The Thesis, titled ‘Para-Architectures’ explores how urban forms of contemporary dwelling inform being. Para-architecture, architecture that lays beside or beyond architecture, offers places in spaces that are not discovered yet or have been declared without potential, use or relevance to the city. Through the use of para-architectural prototypes this project seeks to study the non-instituted architectural dwellings urban users seek to encounter- and why. As such it recognises the urban dweller as a pivotal agent in the organisation and construction of place.
The work has evolved over the course of researching, designing, building and observing four distinct para-architectural case studies in Melbourne that engaged urban dwellers to identify with the sites. This investigation will give insight as to how each of the cases have informed each other and how they have affected our practice.
