2013 MtDruitt Underpasses

2013
Enquiries:
Designing Out Crime Research Centre
Level 3, 235 Jones St, Ultimo
University of Technology Sydney
2013
Postal Address: PO Box 123 Broadway NSW 2007
T +61 2 9514 4674
E [email protected]
W www.designingoutcrime.com
Designing Out Crime
First edition
© Designing Out Crime July 2013
Spiral bound
ISBN 978-0-9923180-0-0
Edited by:
Olga Camacho Duarte
Lucy Kaldor
Layout design by:
Jessica L Wong
Ashlyn Park
Graphics by:
Jessica L Wong
Ashlyn Park
Designing Out Crime research centre is a partnership between the
NSW Department of Attorney General and Justice and the University
of Technology Sydney.
Faculty of Design Architecture & Building
University of Technology, Sydney
Winter School
01/
CONTENTS
IMAGE 1
Underpass Graffiti
01/ CONTENTS
5
11/ THEMES & FRAMES
25
02/ INTRODUCTION
7
03/ URBAN CONTEXT
9
04/ SOCIAL CONTEXT
11
12/ SHALVEY UNDERPASS
Design Frame
Design Exploration
Design Elements
27
29
33
05/ SITE VISIT & RESEARCH
13
06/ RESEARCH
15
13/ WHALAN UNDERPASS
Design Frame
Design Exploration
Design Elements
35
37
39
07/ THE PROBLEM
17
08/ FRAME CREATION
19
09/ STAKEHOLDERS
21
14/ TREGEAR UNDERPASS
Design Frame
Design Exploration
Design Elements
41
43
45
10/ PARADOX
23
15/ CONCLUSION
47
16/ WITH THANKS TO
49
02/
INTRODUCTION
The Mt Druitt Underpasses Project originated
from the work of the Community and
Environment Project (CEP). The CEP is an
educational partnership created to support
urban and community development in Mt
Druitt, with an emphasis on crime prevention.
It was formalised in April 2011 as an initiative
to explore innovative ideas for community
regeneration and urban renewal. The core
CEP partners are: Housing NSW, University
of Western Sydney and Designing Out Crime
at UTS. In 2013 these partners joined forces
with Blacktown Council and NSW Land and
Housing Corporation to conduct research on the
Mt Druitt Underpasses and develop innovative
design approaches to improve security,
appearance and maintenance of underpasses
and their surroundings.
IMAGE 2
Current underpass
Between March and July 2013, a second
year student from the Social Work Unit at
the University of Western Sydney conducted
a study investigating use, safety, aspect and
maintenance of seven of the underpasses of Mt
Druitt, as part of a work placement.
The findings of this study informed the design
explorations that nine students from UTS
developed between June and July 2013.
The nine students from UTS enrolled in the 2013
Winter School program conducted by Designing
Out Crime. The Winter School is an intensive
four week program in which students from
different disciplines develop design explorations
based on a brief posed by an external client.
This cohort included Architecture, Industrial
Design and Interior Design students led by a
tutor with expertise in visual communications
and design research and guided by DOC staff
and external stakeholders. This report presents
a summary of the process the design students
engaged in and the three design explorations
they developed to fulfil the design brief for the
Mt Druitt underpasses.
7
SHALVEY
03/
N
URBAN CONTEXT
4km
TREGEAR
SHALVEY UNDERPASS
TREGEAR UNDERPASS
WHALAN UNDERPASS
WHALAN
Mt Druitt consists of ten social housing
developments located on the Blacktown Local
Government Area in the west of Sydney, NSW,
about 46 km from the CBD. This area has a
high concentration of social housing and high
levels of socio-economic disadvantage. High
and long term unemployment, low educational
attainment, low household income and a large
proportion of single parent households are
some of the demographic characteristics of this
area.
2km
1km
IMAGE 3
Map of Mt Druitt
Mt Druitt’s social housing was built in the
1960s; at the time of its construction it was
the largest to date in NSW. Its design was
based on the American Radburn model.
