RMIT

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GUEST OBSERVER
We know what makes for healthy and liveable communities, which in turn produces massive payoffs. But we often lack comprehensive policies and frameworks to deliver on the promise. In producing Australia’s first baseline measure of liveability across our capital cities, we found none of them perform well across all the key indicators.
<a href="https://cur.org.au/project/national-liveability-report/" target="_blank">Our report</a> considers seven domains of a city’s liveability that also promote health and wellbeing:
<ul>
<li>
walkability
</li>
<li>
public transport
</li>
<li>
public open space
</li>
<li>
housing affordability
</li>
<li>
employment
</li>
<li>
food environment
</li>
<li>
alcohol environment.
</li>
</ul>
When it comes to delivering liveability, the evidence of geographical inequities within and between cities is widespread. Outer suburban areas are clearly less well served than inner-city suburbs.
To highlight just how much work needs to be done, and what’s at stake if we don’t get it right, we delve here into three key domains: walkability, public transport, and housing affordability.
Walkability
Walkability is the foundation for achieving liveable, healthy cities. But our analysis of Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane and Sydney reveals a mismatch between the aspiration of walkable communities and the policies needed to achieve this.
This was particularly evident when considering dwelling density. State policies in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane all include a density standard for suburban development of 15 dwellings per hectare. This is a low policy ambition that will perpetuate urban sprawl.
Perth has a more ambitious target for new suburban development – 26 dwellings per hectare – while Brisbane’s target for “urban” development is 30 per hectare.
These latter targets – still low by international standards – are more consistent with the evidence on the density needed to create walkable neighbourhoods, with more shops, services and public transport.
But despite state governments setting very modest density targets, there is little evidence that even these policies are being implemented.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/190334/original/file-20171016-27711-lt587m.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/190334/original/file-20171016-27711-lt587m.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
Author provided
Only Perth and Melbourne appear to have measurable policies and targets for increasing access to local destinations. However, only a minority of dwellings in both cities (less than 10% and 40% respectively) meet their state government targets.
This is important: local destinations are essential for walkable neighbourhoods.
The final element that makes neighbourhoods walkable is the design of the street network. More connected street networks, like grid-patterned networks, increases proximity to local destinations and provides residents with alternative routes.
We found that all cities except Sydney have measurable spatial policy targets to increase street connectivity (block and/or lot size), but few have street connectivity targets.
Public transport
Policies and targets that combine proximity (having a public transport stop within 400 metres) with frequent service (at least every 30 minutes) are a better indicator for healthy, liveable communities.
When this more ambitious target was applied, we found around 36% of dwellings in Melbourne, Adelaide and Sydney have this level of access. The proportion is 18% in Perth and between 11% and 13% in Brisbane, Canberra and Hobart. In Darwin, only 4% of dwellings have this level of access.
Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane and Sydney show a clear pattern of better access to nearby and frequent public transport in areas closer to the city centre.
Fewer areas in smaller cities such as Canberra, Darwin and Hobart have access to public transport comparable to that of larger cities. The spatial pattern of access is less clear, though in Adelaide and Hobart public transport access is higher closer to the inner city.
Residents of some cities face greater public transport access barriers than others. But these results show the majority of dwellings in the capital cities do not have access to nearby and frequent public transport services during weekday work hours.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/190332/original/file-20171016-27721-q9ro43.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/190332/original/file-20171016-27721-q9ro43.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
Author provided
Proximity targets are easier to achieve. However, other Australian cities could consider following New South Wales’ lead by adopting more ambitious public transport targets. These should combine proximity with frequent services, with short-, medium- and long-term targets for achieving these more ambitious goals.
Housing affordability
We identified no state-specific measurable spatial policy standards for improving housing affordability, availability or quality.
With such a major policy gap, we assessed housing affordability using the only two national liveability indicators found to be associated with health and wellbeing: the 30/40 measure of housing affordability, and the proportion of households renting.
The <a href="https://www.ahuri.edu.au/research/glossary/glossary-items/housing-affordability-stress-3040-indicator-or-ratio-approach" target="_blank">30/40 indicator</a> identifies households as being in housing affordability stress when a household’s income is in the bottom 40% of Australia’s income distribution and it uses more than 30% of its income to pay for housing.
Using the 30/40 indicator (based on the <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/getproduct/census/2011/quickstat/0" target="_blank">2011 Census</a>), more than one-third of lower-income households in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Darwin and Perth appear to be experiencing housing affordability stress. Sydney had the highest percentage (38%), closely followed by Brisbane (37%). Fewer lower-income households in Canberra (31%) appeared to be encountering housing affordability stress based on the 30/40 indicator.
The proportion of households renting varies significantly between cities. It’s highest in Darwin, where 43% are renting.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/190335/original/file-20171016-27705-oi28i7.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/190335/original/file-20171016-27705-oi28i7.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
Author provided
In Sydney and Brisbane, and to a lesser extent in Melbourne, housing affordability stress appears to spread across much of the city.
Low-density housing on the urban fringe is sometimes seen as a policy solution to housing affordability problems. However, we found the suburbs with the highest housing affordability stress were located toward the urban fringe.
Given that outer suburbs have poor access to public transport and are less likely to be walkable, these are the areas most at risk of mortgage stress, given high household spending on private car use. Suburban expansion without considering these other factors is unlikely to relieve the housing affordability stress these households experience.
We need comprehensive, integrated planning to ensure they have access to walkable communities, public transport, cycling infrastructure and local jobs to reduce their car dependence.
How to make our cities more liveable
All three levels of government share the goal of increasing the liveability of our cities. But our study identified only a limited number of measurable spatial policy standards that could be used to assess progress toward achieving this goal.
Our research has shown it is possible to create spatial indicators that will allow urban policies to be benchmarked and monitored over time, and for the level of implementation to be assessed. This could assist in assessing progress and in determining the highest priorities for local, state and federal investment.
And if linked to desirable results (such as use of active and public transport, shorter commuting times, less traffic congestion, and better health), these indicators could provide an early warning of unintended outcomes that require policy adjustment.
We discovered that Australia urgently needs integrated and comprehensive urban policies that will better shape cities that foster health and wellbeing for all residents. Walkable urbanism, even on the city fringe, must underpin healthy liveable cities.
This will require leadership from all levels of government, as well as the development industry which delivers suburban development.
Billie Giles-Corti, Director, Urban Futures Enabling Capability Platform and Director, Healthy Liveable Cities Group, RMIT University
Jonathan Arundel, Senior Research Fellow, Healthy Liveable Cities Group, Centre for Urban Research, RMIT University
This article was originally published on <a href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/city-by-city-analysis-shows-our-capitals-arent-liveable-for-many-residents-85676" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

