The power of public spaces to connect communities and places. The project aims to uncover the vital role of public spaces during COVID-19 and in a time of climate change. Public spaces are not just places that are nice to have, they are an essential civic and environmental asset. The project adopts a collaborative framework to build dialogue, bridge academic and industry practice and promote debate about how to sustain public spaces now and in the future. Expected outcomes include new understand ....The power of public spaces to connect communities and places. The project aims to uncover the vital role of public spaces during COVID-19 and in a time of climate change. Public spaces are not just places that are nice to have, they are an essential civic and environmental asset. The project adopts a collaborative framework to build dialogue, bridge academic and industry practice and promote debate about how to sustain public spaces now and in the future. Expected outcomes include new understandings of the diversity of community connections to public space and the importance of Indigenous leadership in public space-making and design. Benefits include an interactive website that will communicate new roles for public space and provide a valuable resource for communities, educators and governments. 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
Measuring the benefits of reuse in the circular economy. The project will advance understanding of reuse commodity chains, their societal benefits and contributions to a more sustainable circular economy. Drawing on case study research with charitable and community reuse organisations, factors facilitating or inhibiting reuse will be identified, and rigorous methods developed for assessing the benefits of reuse organisations in terms of quantities of materials processed, employment, skills devel ....Measuring the benefits of reuse in the circular economy. The project will advance understanding of reuse commodity chains, their societal benefits and contributions to a more sustainable circular economy. Drawing on case study research with charitable and community reuse organisations, factors facilitating or inhibiting reuse will be identified, and rigorous methods developed for assessing the benefits of reuse organisations in terms of quantities of materials processed, employment, skills development and contributions to regional economic development. Research outputs will provide a sound evidence base for government policy and decision-making and strengthen conceptual understanding of drivers and enablers of reuse and links with broader economic activities. Read moreRead less