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Patchwork Plains // Stitching back together Melbourne’s remnant native grasslands to increase the attachment between the city and its site. By Sebastian Cocks Tutors // Adam Gardner & Emily Wong RMIT Master of Landscape Architecture // Final Design Research Project (2022) I acknowledge the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands on which I work and pay my respects to Indigenous Elders past, present and emerging. Sovereignty has never been ceded. It always was and always will be, Aboriginal land. The problems this project tries to address are entirely the result of European occupation, and I recognise that the importance of this land goes well beyond the tangible values explored in this project.

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“...we are now so deeply implicated in the workings of the Earth system that we really have no choice but to try and design it.” Richard Weller // We Are Designing the Earth, Whether You Like It or Not (2019)

Patchwork Plains

Photo: Linda Tegg’s Grasslands (Matthew Stanton, www.lindategg.com, 2022)

Linda Tegg // Grasslands (2014) Linda Tegg’s Grasslands (2014) encapsulates many of the issues addressed by Patchwork Plains. Grasslands illustrates the disconnect between city and site in the post-colonial context of ‘Melbourne’. Tegg brings the grassland ecology back to the forefront of a site it once occupied, which is now suffocated by an impervious, colonial landmark; the State Library of Victoria. Tegg illustrates the fragility and alienation of Victorian natural temperate grasslands, a plight that is emblematic of many global ecologies. Grasslands shows the power of defamiliarising landscapes within an urban context as a way of cultivating human empathy.

Through Tegg’s curation of these plants, Grasslands highlights the ultimate power of humans to design and arrange seemingly ‘natural’ entities. This concept echoes the words of Richard Weller, who claimed that humans are in a period of history where we must “steward the earth”, and that we are too deeply implicated in the earth’s natural systems to not try and design them (Weller, R., We Are Designing The Earth Whether You Like It Or Not). Grasslands demonstrates that this ecology has been reduced to an aesthetic novelty, yet humans hold the ability to design the ecology into modern urban relevance.

Design Research Question // How can we reconnect the remnant native grasslands of Melbourne’s western suburbs emotionally, temporally and spatially in order to increase the attachment between the city and its site?

Abstract // Despite the Victorian Volcanic Plain being one of only 15 biodiversity hotspots in Australia, the natural temperate grasslands that once dominated the plain have been reduced to less than 1% of their pre-1788 area. This ecological decimation is due to the ignorant agricultural practices and short-sighted urbanization that followed European arrival. The result is a sprawling city, Melbourne, that manifests little connection to the earlier landscape conditions of its underlying site. Patchwork Plains aims to reintegrate our native grasslands into the city by reconnecting surviving remnant patches using ecological corridors. A large-scale network of connections across Melbourne’s western suburbs is informed by a detailed corridor design for the Jones Creek Grassland Circuit in St Albans. The project attempts to reconcile the eco-socialist need to restore the site’s pre-colonial grassland ecology with the eco-modernist reality that Melbourne’s development has changed the site irrevocably. By increasing the prevalence of the grasslands in the suburbs, a new suburban identity may be developed that increases human empathy for the ecology, and generates a more ecologically and aesthetically diverse suburban fabric.

Patchwork Plains approaches grassland connection through three lenses: the emotional, the temporal and the spatial. Emotional connection is the connection of grasslands to and through their surrounding human community; explored through the creation of educational opportunities, increased human-grassland interactions, and new visual identities. Temporality is explored by embedding grassland genetic stock into the suburban environment. Converting existing anthropocentric suburban space to grassland-dominated space will spatially reconnect the remnants. Thus, grassland corridors may form that integrate the ecology holistically into our modern suburban framework, increasing the attachment between the city and its site. * This project uses the term ‘Melbourne’ when naming this location because it refers to the city - a colonial construct. ** ‘Naarm’ is the Woi Wurrung term- and thus true name - for this geographical area (in written Roman alphabet).

Patchwork Plains

St Albans, 2023.

Contents // 00

Framing 0.1 0.2

8 10 12

The Victorian Volcanic Plain Historical Context Human Context Suburban Grasslands Today Grassland Aesthetics Project Parameters

14 16 18 22 24 26

Network (Large-Scale)

2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4

30 32 36 40

Typologies of the City Existing Conditions (Large-Scale) Corridor Network Key Connection

Integration (Mid-Scale)

3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4

44 50 56 58

Existing Conditions Project Timeline Project Phasing Design Proposal (Mid-Scale)

Connection (Small-Scale)

4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4

62 84 104 106

Emotional Connection Temporal Connection Spatial Connection Key Location Designs

Longevity 5.1 5.2 5.3

Community of Practice Key Theory

Context 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6

124 Maintenance Project Vision References

126 130 132

Appendices

134

6.1

136

Small-Scale Testing Notebook

00 // Chapter

0.1 // Part name

0.2 // Part name

00 // Framing The theoretical & experiential framework that resulted in the ‘what’, ‘why’ & ‘how’ of Patchwork Plains.

Patchwork Plains

Contents // 00

Framing 0.1 0.2

Community of Practice Key Theory

8 10

00 // Framing

0.1 Community of Practice

0.2 Key Theory

Community of Practice // The initial framing of Patchwork Plains stemmed from an investigation into my own community of practice. This process illuminated my previous, current, and intended future fields of interest and ways of working. Mapping my community over time (top left to bottom right) there is a clear development of spatial awareness through architecture, which - when merged with my existing interests in nature, gardening and visual art - led me towards landscape architecture.

Alistair Kirkpatrick introduced me to the notion of plant-based design, spontaneous ecologies and the questioning of the socially constructed concept of ‘weeds’. This community questions the viability of urban conservation of native ecosystems, given the changed growing conditions of modern day cities. Through this questioning I developed a deeper study of the underlying conditions of the Melbourne’s geographical area. This resulted in placing me amongst the Victorian Volcanic Plain community, which is where Patchwork Plains began.

Patchwork Plains

Conceptual momentum

Conceptual grouping (red = high interest, yellow = low interest)

Key fields

00 // Framing

0.1 Community of Practice

0.2 Key Theory

he // T

Biggest E sta t

Eco-Modernism //

Environmental repair requires reverting to the pre-industrial state of the world.

The ‘natural’ no longer exists, we must move forward to achieve sustainability.

Rich

e gg da T

Ways of doing

Linda Tegg’s work with native Victorian grasslands confirms the symbolic and ecological importance of this ecology to Melbourne’s identity. Tegg admires the beauty and artistic merit of grasslands, describing the way in which they “slide in and out of view.”

d se ba ea d

-s pl tyle an s tin ee g d-

Eco-Socialism

l. // Urban Con et a se rv

a tio

es an

Unique challenges of urban grasslands

Urban & suburban grasslands in Melbourne present unique challenges and unique rewards. They must be better considered for both their design value and ecological value.

Ur b iqu an e e & nv de iron se me rve nt pro s ar tec e tio n

r // Ways O erge fS ee in

Ae st ma hetic ke t g he pa rass ory c lat ab land an s le

Stitching back together Melbourne’s remnant native grasslands to increase the attachment between the city and its site.

Humans see before they can speak - perception is more powerful than explanation. It is important to understand factors that influence perception of aesthetic value to make the project more palatable to humans throughout time as its appearance changes.

rshall

Human perception can be controlled

“Small spaces (and) unconventional habitats” are all of value – an ecologically significant space doesn’t have to be separate from urbanity. This is especially true as cities continue to expand into areas of ecological value around the globe.

/ed are ge c ke ond y itio

ing

J oa n

Na ss a

Fra m

Framing ‘messy’ ecologies

n Ma ria d A

Patchwork Plains //

ies log on co ati n e erv ba ns Ur it co r me

l fo cia cru st are tere cs n eti n i sth uma h

B hn Jo

m es Fra

“We must design to frame ecological function within a recognizable system of form”. Need to focus on showing ‘care’ and neatness (which forms attractiveness). “Cues that indicate human intention are cultural symbols that can be used to frame more novel ecosystems in inhabited landscapes” (Nassauer, Messy Ecosysterms, Orderly Frames).

s itie un s mm ion co ndit nt o pla l c rn ove de n n Mo xist i e

te ua nt s ce tic ac he & est ise a ar ds ili lan am ss ef gra

rly de

ms ,O r

ough // Sheffi hm eld

Planting should respond to the site as found to reduce cost and create site-specific designs. Plant biological needs are paramount, not stylistic or political clout. Planting should rely on seed-sowing.

cosyste

tc Hi

ol ho

Ja m

Lin

essy E

“The old idea of nature as something stable and inviolable, history’s backdrop, has literally just evaporated into the carbon-saturated atmosphere of our own making” (Weller, We Are Designing The Earth, Whether You Like It Or Not).

Ways of thinking

en dig f In s eo m nc syste ca nifi eco Sig

// M er

Nature is designed and depends upon human action as much as it influences it.

Modern city conditions are too far gone to reproduce native EVCs. Design should Focus on plant biology and the conditions as found instead.

Indigenous ecosystems are socially and ecologically critical, they must be restored and protected.

The cultural significance of grasslands, as with all ‘Australian’ ecologies must be considered alongside environmental value.

ard Weller

Re c is e reati xh ng au na t sti ve ive c & i on mp dit rac ion tic s al

rth Ea

This book illustrates some of the ways in which First Australians formed an entirely sustainable and symbiotic relationship with this land.

Eco-Modernism

e ag

Eco-Socialism //

Bill Ga m

Key Theory //

Patchwork Plains

Project Positioning //

Glossary //

01 // Eco-Modernism

All glossary definitions adapted from the Oxford Dictionary to fit the project.

Modern city conditions are different to pre-colonial site conditions - landscape designers must consider this impact on plant biology and avoid misusing resources in futile attempts to conserve native species in places they can no longer grow. The project must accept the newfound suburban conditions of grassland remnants and capitalise on these.

Grasslands // The Natural Temperate Grasslands of the Victorian Volcanic Plain, comprised of EVC 132 Plains Grassland & EVC 654 Creekline Tussock Grassland (Threatened Species Scientific Committee). Melbourne // Refers to the city - a colonial construct.

02 // Eco-Socialism The cultural and ecological value of grasslands makes them worth preserving in their pre-colonial state. Grasslands deserve their place in the city - even if it is only symbolic - given that they occupied this site first. The city also presents the best opportunity to generate human empathy.

Naarm // The Woi Wurrung term- and thus true name - for Melbourne’s geographical area (in written Roman alphabet). 1788 // The year of European arrival and beginning of colonisation. Native // Originating or occurring ‘naturally’ in a particular place. Naturally // Without special intervention; in a natural manner.

03 // Grassland ‘Stylistic’ Merit Grasslands are aesthetically beautiful and analogous with the Sheffield School’s meadow-style planting.

Attachment // Affection, fondness, or sympathy for someone or something.

04 // Framing ‘Messy’ Ecosystems

Connection // A relationship in which a person or thing is linked or associated with something else. Comprised of three lenses; emotional connection, temporal connection and spatial connection.

‘Messy’ ecosystems such as grasslands require considered framing devices & edge conditions to be publicly palatable - these create a ‘cue to care’.

Ecological corridor // A functional zone of passage between several ‘natural’ zones for a group of species dependent on a single environment (Futura Sciences).

05 // Urban Conservation

Remnant // A part or quantity that is left after the greater part has been used, removed, or destroyed.

Urban environments deserve conservation and have their own unique ecological merit. Increased urban ecologies would reduce urban heat island, reduce toxic runoff, reduce asthma attacks, increase food availability and improve air quality (amongst other benefits).

Urban // In, relating to, or characteristic of a town or city. Suburban // Of or characteristic of a suburb. Suburb // An outlying district of a city, especially a residential one.

