Start Something Special

The University of Melbourne participates as a Place Agency partner primarily through its Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning and provides project support and leadership through the Thrive Research Hub located at the university’s Melbourne School of Design. The University of Melbourne sees the project and collaboration as an opportunity to bring together theoretical knowledge and implementation in ways that can be implemented to create vibrant public spaces and ultimately, better cities.

The Architecture, Building and Planning Faculty is based at the Melbourne School of Design at the university’s Parkville campus. It offers graduate programs in architecture, architectural engineering, built environments, property valuation, construction management, landscape architecture, property, urban and cultural heritage, urban design and urban planning. Prospective students can find out more information here. Find out about upcoming public events at the Melbourne School of Design here.

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PlaceAgency

Creating the capacity for people to invest with meaning in the spaces and places within their community… We are Place Agency

We seek to educate and promote local communities and the world about placemaking

We look to promote an all-inclusive community-led process, “co creation”

We want to add to the voice of placemaking, through education and ecological aspects

We aim to bring together industry, academia and communities

Testimonials

“Fantastic to see community, local artists & Melbourne uni come together to reinvent this space. My kids grew up with this park, & I was proudly involved in the redevelopment of the Newport community hub, so to see the external space extend further to bring community together is fantastic. Please keep the oak trees. Please make market street a market once more. Please make it a safe open place to use at night as well as fun and engaging in the day for families to mingle with dogs, kids & friends... we made so many of our friends there.”

Community Member @ Newport Project

“Over a short yet intense summer semester studio we were able to establish and consolidate amazing relationships with local community members, artists, traders, students and researchers. The students’ work has subsequently been used as the basis for place-making plans for the area – a great result for everyone.”

Dominique Hes, Studio Co-leader @ Newport Project

“...HUGE thank you for Friday's workshop and the opportunity to have the Sydney Olympic Park as a case study for this important work. There was such positive energy in the room and truly amazing people who were so willing to contribute. At the end of the day, I was reeling with enthusiasm and excitement about the potential of the rating tool and how it can help us to understand and shape our place for a better future here at Sydney Olympic Park. We have work to do here to continue that enthusiasm and to implement change based on what we learnt last week and will continue to learn along this journey.”

Susan Skuodas, Place Management Director, Sydney Olympic Park Authority @ Rating Place, Workshop 1- Sydney

“Newport placemaking studio, as well as being an amazing teaching experience, has provided me with new insights for my own research on innovation in green space governance, reinforcing the linkages between transdisciplinary teaching and research.”

Judy Bush, Studio Co-leader @ Newport Project

“Newport placemaking studio provided the opportunity for experimenting with place through the sandbox methodology. Similar to tactical urbanism, the sandbox methodology provides an invaluable opportunity for students to actively work with members of the local community, to plan a ‘real-life’ proposal for a much loved place and does so through fun and engaging activities to draw from the local knowledge and design accordingly.”

Cris Hernandez-Santin, Place Agency Project Coordinator

“The Newport placemaking studio was an excellent opportunity for students to participate in transdisciplinary, place-based research, firmly grounded in the local community and informed by the stories and character of Newport – We all learnt so much about the practicalities of planning and running a safe, inclusive, creative, engaging and fun event, and then encapsulating from it the inspiration for place design responses.”

Judy Bush, Studio Co-leader @ Newport Project