On a Collision Course

This studio explored influences that shape Melbourne urbanity and urbanism, and examined different types of meaningful urban interventions to the city and how they would regenerate the defunct urban conditions at the fringe of Melbourne CBD.

The studio is aiming to balance between architectural design strategy and pragmatism

by exploring through the lens of history, urban interventions, and construction details. The collision of a historical site and urban interventions will create new architectural typologies and possibilities for urban fabric continuity: architecture as urban artefacts and how urban elements morph into architecture and vice versa. The studio theme has focused on the approaches to urban vacancy reconceptualisation - temporary and timeless uses.

The chosen site is a triangular industrial precinct including Berth No.5 North Wharf and its surroundings along Yarra River. The site is an integration between cultural heritage, water body, and city walkability, and students are asked to re-envision the site by exploring various methodologies and construction techniques at ranges of scales from architectural details to urban blocks, as well as materiality, through typological studies of urban intervention projects. Being familiarised with urban concepts, students are also able to differentiate the representation and performative nature of architecture.

The outcome of this studio is the individual or multiple program(s) integrated into the studies of materials, construction techniques and urban interventions, exposed to the historical context that has a significance to Melbourne logistic history where Melbourne’s today is based upon.