06 // Defamiliarising Grasslands Taking ecologies out of their ‘natural’ context to exaggerate aesthetic and ephemeral qualities is a powerful form of endorsement. This perspective shift is important for urban ecologies because they are seen by a larger human population and can have a greater impact on human interest. 07 // Grassland Autonomy This project wants to avoid speaking for and assuming the perspective of the grasslands. The project should not reduce the grasslands to anthropocentric needs & behaviours. The grasslands need space to define themselves as an ecosystem. 08 // Suburban Identity The project needs to respect the socio-cultural conditions of the suburbs that now surround the remnants. It is an overly privileged perspective to assume that people in these suburbs should automatically care for the grasslands. The project needs to convince them to care, and needs to be seen to be contributing positively to the suburban identity.

00 // Chapter

0.1 // Part name

0.2 // Part name

01 // Context Investigating the social, historical, environmental, economic, political & technological context surrounding Patchwork Plains.

Patchwork Plains

Contents // 01

Context 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6

12 The Victorian Volcanic Plain Historical Context Human Context Suburban Grasslands Today Grassland Aesthetics Project Parameters

14 16 18 22 24 26

01 // Context

1.1 // The VVP

1.2 // Historical Context

1.3 // Human Context

1.4 // Suburban Grasslands Today

1.5 // Grassland Aesthetics

The Victorian Volcanic Plain // The Victorian Volcanic Plain (VVP) stretches from modern-day Melbourne to the South Australian border and is one of only 15 biodiversity hot spots in Australia. It is home to the natural temperate grassland ecology (VVPG) of which less than 1% remains - and this is highly fragmented and degraded (Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population & Communities, 2011).

Agriculture, urban expansion and now climate change are major threats to what remains of this ecology. Integrating the grasslands into the city is critical as Melbourne continues to expand into the VIctorian Volcanic Plain. As Soanes et. al argue, urban conservation is more necessary than ever (2018).

The grasslands are dominated by three tussock-forming genera; Themeda, Austrodanthonia & Austrostipa. The spaces between these tussocks are home to a variety of forbs. As John Delpratt states, miniature structure of the grasslands results in an immense capacity to house biodiversity, particularly insects.

Indigenous language areas

Western Grassland Reserve

Current native grasslands

National park

Pre-1788 native grasslands

Victorian Volcanic Plain

Urban growth boundary (2015)

Patchwork Plains

1.6 // Project Parameters

15 1

“Australia leads the world in mammal extinctions... nearly 90% of those extinctions were grassland dependent species” Dr Adrian Marshall cited Kinsella, E 2022, ‘This land in Melbourne is worth $11 million. To some, the grassland that was on it was priceless’, ABC News, 11 August.

14 13 2

12 11 9

3 10 8

7 6

Biodiversity ‘hot spot’ (HSI)

VVP 5 4

01 // Context

1.1 // The VVP

1.2 // Historical Context

1.3 // Human Context

1.4 // Suburban Grasslands Today

1.5 // Grassland Aesthetics

Historical Context // Patchwork Plains aims to address the unfortunate trend of increased urbanisation inevitably resulting in the reduced ecological value of a place. The project will try to restore the balance of power in Melbourne by stitching this site’s native grasslands into the forefront of our modern day suburban fabric. In doing so, the project strives to retrospectively enable the city to sit within its environment, rather than on top of it. This will produce a more aesthetically and ecologically diverse suburban framework.

The natural temperate grasslands have been decimated by colonial approaches to agriculture and urbanisation. Introduced species and the ever-increasing threat of climate change also threaten the ecology. Urban conservation is critical for the grasslands as the suburban remnants have the potential to act as a flagship for saving the ecology as a whole.

1.6 // Project Parameters

Patchwork Plains

01 // Context

Clients //

1.1 // The VVP

1.2 // Historical Context

1.3 // Human Context

1.4 // Suburban Grasslands Today

1.5 // Grassland Aesthetics

1.6 // Project Parameters

Patchwork Plains

Stakeholders //

01 // Context

1.1 // The VVP

1.2 // Historical Context

1.3 // Human Context

1.4 // Suburban Grasslands Today

1.5 // Grassland Aesthetics

Wurdi Youang // I was extremely fortunate to be invited to tour the Wurdi Youang grassland that is managed by Reg Abrahams and a small group of workers from the Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-Operative. The site is home to the oldest remaining astrological site in human history. It marks the summer and winter solstices, equinox, the local rain shadow and many other useful points on the calendar.

The site has been restored from farmland to native grassland over the course of many years. The process is incredibly slow, especially at such a larges scale and given the degree of degradation of the surrounding farmland. The key technique is regular mosaic pattern burning that is timed alongside planting, seed sowing, spot weed spraying and installing protective fencing.

Astrological site // Wurdi Youang is home to the oldest known astrological site in the human world. Balancing archaeological sensitivity with the ecological maintenance is tough.

Gilgai // Wurdi Youang is home to some of the largest Gilgai remaining today. These are human-made depressions in clay soils that act as ephemeral lakes for food sources & water.

Native grass flours // Flour substitutes can be made from native grass seeds. These flours are higher in protein, gluten free, do not produce asthma causing pollen and are drought tolerant. It’s a no-brainer.

Walwhallea proluta seeds // These are the seeds used to make flour. They are incredibly small and time consuming to hand pick. This requires funding for workers - which is currently sorely lacking.

Rabbit proofing // Introduced pests such as rabbits are a major issue, especially as the land has to be shared with farmers to ensure enough revenue. Native species need protection,

Billy Buttons // The approach to management acknowledges it is impossible to eradicate weeds entirely but work can be done to help the native species outgrow them.

1.6 // Project Parameters

Patchwork Plains

Suburban Identity - Driving to Wurdi Youang // Driving from my house to Wurdi Youang illustrated the stark lack of connection between the suburbs and the regional landscape.

The grasslands can better integrate the suburbs into their site to ecologically and aesthetically improve this part of the world.

01 // Context

1.1 // The VVP

1.2 // Historical Context

1.3 // Human Context

1.4 // Suburban Grasslands Today

1.5 // Grassland Aesthetics

Suburban Grasslands Today // Grasslands today predominantly survive in five key typologies; railway patches, roadsides, industrial voids, cemeteries and protected remnants. These areas have only managed to avoid destruction because they are unsuitable for agriculture or urban development - not through conservation.

This ecology deserves more than to merely survive in areas that are forgotten and unseen by the human world. The grasslands deserve a prominent place in the fabric of this city.

In almost every case, the remnant patches have poor edge conditions which allow weeds & pollution to enter, encourage rubbish dumping and make the grasslands uninteresting for humans.

Railway patches have potential for becoming powerful linear corridors that are viewed by large numbers of commuters.

Railway remnants are often very hard to maintain due to access issues, tough topography and stony soil.

Lack of edge conditions encourages rubbish dumping.

Native grass is not separated from the invasive Kikuyu Grass as edges are hard to maintain and the area is exposed to wind-borne seeds.

Railway //

76 E Esplanade, St Albans

Maidstone Grassland, Maidstone

Cemeteries are often intentionally separated from the rest of the city, resulting in very little public interest in these surviving patches.

The grassland association with death does not encourage positive public interest.

Roadside patches are poorly framed resulting in no aesthetic appeal and exposure to pollution.

Edges are hard to maintain due to access & passing traffic allowing the entrance of invasive species. Grasslands are surrounded by unkempt, poorly funded infrastructure projects.

The adjacent highways result in the assumption that these remnants are polluted and ecologically worthless.

Cemetery //

Roadside //

Truganina Cemetery, Truganina

1003 Christies Rd, Ravenhall

Patchwork Plains

1.6 // Project Parameters

Grassland Survival Typologies //

Railway

Industrial voids are physically isolated.

Cemetery

Roadside

Industrial void

Industrial voids are exposed to pollution and the effects of an urban heat island.

Protected remnants

Given the lack of passers by the signage is minimal and seems pointless.

No edge conditions set up to entice people or protect the remnant from predators or weed seeds.

Lackluster wire fencing is visually and physically jarring.

Industrial void //

193 Harcourt Rd, Altona

23 Horsburgh Dr, Altona

Minimal, disengaging signage discourages interest.

There is still a lack of interactive opportunities for humans to actually feel immersed within the grasslands.

Evans St grassland shows very wellconsidered edge conditions, including Lomandra buffer planting.

Even well-maintained edge conditions discourage the community from entering the grasslands.

Protected remnant //

Pimelea Reserve, Cairnlea.

Evans St, Sunbury. All images sourced from Google Maps, viewed 5th June 2022. 23

01 // Context

1.1 // The VVP

1.2 // Historical Context

1.3 // Human Context

1.4 // Suburban Grasslands Today

1.5 // Grassland Aesthetics

Grassland Aesthetics //

t he t s

a nd e l a sC

An experiential film of the grasslands in St Albans was made as part of the in-person exhibition of this project. Here are displayed some still frames from that film showing the myriad of colours, textures and shapes in a single grassland on a single day.

r //

Gr as s

lan

The annual life cycle of grasslands shows a varied array of aesthetic states. It is important to try and consider all visual qualities of grasslands when designing. Part of the project’s aim is to help people to understand and appreciate these varied colours, textures and structures. In doing so, people will become more readily able to read grasslands and determine their health, age and function. This increased understanding and shifted perspective on grassland aesthetics - no longer considering them brown, dry fields - will be crucial to protecting this ecology.

“The shimmering bronze of Spear Grass flowers blowing in the wind, purple stems of Kangaroo Grass tussocks arising out of clumps of sky-blue Pincushions, egg yolk Paper Flowers with the vanilla fragrance of Chocolate Lilies drifting by” James Hitchmough cited Marshall, A 2020, Start With The Grasslands: Design Guidelines to Support Native Grasslands in Urban Areas, Victorian National Parks Association, Melbourne, p. ix.

1.6 // Project Parameters

Patchwork Plains

Experiential Film Stills // Still frames taken from the project’s experiential film exploring the visual and aural experience of being immersed within the grasslands at eye level.

01 // Context

1.1 // The VVP

1.2 // Historical Context

1.3 // Human Context

1.4 // Suburban Grasslands Today

1.5 // Grassland Aesthetics

Project Parameters // The project categorises the notion of connection into three lenses; the emotional, the temporal and the spatial. Ecologies are complex systems and the idea of connecting these is somewhat ambiguous, so the three connection lenses are used for clarity and to ensure a comprehensive approach. Herein, the term connection refers to the holistic combination of all three lenses.

Patchwork Plains also operates at three different scales, each serving its own function in producing the overall design outcome. Each operative scale has its own set of goals and criteria for success.

Connection Lenses // Emotional Connection Connecting the grasslands to and through their surrounding human community. By forming an emotional connection with humans, grassland health becomes far more secure.

Temporal Connection Connecting the grasslands through time by embedding grassland genetic stock into the suburban environment.

Spatial Connection Physically connecting the grasslands through the conversion of existing anthropocentric suburban space to grassland-dominated space.

Forming Connections // The three connection lenses form in different ways, yet the first three year period is critical for the forming of all three types of connection. Emotional connection is the first lens that should develop because the spatial changes required for the other two connection types cannot form without the human community’s endorsement. The emotional connection ebbs and flows and requires constant stimulation.

Temporal connection begins to slowly form in a linear way once the grasslands are set up and can begin to produce seed. This temporal connection is furthered by the gradual establishment of a soil-stored seed bank that can ensure the longevity of the grasslands’ purity. The spatial connection is formed in staggered jumps, whenever demolition and construction works can be carried out to enlarge the area of the grasslands.

1.6 // Project Parameters

Patchwork Plains

Operative Scales //

00 // Chapter

0.1 // Part name

0.2 // Part name

02 // Network Large-Scale

A network of connections is drawn between the remnants across Melbourne’s western suburbs.

