Waterfront: Just Add Public Life – Repairing Southbank Past Event
From a swamp on the ever-changing seasonal path of the Birrarung to wharf-side industrial hub and now hyperdense neighbourhood, Southbank has experienced a number of waves of dramatic change. However, only in recent years has one of Australia’s densest suburbs begun to experience the public amenity that marks Liveable Melbourne. As the development tap slows to a trickle due to the lack of remaining sites available, emphasis has shifted to what Melbourne does best – repair.
A collection of diverse but high-quality public spaces initiated by the City of Melbourne and VCA have begun to weave a belated network of urban quality through the precinct, creating new opportunities for public life and slowly connecting the disparate arts entities back to the Hoddle Grid. As they always do, people are responding and using new spaces in unexpected ways.
Join the ArchiTours team for this rich walking tour through the many open spaces of the precinct, revealing a cross-section of approaches to landscape architecture and urban design in this former swampland.
Mark Skiba
Mark is an Urban Designer with a background across Landscape Architecture and Urban Design, and through his role at GHD is intimately engaged in shaping a number of major State infrastructure projects. Mark has designed and delivered significant urban design projects across Australia from new neighbourhoods, to streetscape improvements and pocket parks.
Andy Fergus
Andy is an Urban Design with a background across Planning, Urban Design and Architecture, co-director of Melbourne Architours, Urban Design consultant and Head of Design at Assemble Communities – an ethical housing developer. Andy previously worked with the City of Melbourne, and brings an intimate knowledge of the Arts Precinct, its history, recent projects and planned transformation.