City-by-city analysis shows our capitals aren’t liveable for many residents: RMIT

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As bushfires escalate across Australia and the country falls significantly short of the targets set by other developed nations, <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/109279-how-will-we-live-over-the-next-decade-stockland-research" target="_blank">concerns about climate change</a> and the environment is undoubtedly <a href="https://www.savethechildren.org.au/media/media-releases/leading-agencies-address-climate-crisis" target="_blank">Australia's most pressing issue</a>. 
<h2>Rethinking the residential sector </h2>
The residential sector in Australia, as with other countries, is a significant contributor of overall environmental impact including greenhouse gas emissions and material consumption.
<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301421519303878?via%3Dihub" target="_blank">Recent research </a>has found that over 80 per cent of detached housing in Australia is only built to the minimum regulatory requirements which is currently 6.0 stars on the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme, with less than 15 per cent built to the economically and environmentally optimal 7.5 stars for the life of the dwelling. 
The way housing's deigned and constructed has a significant impact on households and society. For instance, a poorly designed and/or built home can add significant energy costs or be hard to keep cool during heatwaves in summertime and warm during winter. 
Across Australia we are seeing an increasing issue emerge in relation to energy poverty and negative health outcomes due to poor quality housing and rapidly increasing energy prices. 
<h2>Blueprint for a sustainable future</h2>
A 12-month independent study conducted by RMIT University and analysis by <a href="https://renew.org.au">Renew</a>, sustainable not-for-profit, aimed to provide evidence of qualitative and quantitative lived experience of a housing development which is attempting to deliver high quality housing. The purpose of this research is to guide other new housing developments and future revisions of minimum performance regulations for housing Australia. 
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2020/1/21/1_The%20Cape2.jpg" alt="">
Source: <a href="https://www.liveatthecape.com.au/images" target="_blank">The Cape Galleries </a>
 For this research, <a href="https://www.liveatthecape.com.au" target="_blank">The Cape</a> provided sustainable homes for participants. The Cape is a sustainable housing estate in Victoria's Bass Coast that demonstrates how Australian housing estates can build affordable energy efficient housing, carbon neutral homes that achieve a zero emissions, low, cost future. 
The Cape is the ideal controlled variable for this study with its combined passive solar design and construction techniques with affordable technologies such as heat pump heating, cooling and hot water systems, and solar power, to achieve carbon neutral, healthy homes that are comfortable, resilient and healthy in hot spells and heat waves, with super low running costs compared to conventional homes.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2020/1/21/1_The%20Cape3.jpg" alt="">
Source:<a href="https://www.liveatthecape.com.au/images" target="_blank"> The Cape Galleries</a>
The Cape is also generating three to four times the energy it is using. It demonstrates how new “energy positive” estates can become power stations in suburbs, generating a surplus of clean energy for use on site, to help power electric vehicles, and to export to surrounding neighbourhoods and improving energy security.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2020/1/21/1_The%20Cape4.jpg" alt="" style="caret-color: #000000; color: #000000;">
Source: <a href="https://www.liveatthecape.com.au/images" target="_blank">The Cape Galleries </a>
<h2>Research reveal a preference for a sustainable community</h2>
The report shows that most participating households aimed to live in The Cape permanently. 
There were a range of motivations from the households as to why they had bought land and planned to build a home at The Cape. Motivations ranged from wanting to reduce living costs and environmental impact through to being part of a like-minded community. 
Some households already lived in the area and were looking to move into sustainable and quality housing, while others were from Melbourne, or further afield, and were looking to transition living down at The Cape. 
In interviews with households after they moved, they reported that the housing was thermally comfortable, that they rarely had to use their heating and cooling systems and their energy and water bills had significantly fallen. 
The participants also spoke about how friendly the community was, even though it was still under development. Residents spoke about how the existing community welcomed new households and there were a number of community events starting to occur in the development. 
Some of the residents who were not yet living in the development would drive down from Melbourne to participate in some of the community activities such as the community gardening days.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2020/1/21/1_The%20Cape5.jpg" alt="" width="677" height="425">
Source: <a href="https://www.liveatthecape.com.au/images" target="_blank">The Cape Galleries </a>
Overall the majority of households were extremely happy with the performance and quality of the homes.
The use of the development guidelines provided by the developer and the use of a design review panel helped to ensure improved outcomes from having inputs from sustainable housing experts.
<h2>Efficient energy </h2>
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Data shows that energy imported from the grid ranged from 1,048kWh per year to 2,612 kWh per year or from 2.9-7.2 kWh/day with an average of 5.2kWh/day.
Excess renewable energy generation exports ranged from 2,625 kWh per year to 5,420 kWh per year or 7.2-14.8kWh per day and an average of 12.4kWh/day.
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<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2020/1/21/1%20Table.jpeg" alt="" width="614" height="308">
Analysis of the energy consumption and generation of renewable energy on 5 occupied homes in the study. Source: RMIT/ Renew 
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Analysis from Damien Moyse shows a reduction in energy consumption of 88% compared to a typical new 6 star home of comparable size in Victoria.
In this context the house at The Cape are performing as expected and in line with data from other sustainable housing developments in Australia.
Some of the homes at The Cape have recently added battery storage to take further advantage of the energy their renewable energy systems are generating. 
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<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2020/1/21/1%20Table%202.jpeg" alt="" width="615" height="160">
Analysis from Damien Moyse (Renew). Source: RMIT/ Renew
<h2>A low cost future</h2>
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A reduction in energy consumption was noticed by the households who reported that their energy costs were significantly lower than their previous homes, estimating that they had now dropped to under $500 a year; a figure confirmed by their energy bills and the modelling we undertook which found economic savings of $2,307/year.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2020/1/21/1%20Table%203.jpeg" alt="" width="621" height="70" style="caret-color: #000000; color: #000000;">
Source: Source: RMIT/ Renew
Some households were in credit on their energy bills. 
If the energy savings ($2,307/year) found at The Cape were replicated across all new housing in Victoria it would lead to economic savings for those households of almost $91 million per year and across Australia it would be almost $180 million per year. 
If all new housing, which is estimated at 118,300 houses per year, was built to the standard of The Cape across the next decade there could be accumulated economic savings for these households of more than $5 billion.
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<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2020/1/21/1%20Table%204.jpeg" alt="" width="622" height="292">
Source: RMIT/ Renew
 
 
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Building sustainable housing estates, RMIT University study reveals

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Developed by RMIT health and urban researchers, the Australian Urban Observatory is an innovative new mapping programme which is being dubbed the essential new tool for government and industry, "from policymakers wanting to improve the health and liveability of their cities to developers look for the next suburbs to invest in."