Patchwork Plains

Contents // 02

Network (Large-Scale)

2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4

30 32 36 40

Typologies of the City Existing Conditions (Large-Scale) Corridor Network Key Connection

02 // Network (Large-Scale)

2.1 // Typologies of the City

2.2 // Existing Conditions (Large-Scale)

2.3 // Corridor Network

2.4 // Key Connection

Typologies of the City // The city can be broken into key typologies that generally connect or obstruct the potential growth of grassland corridors. This refers mostly to spatial connection. It is clear that the project’s large-scale corridor network will need to use a mixture of typologies to form a holistic connection. Emotional connection will come from the city typologies that are most available to social settings; nature strips, public space, nature reserves, public parks and residential gardens.

Potential connection opportunities

Spatial connection will form by capitalising on the conversion of city typologies that are more hidden from the public, such as; industrial voids, railway voids and road easements. These typologies often run in long, uninterrupted linear strips and there can be a better focus on ecological needs of the corridor in these areas rather than the anthropocentric needs.

Potential barriers

Barrier Typologies //

Residential housing //

Railway line //

Road //

Industry //

Patchwork Plains

Connection Typologies //

Nature strip //

Railway void //

Public space //

Industrial void //

Existing grassland //

Nature reserve //

Residential garden //

Cemetery //

Public park // 31

02 // Network (Large-Scale)

2.1 // Typologies of the City

2.2 // Existing Conditions (Large-Scale)

2.3 // Corridor Network

2.4 // Key Connection

Connection Opportunities // Patchwork Plains aims to connect the few remaining fragmented pockets of native grassland within Melbourne’s western suburbs using ecological corridors. To create these corridors, existing connection opportunities between remnants must be maximised; such as nature reserves, public parks, public space and waterways. The real life lived context of each remnant is shown to illustrate the complexity of the city system that surrounds them.

The map illustrates the points where connection opportunities are concentrate. Particularly evident are the many nature reserves that run along landscape elements between remnants, such as; Kororoit Creek, Laverton Creek and Skeleton Creek. The project will focus on a key connection in St Albans-Cairnlea because there is a pocket of remnants here and it is relatively close to the city, meaning higher potential social impact.

Pre-1788 grasslands extent

Western Grassland Reserve

Current native grasslands

Strategic cycling corridor

Nature reserve

Public park

Public land

Railway & station

Patchwork Plains

02 // Network (Large-Scale)

2.1 // Typologies of the City

2.2 // Existing Conditions (Large-Scale)

2.3 // Corridor Network

2.4 // Key Connection

Suburban Constraints // The project will need to consider the suburban infrastructure surrounding the grasslands. Rather than assuming urban and suburban ecologies to be defunct or tainted, this project aims to champion these unique habitats. A key element of the project will be trying to improve the sensory experience of a typical suburban street while also softening their impact on the environment.

Urban growth corridor (MSA)

Western Grassland Reserve

Industry

Railway & station

It is critical to act now to connect and protect these remnants before the MSA’s urban growth corridors create a complete barrier between the inner-city patches and the VVP beyond the urban growth boundary. In particular, connection to the Western Grassland Reserve will be crucial.

Current native grasslands

Urban blockage

Patchwork Plains

Melbourne Threatens the VVP //

1883

Pre-1788 grassland extent

1954

Urban growth

Urban growth boundary (2015)

2015

02 // Network (Large-Scale)

2.1 // Typologies of the City

2.2 // Existing Conditions (Large-Scale)

2.3 // Corridor Network

2.4 // Key Connection

Corridor Network Phasing // The development of a network of corridors between remnants at the city-scale will need to be broken into phases. The initial phase focuses on five key connections in locations that are socially dense, have a string of habitats, have rail or utility void infrastructure and an abundance of green space. The key connections will lay the groundwork for the project by generating emotional connection to the project & ecology as a whole - producing the momentum required for the rest of the network.

The second phase of connections will focus on spatial connection by creating linear and landscape corridors that reach out to remnants that are close to the key locations. The final phase will involve the strengthening of the corridor and connection to the Western Grassland Reserve. It is hope that by this stage a lot of the corridor growth will be generated by community groups.

01 // Existing Conditions At present the remnants are fragmented and disconnected. The urban growth corridor threatens to sever their potential connection to the Western Grassland Reserve.

03 // Secondary Connections (Years Five - Ten) Once the key connections are established and the project has a foothold in the city - both socially and ecologically - linear and landscape corridors can extend to connect the remnants in close proximity to the established network. This can be seen along Kororoit Creek, along the Western Freeway from Ravenhall to Derrimut and between Laverton and Truganina grassland reserves. This phase will focus spatial connection as the project already has an established social presence. 36

Patchwork Plains

Corridor network

Ecological benefit zone

Current native grasslands

Railway & station

Nature reserve

Public park

Urban growth corridor (MSA)

Western Grassland Reserve

02 // Initial Key Connections (Years One - Five) Selected key connections begin the network. These key connection locations are selected based on their proximity to socially dense suburban centres - the more people that surround the network, the more emotional connection can form. The number, health and closeness of existing remnants is considered as well as the connective typologies; railway lines, electricity voids, landscape elements, existing green space. The five key connections are spread across the western suburbs. The key route selected for this project is Jones Creek Grassland Circuit in St AlbansCairnlea.

04 // Establishing a Permanent Network (Year Ten Onward) The final phase establishes the corridor network to a point where it is large enough to be less vulnerable to city conditions. By this stage, it is hoped that many corridor gaps are being filled in by community groups that are inspired by other parts of the corridor. The connection to the Western Grassland Reserve will be crucial and hopefully regional land management practices will be updated to help the spread of native grassland species across inactive farm land. 37

02 // Network (Large-Scale)

2.1 // Typologies of the City

2.2 // Existing Conditions (Large-Scale)

2.3 // Corridor Network

2.4 // Key Connection

Large-Scale Corridor Network // The overall planned network of corridors across the western suburbs. The corridor network is comprised of three general forms of ecological corridor; landscape, linear and stepping stone corridors. This network has been derived by mapping out the aforementioned existing connection opportunities and plotting routes between remnants that largely stick to these typologies.

The intention was not to overly impact the city’s existing functions, particularly in terms of vehicular traffic and residential housing availability. This is because disruptions to suburban living, especially at a time of increasing house prices and cost of living rates, would only cause resentment towards the project and the grasslands in general. The idea is to get people excited about the project and feel proud to have a physical connection to the ever-growing grassland presence.

Corridor network

Ecological benefit zone

Current native grasslands

Railway & station

Nature reserve

Public park

Urban growth corridor (MSA)

Western Grassland Reserve

Patchwork Plains

02 // Network (Large-Scale)

2.1 // Typologies of the City

2.2 // Existing Conditions (Large-Scale)

2.3 // Corridor Network

2.4 // Key Connection

Key Connection - Jones Creek Grassland Circuit // The key connection of Jones Creek Grassland Circuit in St Albans Cairnlea was selected as the mid-scale design site that will inform the larger corridor network. Through this mid-scale design, the potential for the Patchwork Plains corridors can be envisaged in situ and then translated to other parts of the network - being refined to become site specific. The site was selected for the reasons detailed below.

Jones Creek Grassland Circuit // This was selected as the key connection for mid-scale indepth corridor design for seven reasons:

St Albans

01 // Social density It is close to the city (relative to the rest of the network) and has high social density. 02 // Existing ecologies + Jones Creek Nature Reserve There is a string of habitats that are close to each other and Jones Creek is already protected as a nature reserve. 03 // Community groups Ecological community groups work here which provides us with a wealth of knowledge + there is a nursery on site. 04 // Victoria University Vic Uni provides a focal point and potential interest in research or volunteer work. 05 // St Albans Station The station and railway void provide spatial connection opportunities and a social greeting point. 06 // Electricity line void The continuous linear void carved out of the suburb by the power lines is green space waiting to become a grassland linear corridor. Cairnlea

Current native grasslands

07 // St Albans Reserve history The St Albans Reserve remnant was one of the first studied by the pioneering Robert Graves in the 1960s.

Private green space

Existing trees

Patchwork Plains

Unintentional City Benefits // The implementation of these grassland corridors would carry with it many unintentional benefits for the city. The reduced impervious surface area would greatly reduce the city’s toxic runoff and overall thermal mass. The native grasses also provide a sustainable alternative food source and would reduce the amount of asthma-causing pollen produced by exotic species.

01 // Sustainable Alternative Food Source Many native grasses can be used to create flours that are higher in protein than wheat, gluten free and drought tolerant. Many grassland species also have edible roots and tubers, such as Myrnong and Bulbine Lillies.

02 // Increased Permeability - Reduced Toxic Runoff Replacing the impervious suburban area with permeable surfaces (soils and crushed rock) will reduce the toxic runoff that pumps into our oceans through storm water drains as rain water washes along streets and buildings.

03 // Reduced Urban Heat Island By reducing the impervious surface area the overall thermal mass of the suburbs (and city in general) will dramatically decrease.

04 // Reduced Asthma-Causing Pollen Native grass pollen is far less likely to cause asthma storms. Thus, the more exotic species area that is replaced by native grassland, the less frequent climate changecaused asthma storms become.

00 // Chapter

0.1 // Part name

0.2 // Part name

03 // Integration Mid-Scale

Demonstrating the integration of Patchwork Plains into a suburban context across the project timeline.

Patchwork Plains

Contents // 03

Integration (Mid-Scale)

3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4

44 50 56 58

Existing Conditions Project Timeline Project Phasing Design Proposal (Mid-Scale)

03 // Integration (Mid-Scale)

3.1 // Existing Conditions

3.2 // Project Timeline

3.3 // Project Phasing

3.4 // Design Proposal (Mid-Scale)

Site Visit - Project Opportunities //

Track-side fragments // Two thin strips of native grassland run parallel with the train tracks. They could be connected to form a beautiful walkway alternative to the existing concrete path.

Victoria University nursery // The existing nursery at Vic Uni works tirelessly on maintaining Iramoo Reserve. With increased funding their seed germination and knowledge would be invaluable.

St Albans Station // The train station is the social focal point of the suburb and the first impression for people arriving here by public transport, it should St Albans’ grassland identity.

Electricity line void // The power lines carve a green space void out of the suburb, some of which is already native grassland. This void could become a linear corridor as it is likely to remain undeveloped.

Lawn expanse // There are many areas surrounding the grasslands that are maintained as mown lawn with the absolute minimal ecological value - they could be converted into seed-sown grassland.

Existing grasslands culture // There is already existing grasslands knowledge and activism on the site. Despite the rubbish dumping, dirt bike riding and arson, some people do care for the ecology.

Vic Uni interaction // The fencing between this remnant and Vic Uni is poor, which has encouraged rubbish dumping. There is potential for a stronger emotional connection with the university.

String of habitats // The site has many different patches of grassland. They are in varied states of quality but all are within 5-10 minutes walk of each other - ideal for a walkable corridor.

Patchwork Plains

Site Visit - Project Constraints //

No integration // Residential streets do not integrate with the ecologically important areas they face. Integration would encourage a sense of stewardship and empathy.

Rubbish dumping, arson & vandalism // The remnants are not overly revered. They seem to be seen as a burden on the suburb, a waste of space. This results in rubbish dumping and other acts of vandalism.

Poor health of the remnants // The grasslands - such as this one at Vic Uni - have faced years of degradation and neglect. It is a very long and continuous process to restore these remnants to high quality.

Large-scale new development // New development shows very little regard for the site. The development shows no visual idiosyncrasies and there is no ecological integration. The soil is degraded.

