Urban Village
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URBAN V I L L A G E 2 2 - 7 7 s t ubbs st r eet , k ensing ton C O N T E N T S 1| EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1.1 The Brief 2 1.2 Objectives & Key Ideas 2 2| CLIENT’S BRIEF 2.1 Housing Choices Australia 3 2.2 Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation 4 City of Melbourne Places Victoria 3| CONTEXT 3.1 General overview 5 3.2 Social 6 3.3 Urban 8 3.4 Planning 9 3.5 Opportunities and Challenges 11 4|STRATEGIES FOR THE SITE 12 4.1 Retrofit 13 4.2 Lightweight construction 14 4.3 Community Infrastructure 15 4.4 Village Square 17 4.5 Family Friendly Designs 18 4.6 An Eco City 19 4.7 Integrated Apartments 20 4.8 Internal Amenities 21 5|Future Implementations 22 1| EXECUTIVE SUMMARY BRIEF & OBJECTIVES The re-visioning of the Arden-Macauley district has created an oppor- tunity for early intervention to secure long-term, diverse and afford- able housing options in this well-located, inner city area. This design proposal responds to a complex of problems in housing delivery in inner city areas, including the lack of family-friendly, af- fordable housing as well as more typically conceived ‘social housing’, catering to the needs of disabled, disadvantaged or at-risk popula- tions. The key ideas driving the master planning of this site are: - affordable, adaptable, high quality housing - place to play, and commune, for all ages and abilities - eco-responsive, passivehaus design. 2 2| CLIENTS BRIEF HOUSING CHOICES AUSTRALIA The challenge issued by Housing Choices As social and affordable housing Australia in the Getting to Yes Studio delivered by a housing association Design Brief brief is to provide a residential design typically remains under management, solution for 25– 72 Stubbs Street, North consideration should be given not only Melbourne that provides a socially cohe- to immediate financial viability, but also sive insertion into the existing commu- to issues of ongoing maintenance and nity, whilst satisfying the requirements of management. financial viability. The Design Guidelines and Outline In developing new residential dwellings Specifications provided by Housing for this site, a maximum of 30 dwellings Choices (summarised in the table on the were to be set aside for affordable left)required that the site development housing units, to be allocated to tenants deliver a maximum of 30 units of social by Housing Choices Australia. Consid- housing, along with space for on-site eration was to be given to the needs of support services (office, security and people with limited mobility, different hot-desk), car parking (for at least 50% of levels of external support and care, and units), communal facilities, multi-purpose disabilities. Care needed to be taken to spaces, a communal laundry and ground respect the independence of residents floor commercial spaces. with a disability, whilst ensuring their (often complex) needs could be met. While the financial model for delivery Additionally, in line with the broader of these units is unconfirmed, Housing aims of the Getting to Yes collaborative Choices has Commonwealth Government research project, this design solution funding of $5.57 million to deliver social needed to also incorporate housing in the Arden-Macaulay area, family-friendly housing and supportive with funding conditions requiring that community infrastructure. Housing Choices procure private funding equal to 20% of the total project cost to deliver further social housing outcomes for the project (so increasing the total grant amount to $7.4 million). 3 2| CLIENTS BRIEF LORD MAYOR’S CHARITABLE FOUNDATION|PLACES VICTORIA |CITY OF MELBOURNE LORD MAYOR CHARITABLE FOUNDATION The Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation has contributed $360,000 to provide for on-site offices, multi-purpose spaces and commu- nity infrastructure for all residents, but par- ticularly those at risk of homelessness, with mental health conditions or disabilities. PLACES VICTORIA The main intentions of Places Victoria is to address areas with challenges of affordabil- ity, sustainability and liveability through the transformation of the urban form. The main focus in creating new residences is achiev- ing a mixture of house sizes that are in close proximity to quality jobs, community infrastructure, transport and amenities. CITY OF MELBOURNE City of Melbourne’s overall vision for the Arden Macauley is a “Consolidation of a district level community hub that complements the existing commu- nity facilities to be located to the south and that is co-located with a potential school site and open space improvements” 3 4 3| CONTEXT GENERAL OVERVIEW The land uses within Arden-Macaulay generally represent an underutilisation of the area considering its proximity to the CBD and to existing and future transport infrastructure (CoM 2012, p 22). The site is located 1.5km north-west of the CBD, and has multiple public transport and arterial road connections - including CityLink, three