The Observatory was launched on Wednesday 5th of February at RMIT's signature research and innovation event, Engaging for Impact 2020, by Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp.

The geographical mapping service is based on research knowledge about public health and urban environments and brings together critical data on easy-to-use maps the first time in Australia.

"Simplicity of data is key," says lead investigator Dr Melanie Davern, from the RMIT Centre for Urban Research. The app could help develop a clear understanding of real liveability for anyone from developers, planners, policymakers and students as well as members of the general community.

<blockquote>
Drawing on over eight years of research findings by the RMIT Healthy Liveable Cities Group, the Observatory maps liveability indicators across the country’s 21 largest cities and measures liveability across cities, council areas, suburbs and neighbourhoods,” Davern said.

We’ve taken the data out of the tables and put it onto the map to display a real-world view of how this information exists in our cities and where we can change urban design and planning to really influence the health and liveability of Australian cities.

Policy makers looking to encourage active lifestyles for residents can easily access and understand key ingredients of liveability - like walkability, access to schools, public transport, and public open spaces - to decide which areas and people need resources the most.

They can even examine other neighbourhoods and suburbs across the country to find out what is working in comparable geographic areas.

Developers looking for the next place to invest can find indicators for whole suburbs or narrow down to individual neighbourhoods.

Using detailed liveability indicators, they can determine exactly which areas are the best places for new development or support future investment.
</blockquote>

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pryGOPOxJMw" width="100%"></iframe>

The app uses Geographic Information System (GIS) maps to display public health data across key areas of liveability, including:

<ul>
<li>Walkability</li>
	<li>Public transport</li>
	<li>Social infrastructure and services</li>
	<li>Employment</li>
	<li>Food</li>
	<li>Housing</li>
	<li>Public open space</li>
</ul>
This data allows the platform to provide users with detailed information about their communities and the local factors influencing physical and mental health.

<blockquote>
Through the Observatory we are creating a new national resource of liveability indicators needed to identify, measure, monitor and target responses to critical social, economic and environmental challenges that are arising with Australia’s rapidly growing population,.

Each indicator in the platform has been chosen because it is associated with health outcomes and is connected to government policies.

They have been designed so that all Australians can learn more about the connection between health and urban planning, and how they support the planning of healthy, equitable and sustainable cities.
<cite>Dr Melanie Davern</cite>
</blockquote>

The Observatory is a collaborative project between RMIT University, the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Centre for Research Excellence in Healthy Liveable Communities, the National Environmental Science Program supported Clean Air and Urban Landscapes Hub, and the NHMRC funded Australian Prevention Partnership Centre and state partners. 

More information is available at <a href="https://auo.org.au/">auo.org.au</a>
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Alastair Taylor

RMIT researchers launch the Australian Urban Observatory which maps liveability in major cities

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RMIT University is hoping to continue its substantial building program with a sizeable mixed-use tower set for a long held A'Beckett Street address.

Entering planning during late 2015, the new proposal designed by Denton Corker Marshall would provide additional educational space and 11 levels of office space, most likely for ancillary university use. Located at 24-46 A’Beckett Street the project also represents Denton Corker Marshall's third tower in the RMIT precinct, joining two active large-scale student housing towers in development.

Although the proposal will result in the loss of an urban park, the site was always expected to be developed by RMIT and has been subject to a proposal as far back as a decade ago.

<h2>24-46 A’Beckett Street, Melbourne application summary</h2>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/image48_3.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="RMIT's latest precinct addition. Planning image: DCM"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="758" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image48_3.jpg?itok=HHqqyPk5" title="RMIT's latest precinct addition. Planning image: DCM" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>RMIT's latest precinct addition. Planning image: DCM</figcaption></figure><ul>
<li>Current 2,806 square metre site use: temporary urban park</li>
	<li>Proposed 24 level mixed-use tower at 115.2 metres</li>
	<li>Levels 1-13 subject to educational uses over 16,708 square metres</li>
	<li>Levels 13-23 dedicated to 13,954 square metres of office space</li>
	<li>Two ground floor retail tenancies over 472 square metres</li>
	<li>206 bicycle parking spaces, gym, 15 showers and 120 lockers included</li>
	<li>Gross floor area: 46,813 square metres</li>
	<li>Project value: $137.4 million</li>
</ul>
<h2>City of Melbourne generally supportive</h2>

24-46 A’Beckett Street's podium will consist of a lower section of metal cladding with a lighter element above containing voids throughout which act as break out areas and terraces. The tower section gently tapers in and will be finished with a metal clad and glazing similar to the lower aspect of the podium.

City of Melbourne is broadly supportive of the proposal with the terraces recessed into the podium noted as being a strong design initiative. Colonnades have been included along each street front providing contrast to more recent builds in the vicinity.

Post assessment from City of Melbourne planning staff, it has been resolved that the Future Melbourne Committee will support the application, with the final decision on the project to be made by the Minister for Planning.

<h2>RMIT continues to invest in facilities</h2>

The assessment of 24-46 A’Beckett Street comes as construction progresses on RMIT's latest city campus project, New Academic Street. Under the guidance of Lend Lease, New Academic Street will see an upgrade to the lower levels of existing Buildings 8, 10, 12 and 14, opening these buildings up to the surrounding city.

At a cost of approximately $220 million, New Academic Street is set to be delivered incrementally with a target completion date of July 2017.

New Academic Street is a follow-up project to RMIT's Swanston Academic Building and Design Hub on the corner of Victoria and Swanston Streets. Combined these projects and 24-46 A’Beckett Street would push RMIT's investment in educational facilities to well beyond $1 billion.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/img_2374.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Lend Lease is progressing with RMIT's NAS."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/img_2374.jpg?itok=i0axc8BU" title="Lend Lease is progressing with RMIT's NAS." width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Lend Lease is progressing with RMIT's NAS.</figcaption></figure><h2>RMIT and VU on the same wavelength</h2>

RMIT's A'Beckett Street proposal draws parallels with another nearby university-driven mixed-use development.

