An Intensified Suburban Future: Melbourne's Outer Ring Retrofitted to the Threshold of Urbanity
Thursday 15 May 2008 1.30 pm
Japanese Room 1st Floor, Architecture Building
Robyn Pollock
PhD Confirmation
The premise for the majority of Australian capital cities metropolitan plans is for the intensification of land use. Spatially, these plans tend to focus on the fringe, the activity centres and to a lesser degree on major redevelopment sites. Specific metropolitan planning for growth in the existing suburbs has been sidelined. There is consistent development pressure for incremental infill within existing suburbs. The lack of neighbourhood planning for development exacerbates issues such as traffic congestion, pressure on local infrastructure capacity and loss of backyard greenery (common amenity). The associated increased population density created (and council rates) provides only limited direct improvement to the public good in the areas of neighbourhood services, quality of public realm or sustainability of the neighbourhood. The current model of suburban infill focuses on redevelopment of individual allotments. This investigation will focus on redevelopment of the neighbourhood as a system, specifically the publicly controlled land such as streets, parks and infrastructure reserves. Is there a way to plan at a neighbourhood scale for intensification so as to minimise externalities and maximise the public good? What are the limits of intensification which safeguard continuation of a typical Australian suburban neighbourhood? This research investigates the form an intensified suburb at the extreme of the suburban/urban divide. The project uses various research methods including design to explore a variety of spatial configurations and development scenarios.
Robyn Pollock MUD (2004) BArch (1994) BBE (1991) ARB #6035 Robyn has worked in Australia, London, Glasgow and Shanghai as an architect and urban designer over the past 15 years. In 2004 she established the urban design consulting firm VASTenvironments. She is keen to instil an enthusiasm for a broader understanding of the urban environment which is demonstrated by her leading of design studios, lecturing and composing professional development courses for architects, planners and landscape architects. Robyn is passionate about the city we live in and is continuously seeking ways to improve our understanding of the built environment system.
Supervisor