WHAT IS URBAN CHARACTER? Defining, Constructing and Regulating Urban Place Identity. Urban character has become a key concept in the discourse and practice of urban development, used to defend valued places against what is seen as inappropriate development. This project will study the 3-way relations between design practice, urban regulation and urban character outcomes. How is urban character experienced in everyday life? How is it defined and constructed in public discourse? How is it created ....WHAT IS URBAN CHARACTER? Defining, Constructing and Regulating Urban Place Identity. Urban character has become a key concept in the discourse and practice of urban development, used to defend valued places against what is seen as inappropriate development. This project will study the 3-way relations between design practice, urban regulation and urban character outcomes. How is urban character experienced in everyday life? How is it defined and constructed in public discourse? How is it created through design innovation and protected through planning regulation? The project will produce a critical re-thinking of the complex issues framing the urban character debate and contribute to the development of sustainable, equitable and innovative urban futures.Read moreRead less
The character of urban intensification: Protecting and Creating Place Identity in Activity Centres. 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 character of urban intensification: Protecting and Creating Place Identity in Activity Centres. 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. Read moreRead less
Lifetime Affordable Housing in Australia: Integrating environmental performance and affordability. Existing dwellings and the locations of suburban housing with respect to employment centres result in significant greenhouse gas emissions. Water and other environmental issues are also important in housing performance, and there is currently a perceived trade-off between these factors and the affordability of housing. For the first time in Australia, this study will focus on overcoming this appare ....Lifetime Affordable Housing in Australia: Integrating environmental performance and affordability. Existing dwellings and the locations of suburban housing with respect to employment centres result in significant greenhouse gas emissions. Water and other environmental issues are also important in housing performance, and there is currently a perceived trade-off between these factors and the affordability of housing. For the first time in Australia, this study will focus on overcoming this apparent policy dilemma. The research will inform future housing policy in strengthening Australia's economic and social fabric, while contributing towards Australia's National Research Priority 1 'Environmentally Sustainable Australia'. Outcomes will provide significant national economic, social, water use and greenhouse gas benefits for Australia.Read moreRead less
Transnational and temporary: place-making, students and community in central Melbourne. Fostering a community in a place is place-making. When many residents are temporary and new arrivals, like tertiary students in central Melbourne, place-making acknowledging current and past residents is complex. This project will develop an innovative place-making strategy in central Melbourne, centred on enhancing the public-private interactions residents have in built spaces and social relations. For tempo ....Transnational and temporary: place-making, students and community in central Melbourne. Fostering a community in a place is place-making. When many residents are temporary and new arrivals, like tertiary students in central Melbourne, place-making acknowledging current and past residents is complex. This project will develop an innovative place-making strategy in central Melbourne, centred on enhancing the public-private interactions residents have in built spaces and social relations. For temporary residents, public-private interactions have greater significance than for long-term residents more settled in their networks of belonging. Outcomes will be: new policy frameworks of institutional partnerships, building morphology and public space design; workshops with stakeholders; and articles in scholarly journals.Read moreRead less
Researching the Development of Benchmarks for Determining both Relative and Sustainable Levels of Infrastructure for the Aged within Regional Victoria. The decline of country towns and subsequent population shifts to larger regional centres often places significant stress on the facilities within these larger centres. Of particular importance to local government are the implications regarding the provision of services for the aged. This project will research the development of benchmarks and ind ....Researching the Development of Benchmarks for Determining both Relative and Sustainable Levels of Infrastructure for the Aged within Regional Victoria. The decline of country towns and subsequent population shifts to larger regional centres often places significant stress on the facilities within these larger centres. Of particular importance to local government are the implications regarding the provision of services for the aged. This project will research the development of benchmarks and indicators to assist local governments to understand the current and future needs of their aged communities. The research will comprise a pilot study involving the Cities of Bendigo and Warrnambool to establish the current situation regarding physical infrastructure and service provision and indicating future needs as the demographic profiles change.Read moreRead less