Place and parametricism: Provocations for the rethinking of design. This project aims to explore whether quantitative methods of digital and parametric design can adequately encompass place. Quantitative digital and parametric approaches increasingly dominate contemporary architecture, but people assume architectural design should be essentially oriented to questions of place. The project will operate through a set of studio provocations based on the fictional places of Mervyn Peake's Gormenghas ....Place and parametricism: Provocations for the rethinking of design. This project aims to explore whether quantitative methods of digital and parametric design can adequately encompass place. Quantitative digital and parametric approaches increasingly dominate contemporary architecture, but people assume architectural design should be essentially oriented to questions of place. The project will operate through a set of studio provocations based on the fictional places of Mervyn Peake's Gormenghast novels. The project is expected to clarify the nature of place and parametricism, and rethink what design itself might be.Read moreRead less
Architectural Work Cultures: professional identity, education and wellbeing. This project aims to examine the work and study cultures of architecture in Australia, in relation to professional identity, and in terms of impact on wellbeing, with a whole-of-career scope spanning education to retirement. It will generate the first comprehensive account of work-related wellbeing problems for both architectural practitioners and students, via qualitative and quantitative methods and a vigorous engagem ....Architectural Work Cultures: professional identity, education and wellbeing. This project aims to examine the work and study cultures of architecture in Australia, in relation to professional identity, and in terms of impact on wellbeing, with a whole-of-career scope spanning education to retirement. It will generate the first comprehensive account of work-related wellbeing problems for both architectural practitioners and students, via qualitative and quantitative methods and a vigorous engagement with the profession. Expected outcomes include two toolkits to assist the profession to support cultural change across educational, workplace and institutional settings. This should provide significant benefits for the wellbeing of architects at all career stages, and also support the long-term viability of the sector.Read moreRead less
Inclusive memories: tracing democratic practices in contemporary memorials. This project aims to investigate the significant role of recent public memorials in reflecting and shaping democratic identity, memory, values and engagement in Australia and internationally. The project expects to advance knowledge through an innovative international comparison of the evolving diversity of democratic themes, designs and procurement approaches used for public memorials and public spaces. Expected outcome ....Inclusive memories: tracing democratic practices in contemporary memorials. This project aims to investigate the significant role of recent public memorials in reflecting and shaping democratic identity, memory, values and engagement in Australia and internationally. The project expects to advance knowledge through an innovative international comparison of the evolving diversity of democratic themes, designs and procurement approaches used for public memorials and public spaces. Expected outcomes include practical and scholarly insights into how these processes can improve social engagement and inclusion. The project’s benefits include improving decision-making processes for public art, public space and heritage, and expanding scholarly and public awareness about Australian history, identity and democratic values. Read moreRead less
Creating evidence-based public open space standards for apartment residents. This project aims to examine how to create public open space for apartment residents. It will (1) identify how apartment dwellers use public open space, including which spaces are used and why; and (2) test whether public open space use compensates for reduced apartment/building space. With less private space, apartment residents are assumed to rely on public spaces for physical, social and recreational activities. Yet ....Creating evidence-based public open space standards for apartment residents. This project aims to examine how to create public open space for apartment residents. It will (1) identify how apartment dwellers use public open space, including which spaces are used and why; and (2) test whether public open space use compensates for reduced apartment/building space. With less private space, apartment residents are assumed to rely on public spaces for physical, social and recreational activities. Yet little is known about which spaces they use and why, and what they would prefer. Expected outcomes include tailored, equitable evidence-based recommendations for public open space planning and apartment design guidelines. Benefits include the delivery of sustainable high-density precincts that cater to community needs.Read moreRead less
Map My Say - An innovative participatory mapping tool for TOD evaluation. This project will directly engage with the community through the development of an innovative public participatory mapping tool ("Map My Say") to evaluate community experiences of infill development and to identify the determinants of community support for, or resistance to, densification in urban development sites correlated with public transport. The findings of the project will support future planning and land use deci ....Map My Say - An innovative participatory mapping tool for TOD evaluation. This project will directly engage with the community through the development of an innovative public participatory mapping tool ("Map My Say") to evaluate community experiences of infill development and to identify the determinants of community support for, or resistance to, densification in urban development sites correlated with public transport. The findings of the project will support future planning and land use decisions related to creating resilient urban environments and provide decision planning tools to support appropriate solutions for urban communities. Working with our industry partners the findings will be used to directly inform the planning and design of future Metronet station precincts in Western Australia.