This urban model focused on the separation
of vehicular and pedestrian traffic and the
creation of communal open spaces that
resulted in unintended dysfunctional suburban
environments for social housing. The urban
features of the Radburn model combined with
low urban density, location on the outskirts of
cities and poor connection to major community
facilities created housing estates that isolate
communities and enable misuse of space.
Reported and observed public housing crime is
related to drug and alcohol abuse, vandalism,
graffiti, illegal dumping, youth disorder and
antisocial behaviour. Crime in public housing
is highly visible in the public space; in addition
the residue of antisocial activity and vandalism
increases perception of crime and makes
residents fearful of their surroundings.
Over time, the decline of public housing
assets, the reduction of investment in public
housing, social exclusion and concentration of
disadvantage have resulted in cumulative social
problems and the stigmatisation of the housing
sector and its residents. Socially responsive
design that is grounded at the level of the local
community may contribute to improving social
and urban landscapes in areas of disadvantage.
The underpasses located in Shalvey, Tregear
and Whalan were selected as the sites for the
development of design explorations presented
in this report.
9
04/
SOCIAL CONTEXT
Despite the conditions of disadvantage and a
level of disengagement in some sections of
the community, Mt Druitt is made up of groups
of resilient people. There are active groups
keen to contribute and participate in initiatives
conducive to the betterment of their suburbs.
Churches and congregations are strong and
have an influence on large numbers of people.
Schools run initiatives that involve community
participation and voluntarism related to the
wellbeing of children and young people.
There are several NGOs and other community
organisations with social and advocacy
objectives. These groups represent the strength
of Mt Druitt and provide great potential for the
implementation of future initiatives aimed at
improving the quality of life in these suburbs.
State and local government agencies, in
addition to fulfilling their obligations, run
programs supporting communities and
improving their local areas whenever funding
is available. For instance, a number of
underpasses have had interventions involving
engagement around public art; one of the
previous projects took place in 2003. This
project generated positive responses in the
local area and created opportunities for
training, leadership and partnerships between
local groups. The local council considered
that after ten years it is necessary to review
the outcomes of past projects and develop
strategies to update and improve the areas that
need attention.
IMAGE 4
Local shops
11
Residents’ comments on underpasses:
05/
OTHER
32 %
DEMOGRAPHICS
The community has a
bad reputation. People
run around on the
streets causing trouble.
55 %
FIJI
3%
ENGLAND
BORN IN
AUSTRALIA
Horrible. It is the
number one spot for
rape and kidnapping.
2%
NEW ZEALAND
PHILIPPINES
MOA
SA
AMOA
4%
2%
2%
?
UNIDENTIFIED
UNEMPLOYED
8%
0HRS
14 %
We had a vision for change. The
community is willing to see
change and be a part of it, you
just have to take the first step.
SITE VISIT &
RESEARCH
EMPLOYMENT
STATUS
Close it down,
fill it up, there is
no use for it.
54 %
EMPLOYED
FULL TIME
24 %
38 HRS+
PART TIME
4-2 0H RS +
SHOP
OWNERS
T EACHERS
LONE MALES
5%
5%
10 %
TEENAGERS
20 %
PEOPLE WHO
USE THE
UNDERPASS
IMAGE 5
Site visit research
IMAGE 6
Residents of Mt Druitt
15 %
LONE FEMALES
45 %
The students had a guided visit to four of
the Mt Druitt underpasses. They visited
Shalvey, Whalan, Tregear and Lethbridge Park
underpasses. The stakeholders accompanied
the students and provided valuable information
throughout the visit. The students took
photos, made measurements, talked to local
residents, community leaders and passersby. For designers it is important to have first
hand experience of the place to be able to
capture the environmental and physical defining
aspects of the site. Furthermore, the site visit
provides students with a more comprehensive
understanding of how users experience the
places and spaces under investigation. Casual
conversations with locals, discussion and
comments with stakeholders and fellow design
students enrich the experience and provide a
qualitative dimension to the desktop research
they are able to gather at other times. The
qualitative understanding of the design problem
is very important to the successful development
of these design explorations.