Victoria University holds approval for a similar sized tower of approximately 43,300 square metres at 364 Little Lonsdale Street. Both developments seek to greatly expand the educational capabilities of either institution in a high density format, while also adding a sizeable amount of office space.

Both projects see direct educational facilities over lower levels, with upper levels dedicated to support offices and academic staff work spaces.

Victoria University's project has not advanced to construction as yet, raising the prospect that both towers may potentially rise simultaneously in the years to come.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/image49vu.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="VU Tower's intended mixed use. Image: Jackson Architecture"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="379" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image49vu.jpg?itok=O5vdRyjv" title="VU Tower's intended mixed use. Image: Jackson Architecture" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>VU Tower's intended city campus. Image: Jackson Architecture</figcaption></figure>
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silvermb

RMIT's play for a new A'Beckett Street footprint

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Always a point of conjecture amongst many a Melburnian, Docklands has become the area of interest for a group of students from RMIT University’s Master of Arts (Art in Public Space) program who have launched an eBook that showcases visions that were conceived and designed to activate open spaces around Docklands' Harbour Esplanade spine.

The students spent weeks researching the design, construction and formation of Docklands and analysing the ways in which the public experienced and inhabited its public spaces. The research then informed the creation of a series of site-specific propositions for these public spaces.

Nine propositions feature in "A Proposition for the Docklands", with visions striving to capture the quirky, the colourful and sublime elements of open space activation.

Public art 'propositions' vary from formal 'proposals' as they provide artists with the opportunity to imagine things that are not possible or have not been created.

The propositions varied from large-scale interactive and immersive installations, and roller coasters, to canopies of indigenous flora.

One proposition is the absence of domestic daily tasks being undertaken in Docklands locations and wondering why we don’t see people cleaning their belongings, washing dishes in public spaces as we do in other cities around the world.

<blockquote>
The RMIT public art students’ enthusiasm, research and creative propositions for the Docklands reveal how vibrant Melbourne’s urban planning may become if artists collaborated with urban and town planners to develop and realize their visions for Melbourne.
<cite>Rebecca West, Urbis Director of Planning and 2014-2015 Future Focus Group participant</cite>
</blockquote>

The students also launched their propositions as a series of postcards and led a group of 30 people on a walking tour of the Docklands to showcase and explain their creative work earlier this month.

My personal favourites are propositions one and two, which are both interactive installations embedded into the pavement and which engage with the pedestrian and provide a kinetic quality to an otherwise static strip of pavement. Combined, the two ideas could add a sense of playfulness to the waterfront turning Habour Esplanade into a interactive playground for all ages.

<h2>Proposition one: Connecting to Disconnect &gt; Disconnecting to Connect</h2>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/prop02.png" rel="gallery-all" title="Proposition one. Image courtesy of Urbis."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="477" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/prop02.png?itok=vnNI51Ob" title="Proposition one. Image courtesy of Urbis." width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Proposition one. Image courtesy of Urbis.</figcaption></figure>Conceived by Molly Braddon, this proposition is intended to play with the idea of disconnection. During the day, the work is designed to interrupt the linear path of pedestrians.

Every time a foot falls one one section of the work another section in the distance becomes animated with flashes of light, movement and sound turning an otherwise sterile journey into an interactive game, that allows the pedestrian to engage with other pedestrians in the distance and influence their movement through the site based on their own.

At night when pedestrians become more sparse the installation mimics the movements of the day's earlier visual orchestra.

<h2>Proposition two: Coil</h2>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/coil_-_proposition_2.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Proposition two. Image courtesy of Urbis."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="497" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/coil_-_proposition_2.jpg?itok=3vm9LnBM" title="Proposition two. Image courtesy of Urbis." width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Proposition two. Image courtesy of Urbis.</figcaption></figure>Shu Jie Jia's response to the site contextualises itself by tapping into the transport and shipping history associated with the site's former life. Dubbed 'Coil' the proposition manifests as an industrial arbour in the form of a coiled train line.

Embedded within the tracks are a series of LED screens illuminating the harbour at night and filling it with colour during the day. The screens will display abstract patterns of shipping containers moving along the arbour, referencing the movement of goods through Docklands; connecting the pedestrian with the history of the site and providing a sense of protection from the elements.

The RMIT project was supported by leading independent property consultancy Urbis, in conjunction with Pop Up Melbourne, a Future Focus Group project. Future Focus Group is the Committee for Melbourne’s two year business leadership program.

The Pop Up Melbourne initiative brings people and places together to work with the private, public and not-for-profit sectors, activating spaces that may otherwise go unloved.

To download a copy of the "A Proposition for the Docklands" ebook and view all nine propositions visit the <a href="http://www.urbis.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/APropositionfortheDocklandsEBook.pdf">Urbis website</a>.
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Laurence Dragomir

RMIT students propose pop-up activation for Docklands

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Launched two weeks ago, Episodic Urbanism is a book which documents the transformation of two city blocks which form RMIT University's city campus located in the heart of Melbourne.

The book depicts visually and narratively the story of how <a href="http://www.peterelliott.com.au/">Peter Elliott Architecture + Urban Design</a> has worked, over the course of nearly twenty years, to transform RMIT University’s inner city premises from what was essentially a private fortress into a public-spirited urban campus which engages with its city context.

Touching on everything from Renaissance Italian townscapes to masterworks of 20th century city-making by the likes of Carlo Scarpa, Luis Barragán and Jože Plečnik, Episodic Urbanism illuminates the unique conceptual framework underpinning the success of RMIT’s rejuvenation. As the book demonstrates, this framework sits in stark contrast to typical master planning exercises that work to impose a single, homogenous vision.

Instead, it privileges subtle, incremental change that is respectful of existing conditions and their history – which in RMIT’s case stretches right back to the foundation of the Melbourne.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/rmit_b1_courtyard_-_02_1361496147.jpeg" rel="gallery-all" title="RMIT University Lawn. Image courtesy of Peter Elliott Architecture + Urban Design"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="384" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/rmit_b1_courtyard_-_02_1361496147.jpeg?itok=xzrw2apt" title="RMIT University Lawn. Image courtesy of Peter Elliott Architecture + Urban Design" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>RMIT University Lawn. Image courtesy of Peter Elliott Architecture + Urban Design</figcaption></figure>Presented in a visually rich, highly tactile format developed by graphic artist Stuart Geddes, Episodic Urbanism features contributions from several leading thinkers on urbanism and the city, including Leon van Schaik, William L Fox, SueAnne Ware and Robert Nelson.

