visit Reserve as the TRAIN LINE church is not useful for the majority of the community but there is potential TRAM LINE for the site to become a node for the local community to gather, and to be TRAIN STATION SITE BUSfor ROUTE functional daily life.

TRAM STOP

TRAIN TRAIN LINE STATION CHILD CARE CENTRE TRAM LINE PRIMARY/SECONDARY SCHOOL BUS 62% ofROUTE workers TRAM STOP in the area drive to work, with public transport usage

accounting for 28%1. The nearby tram stop offers good access to the site PLAYGROUND but community public transport usage could be improved by bringing TRAIN CHILD STATION CARE CENTRE FITNESS the bus route into the vicinity of the site.

TRAM STOP PRIMARY/SECONDARY SCHOOL

LANDMARK

Couples with children CHILD CARE CENTRE and single parent families will almost double in the PLAYGROUND next 10 years and there will be a 50% increase in 0-5 year old children in the next 20 years2. The SCHOOL existing child care facility close to the site has a PRIMARY/SECONDARY FITNESS two year wait list, which is not practical for new families moving into the area and suggests there is demand for these facilities.

PLAYGROUND LANDMARK FITNESS

Community consultation LANDMARK

SITE

The community provides strong support for expansion of open space, and requests more seating, trees and children’s play equipment. Reductions in vehicle numbers and speeds is also an important objective4.

“More attention to facilities and amenities that recognize the change of West Melbourne from a commercial to a residential suburb.”3 “Protect and encourage sense of community by preserving family friendly feel.” 3

TRAIN LINE TRAM LINE BUS ROUTE SITE

TRAIN STATION

COMMUNITY FACILITIES WITHIN DISTANCE OF SITE TRAMWALKING STOP TRAIN LINE 1:1000

TRAM LINE BUS ROUTE

SITE TRAIN LINE TRAM LINE BUS ROUTE TRAIN STATION TRAM STOP

TRAIN STATION TRAM STOP CHILD CARE CENTRE PRIMARY/SECONDARY SCHOOL

CHILD CARE CENTRE

N

N

N

50M

0

50

125

250M

0

1

3M

1:750

PLAYGROUND FITNESS

25

1:50

FITNESS LANDMARK

10

1:5000

PRIMARY/SECONDARY SCHOOL PLAYGROUND

0

N

0

5

15

30M

SITE ANALYSIS

PM

3

AM

VICTORIA

ST

3

PM

GREEN OPEN SPACES

CLIMATE, NOISE & WALKABILITY

HISTORICAL CHARACTER

Apartments are the most common dwelling type1 and household size is expected to decrease in the long term2. The limited household and backyard space increases the demand for public open spaces in the area.

The uncomfortable scale and noise coming from Victoria street hinders pedestrian experience.

The site has a strong historical character. It is framed by terrace style housing and heritage buildings that age back to before the 1890s.

Scale 1:3000 0m

1:1000 N

0

1:500

5

5

15

25M

N

0 1:1000

30m

60m

Sections Park Space Pre 1890 1890-1909 1910-1929 1930-1949 1950-1969 1970-1989

1:500

1:2000 N

0

WINTER SUN SUMMER SUN VICTORIA ST NOISE 15 25M HOT WIND COOL BREESE

HOWARD ST

N

90m

ST

Sun paths can be used to orient seating to optimise comfort.

LIAM

It is therefore important to maintain the open space on the site.

This character and materiality can be carried through in the new design of the site.

WIL

Currently cars have hierarchy over pedestrians and the wide roads encourage cars to drive faster. The abundance of car parking also encourages car dependency.

Sections Park Space Pre 1890 1890-1909 1910-1929

120m

1990+

T

1:1000 5

TRAM 12.5 STOP

25M

N

0 1:5000

10

25

50M

RO

S

NS SLY

SITE PLAN

The redevelopment of the site will improve livability by providing the services for the community to thrive.

Open space allows for community gathering, enhancing social connections and interaction among neighbours. The existing trees have been maintained and some added to provide shade for seating underneath.

The streets have been designed to promote walkability. Tree canopies, pedestrian crossings and raised surfaces calm and slow down traffic so things move at a human pace so the streets are safer and people are comfortable.

A shallow water channel running through the site creates an element of constant movement and a processional journey through the site. The channel is shallow enough to walk through and will light up at night to increase safety. The peaceful, reflective essence of the water mimics the spiritual effect of the church.

MOUND GRASS WATER CHANNEL SEATING PODS PARKING & DROP OFF COMMUNITY GARDEN PLAY AREA BULDING

Pyramid-like mounding has been used to absorb some of the noise from Victoria Street. This also doubles as seating space, prospect for views of the church and city and also creates incidental exercise and encourages play among both adults and children.

