Last Mile Housing

INFILL HOUSING ALONG STRATEGIC CYCLING ROUTES

Against the backdrop of an once-in-a-generation housing crisis, this studio explores medium density infill housing strategies for Melbourne’s ‘missing’ middle ring suburbs, which have seen little housing growth over recent decades compared to deep-inner and far-outer suburbs.

Stumbling upon the Rosstown Rail Trail, a Vic Roads identified ‘strategic cycling route’ that stretches through Glen Eira Council - on unceded Boonwurrung Country - we begin to query how last mile transport modes might combine with medium density to tease a better urbanism out of entrenched suburbanism. Along the cycle route three student groups form to test designs aligning with three wider urban strategies for improving public interfaces: block ends, through blocks, and park edges. Taking inspiration from the Victorian Government’s Future Homes initiative, Ashfield Study (NSW) by Mcgregor Westlake Architects, and Infill Opportunities research by MADA.

Beyond siting strategies the individual projects explore resilience through the development of adaptable dwelling types - taking learnings from exemplar precedents from around the world - and adapted to consider new scenarios for living in the Australian context.

Studio Leader: Andrej Vodstrcil