Community Corridor Landscapes | Research Project
This research project examined the nature of Melbourne's green valleys as an inner suburban extension of the green wedge. The project investigates strategies encouraging shared community use of these open spaces exploring a shift to a local community based ownership of the land in which local communities gain a level of input and control regarding use of the land. In exchange communities assume the associated responsibility regarding its management and maintenance, a key issue facing many of these types of spaces. The project examined Melbourne's Dandenong Valley as a typology to identify strategies encouraging a rich mix of use by local communities which lifts the community's sense of value relating to these spaces and therefore establishes a resistance to urban development which typically threatens and erodes these landscapes over time. The project also examined a structures ability to accommodate a range of flexible community uses and act as a catalyst for community growth when located in public space. As pieces of infrastructure structures are often shared by a diverse range of user groups and used in diverse climatic conditions. A simple series of open covered spaces arranged along a pathway can provide opportunities for large sporting or music events as well as more intimate spaces for small school assemblies or community performances. The organisation of the spaces allow people walking along the existing path to interact with the activity occurring in each adjacent covered space as well as establishing meeting points potentially used as markets to sell fresh produce or crafts created by surrounding local community groups. The covered spaces are arranged at a variety of heights from a gravel hardstand to a platform elevated 750mm above the ground providing alternative uses in emergency situations such as flooding which is common in the low lying areas often designated for public open space.
