Kitta Bamroong

The aged suburb of Whittington, Victoria has an increasing threat to human safety and walkability, due to low population and a lack of care for the community infrastructure. Thrive On Walking proposes to address these issues of safety and surveillance through the use of infill housing with stretegic openings. These openings will create spaces that both the public and residents can interact within. This pedestrian corridor is a main bridge between the residential street and Whittington reserve.

Planning wise, the relationship between dwellings to the street and reserve at the rear, provides a variety of transition spaces across distinct threshold conditions. The fan-radial form that the houses create is important in order for maximum daylight to be cast into indoor spaces. Utilising hit-and-miss brick walls and seating along the pathway, creates both connection and separation between what is private and public.

Through the use of a perspective section, dynamics between the housing and transition spaces are shown clearly. People are seen dining and interacting within both the semi-private and public zones.

The infill dwellings utilise solid timber screen structures to define semi-private spaces by providing them shade. Members of the community are able to benefit from this too while relaxing along the corridor. Residents are provided with a sense of agency, and an ability to create their own atmosphere by adjusting the screening.

Two main types of housing can be found on the site: Type 1 and Type 2. In order to fulfil constraints of the site, pairs are spread out along the three lots. They however, perform the same purpose; to congregate, separate and hold semi-private spaces.

This view showcases the frontages of each dwelling in the morning sun, facing to the reserve. People facing the reserve are able to see through the separation between the houses. The fences are quite low, utilised as both thresholds and seating spaces for residents.