Furlong Rd barrier // Trying to connect the ecology across this major road is a constraint which will be common to many of the grassland remnants in the western suburbs that survive in built up areas.

Train line void // The Sunbury Line carves a deep wound into the site, splitting two remnant patches running parallel either side. It will be difficult to bridge.

Visual & physical barrier // Iramoo Grassland - the largest patch of grassland in this area and one of the most significant in Melbourne is intentionally hidden from residents by planting and a wire fence.

Creek ecology // The Jones Creek ecology is well-established with a Growling Grass Frog population. It must be protected throug the construction of the project and will constrain the corridor. 45

03 // Integration (Mid-Scale)

3.1 // Existing Conditions

3.2 // Project Timeline

Existing Conditions - Emotional Connection //

3.3 // Project Phasing

3.4 // Design Proposal (Mid-Scale)

Emotional connection looks at the existing social conditions of the site. St Albans station and the adjacent commercial area is a clear social focal point.

Key vehicular movement

Key pedestrian movement

Strategic Cycling Corridor

Key entry points

Schools & universities

Religious institution

Social centre

Social density/disadvantage (AHPC) (red = disadvantage & density)

Patchwork Plains

Existing Conditions - Temporal Connection //

Current native grasslands

Exposure heat map (wind, sun, aspect)

Existing trees

Public green space

Temporal connection analysis of the site reveals more about the existing growing conditions. The soil moisture is higher around Jones Creek and the exposure weaker - weeds concentrate here.

Soil moisture (darker = higher moisture)

Railway & station

03 // Integration (Mid-Scale)

3.1 // Existing Conditions

3.2 // Project Timeline

Existing Conditions - Spatial Connection //

3.3 // Project Phasing

3.4 // Design Proposal (Mid-Scale)

Spatial connection analysis of the site shows the physical conditions. The public land along E Esplande remnants could become part of the corridor which could join with the Howardson Cct patch.

Current native grasslands

Private green space

Public green space

Public land

Complete street demolition

Partial street demolition

Minimal street demolition

Power lines

Patchwork Plains

Street Breakdown // Complete street demolition //

Partial street demolition //

Minimal street demolition //

These are streets that are deemed crucial to the corridor network and the anthropocentric infrastructure will be completely demolished to be replaced by grasslands.

These are streets that are important for the corridor network but cannot be completely demolished because residential access must be maintained. These will be converted into crushed rock oneway streets.

These streets must maintain twoway vehicle access for the suburb to remain functional. Given these streets border the corridor the grassland presence will still be increased here through nature strip planting and increased permeable surfaces.

Existing Conditions - Sections // Section cuts through several points of the site reveal the disconnect between the remnants and their existing context. Residential streets have empty space separating housing from the grasslands, and in some cases the remnants are even intentionally blocked from view.

All of this leads to a disinterest for the grasslands and a disdain for their presence. They present more of a spatial burden than an exciting suburban identifier.

Section AA

10m

20m

Section BB

10m

20m

Section CC

10m

20m

03 // Integration (Mid-Scale)

3.1 // Existing Conditions

3.2 // Project Timeline

3.3 // Project Phasing

3.4 // Design Proposal (Mid-Scale)

Project Timeline - One Year Before Seeds, Two Years After // DBo------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------dy-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Patchwork Plains

Ongoing Calendar // DBo------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------dy-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

03 // Integration (Mid-Scale)

3.1 // Existing Conditions

3.2 // Project Timeline

Spatial Project Timeline - Emotional Connection // An axonometric explores the spatial layout of the timeline for emotional connection interventions.

3.3 // Project Phasing

3.4 // Design Proposal (Mid-Scale)

Patchwork Plains

Spatial Project Timeline - Temporal Connection // An axonometric explores the spatial layout of the timeline for temporal connection interventions.

03 // Integration (Mid-Scale)

3.1 // Existing Conditions

3.2 // Project Timeline

Spatial Project Timeline - Spatial Connection // An axonometric explores the spatial layout of the timeline for spatial connection interventions.

3.3 // Project Phasing

3.4 // Design Proposal (Mid-Scale)

Patchwork Plains

Spatial Project Timeline - Maintenance // An axonometric explores the spatial layout of the timeline for maintenance.

03 // Integration (Mid-Scale)

3.1 // Existing Conditions

3.2 // Project Timeline

3.3 // Project Phasing

3.4 // Design Proposal (Mid-Scale)

Project Phasing // The project needs to consider the many stages of implementing a fragile ecoology such as the grasslands. The site will be subjected to intense chemical spraying and demolition in the preparation phase, which will rewquire a strong emotional connection with the residents to avoid too much backlash. The new grassland planting areas will then slowly establish from seed, taking several years before the seeds will become soil-stored and can be considered established. Fire will be key to this.

It is also crucial to heavily maintain the new planting areas in the first year after seed-sowing through hand weeding and daily 3mm irrigation. Once the grassland canopy closes over this can slowly ease. In 20 years, if properly established, the grasslands should be healthy and able to withstand the threats of pollution and weed species from the outside urban area.

2023

01 // Site Preparation

02 // Initial Grassland Seed Establishment (Year One)

After establishing an emotional connection with the residents the major destructive preparation work takes place. Designated streets are demolished and existing vegetation is weed sprayed over a six month period. The existing remnants are extended with planting to increase the human-grassland interactions.

After the first year the seed-sown grassland meadows have had set their seeds and germination should have largely occurred. The site will still appear quite barren and jute mat will be visible. This will make for a unique experience of the corridors - favoured walkways of residents will begin to establish themselves. This is a critical year of hand weeding and irrigation as the grassland canopy closes over.

Current native grasslands

Existing green space

Weed-sprayed vegetation

Demolished area

Initial grassland remnant extensions

Closed canopy grasslands (one year)

Established grasslands (first mosaic burn pattern)

Settled grasslands (multiple burns)

Patchwork Plains

Precedent: Freshkills Park // James Corner Field Operations Freshkills is a project that accounts for the dynamism and ever-changing nature of landscape materials. The project recognises the constant ebb and flow of environments and shows that they need time to establish as they build upon their predecessors in a layering effect. This temporal, layering of ecological life stages inspired the design proposal for Patchwork Plains.

2043

03 // The Grasslands Mature (Year Three)

04 // The Grasslands Settle (Year 20)

After three years the grasslands have closed over and the plant communities are fairly well established. Burning is a key moment in the life cycle of the grasslands and it will follow an alternating mosaic pattern. The mosaic is formed by fire breaks that also act as seating and gently suggest optimal paths of movement for human users.

After 20 years and many burns the grasslands have settled into the site and are largely self-sustaining. The threat of the city outside the grasslands is far less now that the soil-stored seed bank is established. By this stage ongoing maintenance will be less exhaustive and should mostly be managed by the community, especially given their newfound emotional connection to this ecology as it ties into their suburban identity.

03 // Integration (Mid-Scale)

3.1 // Existing Conditions

3.2 // Project Timeline

Jones Creek Grassland Circuit Design Proposal //

3.3 // Project Phasing

3.4 // Design Proposal (Mid-Scale)

The design proposal for the key connection Jones Creek Grassland Circuit. This plan shows the design once the site preparation work is completed, grasslands are sown and construction finished.

Current native grasslands

Crushed rock one-way streets

Key entry points

Existing trees

Allelopathic planting

New grassland planting

Railway & station

Patchwork Plains

Grass la n

cing replace d fen

ha ha-

Ec o log i

ridge over t ra i

cks tra

ed steel wal nd kw pe

In section the corridors spatial connections are evident. Unobtrusive walkways are important and allow the grasslands sunlight. Display planting walks integrate the grasslands and their residential context.

Jones Creek Grassland Circuit Design Proposal - Sections //

Section AA

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ed steel wal rat kw

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no tio va

f Furlon

R d

rsive walkwa

me m

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Section CC

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00 // Chapter

0.1 // Part name

0.2 // Part name

04 // Connection Small-Scale

Illustrating the small-scale actions that take place to emotionally, temporally and spatially reconnect the grassland remnants of the Jones Creek Grassland Circuit.

Patchwork Plains

Contents // 04

Connection (Small-Scale)

4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4

62 84 104 106

Emotional Connection Temporal Connection Spatial Connection Key Location Designs

04 // Connection (Small-Scale)

4.1 // Emotional Connection

4.2 // Temporal Connection

4.3 // Spatial Connection

4.4 // Key Location Designs

Emotional Connection // Connecting the grasslands to and through their surrounding human community. By forming an emotional connection with humans, grassland health becomes far more secure. The first form of connection that must develop is the emotional connection. This connection lens is critical in enabling the more intrusive interventions required for spatial and temporal connection. Residents must feel emotionally connected to the project before demolition or major changes to the face of the suburb can take place. At current, the remnants are more of a burden upon the suburb than a point of interest, which results in rubbish dumping, arson, and vandalism. The project hopes that, by forming a strong emotional connection, a feeling of excitement will develop which is attached to a deeply-engrained suburban grassland identity.

The emotional connection forms through educating residents about the grasslands, in particular teaching people to read grasslands and understand their value, despite their lack of conventional aesthetic beauty. Increased physical interactions with the grasslands will be key, as well as display plantings and structural elements that defamiliarise the grasslands to exaggerate their beauty. The pinnacle of emotional connection forming is fence removal day, the point at which humans will be given free access to the grassland remnants.

Timeline & Connection Strength (First Three Years) //

01 // Grassland open days

07 // Install seed disposal structures

02 // Defamiliarisation block parties

08 // Install planting benches & stony knoll

03 // Grassy suburb identity drive

09 // Community grasslands classes

04 // Grassland remnants extension

10 // Lawn mowing drive

05 // Signage installation

11 // Fence removal celebration

06 // Pathwork Plains ap creation

12 // Project improvements from ap

Patchwork Plains

Design Proposal - Emotional Connection //

Mapping the dynamic design interventions aimed at forming emotional connection. This connection comes through continuous, small-scale interactions - transfers of knowledge and feelings.

Grassland open days

Defamiliarisation block parties

Grassy suburb identity drive locations

Plant ID classes

Weeding classes

Maintenance techniques classes

Lawn mowing drive

Fence removal day celebration

04 // Connection (Small-Scale)

4.1 // Emotional Connection

4.2 // Temporal Connection

4.3 // Spatial Connection

4.4 // Key Location Designs

Meeting With Megan O’Shea (Friends of Iramoo) // Megan O’Shea is deeply connected to the grasslands of the Jones Creek Grassland Circuit. In particular, Iramoo Reserve - the crown jewel in the Circuit. Megan is a former teacher at the St Albans Victoria University campus and now helps to run the Friends of Iramoo community group.

Megan also illustrated the importance of the fencing. She is fully aware of how harsh it appears, and how it discourages human connection to the grasslands. However, it is definitely necessary. This is not Royal Park in inner-city Melbourne. Iramoo experiences regular rubbish dumping, dirt bike riding, vandalism and even arson.

Her knowledge was invaluable, particularly in terms of defining the idea of connection. Megan illustrated that there are many different types of connection; at a plant/seed dispersal level, a pollinator level, or a human level. Through this discussion the project’s three connection lenses were defined.

Therefore, it is critical to instill a deep sense of emotional connection to the grasslands before the fencing can be removed. The fence removal day should be a celebration of this process and comes at the peak of human interest in the project.

Seeds From The Streets // Megan helped to set up the Seeds From The Streets initiative which converted nature strips of voluntary participants into mono-culture plantings to produce seed. One nature strip was able to produce 1kg of seed inaa single year!

Vic Uni nursery // There is an existing nursery at Vic Uni with greenhouses full of germinating seeds collected from Iramoo. This facility will be important as the grasslands establish as a way of ensuring seed germination off site to replenish the planting.

