ABPL90131: Strategic Plan Making Assessment 4: Strategic Plan Hoddle Grid: Child-Friendly & All Ages Active City
Contents
Part One: Introduction Executive Summary
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Hoddle Grid Context
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Vision & Goal
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Community Engagement
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Part Two: The Framework Activities Use and Mobility
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Accessibility and Transport
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Part Three: Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation
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The Hoddle Grid: Active Spaces for Children and Family-Friendly City Executive Summary
Fig. Melbourne Yarra River Source: Kellehelers Australia
As one of the Most Livable Cities in the world, Melbourne keeps seeking for the betterment of its quality. Followed up with Council Plan 2021-25 which consists of strategic direction and commitment by City of Melbourne for the next four years, it is also expected by 2041 the number of people living in the City of Melbourne will double, along with children and older people. Children and older people will no longer just live in the suburbs. Randolph (2006) points to newer developments in Australia, for instance, as too often ‘child blind’, built primarily for car-owning adults and unfortunately, both of these communities are very prone to disadvantages, especially in the CBD area which mostly caters to young people and adults aged 18-49, at an age where independent mobility is no longer an issue. Based on the Council Plan’s strategic objectives, this plan is a response to build an inclusive city for all ages through Melbourne’s unique identity and place specifically in Melbourne’s famous CBD area, the Hoddle Grid, creating journey or experience for children, walking to and from home. Places for children and families to become a destination, where the journey of growing up in the city has become a part of their life. In an age-friendly city, the natural and built environment should anticipate people of varying abilities rather than planning for the “average” person. By looking after children’s needs, we will be able to solve other urban issues, leading in better cities for everyone. The Hoddle Grid: Active Spaces for Children and Family-Friendly City
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Hoddle Grid Context History The Hoddle Grid, now known as Melbourne’s Central Business District was placed on the land of the Boonwurrung and Woiwurrung people near the Yarra River during its pre-colonial times. Fig. Melbourne Hoddle Grid First Plan Source: Melbourne 1880, Samuel Calvert
Melbourne Central Business District
Fig. Melbourne Central Bussiness District Existing High-Rise Building Source: Google Earth 2023
As decades went through, central Melbourne has gone through different types of grids. From city block plan to 19th century subdivision, to now 20th century consolidation of land. It goes along with the change of different functionality as well, ones intended to be a residential block – serving two or three houses – now is pressured to serve diverse types of mixed-use functionality from commercial, business to residential. With these shifting functions, in 1987, Melbourne was called ‘an empty useless city centre’ in which the Postcode 3000 project emerge.
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Fig. (From left to right) 1836 City Block Plan, 19th Century Subdivision. 20th Century Consolidation of Land Source: City of Melbourne
The Postcode 3000 project’s goal is to create a new residential population. In 1985, there were around 650 central city apartments. Since the 1990s, through Postcode 3000 project successfully become a destination where people live, work, shop, and play. With such diversified functions generating a complex blend of a city. Since then, in 2023, housing in the Hoddle Grid is mainly occupied by high rise, with nearly 9 in 10 occupied private dwellings (89%) consisting of flats or apartments. 84% of dwellings in Hoddle Grid contain two or fewer bedrooms with only 7% containing 3 or more bedrooms.
Fig. (Left to right) 2012 Melbourne’s CBD Food and Beverage Establishment, 2012 Melbourne’s CBD Retail Establishment Source: City of Melbourne
As a result of densifying the Hoddle Grid, it is now predominantly filled with high-rise buildings. In 1985, there are more than 40.000 apartments. Some of the low-rise buildings are preserved as it holds heritage value. Being at the heart of Greater Melbourne, the Hoddle Grid has many advantages in different aspects. One of them is efficient accessibility – direct connection with public transport which affected the way the streets and roads are behaving. Shared spaces between different vehicles and pedestrians become one of Hoddle Grid’s greatest strengths.
