The Character of Urban Intensification: Protecting and Creating Place Identity in Activity Centres
Chief Investigator: Professor Kim Dovey
Funded by: ARC Linkage Project grant 2006–2009
Partner Organisation(s): Victorian Department of Sustainability & Environment, City of Yarra, City of Moreland, City of Melbourne
Research team: Ian Woodcock (Research Fellow), Simon Wollan (Research Assistant), Gethin Davison (PhD candidate)
Funded by: ARC Linkage Project grant 2007–2009
Partner Organisations: Department of Planning and Community Development (DPCD), City of Melbourne, City of Moreland and City of Yarra.
Intensified land-use near mass-transit nodes within existing urbanized areas is a key strategy for the sustainability of Australian cities. A major barrier to such development often lies in resident resistance to densification based on the protection of neighbourhood 'character'. This project, in collaboration with state and local governments, will investigate a series of activity centres in the Melbourne metropolitan area where both the protection of existing character and the creation of new forms of place-identity are key issues. The project will investigates the opportunities and challenges for intensified urban experiences and place-making opportunities as we move towards sustainable cities.
The Character of Urban Intensification report on ARC-funded research 2002-2010: download here (7.9mb)
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This project will contribute to the improved environmental and social sustainability of Australian cities and to an enhanced sense of place and community. It will raise awareness and understanding of social factors associated with urban change and provide theoretical and practical tools to facilitate more effective policy development, urban regulation and urban design. Although based in Melbourne, the methodology and findings can be applied to other Australian cities and internationally.