FAMILIES +
CHILDRE N
13
Use of Underpasses
Use of Underpasses
by School Children
184
SURVEYS
06/
RESEARCH
24
SURVEYS
YES :
5
18
10
11
23
19
out of 18
out of 21
out of 24
out of 27
out of 29
20
out of 31
out of 34
BLACKETT 1
HEBERSHAM
SHALVEY
WHALAN
LETHBRIDGE
TREGEAR
BLACKETT 2
YES : 13
NO :
NO NEED
DIRTY
UNSAFE
A student of social work from the University
of Western Sydney conducted a placement at
Housing NSW and was directed by a senior
client services officer during this placement. He
conducted primary research on a selection of
underpasses; the underpasses shortlisted for
the research were those located in areas with
the highest concentrations of public housing.
The shortlist includes: 1) Bougainville Road,
Lethbridge Park; 2) Aurora Drive, Tregear; 3)
Bulolo Drive, Whalan; 4) Sedgman Crescent,
Shalvey; 5) Popondetta Road, Blackett; 6)
Carlisle Avenue, Hebersham; 7) Boldrewood
Road, Blackett.
ANTI-SOCIAL ACTIVITIES
12
out of 14
out of 14
WHALAN
PUBLIC
SCHOOL
TREGEAR
PUBLIC
SCHOOL
The study included 184 surveys completed in
the vicinity of the underpasses; 14 surveys
completed at Whalan Public School; and 14
at Tregear Public School. One Blacktown
councillor resident in Tregear also participated
in the survey. The survey asked people if they
used the underpasses, and their reasons
for using or not using them. Some of the
questions reveal issues related to perceptions
of safety influenced by the visual aspect and
maintenance of the underpasses. This study
also included a night safety audit for each
underpass. At the aforementioned two local
schools, the survey asked children of all ages
how they felt about the underpasses and how
they could be improved; some of the responses
are presented in this snapshot.
FEEDBACK
FEEDBACKS&& SUGGESTIONS
SUGGESTIONS
My mum says I cannot go
in the underpass alone
because it’s an unsafe area
You get a feeling when
you walk in the
underpass that someone
is walking behind you
School kids
hand paint and
draw pictures
on the
underpass to
help find their
way home
Paint the roof yellow and
the walls blue, so people
think they are still out in
the sun when walking
through the underpass
Some of the words
on the underpass
hurt people’s feelings
When it’s
Christmas time,
put up
Christmas
lights over the
underpass
Scared of people
staring at you
while you walk
through the
underpass
IMAGE 7
Full report by Tim Pearson
and Belinda Young
15
07/
THE PROBLEM
Mt Druitt’s pedestrian underpasses were built
according to the precepts of the Radburn urban
model in the 1960s. They were designed to be
close to amenities and were meant to offer a
safe way for pedestrians to cross busy roads.
The idea of separating the pedestrian network
from the vehicular network had the purpose
of offering continuous flow, functionality and
efficiency.
Over time, the pedestrian underpasses became
spaces that attract misuse perhaps because
they are sheltered, they have restricted visibility
and they are not used a great deal due to the
low density of Mt Druitt. The types of misuse
include vandalism (in the form of graffiti,
tagging, rubbish dumping, and burnings)
accompanied by antisocial activity (related to
drug and alcohol consumption) these activities
are reported to occur mostly at night and
increasingly in the most isolated pedestrian
underpasses.
Misuse of the underpasses generates extensive
maintenance costs which are borne by the local
council and other agencies. It also negatively
influences the appearance of public housing
areas and the quality of life of residents, as
the visible aspects of antisocial activity in the
underpasses increase fear of crime in the
community. Issues of lack of ownership of the
pedestrian underpasses make it difficult to
foster activation through positive uses.