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Background
As the city continuously grows, there is increasing demand for social infrastructure as well. The current population of the Hoddle Grid is young, educated, and international residents aged 1849 years old which takes on 87% of all residents. With not much social infrastructure for children to grow up or older people to settle, the Hoddle Grid has a lower children population percentage as well as persons aged 60 or older compared to Greater Melbourne.
2.0 x All Residents
Fig. Federation Square Source: City of Melbourne
Fig. Yarra River Source: yarrariver.melbourne
Fig. State Library Victoria Source: whatson.melbourne.vic.gov.au
Fig. Hoddle Grid Population Statistic Ratio Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics (2011, 2012)
4.0 x Young Children
3.7 x Elderly Citizens
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Shared Pedestrian Zone Laneways Arcades Tram Bike Lanes Car Free Zone Train Station Public Park Public Plaza Community Hubs Medical Centres Kindergarten/Childcare Higher Education Secondary Education (Private)
Fig. Mapping of Melbourne’s CBD Infrastructure Source: Original Work
This map shows that there are not many open spaces that provide support for either children or older age community hence the dominating current population as of right now are young people and adults who are able-bodied. According to Woolcock, et al (2010) Family housing is already oversupplied and as a result, modern planning has almost become child-blind, with the new higher-density centres being built essentially for the childless in mind. Overly dense high-rise living can lead to isolation and cramped conditions, while well-designed developments can enable lively communities and access to outdoor space. (ARUP, 2017). In order to create a condition suitable for all ages, especially children and older people, and diversify the current population of the Hoddle Grid, well-designed green and open spaces interventions is needed and a special case for a high-rise building.
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Vision & Goals The Hoddle Grid will serve as an adequate place where children can experience urban childhood as the journey and the destination in the middle of a high-density CBD and accommodate older people’s care facilities through well-designed green and open spaces. This strategy aims for systems that support children’s wellbeing and future and demands us to imbue them with nature through the city’s planning, creating daily opportunities for people to engage with nature. It is widely recognized that humans have an inherent need for connections with nature and various forms of life. The Hoddle Grid will serve as an adequate place where children can experience urban childhood as the journey and the destination in the middle of a high-density CBD and accommodate older people’s care facilities through well-designed green and open spaces. This strategy aims for systems that support children’s wellbeing and future and demands us to imbue them with nature through the city’s planning, creating daily opportunities for people to engage with nature. It is widely recognized that humans have an inherent need for connections with nature and various forms of life.
Community Engagement
Child-Friendly Cities Initiatives or CFIC was developed by UNICEF in 1996 as a child rightsbased framework to establish cities and communities throughout the world for a safer, more just, equitable, inclusive, and child-responsive around the world. The purpose is for children to be seen as individuals, a stakeholders. According to ‘The Convention on the Rights of the Child’ by UNICEF (pg 6, 2022) Article 12: “Respect for the views of the child: Children have the right to voice their opinions and have these be taken into account in decisions that affect them.” Engaging children in schools with participatory activities such as ‘trip diary’ in which they record places they have been to and listening to their opinions on what they like and dislike of a neighborhood without parental barrier helps to achieve a Place-Based approach to children in the city which is important in order to define which area is suitable for children and how we can improve other areas.
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In children’s worlds, the home (family) is the first place, schools is analogous to Oldernburg’s workplace, and third places are theorized as anchors of community/public life and well-being, facilitating social connection and establishing a sense of place and belonging ((Oldenburg and Brissett 1982; Oldenburg 1989). This third place is what the city is responsible for and actively participating with children as a priority will help to achieve the vision. Senior citizens can be helped to integrate into their communities by organizing affordable and accessible events or activities. According to Global Age-friendly Cities: A guide by WHO (2007), “Local gathering places and activities promote familiarity and exchange among neighborhood residents” which would create a collaboration between people of all ages and from then emerge a mutually beneficial ecosystem. The participatory approach from bottom–up incorporates senior citizens into the analysis process of articulating their circumstances to influence government policies. Compared to children, senior citizens would know better how to articulate what they need.
