Louis Magree

‘Anabolic Urbanism’ proposes a replicable strategy for initiating Community Land Trusts (CLTs) in exclusive suburbs like Northcote by transforming underused backyard and laneway spaces. These peripheral sites act as catalysts in an ‘enabling phase’ where small dwellings seed CLT expansion. Over time, the trust absorbs surrounding low-density housing, reshaping the suburb from within. While this later phase sits beyond the resolved project scope, it is speculated as a viable alternative to financialised property regimes. Through a targeted policy redesign and a pattern book of flexible, low-cost ADUs, the project offers both architectural and regulatory tools for systemic urban change.

The Monash Architecture Award

The Monash Architecture award for a project that exemplifies the design ethos, principles, and methodologies of our department.

The Laneway Community Land Trust

This view depicts the partial fruition of the CLT, where residents share courtyard spaces and domestic activities spill out into the previously neglected laneway.

Expansion of the CLT

Over time, the CLT gradually expands into other existing laneways, backyards, neighbourhoods and suburbs.

Aging in Place

This design iteration allows for direct social interactions between existing landowner and CLT tenant via a shared backyard.

Defensible Space

This design facilitates the existing landowner to have social separation from their backyard tenant. The architecture encourages the CLT resident to establish their primary social space in the threshold between the laneway and front door.

Existing Conditions

The current design of these existing land parcels neglect any meaningful interaction with the laneway, used occasionally for vehicle access and the occasional dog-walker.

Boundaries & Fences Removed

Once the CLT has absorbed the existing property and it's neighbours, boundaries and fences are removed to create larger shared open spaces.

The Monash Architecture Award

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