Council infrastructure and civic works, services and community development programs contribute towards placemaking, as do all planning and building decisions. Access to services, recreation, employment and transport options are also important.

 

The quality of a place its liveability, results from a combination of factors. These factors are encapsulated in the well established principles of urban design, which are fundamental to successful placemaking. The range of factors that contribute to liveability include:

• Health and safety
• Culture and environment, including air and water
• Infrastructure and services
• Hardship and social disadvantage.

Melbourne 2030 includes Direction 5 – A Great Place to Be, aims to 'Promote good urban design to make the environment more liveable and attractive'.

 

The initiatives to achieve this are:

• 5.1.1 Provide leadership in sustainable urban design and integrated place management through awards, advice and training programs, and by ensuring that government projects are exemplary
• 5.1.2 Review and revise urban design guidelines for incorporation in the planning system, ensuring that development provides quality environments consistent with the objectives of Melbourne 2030
• 5.1.3 Develop and apply performance criteria and standards for safety, surveillance, noise, amenity and privacy for subdivision and new development not covered by ResCode
• 5.1.4 Develop urban design projects with local government and other partners to apply good urban design principles and meet the outcomes sought by Melbourne 2030, giving priority to areas of social need
• 5.1.5 Integrate land-use planning, urban design and transport planning, and prepare guidelines for development and management of transport corridors with particular attention to urban design aspects
• 5.1.6 Review the rate of progress in putting powerlines (11 kV and below) underground, giving priority to visually sensitive areas, and investigate alternative funding mechanisms
• 5.1.7 Provide assistance to local councils for projects to improve landscape qualities, open space linkages and environmental performance in green wedges, conservation areas and non-urban areas.

Urban design, including the design of buildings, streets and neighbourhoods, can foster or discourage interaction and participation in civic life.

The key principles of urban design include:

• Character - Sense of place and history with local distinctiveness, reflecting local culture and traditions
• Continuity and enclosure - Places where public and private spaces are clearly distinguished. The need for ‘fronts and backs’, how buildings enclose private spaces and 'active edges', and the need for surveillance of public areas
• Quality of the public realm - Sense of wellbeing and amenity
• Ease of movement - Connectivity or permeability, a choice of available routes and well connected streets
• Legibility - Ease of understanding, so that places are navigable; using landmarks, clear routes, gateways and public art and distinctive buildings to mark the corners of blocks and with buildings that give clues to their function
• Adaptability - Ease of change (robustness) so that 'cycles of change' can be accommodated and layers of uses / histories build up over time
• Diversity - Ease of choice, creation of places with variety and a mix of uses, a variety of building form, architectural styles and catering to a range of price points.

CABE

CABE is the 'Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment' in the United Kingdom. It works to improve quality of life through good design and has a range of programs and guides to assist in policy development to improve built form outcomes.

Design Guidelines: Residential and Mixed Use Buildings Over three Storeys

In 2004 Guidelines for Higher Density Residential Development (see Resources below) were released to improve design outcomes and raise standards for higher density housing developments. The guidelines provide advice to developers, councils and communities about best-practice in higher density housing.

Find out more about the Guidelines for Higher Density Residential Development.

 

Safer Design Guidelines for Victoria

In 2005, Guidelines for Safer Design (see Resources below) were released to facilitate the planning and design of safer urban environments. The Guidelines support the application of design principles to improve the safety of the built environment, minimise the opportunity for crime and promote safe, accessible and liveable places.

The Safer Design Guidelines will:

• Increase community use of public places, in daytime and evening
• Achieve connection and integration of streets and public places
• Reduce opportunities for crime and antisocial behaviour
• Improve the quality of life for the community by improving perceptions of public places
• Create more liveable and sustainable environments.

Creating Better Places
This is the Victorian Government's grants program to fund urban improvement projects and protect Victoria's important heritage assets. The grants support councils and communities to create more vital, attractive, sustainable and safe activity centres (see Resources below).

 

State Architect

The State Architect is a new position created to advise the Government on the design of major projects and public construction, including schools and hospitals. It follows lobbying by prominent architectural figures, including the architects' institute, former Cain planning minister and architect Evan Walker and prominent industry figure Ian McDougall. The State Architect is John Denton, and the Deputy Government Architect is Shelley Penn.

Wired Development Project

In 2003, the Cities of Wyndham, Whittlesea, Casey and Shires of Melton and Cardinia, together with the MAV executed a "Collaborative Venture Agreement" to progress coordinated early provision of broadband infrastructure and services to new housing estates in Melbourne's fringe suburbs.

 The Wired Development Project is an extension of a program piloted in the City of Whittlesea to actively encourage the deployment of high bandwidth infrastructure in the local community, specifically in new estates. Activities undertaken by Whittlesea included amendment to the planning scheme to require developers to install telecommunication conduits in new subdivisions, whereby the conduit becomes a council asset at handover time.

 

The Wired Development Project, assisted by VicUrban and Multi Media Victoria (MMV), has endorsed the conduct of a pilot request for proposal for the Aurora Estate in Epping North which, if successful, will serve as a catalyst for delivering broadband infrastructure to other new residential estates within Melbourne.

Websites

DSE - Creating Better Places Grants
Grants are available for urban improvement and heritage projects. For more information on who is eligible and how to apply, go to the
www.dse.vic.gov.au - Creating Better Places website

CABE - Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment UK
Excellent site with numerous, detailed and useful references, case studies into place making, open space, engagement and design
www.cabe.org.uk

Sir Ian Turbott Lecture
Edward J. Blakely, Dean of the Milano Graduate School and incoming Chair of Urban and Regional Policy University of Sydney 11 JULY 2003
Discussion of the evolution of modern urban development, suburbs, and social models around successful places.
http://www.penrithvalley.com.au/index.asp?id=23
www.penrithvalley.com.au

Liveable City – Vancouver
Definitions, principles and governance arrangements for the Greater Vancouver Regional District and the Liveable Region Strategic Plan – useful context and links
www.wd.gc.ca/ced/wuf/livable

Presentations

Urban Design Principles
Powerpoint presentation providing an overview of the urban design principles, with images and explanatory comment
 Download Urban Design Principles File size: 1.1 MB

Patrick Condon – Sustainable Urban regions in the 21^st Century
Download Sustainable urban regions in the 21st Century File size: 9.3 MB

Publications         

Housing Industry Association - Population and Residential Building Hotspots - Australia's Fastest Growing Towns' Cities and Regions
This report provides a snapshot of Australia’s fastest growing metropolitan and regional areas in the 2005/06 financial year. A 'hotspot' is defined as a statistical local area (SLA) where the 2005/06 population growth rate exceeded the national average (1.3%) and the value of building work approved is in excess of $100 million (for SLAs in NSW, VIC, QLD and WA) or $50 million (SA, NT Tas. and ACT)
View the publication on HIA's website

CABE - A Councillors Guide to Urban Design
Download Councillors Guide to Urban Design File size: 2.1 MB
Building and Spaces - Why Design Matters File size: 592.9 KB

Parliament of Victoria
Inquiry on sustainable urban design for new communities in outer suburban areas
www.parliament.vic.gov.au

Safer Design Guidelines for Victoria
www.dse.vic.gov.au - Safer Design Guidelines File size: 1.5 MB
www.dse.vic.gov.au - Guidelines for Higher Density Residential Development Pages 1-14 File size: 874 KB
www.dse.vic.gov.au - Guidelines for Higher Density Residential Development Pages 15-29 File size: 1.5 MB
www.dse.vic.gov.au - Guidelines for Higher Density Residential Development Pages 30-62 File size: 2.1 MB