As an exploration of both urban and institutional renewal, it tells a story about how we might effect dramatic transformation within our cities, without the dramatic rupture commonly associated with ‘renewal’. It is an essential publication for those with an interest in how we can shape our cities for the better, not through erasure and homogenisation but with an appreciative eye to their history, diversity and vitality.

The "episodic journey" as Robert Nelson terms it is centred around six key ideas and explorations of space:

<ol>
<li>Largo</li>
	<li>Theatre</li>
	<li>Yard</li>
	<li>Courtyard</li>
	<li>Street</li>
	<li>Alley</li>
</ol>
Each chapter consists of a narrative describing these ideas supplemented by beautiful, clean drawings in addition to pages populated with colorful and rich photography of the various spaces.

<blockquote>
One thing Australian architecture and certainly Australian design does not do terribly well and that is serve conversation. University is that place where it's almost nothing but language. It is the built environment but that is how we're inclined to see it. But from the student's point of view, from the lecturer's point of view, they're transacting ideas through language. The great appeal of being on a university campus is that you can exercise this incredible gift that we as citizens have - what are the spaces that serve conversation?

I think the incredible development that Peter (Elliott) has overseen digs deep into the patrimony where really now it's quite hard to remember the dog's breakfast that was this campus, destined to have signature buildings on it, for which we are very grateful, but that sense of 'the conversation' was nowhere to be seen. Those signature buildings as often as not do not provide it and if anything they sometimes yield, by virtue of their abstraction or snazziness, slightly anti-social space. I'm not saying that of the buildings on the RMIT Campus but it is often paradox that beautiful architecture actually doesn't do anything for the conversational. My goodness we now have a university that does.
<cite>Robert Nelson, co-author Episodic Urbanism</cite>
</blockquote>

As a student who studied at RMIT and now works around the corner I have been able to witness the continued development and curation of spaces within the city campus and further efforts to connect the University with its immediate context and establish itself as a inviting element within the streetscape.

Spaces such as the temporary Urban Square on A'Beckett Street provide a social gathering space and node for not just students of the university but visitors and workers alike.

<blockquote>
Typically ‘pop-ups’ occupy leftover and underutilised spaces through the use of recycled materials and the clever adaption of everyday found objects. They are often gritty spaces that are curated rather than designed. A’Beckett Urban Square was conceived as a piece of urban theatre carved out of the surrounding city, which is framed by new residential towers, multi-level car parks and RMIT academic buildings.

The design approach was purposefully lean, developing upon the idea of a temporary and demountable installation. It is an active place for casual recreation, mainly for ball sports like basketball and volleyball. It is a place to socialise, relax and watch people. There is a playful use of bold colours and graphics on the ground plane to distinguish the active hard zones from passive soft zones.
<cite>Peter Elliott Architecture + Urban Design</cite>
</blockquote>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/03_rmit_aus_-_gollings.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Urban Square, A'Beckett Street. © John Gollings"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="384" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/03_rmit_aus_-_gollings.jpg?itok=qwjjZ1ZE" title="Urban Square, A'Beckett Street. © John Gollings" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Urban Square, A'Beckett Street. © John Gollings</figcaption></figure>It is a real shame that the site will ultimately become another high-rise development because that is something the city certainly isn't lacking. Spaces with BBQ facilities, dwell spaces, social sporting activities and gathering spaces which are afforded ample sunlight during midday are few and far between.

Melbourne is far richer for the Urban Square and it would be a significant loss not just for RMIT but the greater city.
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Episodic Urbanism: The RMIT urban spaces project (1996-2015)

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Reading more like a roll call of the architectural equivalent of an Avenger's film, the design team behind RMIT University's latest $220m project at its city campus, dubbed the 'New Academic Street' (NAS) features a who's who of former alumni and academic staff. Key to the development is the strengthening the university's connections and engagement with its surrounds around the northern parts of the <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-apartments/melbourne-vic">CBD</a>; an area itself experiencing a sustained level of development.

This will be achieved by improving the level of public permeability of five buildings along Swanston Street, Franklin Street and Bowen Street (Buildings 8, 10, 12, 14 and 28), with a series of laneways set to bisect the campus. Penetrating the perimeter of its monolithic fortress-like buildings will allow greater pedestrian flow and natural light to a series of planned interconnected learning and social spaces.

<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/2014/08/25/rmit-rolls-out-a-heightened-student-experience">Previously</a> <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/work-begins-on-rmits-new-academic-street-project">covered</a> on Urban.com.au in minor detail, NAS continues RMIT's two decades long investment in its City Campus. The development consists largely of a series of additions and subtractions which interface and engage with Swanston, Franklin and Bowen Streets and helps to animate the otherwise static facades of the buildings. These initiatives will be achieved via the following works:

<ul>
<li>Development of two new ‘infill’ buildings within the existing Casey and Gillespie courtyards;</li>
	<li>Creation of clearly delineated laneways through the University, accessible via Swanston and Franklin Street;</li>
	<li>Internal reconfiguration and renovation of Buildings 8, 10, 12 and 14</li>
	<li>Addition of five projections along the Swanston Street and Franklin Street “blank” façade;</li>
	<li>Expansion of the existing Central University Library;</li>
	<li>Introduction of a new ‘media precinct’ at the corner of Swanston and Franklin Street; and</li>
	<li>Development of the Garden Building along Bowen Street.</li>
</ul>
All up five design interventions are proposed which announce and provide the visual cues for the various laneway entrances into the campus from Swanston and Franklin Streets.