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The Framework “The built environment can facilitate or create barriers for physical activity, and this effect varies by persons’ age” (Lifestyled. Health and Places, 2016). This changing urban context is a challenge to keep Melbourne’s livability especially on Melbourne’s CBD area where most of its functions are towards business and heritage overlays. Living in the city is inevitable as cities become more dense every decade and the majority of its residents will be under the age of 18. These frameworks focus on 2 aspects that will become an action target for Hoddle Grid’s. They are based on the connectivity between the built environment: Active use and Mobility, and Accessibility and Transport. They provide a framework for achieving Hoddle Grid’s vision as a city for all ages in the next year and for different generations to come.
Active Use
Mobility
Accessibility
Transport
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Active Use and Mobility Target 1: New and existing development of open spaces integrated with highrise building
Fig. Flagstaff Garden Source: City of Melbourne
The majority of open spaces in Melbourne are located outskirts of the central city Hoddle Grid. Most of these green open spaces functions are major biodiversity or water retention on a larger scale since they provide Greater Melbourne’s need for open spaces. A smaller scale development intervention for open spaces within the Hoddle Grid is needed, especially within a walking distance (300-400 m radius) from their respective dwellings to encourage informal activities to be integrated into their lifestyle.
Fig. Melbourne’s CBD current rooftop condition Source: rooftopbar.co
The proposed open spaces respond to Melbourne 3000 and Open Space Strategy’s overall direction, one of which is to “Provide distributed open space within easy walking distance” (Open Space Strategy, 2012). Instead of the usual large-scale open space, these smallscale open spaces will be part of the community infrastructure and Melbourne 3000’s green belt. multigenerational spaces can become community hubs with existing high-rise building spaces reachable for all ages to increase interaction and exchange between different generations. Fig. Melbourne’s CBD Highest Building, ‘Australia 108’ by CLLIX Source: australia108.com.au
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It will be mandatory for high-rise buildings, especially ones with a very dense occupancy to provide open spaces either on the perimeter of its building parcels or within its multi-level stories. The lower ground can be specifically proposed for children and older age people while the rest of the floor can be dedicated to other demographics. A connection between ground level and elevated open spaces still achievable by human-scale height is pertinent to the success of better quality open spaces within high-rise buildings according to Central Melbourne Design Guide (2021).
Fig. Melbourne’s CBD Proposed Open Pocket Space Source: Original Work
Car parking buildings should have multiple uses as most of the time the only purpose is to be used as a car park. Opening up these car parking buildings for public activity use is a way to increase efficiency in an already very dense area. Car parks can now be a community infrastructure to enliven people’s quality of life and well-being.
Fig. Sustainable Parking Space “Car Parks 2.0’ by Studio NAB Source: Outdoordesign.com.au
The Hoddle Grid: Active Spaces for Children and Family-Friendly City
Fig. QV Mall Open Area Plan View Source: Google Earth
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Target 2: Ensure specific provisions to protect children, families, and older people in Melbourne’s CBD The Melbourne Hoddle Grid is currently classified as a Special Use Zone according to VicPlan. “The Special Use Zone provides for tailored provisions for a wide range of purposes, such as showgrounds, freight logistics centers, and tourism precincts.” (Victoria Planning Provision Clause 37, 1987). The current Special Use Zone does not state clearly the implication of its zoning to children, families, and older people. The Open Space Strategy only broadly gives a direction on managing open spaces throughout Melbourne. A specific provision is needed to ensure that children, families, and older people are living in an adequate environment within the city grid. A neighborhood mapping is also needed, led by these communities using a community engagement system to provide deeper insights for specific provisions.