17
08/
N
URE
INTEGRATIO
FUT
TIO
MA
R
FO
NS
A
TR
N
FRAME CREATION
Y
OG
L
O
E
A
CH
AR
S
PARADOX
ES
M
FRA
FIELD
TH
EM
ES
CO
N
TE
XT
Frame creation is a process of ideation based
on the analysis of a complex problem, and the
identification of relevant stakeholders, their
objectives, needs and aspirations. Frame
creation involves a process of synthesis
that reveals themes based on human
needs and desires that are the foundation
for the development of conceptual frames
and design explorations. Human centred
design is one of the main principles in frame
creation. This analysis not only focuses on
end users (of products or spaces) but also
on the requirements of the larger network
of stakeholders involved in the design,
maintenance and operations related to the
problem in question.
For the Mt Druitt underpasses project, a group
of DOC staff members engaged in this ideation
exercise to develop the design brief for the
Winter School students. The frame creation
process began with capturing the recent
history of the problem arena – in this case the
issues concerning the use, maintenance and
management of underpasses and surrounding
areas. Then, the group defined the relevant
stakeholders; the ones having direct influence
on the problem, as well as the stakeholders
that are relevant but have less decision-making
power. Further to this, analysis of what is
important to each stakeholder revealed existing
synergies between them. From this process
of synthesis, some of the paradoxes of the
problem became apparent, and these led to
definition of particular themes, new frames and
visualisations for future transformation.
19
09/
STAKEHOLDERS
In March 2013 a working group was formed
to create possible innovative solutions to
the management of the underpasses of Mt
Druitt. Underpasses are often vandalised and
are places that facilitate antisocial activity.
Maintaining the underpasses involves constant
cleaning and repair; it is not cost efficient and
the results are only short term. An earlier
urban renewal initiative had considered
directing some funding into closing down
some of the underpasses; however, the idea
was later deemed unfeasible. In addition, the
underpasses do serve a practical purpose and
influence several stakeholder groups.
Key stakeholder groups include: tenants,
homeowners, schools, churches, local
businesses, NGOs, various sections of local
government and state government agencies,
community groups and advocacy groups, among
others. More specifically, the stakeholders
leading this project are working group members
and include Housing NSW, Land & Housing
Corporation, Blacktown Council, University
of Western Sydney and Designing Out Crime
at the University of Technology Sydney. The
design brief posed by the working group was to
develop designs to foster adequate use of the
underpasses, reduce vandalism and antisocial
behaviour and make maintenance more
efficient.
The development of the design brief was the
result of a frame creation process that was
founded on the discussions and exchange
of information occurring in the meetings of
the Mt Druitt underpasses working group.
Subsequently, a group of DOC staff members
engaged in the frame creation process and
defined the themes and details for the design
brief for the Winter School. Upon receiving the
brief the students sought to understand the
complexity of the urban and social dynamics
affecting the underpasses. Functionality, space
activation, appearance, perception of crime and
community engagement became key guiding
ideas in their design explorations.
21
10/
PARADOX
Cost
Function
Decay
Growth
Commitment
Influence
Road safety
Fear of crime
The paradoxes, as defined by Kees Dorst’s
Frame Creation model are the contradictions
that make a problem difficult to solve. The
frame creation process led us to conclude that
one of the paradoxes in the complex problem
of the Mt Druitt underpasses was that the
underpasses provide shelter and public space
for people to engage in vandalism and antisocial
behaviour. The spatial configuration of the
underpasses enables negative uses because the
underpasses provide shelter from the elements
and spaces with limited visibility from the
outside. In addition, outside the underpasses
there are large expanses of open space which,
paradoxically, lack ‘spaces’ in which people can
comfortably congregate, such as sitting areas
with a form of shelter.
Vandalism and antisocial activities are generally
considered the negative expression of human
needs that are insufficiently satisfied. For
instance, loitering and public disturbances
fuelled by alcohol are the negative expression
of social gathering activities and are contrary
to community engagement. Similarly, tagging,
bonfires and vandalism are negative reflections
of the need to take ownership of a space
and leave a mark. In terms of maintenance,
a further paradox is that closing down the
underpasses is not feasible due to the cost
involved but constant repairs and maintenance
prove to be costly and not effective in reducing
antisocial activity.