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Remaking Post-industrial Plans: Urban Industrial Zoning Past and Future. This project aims to examine the changing functions and roles of urban industrial land. Planning for industrial land remains rooted in approaches that are out of step with existing and emerging conditions. Urban policymakers sacrifice dwindling employment lands for property value growth and miss opportunities to incorporate industrial activity in sustainable planning goals. Through digital archival mapping, on-site analysis ....Remaking Post-industrial Plans: Urban Industrial Zoning Past and Future. This project aims to examine the changing functions and roles of urban industrial land. Planning for industrial land remains rooted in approaches that are out of step with existing and emerging conditions. Urban policymakers sacrifice dwindling employment lands for property value growth and miss opportunities to incorporate industrial activity in sustainable planning goals. Through digital archival mapping, on-site analysis, and planner interviews, this project seeks to develop a deeper understanding of how industrial lands and their regulatory settings are linked to changes in urban development over time. This should lead to new knowledge to reinvent industrial zones to meet contemporary needs and adapt to future disruptions.Read moreRead less
An Intellectual History of Modern Australian Planning 1900-2000. Urban planning is forward-looking but is constantly leveraging knowledge from the past. This original project will investigate the key ideas which have shaped modern planning thought in Australia, concentrating on the 20th century. It will focus on leading practitioners, advocates, public intellectuals, and community critics in an ideas-centred intellectual history that fills a major knowledge gap. The critical transition away from ....An Intellectual History of Modern Australian Planning 1900-2000. Urban planning is forward-looking but is constantly leveraging knowledge from the past. This original project will investigate the key ideas which have shaped modern planning thought in Australia, concentrating on the 20th century. It will focus on leading practitioners, advocates, public intellectuals, and community critics in an ideas-centred intellectual history that fills a major knowledge gap. The critical transition away from post-consensus planning in the last 3 decades of the 20th century will be an important focus and linked to a national oral history exercise before the opportunity is lost forever. Development of an open access biographical website sharing data will bedrock the project.Read moreRead less
Australia’s new cities: past, present and future. This project aims to investigate the conceptualisation, creation and promotion of new cities in Australia since the mid-20th century. The project expects to generate new knowledge in the area of urban planning and architectural history, leading to new understandings of community engagement with planning and architecture and dialogue on decentralisation, housing affordability and metropolitan primacy. Expected outcomes of this project include cont ....Australia’s new cities: past, present and future. This project aims to investigate the conceptualisation, creation and promotion of new cities in Australia since the mid-20th century. The project expects to generate new knowledge in the area of urban planning and architectural history, leading to new understandings of community engagement with planning and architecture and dialogue on decentralisation, housing affordability and metropolitan primacy. Expected outcomes of this project include contribution to the national conversation regarding political vision for large-scale infrastructure through a book, short film and media engagement on the topic. This project should provide significant benefits to community dialogue on issues of heritage, housing and environment.Read moreRead less
The Analects of Antoni Gaudí. This project aims to investigate and record the missing dimensions of Antoni Gaudí's theoretical position and his way of working. Gaudí (1852-1926) is one of the most important figures in world architecture and a major shaper of modern culture, but wrote nothing on his theory or practice of architecture. Given its holism, aesthetic, structural and artistic richness, this is a problem for scholars. Work to complete the Sagrada Família, a living laboratory of conspicu ....The Analects of Antoni Gaudí. This project aims to investigate and record the missing dimensions of Antoni Gaudí's theoretical position and his way of working. Gaudí (1852-1926) is one of the most important figures in world architecture and a major shaper of modern culture, but wrote nothing on his theory or practice of architecture. Given its holism, aesthetic, structural and artistic richness, this is a problem for scholars. Work to complete the Sagrada Família, a living laboratory of conspicuously innovative architecture, is entering its final stages with anticipated completion in 2026. This presents a last opportunity to capture, interpret and disseminate Gaudí’s thoughts and analects for dissemination to the next generation of architects.Read moreRead less
Walk-quality: A multi-criteria design platform to facilitate active travel. This seminal cross-disciplinary study aims to combine key ‘walk-quality’ urban design factors: pedestrian accessibility, slope, thermal comfort, pedestrian risk, and pollution, into a design decision platform to enable systematic evaluation of precincts and test ‘what-if’ future scenarios.
With 60% of Australians not meeting recommended physical activity targets costing taxpayers billions of dollars annually, the projec ....Walk-quality: A multi-criteria design platform to facilitate active travel. This seminal cross-disciplinary study aims to combine key ‘walk-quality’ urban design factors: pedestrian accessibility, slope, thermal comfort, pedestrian risk, and pollution, into a design decision platform to enable systematic evaluation of precincts and test ‘what-if’ future scenarios.
With 60% of Australians not meeting recommended physical activity targets costing taxpayers billions of dollars annually, the project envisions development of acutely lacking spatio-temporal analysis and design tools to help prioritise urgently needed active transport infrastructure investment.
Anticipated ‘walk-quality’ improvements to facilitating active journeys have vital foreseeable community benefits through increased incidental physical activity.Read moreRead less