1:1000 N

0

10

25

50M

50

125

250M

1:5000 N

0 1:50

N

0

1

3M

1:750 N

0

5

15

30M

1:200 N

0

2

6M

REFERENCE PRECINCT: NEW YORK CITY HIGHLINE

FIG 1. A relaxing place for reflection in the middle of a busy city

VIEW FROM ENTRANCE TO COMMUNITY CENTRE

FIG 3. Adaptable open space

FIG 4. Shallow water channel

FIG 2. Weaving nature and industrial

FIG 5. Prospect

FIG 6. Intimate seating spaces

1:1000 N

0

10

25

5

50

125

2

1:5000 N

0 1:50

N

0

1

1:750 N

0

5

15

30M

GROUND FLOOR PLAN

FIRST FLOOR PLAN

The existing building will be redeveloped into a new community building with a childcare centre, fitness centre, community garden, kiosk and church offices. The car park will be transformed into a playground that slopes down into a sandpit. The playground will be used by the childcare during weekdays and by the public after school and on weekends. The school drop off zone will be relocated to the southern side of the building which will also be a new bus stop to improve 1:1000 public transport access.

The existing building will be maintained to minimise waste, and will be wrapped with corten panels to synthesis the building with the triangular site and its heritage fabric.

N

0

10

25

50M

50

125

250M

1:5000 N

0 1:50

N

SECTION

0

1

3M

1:750 N

0 1:200

5

15

30M

1:200 N

0

2

6M

The community garden offers learning opportunities for the childcare centre, surrounding schools and community to learn about sustainability. Additionally, harvested stormwater will be used for the toilets and gardens.

RE-PURPOSED BUILDING

SEATING SPACE DETAILED DESIGN

SEATING PLAN Throughout the site seating pods subtract and extrude from the ground plane. The pods will be ‘wrapped’ with timber seating, mimicking the way that the existing building on the site has been redesigned. The seating will offer a range of different experiences from social, working, dining and more intimate spaces.

Landscaping is incorporated to add comfort and the experience of being with nature. The majority of the seating is oriented to face the view of the church at the top of the site, and meal and working spaces are designed to face away from the sun.

FIG 7. Seamlessly merged timber and concrete seating incorporated with nature

BLUESTONE

TIMBER

1:1000 N

0

10

25

50M

50

125

250M

1:5000 N

0 1:50

N

0 1:750

1

3M

SEATING POD SECTION

1:1000 N

0

10

25

50M

50

125

250M

1:5000 N

0 1:50

N

0

1

3M

1:750 N

0

5

15

30M

1:200 N

FIGURE 7. Moveable seating

FIGURE 8. Seamless transition

FIGURE 9. Mixed use seating

0

2

6M

REFERENCE LIST 1. City of Melbourne. (2013). West Melbourne Small Area Demographic Profile. Retrieved from https://www.melbourne.vic.gov. au/sitecollectiondocuments/small-area-profile-west-melb-2013.pdf.

2. City of Melbourne. (2016). West Melbourne (Residential). Retrieved from Http://melbournepopulation.geografia.com.au/areas/CLSA05.

3. City of Melbourne. (2015). West Melbourne Structure Plan. Retrieved from http://participate.melbourne.vic.gov.au/westmelbourne.

4. City of Melbourne. (2002). Open Space Opportunities in North and West Melbourne. Retrieved from Http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/ sitecollectiondocuments/open-spaces-opportunities-north-west-melbourne.pdf.

IMAGES 1. Wasabi Bob. (2011). NYC Highline. Retrieved from https://www.flickr. com/photos/wasabi_bob/5967508362.

2. Friends of the Highline. (2016). How you can support the Highline.

Retrieved from https://www.thehighline.org/support/ways-to-give.

3. Coty. (2014). The High Line: An Elevated Public Park on Manhattan’s West Side. Retrieved from http://www.explorationhawaii. com/2014/07/16/the-high-line-an-elevated-public-park-on-manhattanswest-side.

4. Kitty. (2011). City Portraits - The Highline Part Two. Retrieved from http://nyportraits.blogspot.com.au/2011/07/city-portraits-high-line-parttwo.html.

5. Squint Once. (2011). NYC Day 9 - Highline Park. Retrieved from http:// squintonce.net/nyc-day-7-highlane-park-central-park.

6. Evelyn Derico. (2016). The High Line in NYC guide. Retrieved from https://www.timeout.com/newyork/parks/highline.

7. Jason Carpenter. (2014). Sitting Pretty: Beautiful and Unique Benches in New York City. Retrieved from https://www.6sqft.com/sitting-prettybeautiful-and-unique-benches-in-new-york-city.

8. Cameron Scott. (2010). New York’s High Line Park to Double in Size by Next Spring. Retrieved from http://inhabitat.com/interview-architectjames-corner-on-the-design-of-high-line.

9. Robin Plaskoff Horton. (2011). On the High Line: The Lull Before the Storm. Retrieved from http://www.urbangardensweb.com/2011/08/27/ on-the-high-line-the-lull-before-the-storm.