Volcanic rock fire breaks // A volcanic rock fire break and drainage channel is present in Iramoo. This simple piece of landscape design performs many functions; walkway, seating, drainage, fire break, frost break, seed trap and it blends in with the ‘natural’ materials.

Iramoo fencing // The existing fencing of Iramoo is harsh. However, it is very much a necessary evil. We cannot assume that everybody knows about and cares for the grasslands, many people see them as fields for rubbish dumping, arson and dirt bike riding.

Patchwork Plains

(01) Grassland Open Days & (04) Grassland Remnants Extensions //

The existing lawn areas immediately outside the fencing of the remnants will be the first places planted to create a space for human-grassland interactions with exaggerated aesthetic qualities

Grassland open days - hosted by Megan O’Shea and other volunteers from Friends of Iramoo - provide a chance for people to get to know the grasslands whilst under expert supervision

Improved fencing is easy to install and creates an important ‘cue to care’ for the messy ecosystem - especially important as the vegetation on site is killed off to become grassland

04 // Connection (Small-Scale)

4.1 // Emotional Connection

4.2 // Temporal Connection

4.3 // Spatial Connection

4.4 // Key Location Designs

(02) Defamiliarisation Block Parties // Defamiliarisation block parties will run regularly in the year before seeds are sown and the year after. These block parties aim to shift perspectives of the grasslands and highlight the ecology’s many benefits beyond the environment and biodiversity. This will be achieved by taking the grasslands out of their current context to exaggerate their aesthetic qualities. Inspired by the installations of Linda Tegg, planting displays will be created with modular planting trays that can then be dismantled after each party and plants taken home by residents.

There will also be beer and food made from native grasses such as Walwhallea proluta. Iconic movies with grassland settings will run (e.g. Mad Max) and vending machines will dispense free grassland seed sachets. The overall aim is to create enthusiasm within the suburb whilst also reframing the grasslands and exaggerating their aesthetic and functional benefits.

Patchwork Plains

04 // Connection (Small-Scale)

4.1 // Emotional Connection

4.2 // Temporal Connection

4.3 // Spatial Connection

4.4 // Key Location Designs

(03) Grassy Suburb Identity Drive // There will be a heavy drive to create a conscious or subconscious feeling of grassland identity within St Albans and Cairnlea in the year leading up to the creation of the grassland meadows. This will involve murals, engravings, film and photo installations, renaming existing streets and updating the local area’s council colour scheme. This drive is necessary to begin to foster the suburb’s grassland identity before the existing vegetation is sprayed and the suburb becomes temporarily less aesthetically appealing.

Creating an Easter egg trail of public art like this will encourage people to traverse the site, increasing awareness of the location and condition of the various remnant patches. There may also be an influx of visitors from outside the suburb which will help boost the local economy.

Patchwork Plains

04 // Connection (Small-Scale)

4.1 // Emotional Connection

4.2 // Temporal Connection

4.3 // Spatial Connection

4.4 // Key Location Designs

(05) Signage // Signage will be key to explain to viewers what is happening with the various states of vegetation in the suburb. Especially important will be giving information about the role of chemical weed spraying. It seems harsh but the spraying is entirely necessary, and will need to be properly explained through signage.

Signage Locations //

Key entry points = signage

The signs will also introduce people to the Patchwork Plains ap, where they can leave feedback, watch instructional and educational videos, open a native grass plant ID ap and post their own photos from the corridor

Patchwork Plains

(06) Patchwork Plains Ap //

Instructional Videos //

Plant ID //

Videos will be available for people to watch the introduce the grasslands, give some history of the ecology and its current plight, and explain key maintenance techniques for potential home application or to use in the corridor.

A section of the ap will be dedicated to plant ID. You can take a photo of a plant as you walk through the corridor and the ap will give you its name, flowering season and potential uses. Weed ID will also be an important part of this feature.

Social Media // Feedback // Users will be able to post photos of plants and animals to tag their specific location. This will also be a good way of identifying plants, maintenance techniques or potential corridor threats. It will provide an important database of citizen science.

A core component of the ap will be a feedback forum. Here key issues with the corridor, such as accessibility issues, allergic reaction, predators or dangerous animals can be identified and rectified.

Patchwork Plains

04 // Connection (Small-Scale)

4.1 // Emotional Connection

4.2 // Temporal Connection

4.3 // Spatial Connection

4.4 // Key Location Designs

(07) Seed Disposal Structures // Seed disposal structures will be installed at focal points of pedestrian movement. These structures have multiple levels with trays of tube stock containers with clean fill soil. Given that people will be collecting flowers whilst walking within the corridor, these structures offer soil-filled tube stock for people to remove the seeds from their flowers to germinate a plant in - thus returning them to the grasslands. Users leave feeling satisfied with their contribution to the project, they pay more attention to the plants, and they are incentivised to return to the corridor to check on their seeds.

The form of the structures is sculptural and somewhat referential to lava - given the volcanic origins of the grasslands. They are made from ceramic material which can produce an organic form, whilst remaining rigid. This material feels earthen, as though it has sprouted from the grasslands. The ceramic will also be cool enough not to harm the seeds, especially given the intentionally large amount of open holes in the form. The top tier of the structure will be a display planting to visually attract users to investigate what the structure actually is.

Patchwork Plains

04 // Connection (Small-Scale)

4.1 // Emotional Connection

4.2 // Temporal Connection

4.3 // Spatial Connection

4.4 // Key Location Designs

(09) Community Grasslands Classes & (10) Lawn Mowing Drive // Emotional connection to the grasslands will be furthered through community-oriented classes. These classes will initially be run by professional volunteers, but will transition into community-led activities. They will focus on plant ID, seed propagation, maintenance techniques - especially burning - weed ID and grassland history tours. These classes will be especially useful in the first year after seeds are sown when hand weeding is critical to establish a high quality grassland. All of the information covered will be publicly available on the Patchwork Plains phone ap.

A further emotional connection driver will be a free lawn mowing service for houses immediately surrounding the corridor. This will generate goodwill with these residents, whilst also reducing the amount of weed seed heads that threaten to contaminate the corridor. A regularly mown lawn will produce far less air-born weed seeds.

Patchwork Plains

04 // Connection (Small-Scale)

4.1 // Emotional Connection

4.2 // Temporal Connection

4.3 // Spatial Connection

4.4 // Key Location Designs

(08) Grassland Literacy Benches // Benches, or continuous low-level planting displays, are installed to improve grassland ‘literacy’. These are aimed to create emotional connection to the grasslands by teaching residents how to ‘read’ grasslands. This means understanding grassland materials, differing health qualities, aesthetic qualities, some key species, weed species and other threats.

The ‘benches’ are metal skins encasing clean fill soil that run in a long form that is inspired by rock formations. This form was derived through testing by hammering an aluminium sheet around a collection of volcanic rocks. The resulting skin was also used as a mold to create a clay model of the infill, showing the volume of soil that will be encased by the metal skin.

Patchwork Plains

Photo: Suimei Pavilion (Kazuyo Sejima, Sejima & Associates, 2021)

Precedent: Suimei Pavilion // Sejima & Associates The Suimei Pavilion explores the way in which water and its resulting landscapes connect people and places through time. The low-level planting display is intended to be read as a temporal journey. The contrast between metal and the landscape elements defamiliarises the water plants and makes them feel as if they sit in a separate spatial realm to the rest of the park. This inspired the planting benches which are intended as a structure that prompts users to take a journey through the experiential elements of the grasslands.

Inside the metal skin is a sandy, low nutrient soil on top of a clean fill subsoil. Small planting arrangements will be installed into the bench, which is filled with clean fill soil. The arrangements create a journey through the varied states of the grasslands, aiming to improve peoples’ ability to ‘read’ grasslands

A metallic planting bench contrasts with the earthen materiality of the grasslands, making it feel more alien and like a scientific display

These planting benches will be installed alongside key existing footpaths as a way of defamiliarising the grasslands and attracting passing interest while the planting areas are under preparation

04 // Connection (Small-Scale)

4.1 // Emotional Connection

4.2 // Temporal Connection

(08) Stony Knoll Display // I tested creating stony knoll displays using the essential landscape materials required: grass & stone. I tried to create a display that transitioned from organised and somewhat formal - representing the existing city - into the disorganised, ‘messy’ stony knoll. The contrast between the two essential materials is clear in both colour and strength. It makes for an appealing display that would make an immediate impact to people disembarking the train at St Albans Station.

4.3 // Spatial Connection

4.4 // Key Location Designs

Patchwork Plains

04 // Connection (Small-Scale)

4.1 // Emotional Connection

4.2 // Temporal Connection

4.3 // Spatial Connection

4.4 // Key Location Designs

(08) Stony Knoll Display // The stony knoll display planting is installed at St Albans Station as a key feature to first greet people entering the grassland-friendly suburb of St Albans. On the wall behind it is an engraving of Kangaroo Grass created during the grassy suburb identity drive earlier in the year.

The display will require heavy maintenance given it is shaded and will require irrigation. However, it is worth maintaining it as an exaggerated form of the beauty of this key grassland landscape feature.

Patchwork Plains

08 // Stony knoll display installation

04 // Connection (Small-Scale)

4.1 // Emotional Connection

4.2 // Temporal Connection

4.3 // Spatial Connection

4.4 // Key Location Designs

(11) Fence Removal Day Celebration // The key symbol of a successfully strengthened feeling of emotional connection is the fence removal day celebration. At present, the fence is a necessary evil. It is harsh and unwelcoming but does effectively protect the grasslands. In particular, this protection is from human disturbance. A lack of care for the grasslands means people currently dump rubbish, start fires, ride dirt bikes and tip rocks in the remnants. This destruction warrants such an overbearing fence.

Fence removal day is a celebration of the fact that sufficient human interest in the grasslands has been generated that the fence can come down and people will be able to enter the grasslands. The haha’s have been constructed so that most predators will not be able to enter, but humans will be given free reign.

Patchwork Plains

11 // Fence removal day celebration

04 // Connection (Small-Scale)

4.1 // Emotional Connection

4.2 // Temporal Connection

4.3 // Spatial Connection

4.4 // Key Location Designs

Temporal Connection // Connecting the grasslands through time by embedding grassland genetic stock into the suburban environment.

Temporal connection is the connecting of grasslands through time by embedding their genetic stock into the suburban environment. This is achieved through seed production and the creation of ‘natural’ grasslands that serve as a memory of the ecology in terms of structure, aesthetics and other experiential elements. Essentially, this connection lens strives to grow and maintain true-to-type natural temperate grasslands, as well as produce a seedbank for future generations.

This is achieved through the creation of seed production zones where mono-cultures of grassland species can be planted to harvest annually. These species are changed every few years after voting by their surrounding human residents on which species to cultivate next. Planting ‘hot spots’ enclose these seed production zones to give them aesthetic variation. These ‘hot spots’ are focal points of varied grassland species growth created by a unique soil composition and varied aspect. These design interventions are underpinned by an extensively researched planting schedule.

Timeline & Connection Strength (First Three Years) //

01 // Seed sourcing

07 // Seed harvesting

02 // Spraying existing vegetation

08 // Additional planting & seed dispersal

03 // Scalp 150mm of topsoil

09 // Review seed species selection

04 // Importing new soils & leveling 05 // Sow grasslands (seeds, sand & jute mat) 06 // Edge planting & buffer planting

Patchwork Plains

Design Proposal - Temporal Connection //

Initial seed sourcing

New grassland meadows

Temporal connection design interventions focus on the changing of growing conditions - particularly soil - to create long-lasting grassland meadows.

Seed production zones & planting hot spots

Edge & buffer planting

Seed-producing species voting area

04 // Connection (Small-Scale)

4.1 // Emotional Connection

4.2 // Temporal Connection

4.3 // Spatial Connection

4.4 // Key Location Designs

Planting Schedule // Buillding an a planting schedule I produced for Studo Biome with Alistair Kirkpatrick in 2021, a heavily researched list of key species informed the temporal connection design decision.