Fig. Melbourn’s CBD Special Use Zone Border Source: VicPlan
Fig. Copenhagen 8-80 years old Park Program Source: 880cities.org
According to “Lifestyled. Health and Places” (2016) the most essential aspects for a better built environment for both children and older people are: Access to recreational facilities Low traffic speeds and density Overall walkability Pedestrian safety infrastructure Land-use mix/Residential proximity to walkable destinations Perceptions of safety
These aspects should be incorporated in a specific provision to make sure that community infrastructures are accommodated accordingly. Those aspects are also aligned with the Health and Wellbeing Focus areas stated in the action plan. In order for the Hoddle Grid to shift from purely a CBD to a friendly place for all ages, a bold yet specific provision is needed in areas within the city grid’s social infrastructure, especially childcare and care-aged facilities to further help this community meet their needs in a business district focused area.
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Target 3: Using laneways, arcades, and loose spaces to activate the improvement of physical activities attuned to children and older people Melbourne’s Hoddle Grid is known for its laneways and arcades as it is also one of its attractive features. It is a result of the placement of each building parcel on the Hoddle Grid’s block. Some laneways or arcades are activated by various commercial uses and it is privately owned. It creates a unique sense of place and becomes Melbourne’s But not all laneways are treated this way. Some laneways near Little Bourke Street, Lonsdale Street and Collins Street are treated as mere service areas for commercials surrounding the street or placed with graffiti. Problems regarding laneways such as safety emerge from untreated laneways or arcades. Small laneways could become a breeding ground for unregulated dangerous informal activities.
Fig. Melbourne’s CBD ‘Greening Laneway’ Source: City of Melbpurne
According to Melbourne 3000’s Open Space Strategy (2012), the way to encourage more open spaces specifically in Melbourne’s Hoddle Grid is to “Provide new small local open spaces through the core area of the central grid that forms green oases and encourage people to spend time outside”. The areas specifically mentioned are around La Trobe and Lonsdale Street. The City of Melbourne’s ongoing ‘Greening Laneways’ program is working towards growing vertical gardens and green walls with leafy plants and trees as the city laneways have the ability to transform city laneways into oases of greenery and peace
Fig. Melbourne’s CBD ‘Greening Laneway’ Source: City of Melbpurne
Fig. Melbourne’s CBD ‘Greening Laneway’ Source: City of Melbpurne
The Hoddle Grid: Active Spaces for Children and Family-Friendly City
Fig. Melbourne’s CBD ‘Greening Laneway’ Source: City of Melbpurne
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Fig. Melbourne’s CBD Proposed Activity Laneway Source: Original Work
There are around 400 lanes in Melbourne’s Central Business District and considerably more throughout the city’s neighbourhood areas. With its unique characteristics, laneways could become more than just green laneways. Its narrow width but long length could support many active physical activities for children and old age people if treated correctly. These laneways could create a safer space and controlled environment for children to play, integrated with the green oases that become their own version of ‘nature’ and educate children at the same time, supporting Melbourne’s Urban Forest Strategy (2012) in increasing biodiversity in the middle of the city.
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Accessibility and Transport
Target 4: Existing streets and roads gearing towards a shared activity space Up to 80% of the public realm in Melbourne’s Hoddle Grid is made up of streets. Following the 1992 Swanston Street Transformation in taking space from cars and giving it to new open spaces, pedestrians, bikes and public transport, the number of pedestrians surged. More commercial uses also encourage people to walk instead of using cars to travel around the Hoddle grid.
Fig. Melbourne’s CBD Collins Street Source: Expedia.com
As it gets more dense, spaces around the Hoddle Grid become limited. Creating new large open spaces might involve demolishing already built skyscrapers building which is not efficient in dealing with minimal spaces within the city grid. It also costs a lot of money for the council to demolish buildings in a very dense area as it affects the surrounding building parcels which are only located 3 m from each other. A more welcoming environment created by opening up the streets also creates an opportunity to share the streets not only for commercial uses and pedestrians but also for family activities. According to ARUP (2017), “Playable spaces look beyond basic design functions, take a balanced approach to risk and provide facilities for families to spend time together for longer” and “Playful encounters such as public art or creative bus or tram stop designs invite playful interaction as part of everyday journeys and activities.”