23
CAMP
11/
THEMES & FRAMES
INDIVIDUALS
LEAVE YOUR MARK
LIKE LEGO; PIECE BY PIECE
SPATIAL DIFFERENTIATION

COMMUNITY
COMING TOGETHER

SWAPPING
The themes that emerged from the analysis
were: A) Caring and Nurturing; B) Identity; C)
Connection; D) Belonging. They refer to human
needs that were identified as important to
different stakeholders. They are also concepts
that facilitate the use of metaphors – ideas
that can materialise in particular design
interventions.
ACTIVATE SPACE


PASSIVE SURVEILLANCE


GROUP ONE (left)
Shalvey underpass
Frame: a camp,
As positive expression of identity
through social gathering.
GROUP TWO
Whalan underpass

Frame: reusing and swapping
To foster a sense of belonging
GROUP THREE (RIGHT)
Tregear underpass
Frame: nourish (body, mind and spirit)
To address caring and nurturing needs.
The class was organised into three groups; the
students were given the themes as concepts
to keep in mind and conducted a site visit to
four of the underpasses of Mt Druitt. The main
purpose of the site visit was to experience the
environment in and around the underpasses.
Students also took photographs and had
conversations with local residents, local groups
and members of the Mt Druitt underpasses
working group. The information they received
covered the perspectives of the users of
underpasses, the space managers, local
businesses, local services officers, and teaching
staff.
Following the site visit, each group selected
one of the underpasses and extracted the main
characteristics of each space. The groups also
translated the themes into metaphors relevant
to the underpasses selected.
Group one chose Shalvey underpass and their
frame was a camp, a metaphor which they felt
expressed the notion of positive expressions of
identity in a social gathering. Group two chose
the Whalan underpass and developed a frame
around fixing, reusing and swapping to foster a
sense of belonging by encouraging activities in
which people build and do things together. The
third group worked on the Tregear underpass
and developed a frame based on nourishing the
body, mind and spirit to address the needs of
caring and nurturing. They aimed to encourage
activities that support the development of living
skills by sharing family, community and cultural
everyday practices. These design frames are
explained in more detail in the following pages
of this report.
25
R GOAL
LIKE LEGO; PIECE BY PIECE
12/
1
User
Engagement
4
Adaptibility
Social
Opportunity
SHALVEY UNDERPASS
2
IMAGE 9
Map of Shalvey
Direct
Impact
DESIGN FRAME
Shalvey underpass is located on Sedgman
Crescent near Koomooloo Crescent in Shalvey
NSW. This underpass is about 200 metres from
the closest facilities and it is surrounded by
green areas and a few residences. It is in the
vicinity of the Shalvey local shops, however
not immediate to them. Based on their
research into the area, its landscape and local
community, the Shalvey group decided to work
on the theme of identity and explored the idea of
the tag.
3
Diverse
Environment
“Tags may appear generic or useless to the
general public, but they have a much deeper
meaning…The idea behind a tag is to give a
sense of ownership to an individual by providing
a subject that is unique.”
IMAGE 8
Earlier concepts of
modular activity pods
By exploring this concept, and the experiences
and meanings associated with tags, identity,
and sense of ownership they decided to use the
frame CAMP. This frame led to urban designs
that could become key sites for activities that
locals engage in. They needed to be created by
the local community for the local community.
Their idea also involved a long-term strategy
for the designs to be made of modular
components that could be built over time and in
a coordinated manner. Other characteristics of
a camp that guided their design ideas were:
•
•
•
•
In a camp, the community is able to
undertake activities that bring people
together while enjoying the experience of
being outdoors/in nature.
The camp also brings members of the
community around a (camp fire) where
stories are exchanged
In a camp people tend to leave their
individual mark in a positive way, while
protecting and respecting the environment.
A camp provides an open and natural space
for reflection, and for people to meet, share,
contribute and congregate.
This frame gave the students the opportunity to
take some of the negative practices currently
occurring at the Shalvey underpass and convert
some of the negative practices into positive
activities that are inclusive and contribute to
community identity and connection.
27
12/
SHALVEY UNDERPASS
DESIGN EXPLORATION
The evolution of the camp frame resulted in
the creation of ‘pods’ of activity to be consistent
in the open space adjacent to the underpass.