Most of the temporal connection design interventions focus on altering the suburb’s growing conditions to embed the grasslands’ genetic stock into the suburban tissue.

Patchwork Plains

04 // Connection (Small-Scale)

4.1 // Emotional Connection

4.2 // Temporal Connection

4.3 // Spatial Connection

4.4 // Key Location Designs

Soil Testing // Three soil mixes - potting mix, sand-based & scoria-based - were set up to test grassland growth, weed growth and seed germination. It proved that both soil mixes one (potting mix) and two (sand) were successful. Soil mix one generated the most growth, but this also included a high weed presence. Soil mix two generated a high growth rate - including the highest number of flowers - whilst also producing less weeds. The seed germination rate was less successful for soil mix two than soil mix one. Soil mix three was by far the least successful in all ways.

This testing suggests that a combination of soil mixes one and two would be ideal. This was then confirmed by speaking with Katherine Horsfall of the Royal Park Direct Seeding Project. Her project uses a layer of existing site soil with sand mulch on top of the seeds. The use of both soil and sand generates the required growth rate while also preferencing native growth over weed growth.

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04 // Connection (Small-Scale)

4.1 // Emotional Connection

4.2 // Temporal Connection

4.3 // Spatial Connection

4.4 // Key Location Designs

Katherine Horsfall // Royal Park Direct Seeding Project Katherine Horsfall was kind enough to take me on a walk through of the Direct Seeding Project she is undertaking for her PhD research at Royal Park. It was incredibly insightful learning about her approach to seed-sowing grassland meadows into an incredibly urbanised and modified site. Her technique for meadow creation will become the backbone of Patchwork Plains. This essentially boils down to thorough site preparation with weed spraying followed by scalping (150mm topsoil). Then you can either import clean fill soil or go straight into the existing soil with the seed mix. 50mm sand mulch is laid onto the seeds to reduce the chance of weed seeds germinating. This is all held in place by jute mat, which also deters animals from digging. The three meadows planted for the Direct Seeding Project exhibit the three key stages of grassland establishment.

Meadow 3 // Weed Spraying The first key stage to meadow creation is spraying the existing vegetation. This looks drastic but is necessary to avoid the meadow being overrun by weeds in the future.

Meadow 2 // Jute mat Meadow 2 shows the grasslands after the seeds are beginning to sprout up through the sand mulch and appear amongst the jute mat. This would be about two months after sowing the seed.

Meadow 1 // Closed Canopy Grassland Meadow 1 is the oldest of the three & shows the grasslands after the first year of seed growth. This first year is a critical point in maintenance, where weeds must be maintained and irrigation is daily until the grassland canopy closes over. 90

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Sowing A Grassland Meadow //

04 // Connection (Small-Scale)

4.1 // Emotional Connection

4.2 // Temporal Connection

4.3 // Spatial Connection

4.4 // Key Location Designs

Planting Test Plot - Aireys Inlet // I was very fortunate to be given a plot of land to plant some native grassland species to gain first hand experience of the materials and processes involved in establishing a seedling-based small grassland.

This experience showed that nature strip planting would have logistical issues. Edge conditions and weed presence are the key problems to overcome - rock beds would address both issues.

April, 2022 // Clearing the site, planting & mulching.

September, 2022 // Rabbits have attacked plants and Kikuyu is encroaching from the edges. Clearer boundaries are needed.

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Adrian Marshall’s Edge Conditions // I was extremely fortunate to meet Adrian Marshall in person and he very generously gave me a copy of his report Start With The grasslands. He also ran me through some of the key principles to consider when designing for and with suburban grasslands. The two main points that Marshall hammers home in his report are the need for community involvement and the importance of edge conditions. The edge conditions make the grasslands palatable to humans - which triggers conservation interest - and also buffer the remnants from the key city threats of pollution and weeds. Marshall’s design guide for the ideal edge conditions are detailed below. They have been implemented as much as possible throughout the corridor design. Marshall, A. 2013, Start With the Grasslands: Design Guidelines to Support Native Grasslands in Urban Areas.

Planting Layers // Remnant grassland // The surveyed extent of the existing native grassland remnant.

Buffer planting // Buffer planting edges the remnant. It is grassy in appearance, usually a tussockforming grass such as Lomandra or Spear grass. This buffer absorbs runoff and blocks weed seeds.

Mown strip & fence // A strip between the fence and buffer planting is regularly mown. This allows vehicle access and keeps weeds that may grow here from producing seeds. The fencing is crucial in framing the grassland. It should be considered in terms of height and material.

Edge planting // Edge planting is the outermost layer. It is used to attract viewers and exaggerate the aesthetic appeal of the grassland. It could be a flowering forb such as Chocolate Lillies, Lemon Beauty-Heads or a type of Everlasting.

Human-grassland interaction

Use buffer planting

Design checklist

Use seeds to plant

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4.1 // Emotional Connection

4.2 // Temporal Connection

4.3 // Spatial Connection

4.4 // Key Location Designs

Seed Production Zone & Planting Hot Spot - Deriving a Form // To create the seed production zones and the soil-generated planting hot spots that embed the grasslands genetic stock into the suburban framework a form must be derived. The ideal form is one that offers lots of variation for the soil-generated planting hot spot, as this will lead to variation in plant species and produce a striking grassland display. However, it is also important to maintain a protected area of fairly consistent conditions for the seed producing mono-culture planting within.

02 Selected form 03 94

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The first of two tests looked at sunlight. Six forms were created and tested to show lighting across the span of a day. All forms were successful in creating a variation of lighting aspects, however option 03 maintained the strongest directly north-facing area. This northfacing aspect will be important for the species that like the harshest conditions such as Ptilotus macrocephalus.

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Melbourne Sun Path //

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4.2 // Temporal Connection

4.3 // Spatial Connection

4.4 // Key Location Designs

Seed Production Zone & Planting Hot Spot - Deriving a Form // The second test to derive a form for the planting hot spots & seed production zones looked at wind. This is important as it gives a sense of how exposed to air-borne weed seeds each potential form is. Each form had sediment blown across it following the predominant summer wind direction, which is when most seeds are blowing around.

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The most successful form here again appeared to be form 03. This is because it maintains the purest inner seed production zone. Even once the sediment enters this zone it doesn’t not get any further, meaning the movement of woulds would be staggered and maintained to specific areas - making it easier to eradicate.

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Melbourne Predominant Wind // Summer 3PM

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4.1 // Emotional Connection

4.2 // Temporal Connection

4.3 // Spatial Connection

4.4 // Key Location Designs

Seed Production Zones & Soil-Generated Planting Hot Spots // The seed production zones are enclosed by a unique form of varied soil and aspect to create idiosyncratic growing conditions which lead to a focal point of beautiful, diverse grassland growth. The clay-based soils are generally north-facing as they retain the most moisture, and so will need direct sun to ensure they do not sit wet. The higher porosity soils are generally south-facing to ensure they do not get too hot and dry in peak summer.

These planting hot spots are enclosed by crushed rock that offers footpaths, although the entire grassland area should be free to walk on. Bluestone pieces also stick out of the northern ridge of the contour banks as a weed buffer and to provide thermal mass to further increase the variation in growing conditions. The increase permeable surfaces means there is less runoff, although the ha-ha trenches will attract a lot of water and sediment.

Bluestone-stony soil

High fertility clay

Heavy red-brown clay loam

Crushed rock

Volcanic rock

Generic grassland meadow

Sandy soil - high porosity (AFP 30-40%)

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Soil Planting Schedule //

04 // Connection (Small-Scale)

4.1 // Emotional Connection

4.2 // Temporal Connection

4.3 // Spatial Connection

Seed Production Zones & Soil-Generated Planting Hot Spot Sections // Existing Conditions //

Initial // The contour manipulations have been formed with varied soils to encourage diversity in planting. The permeable materials absorb rain to reduce runoff and thermal mass.

After One Year // The first year is critical as the grassland canopy closes over, requiring hand weeding & daily irrigation.

After Three Years // Inter-tussock spaces are beginning to open up after burning. The site’s thermal mass is greatly reduced and runoff is less toxic due to new permeable materials.

After 20 Years // The urban heat island of the site has reduced. Plants are established and maintenance is reduced now that grassland seeds have become soil-stored. Burning & slashing are still key.

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Existing Conditions // The existing impervious surfaces create toxic runoff and generate thermal mass, which causes urban heat island effect and stifles plant growth.

4.4 // Key Location Designs

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Flowering Calendar // In section the establishment of seed production zones and soilgenerated planting hot spots is clearer. The soils mix and erode slowly over time. The seeds spread across the site despite the carefully considered form of the contour banks. Seeds will also build up in the ha-ha’s and create a novel plant community that is used to much higher moisture and more sheltered conditions.

The flowering calendar below gives an overall impression of how the planting hot spots may change across the course of the year. Clearly, almost all species flower in spring or summer. There are also many more shades of yellow than any other colour. For this reason, winter flowering species and species with variation in flower colour will be given a higher percentage in the seed mix used to replenish these planting hot spots.

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4.1 // Emotional Connection

4.2 // Temporal Connection

4.3 // Spatial Connection

4.4 // Key Location Designs

Seed Dispersal Methods // The seeds will be dispersed across the grassland meadows in different methods based on the species. In the first year a mulch mix with grass species seed that are hard to purify will be brought to site. This cannot happen often as the soil will be too nutrient enriched. Predominantly, the species will arrive in a seed mix that is sprinkled underneath the sand mulch initially and then lightly pressed into the soil when replenishing the meadows thereafter. This seed mix is derived based on James Hitchmough’s meadow planting principles. The goal is to achieve diversity of colour, structure, annual aesthetics and biodiversity.

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Some species will be directly hand sown to ensure they have ideal germination conditions. This is for species that are rare and require specific spacing when planting.

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James Hitchmough - Sheffield School Meadow Planting // The main seed mix for the project’s new planting areas is derived based on James Hitchmough’s extensive explorations into meadow planting from seed. Hitchmough talks of four main considerations when creating a seed mix; structural variety, flowering colour variety, flowering season variety and biodiversity value.

The project’s seed mix has used these principles to determine a mix that has higher concentration of some species (e.g. winter flowering species) and lower concentration of some others. I’ve also given preference to species that can be used as a food source or provide other non-aesthetic benefits.

Structural variation // Grasslands will aesthetically benefit from varied structures of plant. This can be leaf shape, plant height, bushiness or many other physical considerations.

Flower colour variation // Variation in colours creates an immediate impression of health and visual intrigue. Many grassland species have yellow flowers, so preference nonyellow ones.

Flower season variation // It is important to consider when species will be flowering to ensure there is something flowering all year round. Winter flowering species are rare and should be revered.

Photo: QE Olympic Park today (James Hitchmough, Twitter 2017)

Olympic Park // VHitchmough’s Olympic Park meadows showcase his seed selection method. The result is an incredibly diverse and attractive meadow. There is variation in colour, structures and clearly a huge diversity of species.

Biodiversity value // Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the seed selection should consider biodiversity value. Consider what plants will contribute to the existing plant communities or larger ecology.

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4.1 // Emotional Connection

4.2 // Temporal Connection

4.3 // Spatial Connection

4.4 // Key Location Designs

Spatial Connection // Physically connecting the grasslands through the conversion of existing anthropocentric suburban space to grassland-dominated space. Spatial connection is the physical transformation of anthropocentric suburban space to be replaced by grassland-integrated space. This means demolishing or partially demolishing streets, elevating Main Rd W, excavating parts of the site, installing retaining walls to extend planting areas, installing physical bridges over the Sunbury Line and installing street breakdown infrastructure.