Fig. Melbourne’s Swanston Street Source: myguidemelbourne.com
Fig. ‘Happy Streets’ Project Source: archdaily.com
The Hoddle Grid: Active Spaces for Children and Family-Friendly City
Melbourne’s direct accessibility to public transport is another opportunity to create active spaces unique for children’s childhood. Existing streets and public places welcome people of all ages and backgrounds to interact and connect through a variety of activities and purposes. This network of children’s infrastructure encourages extended dwell durations and becomes children’s ‘third places’ as a destination throughout their childhood journey. 19
Target 5: Car-free zones to facilitate a range of activities in the neighborhood Melbourne’s city grid already has some areas to be fully carfree zones. The central grid that is mentioned in Open Space Strategy (2012) is along Swanston Street.
This is a result of putting pedestrians as a priority to create a safe environment for everyday street play and socializing. Swanston Street acts as a connection to Melbourne’s main Green Belt which is located on the outskirts of the Hoddle Grid. Fig. Melbourne’s CBD Plan View Source: Goggle Earth
Fig. Melbourne’s Bourke Street Mall Source: Visitmelbourne.com
Fig. Melbourne’s Swanston Street Source: timeout.com
The current Swanston Street is currently 20 m wide, sharing some of the area with public transport such as bikes, scooters, trams, and buses. The width itself can be used for many activities. Specific traffic measures need to be taken to redefine Swanston Street use or any other car-free zones. These areas can also incorporate green oases scattered throughout the Melbourne city grid on a smaller scale to provide retreat places. Streets can be temporarily closed down on specific dates and times, especially during relatively quiet hours or public holidays, it can also increase visitors with their families to engage with the streets. Communities, not just children and older people but all ages, can use the street for physical activities and increase social needs and interaction throughout the different diverse backgrounds of people. Commercials like cafes, and restaurants, can also overflow onto the road and acknowledge their contribution to enhancing the appeal and increasing economic competitiveness of cities.
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6m
1.5 m
3m
2m
3.5 m
1m
3.5 m
2m
3m
1.5 m
6m
Fig. Section Illustration of Integrated Open Spaces Source: Original Work
There are many benefits from being a child, families and old age people-friendly city. Its impact through the advocacy of integrated, versatile, multigenerational, and sustainable public spaces within cities, and children’s infrastructure can yield a broad spectrum of advantages for all urban residents. By providing sufficient open spaces for people of all ages, health, well-being, the local economy, safety, communities, nature, and sustainability will naturally see improvement.
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Monitoring and Evaluation Implementation
Timespan
Key Players
Target 1
Smaller scale open spaces creates a pocket courtyard-like open space for activity in size: 40 x 40 m -> for a pocket courtyard 7 m x ± 50 m -> for a laneway In a min. 300 – 400 m walking distance from social infrastructure area (kindergarten/daycare/care-housing) 50% out of 84% dwellings or commercial buildings integrate elevated open space on max 3-5th floor Single-use buildings (car parks) shifted to a multiple uses focusing on activities for children and all ages
3 years
Community, City of Melbourne, Private Sector
Target 2
Child-friendly & all age approach to be integrated in Special Use Zone by using community engagement result-based and context; looking beyond playground – towards an outcome to support both children and all ages Collaborating with private sectors to alleviate laneways potential for physical activity uses, increasing 30% laneways usage out of 400 availablbe laneways specifically around King street, Collins Street, William Street and St James Laneway
3-5 years
Community, City of Melbourne, Private Sector, Victorian Government
5 years
Community, City of Melbourne, Private Sector, PT Victoria, VicRoad
Target 3
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Implementation
Timespan
Key Players
Target 4
Proportion of children & 3 years all senior citizens using streets and roads as ‘meeting place’ (to play, to rest, a destination) increase to 50%
Community, City of Melbourne, Private Sector, PT Victoria, VicRoad
Target 5
‘Shared-space’ usage in- 3 years creases in car-free zone. Closing other streets on specific time & date and give pedestrian full control by giving local business pop-up retail spaces as a catalyst for activities.
Community, City of Melbourne, Private Sector, PT Victoria, VicRoad
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