<h2>1. Building 8 projection</h2>

This projection is by way of a glazed folding canopy which projects a distance of 3m over Swanston Street providing weather protection to a major new entrance into the campus. Coupled with a range of informal student spaces on an open terrace overlooking Swanston Street, the canopy is articulated by a triangulated pattern of clear and coloured glass, referencing the triangular facade of the <a href="http://www.lyonsarch.com.au/rmit-university-swanston-academic-building/">Swanston Academic Building</a> (SAB) directly opposite.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/building_8.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Building 8 projection to Swanston Street. © RMIT University"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="325" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/building_8.jpg?itok=ddBi9mHr" title="Building 8 projection to Swanston Street. © RMIT University" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Building 8 projection to Swanston Street. Image courtesy RMIT University</figcaption></figure><h2>2. Building 10 projections</h2>

This 3m projection includes an open balcony on Level 4, for informal student ‘breakout’ spaces, within enclosed student study space at Levels 5 and 6 as part of the overall University Library environment. A glazed, serrated extrusion in a triangulated pattern punctures the building 10 facade, consisting of a combination of transparent vision panels and opaque glazed panels designed to protect the internal student spaces from the western sun. This element also responds to a similar glazed extrusion on the SAB.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/building_10_balcony_projection.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Building 10 projections to Swanston Street. © RMIT University"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="318" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/building_10_balcony_projection.jpg?itok=Hl4v91sp" title="Building 10 projections to Swanston Street. © RMIT University" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Building 10 projections to Swanston Street. Image courtesy RMIT University</figcaption></figure><h2>3. Building 12 projection</h2>

These student balconies perched over Swanston Street provide exterior breakout areas to the Library and other Student Services space on Levels 4, 5 and 6. Wrapped in a steel mesh, the balconies contain a sculptural external stairway that provides a link between the various levels of the Library and act as an extension of the internal study spaces.

They are designed to offer students much more informal group learning spaces which engage and activate the street similar to the breakout spaces which puncture the SAB facade.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/building_12.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Building 12 projection to Swanston Street. © RMIT University"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="293" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/building_12.jpg?itok=LWYdhw5S" title="Building 12 projection to Swanston Street. © RMIT University" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Building 12 projection to Swanston Street. Image courtesy RMIT University</figcaption></figure><h2>4. Building 14 Swanston Street projection</h2>

The proposed projection is designed to provide a ‘book end’ to <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/architects/arm-architecture">ARM's</a> Green Brain at the corner of Swanston Street and La Trobe Street, marking a new major entrance into the campus in a fashion more typical of a civic or public building. This Media Portal is intended to function as both a student and event space supporting the activities of the Media Learning spaces, with the capacity to host fashion shows, product launches and publicity events.

The glazed space has been conceived to communicate the activities of the university to the public while offering opportunities for public engagement. ​

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/building_14.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Building 14 projection to Swanston Street. © RMIT University"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="306" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/building_14.jpg?itok=BiXVpttu" title="Building 14 projection to Swanston Street. © RMIT University" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Building 14 projection to Swanston Street. Image courtesy RMIT University</figcaption></figure><h2>5. Building 14 Franklin Street projection</h2>

This 3m projection provides a student cafe balcony on Level 4 of Building 14, as well as creating north facing spaces over other levels that provide views to Franklin Street and the City Baths. The design of the balcony is directly informed by the ‘rhythms’ and architectural proportions of B14 itself with double height roofs chamfered in order to minimise solar heat gain from the west.

As such all west facing façade elements are solid and insulated surfaces. The fully glazed northern façade comprises automated louvers which allow the space be fully naturally ventilated.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/franklin_street.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Building 14 projection to Franklin Street. © RMIT University"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="325" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/franklin_street.jpg?itok=jwULpQsh" title="Building 14 projection to Franklin Street. © RMIT University" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Building 14 projection to Franklin Street. Image courtesy RMIT University</figcaption></figure>The key elements of the design interventions include:

<ul>
<li>Enhancing the physical quality and character of the streets, while responding to the rhythm of the monolithic institutional buildings.</li>
	<li>Transparent and open interventions that encourages passive surveillance and activation along Franklin and Swanston Street.</li>
	<li>Informal student spaces which are expected to enhancing activity and passive surveillance to the streets below.</li>
	<li>Utilising visually interesting interventions as an effective design treatment which also highlight the new pedestrian laneways into the University.</li>
	<li>Projections that provide a natural shelter against weather elements along the currently devoid façades.</li>
	<li>Respecting the vista down Swanston Street. Given the proposed projection’s, the designs will have no more impact than the retail canopies that form the majority of the Swanston streetscape.</li>
</ul>
One of the biggest drivers behind the project and a source of inspiration for the design team is Melbourne's laneway network. These new internal laneways are intended to offer a diverse range of quality retail opportunities that can be used to not only promote RMIT through exhibitions and pop-ups, but to also draw the public into the university.

<blockquote>
In order to create a very simple, clear and effective means of transforming the access and wayfinding into the campus, the design team proposes to create a new network of ‘laneways’. These laneways will be substantially open, operating on an extended hours basis within the campus, and being partly undercover and partly ‘open’ to the sky.
<cite>NAS Town Planning Design Report</cite>
</blockquote>

These laneways also create a large scale ‘urban framework’, for directly connecting Swanston Street with Bowen Street. Although not included within the Town Planning Design Report, the primary centre of the campus along Bowen Street is also transformed as part of the project. This involves the creation of two new ‘infill’ buildings within the existing courtyards which will provide active frontages along Bowen Street.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/nas_laneway.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Laneway framework. © RMIT University"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="309" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/nas_laneway.jpg?itok=S6LoycYW" title="Laneway framework. © RMIT University" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Laneway framework. Image courtesy RMIT University</figcaption></figure>A further new student focused building designed by NMBW Architects is to be created directly onto the Bowen Street frontage, called the Garden Building , which will act as a student ‘beacon’ when arriving onto the campus via Bowen Street, from either Franklin Street or La Trobe Street.

<h2>Comment</h2>

A perusal of the plans and imagery for NAS makes it quite evident that as the design lead on the project Lyons have drawn on their many years of experience working on institutional projects with various universities across a number of campuses. The introduction of breakout spaces to the buildings' exterior and more informal learning spaces is becoming more common as institutions try to keep up with the advent of the advancement of technology and the implications on how teachers teach and students learn and study.

NAS has a responsibility on a number of levels; it first must accommodate the needs of RMIT's staff and students in engaging and relevant spaces, whilst simultaneously engaging and responding with the area. The key to the project's success will be how well these two desires are embodied within the architecture and design of spaces.

As a former RMIT alumni who now cycles past every day on the way to and from work I've had the opportunity to experience RMIT's city campus as both student and now visitor and have witnessed the area transform over the last 10 years.

For mine the most interesting of the interventions are those to Bowen Street and Building 12's projection. Employing materials not typically seen in institutional projects, the designs are a welcome departure from the drab blandness that alucobond and glazing offer.