Spatial elements also involve the logistical side of converting human areas into grassland-focused space. This means installing drainage, weed buffer areas, fire breaks, frost breaks and planting allelopathic planting. The spatial connection is the most intrusive and visually evident of the connection forms. It needs to be embedded into a receptive suburban with an existing emotional connection to the project and the ecology.

Timeline & Connection Strength (First Three Years) //

01 // Elevate Main Rd W

08 // 07 // Install bridges over Sunbury Line

02 // Existing streets demolition

09 // Install all walkways

03 // Install street breakdown infrastructure

10 // Plant surrounding nature strips

04 // Install retaining walls & rock ladders

11 // Plant allelopathic planting

05 // Install drainage & fire breaks

12 // Redirect Jones Creek to flood ha-ha’s

06 // Excavation works & leveling

13 // Review project impact

07 // Import crushed rock 104

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Design Proposal - Spatial Connection //

The spatial connection elements are focused mostly in street scapes, where the publicly accessible anthropocentric world is being distrupted to accommodate the grasslands.

Complete street demolition

Partial street demolition

Street breakdown infrastructure

Allelopathic planting

Retaining wall & rock ladder

Volcanic rock drainage & fire break

Sunbury Line bridges

Redirect Jones Creek

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04 // Connection (Small-Scale)

4.1 // Emotional Connection

4.2 // Temporal Connection

4.3 // Spatial Connection

4.4 // Key Location Designs

Key Location Designs - Spatial Connection // Spatial connection in best shown through detailed small-scale design proposals for four key locations within the Jones Creek Grassland Circtuit corridor. These locations show a range of interventions aimed at converting anthropocentric space to grassland-friendly or grassland-focused space. Where spatial elements cannot be physically converted to grassland, such as the Sunbury Line train void, they are overcome through bridging.

These four key locations are selected as they cover the key typologies and major landmarks of the suburb, such as; St Albans station, the Sunbury line, Iramoo reserve, the power line void, major roads, Jones Creek nature reserve and residential areas.

Key Location Selection // Key Location 1 // Sunbury Line

Key Location 2 // St Albans Station

The Sunbury Line void in the north of the site is selected as a key location because it is critical to look at how corridors can work with railway infrastructure. Railway lines and the resulting voids are a key potential linear corridor typology for the larger network. This site also acts as the northern most point of this key connection and holds significance as a potential end point for a comfortable walking distance from St Albans Station.

The train station is a critical site in the context of the corridor as it is the social focal point. The station gives access to the shopping area and sits in the middle of the corridor network at the mid-scale. This site should be treated as a flagship for the suburb, it gives the first impression of the area to people commuting here. It is important to showcase a design that integrates grasslands and key human infrastructure such as this train station.

Key Location 3 // Howardson Cct

Key Location 4 // Iramoo Corner

Howardson Circuit offers a unique experience where residential housing directly faces an accessible grassland remnant. This remnant can become a powerful immersive walkway that the surrounding residents are proud to care for. It was also important to choose a site that could connect to Victoria University as this is an important location within the social context of the suburb.

The fourth key location is the corner of Playhouse Av, Jones Creek Reserve and Iramoo Reserve. This corner shows a critical intersection of three key suburb typologies; residential housing, existing grasslands and existing non-grassland ecologies. Integrating these three spheres of influence will illustrate how to give design responses to many potential locations within the larger corridor network. It was also critical to choose a location around Iramoo as this remnant is the ecological node from which the corridor spans.

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Key Locations Map //

Current native grasslands

Allelopathic planting

New grassland planting

Railway & station

Existing trees

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04 // Connection (Small-Scale)

4.1 // Emotional Connection

4.2 // Temporal Connection

4.3 // Spatial Connection

4.4 // Key Location Designs

Key Location 1 // Sunbury Line The Sunbury Line void is bridged by a thin scoria-based steelsupported bridging element. The train line must be lowered further to allow this but it is critical as a way of connecting the two existing remnants that currently run parallel to the train tracks. W Esplanade is entirely demolished to make way for a continuous grassland corridor. The drainage and contour banks are critical for maintaining the health of the corridor and buffer both runoff and weed seeds.

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The location of seed production zones with surrounding planting hot spots directs movement up the corridor and the ha-ha’s allow a continuous line of sight across the train tracks. A suspended steel walkway allows passage over the remnants without being overly obtrusive to both human users or the grasses.

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04 // Connection (Small-Scale)

4.1 // Emotional Connection

4.2 // Temporal Connection

4.3 // Spatial Connection

4.4 // Key Location Designs

Key Location 1 // Sunbury Line In section the various paths of movement are clearer and the human integration is evident. The suspended steel walkway gives a unique vantage point, allows passage over the remnants and is designed to allow as much light as possible onto the grasslands below. An immersive walkway places users at eye level with the grasslands to create a feeling of living at the scale of an insect. This imparts a sense of shelter and illustrates the importance of the ecology as a home for many species of animal.

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Adrian Marshall’s planting layers are used and a mown strip is maintained around the remnants to ensure their purity. It is important to maintain weeding in the ha-ha’s to avoid the spread of weed species that get trapped here.

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4.1 // Emotional Connection

4.2 // Temporal Connection

4.3 // Spatial Connection

4.4 // Key Location Designs

Key Location 2 // St Albans Station The station design shows how the grasslands integrate with important human infrastructure. W Esplanade has been converted into a continuous linear grassland corridor, which requires Main Rd W to be elevated to over the top of it. The shaded space created by Main Rd W being elevated will not allow grasslands to grow, so a sculptural walk is built here with enlarged grass species sculptures to emphasise the miniature structure of this ecology.

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Seed disposal structures are placed around the station for people to begin propagating seed heads they may collect while walking. The soil-generated planting hot spots run along the corridor, creating focal points that are interspersed with seating options and the occasional allelopathic Eucalypt for shade. The stony knoll display at the station entrance requires regular maintenance to exaggerate the aesthetic qualities of the grasslands you are about to enter.

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4.1 // Emotional Connection

4.2 // Temporal Connection

4.3 // Spatial Connection

4.4 // Key Location Designs

Key Location 2 // St Albans Station The meeting of human infrastructure and grassland corridor is clear in section. The existing paving around the station is fragmented and shards are lifted and propped into place to create a visual and physical barrier between the station and the grasslands. This also visually highlights the attempt to reverse the anthropocentric dominance of the ecology. The lifted fragments form seating options and some are removed to create areas for planting.

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The grassland meadows are intended to be fully functional and walked upon, no matter what stage of life cycle they are in. Large volcanic rock boulders are used along the edges of the grasslands in places where vehicles must be stopped from entering the corridor.

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4.1 // Emotional Connection

4.2 // Temporal Connection

4.3 // Spatial Connection

4.4 // Key Location Designs

Key Location 3 // Howardson Cct Howardson Circuit is converted into a one-way street made from crushed rock. A sunken walkway acts as a form of grassland immersion as well as doubling as a fire break and fencing for the remnant. The placement of volcanic rock trenches for drainage and to trap weeds is crucial - this should edge all planting areas. These rock trenches also control the movement of predators and fire.

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The project does not want to direct movement, instead using the placement of volcanic rock fire breaks as a way of gently guiding paths. The hope is that, as illustrated by Richard Long’s A Line Made By Walking, the persistent impact of humans on nature will create goat trails that vary in permanence but give a feeling of comradery in following those that have walked before you.

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4.1 // Emotional Connection

4.2 // Temporal Connection

4.3 // Spatial Connection

4.4 // Key Location Designs

Key Location 3 // Howardson Cct The immersive walkway is evident in section. By placing viewers at eye level, they can hopefully assume the perspective of an insect. The experience of grasslands at this level is completely different to the usual human stance and so much more rewarding. This sunken walkway also has the advantage of trapping air-born seeds to buffer the remnant.

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The volcanic rock bed has a strengthened agi pipe at the bottom to ensure proper drainage of the site. Spot spraying must take place along these edges where the corridor meets other ecologies. It is hoped that in the future residents will be excited by the idea of harvesting seeds from the corridor to propagate at home and plant into their own gardens.

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04 // Connection (Small-Scale)

4.1 // Emotional Connection

4.2 // Temporal Connection

4.3 // Spatial Connection

4.4 // Key Location Designs

Key Location 4 // Iramoo Corner The key location shows the breaking down of a residential corner next to the Iramoo Grassland Reserve. The separation of residents and Iramoo is stark - as evidenced by the fencing that keeps out predators and vandals. Shown here is the breaking down of the street so that it is more visually engaging, whilst still acting as a physical barrier. Jones Creek has been redirected to flood the ha-ha which has replaced the wire fencing. All concrete walkways will be replaced with crushed rock.

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Allelopathic planting will slow weed species to protect the new planting area which is seed-sown into a 150mm clean fill layer. A grassland literacy bench runs along the key pedestrian path of movement to provide a journey through the site and try to impart knowledge of ‘reading’ grasslands. Jones Creek’s existing ecology must be protected during construction and it will be separated from the grassland corridor by a series of retaining walls with rock ladders that allow the movement of animals.

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04 // Connection (Small-Scale)

4.1 // Emotional Connection

4.2 // Temporal Connection

4.3 // Spatial Connection

4.4 // Key Location Designs

Key Location 4 // Iramoo Corner Four ideas for breaking down the streets adjacent to Iramoo were conceptualised. The goal of the street breakdown is to encourage community connection to the reserve and generate excitement for living within touching distance of this precious grassland.

The final proposal shows chutes inspired by lava columns - such as those at nearby Organ Pipes National Park - a reference to the volcanic origins of the Volcanic Plain Grasslands. Each chute is a ceramic skin with clean fill soil inside to create planting displays. The pedestals act to showcase the grassland species while also highlighting their isolation and fragmentation. Jones Creek floods the ha-ha to act as a barrier for cats and other predators.

Street Breakdown Concept 1

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Street Breakdown Concept 2

Street Breakdown Concept 3

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00 // Chapter

0.1 // Part name

0.2 // Part name

05 // Longevity Exploring how Patchwork Plains will be maintained and how it may exist in the future.

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Contents // 05

Longevity 5.1 5.2

124 Maintenance Project Vision

126 130

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05 // Longevity

5.1 // Maintenance

5.2 // Project Vision

5.3 // References

Maintenance // A budget for the maintenance regime was derived from Brimbank LGA’s annual budget statement. It shows how little work there is available to maintain these corridors. This is especially tough given the worsening environment and inflating cost of maintenance resources. Thus, it is critical to set up a healthy grassland to minimise ongoing maintenance costs.

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It is hoped that a large majority of maintenance will transition into community-led work. More dangerous techniques such as chemical weed spraying will always be DEWLP work, however burning should become a common knowledge practice in time.

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05 // Longevity

5.1 // Maintenance

5.2 // Project Vision

5.3 // References

Community Control // Moving forwards, project maintenance is intended to become mostly community led. By teaching key maintenance techniques and forming a powerful emotional connection it is hoped that people will care for the corridor in the same way they care for their own nature strips and gardens. Hand weeding, pushing seeds into the ground and starting the occasional controlled fire will be a part of everyday suburban life in St Albans.

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Patchwork Plains hopes that grassland corridors will form that integrate the ecology holistically into our modern suburban framework, thus increasing the attachment between the city and its site.

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Reflection // Patchwork Plains could, perhaps, have been more innovative and technologically experimental in its approach. However, I think the project is successful from both a personal and landscape architectural stance. The project acknowledges the social and biological adversities of trying to reintroduce fragile ecologies into changed suburban contexts. Growing conditions in cities are no longer amenable to the native ecologies that once occupied these sites. For this reason, a process of social, spatial and temporal integration is required for grasslands to be able to reoccupy a site like St Albans.

