Revitalising Central Dandenong

Exploring the kinds of mixed-buildings that might work in Central Dandenong.

Central Dandenong in Melbourne’s southeast is an ‘Activity Centre’ undergoing substantial urban regeneration, largely through major infrastructure investment provided by the Victorian State Government. In this process a range of strategies are being developed to attract businesses and residents to the area.

One such strategy is the development of mixed-use buildings. Mixed-use buildings can be shaped through a combination of stakeholders, program mixes, building designs and delivery models. Mixed-use buildings come in a range of types including multi-level buildings from 2-6 storeys, high-rise buildings and the large partitioned space under one big roof. They include ‘mixes’ ranging from community facilities, retail, offices, and residential.

Australian and international case study research into mixed-use buildings revealed a number of projects relevant to Dandenong. Three relevant delivery models for mixed-use buildings were identified: government and developer; landowner and developer; and government and institution. These models offer benefits such as increased public open space, new public facilities such as childcare and libraries, and upgraded premises for existing landowners. Importantly, they also involve the strategic partnering of the stakeholders associated with different uses that are combined in the building. The physical designs of these buildings revealed issues and solutions related to questions of program separation and/or overlap, access by different users, car parking, street activation, flexibility of space, scale, mass and so on.

Using the delivery models as a framework, a scenario has been developed for a site contained within the Masterplan for Central Dandenong, This scenario demonstrates the application of a delivery model using design concepts drawn from the case study analysis such as the shape of the site and the location of the buildings on the site, as well as the interior arrangement. Strategies include multiple access points, proximity to an open space and at least two ‘fronts’ that create the conditions for a wide range of programs.

This report has not as yet been released for public distribution.