Fishermans Bend Inclusive Cities

The Inclusive City Studio: Fisherman’s Bend Urban Renewal focused on the Fishermans Bend urban renewal project—the largest in Australia, spanning 480 hectares and expected to accommodate 80,000 new residents and jobs by 2050.

Engaging with the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning (DTP), students investigated how industrial land and its surrounding communities could be retained, adapted and activated as part of this transformation. They explored strategies for affordable workspace retention, mixed-use industrial typologies, and precinct activation while addressing potential conflicts between new residential developments and long-standing industries.

Students developed skills in urban research, spatial and economic analysis, and policy design, while also learning how to balance competing interests in a complex urban renewal project. The studio culminated in a final report and exhibition presented to government and industry partners, giving students a platform to showcase their ideas to decision-makers and practitioners.

By engaging directly with a live project, the Inclusive City Studio provided students with valuable professional experience, practical skills in collaborative problem-solving, and an understanding of how research can inform planning for more inclusive and resilient urban futures.

Studio Leaders: Professor Carl Grodach

This studio was jointly taught with the Master of Architecture, browse more.