These pods of activity are designed to be
constructed block by block, over an extended
period of time and in a participatory way. Local
community groups could potentially partner
with Local and State Government agencies to
allocate some funding to start building a small
part of a pod. The local TAFE students and
local trades companies could volunteer time,
materials, resources, equipment and so on.
The concept also involves a try-and-test
strategy so once the first pod is built and tried
it could be assessed on the positive impact in
the local area. If the pod generates positive
uses more additions could be made so a small
pod could become a larger pod. A long term
and participatory strategy for implementation
is crucial to the success of this idea. Simple
and minimal designs could be used for various
purposes at different times of the day and
night. If one pod becomes successful they could
be replicated in other areas of the Shalvey
underpass or adjacent to other underpasses.
This building strategy permits the allocation
of small pots of funding awarded periodically
instead of requiring large investments at one
time.
IMAGE 10
Activity pod option 1
IMAGE 11
Overall concept
29
IMAGE 12
Activity pod option 2
IMAGE 13
Activity pod option 3
31
12/
SHALVEY UNDERPASS
IMAGE 17
Love locks concept
DESIGN ELEMENTS
This project includes various design elements
for Shalvey:
•
•
IMAGE 14 (left)
Bottle light
IMAGE 15
Activity pod lit at night
IMAGE 16
Underpass concept
Activity Pods: Simple configurations
of concrete blocks to be cast on site.
The design stage needs to involve the
community in a participatory way. The
heights are less than one metre to avoid
the use of railings and the edges are meant
to be rounded. The blocks work with the
contours of the site and aim to enhance the
green areas. Other objects and materials
can be added depending on the design
concept of each pod.
Love locks fence: This concept involves
building a mesh on the internal walls of
the underpass for people to add love or
wish locks. The locks are a recent tradition
increasing in various tourist sites. This
could become a positive way to leave a
mark and express connection and identity
with the Mt Druitt area. Functionally,
this mesh will provide the walls of the
underpass with volumes and textures to
avoid graffiti and tagging. A mesh will also
protect lighting fixtures set on the walls of
•
•
the underpass. It will be designed for easy
cleaning and maintenance.
Lighting: The lighting for the pods is
intended to be embedded in the concrete
blocks. The students propose LED lighting
on the edges of some of the concrete blocks
to enhance the aesthetics of the pods at
night. They also propose installation of a
wiring arrangement within some of the
concrete blocks that could be used to create
a community lamp made with recycled
objects.
Water: one of the pods could incorporate
designs to allow for a simple water fixture
to be used during summer, after school or
during school holidays.
33
13/
WHALAN UNDERPASS
INDIVIDUALS
IMAGE 18
Map of Whalan
COMMUNITY
COMING TOGETHER
DESIGN FRAME
Whalan underpass is located on Bulolo Drive
near Ellengowan Crescent in Whalan NSW.
This underpass is next to a three story walk up
public housing complex, the local shops and the
primary school. This group chose the theme
of ‘belonging’ and defined it as a feeling that
connects people with a place. One of the aims
of their project was to externalise the idea of
belonging. This group added to their frames the
metaphor of using transparency in their designs
as a way to represent seeing through what is in
the inside of the community.
“To be able to see the essence of the place
and the essence of the people, to be able to
see each other, to be able to fix and repair
something and to mend the community from the
inside”
SWAPPING
In order to achieve this, the group chose a
frame they called: EXCHANGE AND SWAP. This
frame encompasses the idea of developing
designs that allow people to get together,
share experiences, skills and knowledge,
learn from each other and do things together
to reveal what is inside individuals and
their communities. The frame ‘reuse and
swap’ in combination with the exploration of
transparency and the translucent quality led
this group to use recycled glass in their designs.
This frame allows:
•
•
•
•
To change the negative impression of
broken glass left behind from vandalism
and antisocial activity by building
aesthetically pleasing urban design
elements with recycled glass bottles.
To engage local community in recycling
programs and participatory design activities
to retrofit the space.
