Urban Land Institute invites ideas for north-west corner of Melbourne CBD
The Urban Land Institute (ULI) Australia is inviting the next generation of industry professionals, including architects, developers and urban planners to propose novel ideas for the north-west corner of Melbourne's CBD.
The ULI is recognised internationally within the realms of urban design, development and built environment. It promotes youth leadership, urban innovation and collaboration in the property industry via its Urban Innovation Initiative program, with support from its Principal Sponsor, Mirvac.
The 2018 ULI Australia Urban Innovation Ideas Competition provides a platform to investigate innovative solutions to issues affecting our cities – matching leading young professionals with mentoring from industry leaders and sector specialists.
The theme for 2018 is ‘Nurturing the inner city’s diversity and liveability’ and entrants are encouraged to consider the area’s context, and identify opportunities and challenges that will ultimately assist in informing their responses.
The site bound by La Trobe, William, Bourke and Spencer Streets will be the focus of this year's competition which is seeking ideas to revitalise this emerging precinct into a more vibrant, safe and liveable 24-hour neighbourhood.
It was selected due to its diverse mix of land uses, proximity to public transport, increased residential activity and a lack of definition and neighbourhood identity.
According to the ULI, despite the significant transformation the city has undergone in recent years, the Competition site suffers from a lack of identity, limited on-street activity outside of business hours, little open public space and community amenity.
The ULI is hosting the ULI City Forum this evening (22 August) to launch the 2018 Competition. The event involves a panel discussion around the challenges and changes since the City of Melbourne’s Future Melbourne 2020 plan was developed over 10 years ago.
Panellists include:
- Ian Briggs,Plus Architecture;
- Sarah Macklin from Urbis;
- Professor Donald Bates, the University of Melbourne; and
- Bec McHenry,The Space Agency.
Participants can enter individually or as a team of up to four, with the winners receiving a trip to the 2019 ULI Asia Pacific Summit on 4-6 June in Shanghai where they will present their idea at ULI’s Regional conference.
2018 marks the first year the Competition has focused on Melbourne, with support from the 2018 project sponsor NH Architecture and project partners Urbis, Plus Architecture and the University of Melbourne.
Registrations for the first stage of the 2018 ULI Australia Urban Innovation Ideas Competition open on 24 August and close 10 September. For more info and to register click here.
What they say...
ULI’s Urban Innovation Initiative provides a platform for young people and their ideas and brings together collaborative leadership, innovation and creativity to address topical issues in urban development.
In the Competition we are looking for ideas that are both practical and creative, adopting innovative approaches that will generate significant value across multiple channels. It’s important that entrants represent a new approach or way of thinking and synthesise urban practice from a number of different areas.
- David McCracken, ULI Executive Director
Whilst Melbourne’s CBD has been guided by a suite of targeted and innovative approaches – from the postcode 3000 policy, the renewal of its laneways, and the design of its streetscapes – the city’s north-west corner continues to face a number of prevailing issues that are impacting the vitality and appeal of this area
As such, this year we are seeking proposals that if realised would transform the north-west corner of Melbourne’s CBD into a locality that is diverse, liveable, vibrant, activated and resilient.
- Sue Say, Director at Urbis and Chair of the ULI District Council