Additionally the introduction of a laneway network for improved wayfinding and legibility is a big plus. In my early days at RMIT I struggled to navigate the cavernous corridors and changes in levels, as there was a lack of hierarchy evident in how you were supposed to move through the buildings. One challenge confronting the designers early on would have been how to respond to the existing fabric of the campus while creating a new yet unified design language for so many disparate components and with so many architects involved.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/bowen_street.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Bowen Street Pavillions. © RMIT University"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="367" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/bowen_street.jpg?itok=zQl8MH8u" title="Bowen Street Pavillions. © RMIT University" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Bowen Street Pavillions. Image courtesy RMIT University</figcaption></figure>NAS, a multitude of apartment developments, major projects such as the Queen Victoria Market Redevelopment and the Melbourne Metro's CBD North Station; the CBD's north is on the brink of the next phase of its evolution; aesthetically, but also in the context of its place within the city. What was once a largely deserted quarter of the city save for students going about their studies will see a significant increase in the sheer number and types of people passing through the area, as they interchange between train, tram, foot or bike on their way to work, university or social engagements etc.

As one of the largest landholders in the area, RMIT University has identified the need for its buildings and the campus as a whole to make a positive contribution to the public realm. Bravo!

<h2>Project team</h2>

<ul>
<li>Proponent: RMIT University</li>
	<li>Architecture:
	<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.urban.com.au/architects/lyons-architecture">Lyons</a></li>
		<li><a href="http://www.mvsarchitects.com.au/doku.php">MvS Architects</a></li>
		<li><a href="http://www.nmbw.com.au/">NMBW</a></li>
		<li><a href="http://www.haw.com.au/">Harrison &amp; White</a></li>
		<li><a href="http://www.maddisonarchitects.com.au/">Maddison Architects</a></li>
	</ul>
</li>
	<li>ESD Consultant: <a href="http://www.aecom.com/">AECOM</a>
</li>
	<li>Planning Consultant: <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developers/urbis">Urbis</a>
</li>
</ul>
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In Detail: RMIT's New Academic Street

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In the last week hoardings have gone up at the base of RMIT's Building 8 to signal the beginning of works on RMIT's New Academic Street (NAS) Project.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/10359540_372588816247089_951174457165578065_n.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Hoarding going up on site. Image courtesy of MvS Architects"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="329" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/10359540_372588816247089_951174457165578065_n.jpg?itok=aeHpUwDU" title="Hoarding going up on site. Image courtesy of MvS Architects" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Hoarding going up on site. Image courtesy of MvS Architects</figcaption></figure>The project sees <a href="http://www.mvsarchitects.com.au/doku.php?id=home">MvS Architects</a> teaming up with <a href="http://www.lyonsarch.com.au/">Lyons</a>, <a href="http://www.nmbw.com.au/">NMBW</a>, <a href="http://www.haw.com.au/">HAW</a> and <a href="http://www.maddisonarchitects.com.au/">Peter Maddison</a> to deliver a more permeable and active streetscape for the city campus. Landscape architects Taylor Cullity Leathlen round out the multi-disciplinary design team.

<blockquote>
The NAS project is a complex ‘live’ environment refurbishment (approximately 25,500m2) and new build project (approximately 6,500m2) over 12 levels of five adjoining buildings on the City campus (Buildings 8, 10, 12, 14 and 28) which will reinvigorate and reinvent the heart of the RMIT City campus.

The project works will comprise of a sequence of phased major works delivering the principle campus improvement while being cognisant of maintaining access and minimising disruption to university operations.

The NAS project will improve services for students and library facilities, campus retail and way-finding, achieve activation of Swanston, Bowen and Franklin Streets and renew vertical transport and ageing infrastructure.
<cite>RMIT University</cite>
</blockquote>

<h2>'Getting Going' Phase: September 2014 - June 2015</h2>

The first phase of the NAS project is a series of works and upgrades to get the campus ready for the main construction phase.

Staff and student services on levels 3, 4 and 5 of building 8 - and 2, 3, 4 and parts of level 5 and 6 of buildings 10, 12 and 14 - will move to another part of RMIT so the NAS construction can start mid-2015. This will be achieved by upgrading facilities within the current RMIT property footprint.

In late 2014 until mid-2015, the project will be moving, refurbishing and putting in place preparations for the building works to start.

The entire program of work has been planned to ensure minimal disruption to staff and students, but there will be some impacts.

New and temporary facilities will be built and some staff and students will be moving to make way for the building works to start. For small numbers, it may be a permanent move.

This is the preparation phase before the NAS construction program starts, which is mid-2015.

<h2>Looking ahead to 2015</h2>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/image84_0.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Something approaching the final outcome. Image courtesy RMIT"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="328" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image84_0.jpg?itok=u1EaO0e-" title="Something approaching the final outcome. Image courtesy RMIT" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Something approaching the final outcome. Image courtesy RMIT</figcaption></figure>The building 8 cafeteria will close early in 2015 and will be replaced by a pop-up food area on the City campus. The Swanston Library will close during the 2015 mid-year semester break and re-open at 50 per cent capacity in July 2015.

For more info visit RMIT's project page: http://www.rmit.edu.au/capitalworks/nas

A comprehensive album of renders and montages can be found on the dedicated <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/rmit/sets/72157646079536512/">NAS flickr page</a>.
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Work begins on RMIT's New Academic Street Project

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Head into Melbourne's CBD via Swanston Street and you're met with a relic of a bygone era: RMIT University's Buildings 10, 12 and 14. Constructed during the 1970's the insular edifice has received little more than cosmetic work since, with the promise of extensive design changes looming over the complex in recent years.

Last week it was announced the quartet (including the more recent Building 8) would receive an extensive upgrade with the aim of creating a contemporary learning environment equal to its modern sibling, the <a href="http://www.rmit.edu.au/bus/sab" target="_blank">Swanston Academic Building</a>. This will be achieved by enlivening the lower levels across the buildings, essentially creating interconnected learning and social spaces, outdoor terraces and laneways; with natural light prominent to most areas.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/img_8410.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="standing as an unwelcoming entry point to Melbourne's CBD"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="408" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/img_8410.jpg?itok=jafd5bDs" title="standing as an unwelcoming entry point to Melbourne's CBD" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>RMIT's quartet have seen better days</figcaption></figure>No less that five architecture firms have been engaged to create an outcome dubbed New Academic Street which will exemplify the following design characteristics:

<ul>
<li>Consolidate the University library and create more space there for students.</li>
	<li>Improve the way students can access services.</li>
	<li>Make it easier and safer to move through the buildings.</li>
	<li>Create more space and better facilities for schools.</li>
	<li>Provide better options for buying food and drink.</li>
	<li>Reduce energy consumption.</li>
	<li>Cut the cost of maintenance.</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
The Swanston Library, which attracts up to 9,600 students a day, will be completely refurbished to provide more than 40 per cent more quiet and collaborative study spaces which will include light-filled areas looking onto Bowen Street.