To exchange skills, by getting people to
teach each other about crafts and trades in
a communal space, in the outdoors to make
this activity visible.
To help community members repair their
community through skills exchange, feel
useful and activate the space around the
underpass in a positive way.
35
13/
WHALAN
UNDERPASS
DESIGN EXPLORATION
ARTS + CRAFTS
CONSTRUCTION DAYS
REPAIR + REUSE + RECYCLE
PLANTING + GARDENING
This design exploration involves a number of
permanent designs complemented by a number
of temporary designs that can be stored or
set up near the underpass according to the
activities taking place. The fixed elements are
the interior design of the underpass using
recycled bottles and internal light fixtures.
The permanent elements also include repurposing a shipping container to convert
it into a storage space that doubles as a
market stall/information booth. This project
involves participatory design and community
engagement; it is crucial for the sustainability of
the program that the activities are coordinated
by a body like the local council or an NGO, but
developed by local groups. The activities that
can be implemented are also particular of Mt
Druitt, for instance, activities such as carpentry,
wood carving, knitting, painting, fixing push
bikes, planting and recycling could take place in
this new working space where people can help
each other and swap knowledge and skills.
IMAGE 19
New night lighting concept
37
13/
WHALAN UNDERPASS
DESIGN ELEMENTS
This project envisions two types of designs,
permanent and temporary:
•
OPTION 2
•
IMAGE 20 (left)
Benches and seating:
made from recycled bottles
IMAGE 21
Glass bottle underpass wall
- night
Reused shipping container: This idea aims
to create a new space with dual use within
a shipping container. It can be a storage
space when there are no activities occurring
and it can be a market stall or information
booth when activities are taking place. The
exterior of the container could be used for
public art and the ceiling could have solar
panels to generate its own energy.
Benches and seating: this design
exploration contains a couple of options to
design permanent and temporary benches
and seating areas using recycled materials.
Further design possibilities for benches and
seating options made from recycled objects
could be developed in the future.
•
Glass bottle wall: This interior treatment
is meant to create walls and a ceiling with
a texture that discourages graffiti and
tagging. The shape of the wall could also
be designed to discourage loitering and
highlight its thoroughfare function. The
concept includes lighting in the interior
to highlight the translucent aspect of the
bottles.
IMAGE 22 (left)
Reused shipping container
IMAGE 23
Optional underpass gate:
made from recycled glass
IMAGE 24
Glass bottle underpass wall
- day
39
14/
TREGEAR UNDERPASS
IMAGE 27
Map of Tregear
DESIGN FRAME
Tregear underpass is located on Aurora Drive,
near Balleny Place in Tregear NSW. This
underpass connects a number of public housing
residences with the local shops and the local
school; there is a community centre and a
church nearby. This group explored the themes
of ‘caring’ and ‘nurturing’ and considered that
it was important to address opportunities for
people to learn and improve their everyday
living skills. The frame ‘nourish’ emerged
as a response to these themes; nourishing
mind, body and spirit was considered as the
foundation for a design innovation in the
Tregear underpass.
•
•
Support the expression of cultural
traditions around food preparation and
recreational activities that are culturally
orientated to different groups
This hub could become the heart of the
community and enable social engagement,
allowing for new experiences and activities
to be involved in.
This frame can also be applied to the
restructuring of space in and around the
underpass to enhance spatial differentiation,
passive surveillance and space activation at
different times of day and night.
A design exploration that aimed at nourishing
the community could:
•
•
IMAGE 25
Connectivity
IMAGE 26
Cultural practises
Develop strategies to cultivate growth in the
community in tangible ways.
Create hubs of activity to support
nourishing activities such as picnics,
cooking, exercise, reading, growing herbs,
etc.
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14/
TREGEAR UNDERPASS
DESIGN EXPLORATION
The designs comprising this project developed
from the investigation of the traditions and
everyday practices of the local residents and
the groups they belong to. This group identified
similarities in food preparation methods such
as barbeques and leisure activities such as
gardening and physical activity, games and
exercise. The exploration evolved into creating
a modular hub that could accommodate
activities around, picnicking, barbequeing,
sharing food, doing exercise such as yoga and
having bench space and seating to read.
