Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning Re-imagining Fitzroy

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The Pedestrian Collector: Working as a group, the students focused on the design of the central 'spine' concept from their preliminary scheme - the activities within the space and the buildings that frame it.
To respond to the demand for a new public space on a site significant to Fitzroy, a 'pedestrian collector' is created through the centre of Atherton Gardens. By weaving together materials of timber and recycled concrete from the dismantled towers a wealth of spaces are generated within the crisscross motif formed by the connection of node corners. Embodied activity transpires from these defined yet accessible spaces to be used by different people making different sounds upon different surfaces.

The pedestrian collector promotes production rather than solely consumption. Within this pedestrian friendly environment the site has been programmed to respond to the community needs of Atherton Gardens and Fitzroy in which each household as well as members of the wider community are entitled to a piece of productive land where interaction and integration is enabled within close proximity to dwellings. Residents and the wider community over time form and define these adaptive spaces making them their own.

The site enables architecture of place which responds and reacts to the rhythm of the landscape as well as the nature of Fitzroy. A diverse range of housing for a diverse range of residents promotes integration throughout the site aiming to remove the stigma associated with public housing. Thus a community is created closer to the ground and nearer to amenities and activities.