The project is well-researched and I have been extremely fortunate in the amount of professional guidance I have received from experts in the field. I would like to say a huge thank you to Adrian Marshall, John Delpratt, Katherine Horsfall, Reg Abrahams, Megan Frazer, Megan O’Shea & Linda Tegg for their contributions. However, there is definitely scope to carry this work a lot further. I think the spatial elements particularly require further refinement and greater recognition of constructible logistics. The way humans might use the corridors differently in the future is a question I could spend more time answering. Overall, I am happy with the project as a body of work that both contributes to the landscape architecture field and has greatly developed my own personal interests.

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05 // Longevity

Project Vision //

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5.1 // Maintenance

5.2 // Project Vision

5.3 // References

A visual explanation of the overall envisaged course of the project. From preparation to settled grassland suburb.

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05 // Longevity

5.1 // Maintenance

5.2 // Project Vision

5.3 // References

References //

Acknowledgments // I would like to thank Maia, Emily, Adam, my classmates, Adrian Marshall, John Delpratt, Katherine Horsfall, Megan O’Shea, Reg Abrahams, Megan Frazer and my housemates, all of whom made this work possible.

People // Dr Adrian Marshall, Grassy Plains Network. John Delpratt, The University of Melbourne. Katherine Horsfall, The University of Melbourne Megan O’Shea, Friends of Iramoo. Reg Abrahams, Wurdi Youang. Megan Frazer, Wathaurong Co-Op.

Text// Cook, M. 2022, Weeds of Melbourne, viewed 20th March 2022, <https://weedsofmelbourne.org/> Debord, G. 1998, These on the Situationist International and its Time, Not Bored, New York. Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities 2011, Nationally Threatened Ecological Communities of the Victorian Volcanic Plain: Natural Temperate Grassland & Grassy Eucalypt Woodland, Commonwealth of Australia, ACT. Gammage, B. 2011, The Biggest Estate on Earth, How Aborigines Made Australia, Allen & Unwin, Crows Nest, NSW. Hitchmough, J. 2008, ‘New Approaches to Ecologically Based, Designed Urban Plant Communities in Britain: Do These Have Any Relevance in the United States?’, Cities and the Environment, vol. 1, no. 2, pp. 1-15. Marshall, A., cited Kinsella, E 2022, ‘This land in Melbourne is worth $11 million. To some, the grassland that was on it was priceless’, ABC News, 11 August. Marshall, A., Morgan, J. W., Williams, N. S. G. 2015, Land Of Sweeping Plains: Managing And Restoring The Native Grasslands Of South-Eastern Australia, CSIRO, Clayton South, Australia. Marshall, A. 2020, ‘Renaturing The Nature Strip: Spatial, Environmental And Social Drivers Of Road Verge Extent, Composition And Resident Gardening Behaviour’, Thesis (Ph.D.), University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia. Marshall, A. 2013, Start With the Grasslands: Design Guidelines to Support Native Grasslands in Urban Areas, Victorian National Parks Association, Melbourne. Nassauer, J. 1995, ‘Messy Ecosystems, Orderly Frames’, Landscape Journal, vol. 14, no. 2, pp. 161-170. Plantlife 2022, No Mow May, viewed 15th March 2022, <https://www.plantlife.org.uk/uk/discover-wild-plants-nature/no-mow-may> Soanes, K., Sievers, M., En Chee, Y., Williams, N. S. G., Bhardwaj, M., Marshall, A., Parris, K. M. 2018, ‘Correcting Common Misconceptions To Inspire Conservation Action In Urban Environments’, Conservation Biology, vol. 0, no. 0, pp. 1-7. Tegg, L. 2022, Grasslands, viewed 15th March 2022, <http://www.lindategg.com/text_grasslands.html>. Weller, R. 2019, ‘We Are Designing the Earth, Whether You Like It or Not’, The Dirt Contributor, viewed 10th March 2022, <https://dirt.asla. org/2019/09/03/we-are-designing-the-earth-whether-you-like-it-or-not/>

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Images // A Sub-Tropical Rainforest Conservatory, photograph, The Nomadic Explorers, viewed 13th March 2022, <http://thenomadicexplorers.com/content/spring-walk-st-kilda-botanical-gardens> Abbotsford Riverbankers, photograph, Abbotsford Riverbankers, viewed 10th March 2022, <https://www.facebook.com/AbbotsfordRiverbankers/photos /a.474001000023414/665417500881762> Accoya 2018, 12 Interesting Facts About Moses Bridge, Accoya, viewed 7th June 2022 <https://www.accoya.com/au/guest-blog-by-road-architects/> Akas Landscape Architecture, Akas Logo, Akas Landscape Architecture, viewed 10th March 2022, <https://twitter.com/akas_landscape/photo> Alistair Kirkpatrick, photograph, Akas Landscape Architecture, viewed 10th March 2022, <https://www.akas.com.au/our-team> Atelier Descombes Rampini & Group Superpositions 2018, Renaturation of the River Aire, Geneva, Landezine, viewed 10th March 2022, <https://landezine-award.com/renaturation-of-the-river-aire-geneva/> Bush Projects, Bush Projects Cover Page, Bush Projects, viewed 1st June 2022, <https://www.bushprojects.com.au/> cafuego 2017, Royal Park Daily, flickr, viewed 18th March 2022, <https://concreteplayground.com/melbourne/things-to-do/morning-boost-at-the-royal-park> dalbera, Garden at the Querini Stampalia, flickr, viewed 10th March 2022, <https://www.archdaily.com/638534/spotlight-carlo-scarpa/556dbcd6e58eceec91000170-spotlight-carlo-scarpa-photo> David, T. 2022, Royal Park, The Last Summer, viewed 13th March 2022, <https://www.thelastsummer.org/royal-park-david-tatnall-photo.php?gallery=colour&p=1&id=1> Echberg, D. 2018, Wootten Road Reserve Sits On Melbourne’s Western Fringe; However, It Will Soon Be Surrounded By New Suburbs, Landscape Australia, viewed 8th June 2022, <https:// landscapeaustralia.com/articles/wootten-road-reserve/> Fenton, L., A Diverse Native Grassland Community Comprising Native Tussock Grasses, Orchids And Daisies, Woorndoo Land Protection Group, viewed 6th June 2022, <https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/images/stories/committees/SCEP/Ecosystem_Decline/submissions/S910_-_Woorndoo_Land_Protection_Group_Redacted.pdf> Google Maps 2022, Street View Screenshots, Google, viewed 2nd April 2022, <https://www.google.com/maps> Fernery Pleasure Garden Tour, photograph, Rippon Lea Estate, viewed 13th March 2022, <https://www.ripponleaestate.com.au/event/tour-of-the-fernery-and-victorian-pleasure-garden/> Francisco Jesus Ibanez 2008, Patio de los Naranjos, Wikimedia, viewed 10th March 2022, <https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Patio_de_los_Naranjos_Sevilla.jpg> James Hitchmough, University of Oxford Botanic Garden Border, Gardenista, viewed 10th March 2022, <https://www.gardenista.com/posts/ask-expert-plant-meadow-garden-jameshitchmough/> Javier Senosiain 2007, Nautilus House, Amazing Architecture, viewed 10th March 2022, <https://amazingarchitecture.com/organic-house/nautilus-house-in-naucalpan-mexico-by-javier-senosiain> John Naka, Goshin, The Huntington, viewed 10th March 2022, <https://www.huntington.org/verso/2019/03/guardians-spirit> Julian van Mossel-Forrester 2008, Water channels at Alhambra, flickr, viewed 10th March 2022, <https://www.flickr.com/photos/julianvmf/3195581304> Linda Tegg 2016, Grassland at the State Library of Victoria, Landscape Australia, viewed 10th March 2022, <https://landscapeaustralia.com/articles/gone-to-seed-grasslands-at-the-statelibrary-of-victoria/> Linda Tegg & Baracco+Wright Architects 2018, Repair, ArchDaily, viewed 10th March 2022, <https://www.archdaily.com/895631/repair-australian-pavilion-at-the-venice-biennale-2018> Markit Gardens, Markit Gardens Logo, Markit Gardens, viewed 13th March 2022, <https://www.facebook.com/markitgardens/> Michael van Valkenburgh Associates 2003, Tahari Courtyards, Landezine, viewed 10th March 2022 <https://landezine.com/tahari-courtyards-by-michael-van-valkenburgh-associates/> Michael van Valkenburgh Associates 2011, Hypar-Nature Competition Entry, Harvard Magazine, viewed 10th March 2022 <https://www.harvardmagazine.com/2011/05/throughways-for-wildlife> Monash University, Monash Art Design & Architecture, Monash University, viewed 13th March 2022, <https://www.monash.edu/mada/galleries/mada-gallery/exhibitions/older/older/1999/ evidence> Naomi, Birrarung Marr Meadow Planting, photograph, Twitter, viewed 13th March 2022, <https://twitter.com/barunnj/status/965793802022629382> Nick Williams, Steve Livesley, John Delpratt & City of Melbourne 2020, Royal Park Direct Seeding Project, University of Melbourne, viewed 13th March 2022, <https://girg.science.unimelb. edu.au/2020/07/10/royal-park-direct-seeding-project/> Nigel Dunnett 2012, Olympic Meadows, Nigel Dunnett, viewed 10th March 2022, <https://www.nigeldunnett.com/olympic-meadows/> Ocean Road Landscaping 2014, Sunnymeade, Ocean Road Landscaping, viewed 10th March 2022, <https://www.houzz.com/photos/sunnymeade-beach-style-landscape-geelong-phvwvp~115162930> Otways Indigenous Nursery, photograph, Aireys Inlet, viewed 13th March 2022, <https://www.aireysinlet.org.au/otways-indigenous-nursery/> Patrice78500 2015, Laval Columns, Wired, viewed 9th June 2022, <https://www.wired.com/2015/02/volcanoes-create-towering-columns-rock/> PhD Candidate Katherine Horsfall At Her Grassland Research Plots In Royal Park, 2020, University of Melbourne, viewed 8th June 2022, <https://girg.science.unimelb.edu.au/2020/07/10/ phd-news/> Planting Nature Strips, photograph, The Heart Gardening Project, viewed 10th March 2022, <https://www.theheartgardeningproject.org.au/> Professor James Hitchmough, photograph, Australian Landscape Conference, viewed 10th March 2022, <https://www.gardenista.com/posts/ask-expert-plant-meadow-garden-jameshitchmough/> Professor Nigel Dunnett, photograph, The University of Sheffield, viewed 10th March 2022, <https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/landscape/people/academic/nigel-dunnett> Rijkswaterstaat 2011, Zandmotor, De Zandmotor, viewed 10th March 2022, <https://dezandmotor.nl/en/> Robin Boyd 1969, Featherston House, Architecture Australia, viewed 10th March 2022, <https://architectureau.com/articles/four-robin-boyd-houses-revisited/> University of Melbourne, University of Melbourne, University of Melbourne, viewed 13th March 2022, <https://www.unimelb.edu.au/> Veg-Out Community Gardens, photograph, VegOut, viewed 10th March 2022, <https://vegout.org.au/> Victorian Volcanic Plains Biodiversity Banner, photograph, Corangamite Catchment Management Authority, viewed 18th March 2022, <https://ccma.vic.gov.au/project/victorian-volcanic-plains/> Victorian Volcanic Plains Conservation Management News 2019, Kangaroo Grass, Victorian Volcanic Plains CMN, viewed 2nd April 2022, <https://victorianvolcanicplainscmn.wordpress. com/2019/04/27/a-world-view-of-grasslands/>

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Patchwork Plains | Final Design Research Project (MLA, RMIT)