Students arriving on campus will be able to converge on the new level 4 Student Hall and connect with services directly or via a single step referral to a specialist provider.
<cite>RMIT University</cite>
</blockquote>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/image48madd.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Perspective of Maddison Architects' component"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="517" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image48madd.jpg?itok=GRCWBnsI" title="Perspective of Maddison Architects' component" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Perspective of Maddison Architects' component</figcaption></figure>While final designs on the horizon and works are expected to commence next year, Maddison Architects have released a number of images online which will constitute Building 14's upgrade. Included within Building 14 is a new retail strip over level 4 which will deliver a cluster of commercial, recreational and food outlets in addition to licensed bar, suggesting the precinct will be a hub of activity beyond the standard tertiary calendar.

<blockquote>
This exciting (and complex) project involves the renovation and addition to multiple RMIT buildings along Swanston Street. Maddison Architects are working with Lyons, MVS, NMBW and HAW architects to deliver a major building upgrade and dynamic new interaction between the university campus and the surrounding city streets. Maddison Architects are currently working on Building 14 (Bowen Street).
<cite>Maddison Architects</cite>
</blockquote>

<h2>The Urban Square adds to the mix</h2>

Recently serving as a storage zone and workers facilities area during construction of the Swanston Academic Building, RMIT have elected to provide a temporary urban square for students and public alike on a vast piece of land on Stewart Street and A'Beckett Street.

<blockquote>
RMIT University’s A’Beckett Urban Square, designed by Peter Elliott Architecture + Urban Design, is the latest addition to this collection of mercurial urban interventions. Described by the university as an ‘urban sport and recreational pop-up’, this $1.2 million project has turned a former car park into a publicly accessible, 2800-square-metre park incorporating sports courts, landscaping, BBQ facilities, table tennis, WiFi and bike parking.

“It needed to be a place that was active and engaged – it’s a place for casual recreation,” says Peter Elliott. “It’s really meant for active ball games, because there’s really almost nowhere in the city you can do that, apart from what RMIT already has in its campus on Bowen Street.”
<cite>ArchitectureAU</cite>
</blockquote>

<h2>Comment</h2>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/img_8407.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="An underutilised Stewart Street"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="435" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/img_8407.jpg?itok=g0O6rTYy" title="An underutilised Stewart Street" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>An underutilised Stewart Street</figcaption></figure>Passing through the area, the Urban Square has already become popular with the basketball courts in particular seemingly always in use.

The one negative looks to be Stewart Street which is caught in no man's land: it serves no primary purpose. No through auto traffic renders it useless as a street and RMIT's SAB doesn't open up to Stewart Street well enough to facilitate further foot traffic.

With whatever form RMIT's future Urban Square building will take along with the influx of thousands of apartments in the area, it looks a decent opportunity for RMIT and City of Melbourne to collaborate on transforming Stewart Street into a viable, enjoyable urban space. Banish on street parking (3 parking spaces won't demonstrably diminish council revenue), allow only loading vehicle in via a single lane and the remainder with a green space.

An easy solution, but the opportunity for more to be done exists. For mine based on current foot and vehicle flows plus future intentions, the eventual transformation of Stewart Street is a monte.

<h2>Further reading</h2>

<ul>
<li>RMIT image gallery: <a href="http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse/Staff%2FWorkplace%20essentials%2FServices%20and%20advice%2FProperty%20Services%2FCapital%20works%20program%2FCity%2FNew%20Academic%20Street/">New Academic Street</a>
</li>
	<li>ArchitectureAU: <a href="http://architectureau.com/articles/abeckett-urban-square/#img=5">Parking space to play space</a>
</li>
	<li>Urban Square design: <a href="http://www.peterelliott.com.au/current-projects/A-Beckett-Temporary-Urban-Square">Peter Elliott Architects</a>
</li>
</ul>
</body></html>

RMIT rolls out a heightened student experience

<html><body>
Having been recently included in <a href="http://www.jebiga.com/">Jebiga's</a> (I should stress highly subjective) list of the <a href="http://www.jebiga.com/top-architecture-schools/?from=timeline&amp;isappinstalled=0">top 10 architecture schools in the world</a>, RMIT's School of Architecture and Design's end of semester exhibition recently drew to a close.

Held from June 30 through July 4 at the Design Hub, the end of semester exhibition - for the first time - combined the works of its Masters and Bachelors students into a single exhibition kick started by the traditional Friday night launch.

<blockquote>
The RMIT masters degree culminates with a final semester design project through which students are able to reflect upon, consolidate and extend the knowledge they have gained in the program. Students set their own design research questions and parameters in consultation with an individual supervisor, opening up future practice and research trajectories. The semester culminates with an exhibition showcasing the ambition and diversity of projects by graduating students.
</blockquote>

As a RMIT alumni, I'm always an interested observer at these exhibitions, to see how the architects of tomorrow address some of the issues confronted with today. While the standard of projects is mostly high, they tend to vary in quality of presentation and in degree of investigative rigour undertaken to develop and address briefs.

One criticism I have is the quantity and over-reliance on spiffy renders over other mediums to convey the design and its drivers. In my opinion, these should be support material, not the be all and end all of a student's 5+ years at the school.

Nonetheless the end of semester exhibitions are always worth a look for anyone with an interest in architecture and the built environment.

While finished for another semester, you can check out the photos from the RMIT School of Architecture and Design's <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/35009461@N04/sets/72157645502402504/">Flickr gallery</a>.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/14569636495_47841c45ac_k.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="RMIT School of Architecture and Design End of Semester Exhibition. © RMIT"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="346" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/14569636495_47841c45ac_k.jpg?itok=JD9Ygwlw" title="RMIT School of Architecture and Design End of Semester Exhibition. © RMIT" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>RMIT School of Architecture and Design End of Semester Exhibition. © RMIT</figcaption></figure>Article image copyright Flickr / RMIT School of Architecture and Design.
</body></html>

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