train stations, tram and bus routes. While industrial land use zoning has prohibited residential development to date, rezoning to mixed use has the potential to dramatically increase the local population Transition of the area is to occur in two stages, with our site falling well within Stage 1. The area will have a mix of uses to provide a diversity of activities such as residential, commercial, retail, educational, entertainment and cultural activities (CoM 2012, p. 25) “An underutilised area, ripe for renewal” 5 3| CONTEXT SOCIAL CONTEXT Demographic profile North Melbourne has the highest proportion of lone-parent families within the municipality, with the most common household type being a lone person household (ABS 2011). North Melbourne currently has the second largest share of children in the municipality (13%) and 16% of the munici- palities over 60 population. The largest age group in the area are in the 25-34 yr old age group. Fig. 1 Growth of 25-34yr old Fig. 2 Increase of Single parent and population between 2006 and 2011 Couples with children population between 2006 and 2011 Moonee Ponds Creek Surrounding Land Uses The creek is directly accessible from the site however is in a The majority of the built residential stock surrounding the degraded state. The access way is not paved, and the creek site are single storey Victorian terrace houses with newer itself is polluted. Despite this, there are plans underway to apartments blocks located next to and around Kensington rejuvenate this creek area, to increase public access and to Station. create interventions that will both minimize and treat the The site itself is surrounded by industrial and commercial pollution. uses, including several manufacturing and wholesale com- panies as well as the offices of the Australian Wool Test- 5 ing Authority. Nearby are the Flemmington public housing high rises, one of the largest public housing commissions in Fig. 3(top) & 4(bottom) Melbourne. There is a primary school and childcare centre The creek unlandscaped and not user onsite, primarily catering for the needs of the residences. friendly 6 3| CONTEXT SOCIAL CONTEXT Public Amenities and Social Infrastructure The closest park and playground to the site is located in Robertson Street, less than five minutes walk away. The closest grocery and medical facilities are across and up from the Kensington Station, one kilometer west of the site. Fig. 5 Park located on Robertson Street Income 35.7% of individuals earned less then $400/week 27.4% of couples with children earned less then $600/week 28% of North Melbourne residents earning less than $250 a week. Fig. 6 Percentage of individuals and couples with children classified as “low” income earners. Housing Prices Average one bedroom apartment (include studio): $150,000 to $400,000 Average two bedroom apartment: $350,000 to $700,000 Average three bedroom apartment (family): $450,000$ to $750,000 Fig. 7 (top) To Rent: Victorian Terrace Housing dominating Average rent for a 3 bedroom apartment: $600 the area Average rent for a 2 bedroom apartment: $420 Fig. 8 (left) Older houses with new extensions The majority of the built residential stock surrounding the site are single storey Victorian terrace houses with newer apartments blocks located next to and around Kensington Station. 7 3| CONTEXT URBAN CONTEXT 2 The Public Realm The public realm experience is aptly described in the Structure Plan (2012) as being of “poor quality” due to the legacy of industrial uses which has cre- ated large blocks that discourage walk- ing and streets that are fronted by the blank walls of warehouses and sheds. This results in a poor walking environ- ment” (Arden Macaulay Structure Plan). However, this legacy can also be seen in a positive light: it allows for generous allotment sizes that are more readily adapted to medium density develop- ments than is typically the case in sub- urban “greyfields” (AHURI 2012) areas or historical residential streets. Fig. 9 Poor pedestrian environment (Source: A-M Structure Plan, CoM 2012) 8 7 3| CONTEXT PLANNING CONTEXT The site is currently zoned Industrial Zone 1, meaning that ‘accommodation’ uses are pro- hibited. However, Schedule to the Industrial Zone 1 allows for unlimited office uses in this industrial zone. As such, the development currently on site has street frontage and first floor office spaces, with warehousing at the rear. Additionally, the site is currently subject to the following overlays: •an ‘Incorporated plan overlay (IPO):The incorporated plan overlay refers to the Moonee Ponds Creek Concept Plan (IPO 5) which called for certain requirements to be met before a permit is granted, relating to the protection and enhance- ment of the natural features and rem- nant vegetation of the creek. This overlay aims to coordinate development along the Moonee Ponds Creek, its banks and surrounding environment, while preserv- ing the natural features and remnant vegetation, and preventing further dete- rioration of the creek and its environs.