MAORI HANGI
The hub is connected to the parking area
to allow for food trucks, library trucks, and
others to get access to Tregear and set up the
activities. In this design exploration the external
walls of the underpass are designed to become
garden walls to grow vegetables that support
community cooking activities. This exploration
offers an alternative for closing the underpass
in a way that is safe and attractive. A permeable
gate has been designed to allow visibility to
the underpass when it is closed. The interior
of the underpass has been redesigned into an
aesthetically pleasing storage space and display
area that reminds people of the interesting
activities occurring. Plants, and other props
for the activities could be stored in the form
of a display to enhance the view from the
outside when the gate is closed and to offer an
attractive view to passers-by when it is opened.
IMAGE 28
Platform concept variations
43

14/
TREGEAR
UNDERPASS
DESIGN ELEMENTS
•
•

•

•
IMAGE 29 (left)
Platform concept
•
IMAGE 30 (right)
Vertical garden
IMAGE 31 (left)
Underpass: display and
storage concept
IMAGE 32 (right)
Underpass gate concept
•
Hub: modular platform that has elements
that can be raised to form benches for
cooking, working space
Underpass gate: This exploration offers
a way of closing down the underpass on
a temporary basis. The gates closing the
underpass have been designed to allow
visibility to the interior of the underpass.
Seating: foldable seating built of light
materials and painted in bright colours
for an attractive display when in use or in
storage
Garden wall: provide the exterior walls of
the underpass with a functional use that
requires surveillance and maintenance by
the community for the plants to grow.
Storage & display: Storing the objects part
of this design in the form of display aims to
create the opportunity to see what it is in
the inside and promote the activities that
occur.
Lighting: the lighting in the interior of the
underpass will be an attractive feature
and could work on a timer to create small
concurrent views of the display when it is
closed.
45
15/
CONCLUSION
The designs presented in this report are the
result of a four-week process that aimed at
creating different scales of interventions that
can be implemented over long periods of time,
with small budgets and with the participation
of the community. Interventions that can be
implemented in this way seem to be more
appropriate for the context of Mt Druitt. Several
small changes that can be tested over time and
can form part of a larger program could have a
positive impact in a sustainable way.
IMAGE 33
Group 3: Tregear
These design explorations are still at a
conceptual level and require further work
to be able to be implemented in an efficient
and effective manner. These explorations
provide foundations and emerging concepts
for participatory design engagements,
for partnership opportunities and for the
involvement of other stakeholders.
IMAGE 34 (left)
Group 1: Shalvey
IMAGE 35
Group 2: Whalan
47
THANK YOU
Rick Wiezel:
Co-ordinator of Grafitti Removal
16/
WITH THANKS TO
Surinder Aneja:
Senior Maintenance Engineer
Tutor: Lissa Barnum
Sincere thanks are due to the following
for their assistance with this project:
W i l m a F a l c o npeople
e:
Student Group 1: SHALVEY
Anderson Trieu
Robbie Hayek
Jonathan Li
Student Group 2: WHALAN
Jonathan Tolentino
Toung An Truong
Keiri Vernon
Student Group 3: TREGEAR
Stephanie Seow
Stephanie Nasr
Patrick Wong
Acting Area Director
R o d r i g o G u t i eRick
r r e zWiezel:
:
- Blacktown Council
M a n a g e r C o m m uCo-ordinator
n i t y R e g e n e rof
a tGraffiti
i o n M t Removal
Druitt
Surinder
Aneja:
B e l i n d a Yo u n g
:
Maintenance
Engineer
S e n i o r C l i e n t S eSenior
rvice O
ff i c e r - C o m m
u n i t y R e-gBlacktown
e n e r a t i o n Council
Te a m
Wilma Falcone:
Acting Area Director - Housing NSW
Olga Camacho:
Rodrigo Gutierrez:
P o s t D o c t o r a l R e s e a r c h F e l l o w a n d Tu t o r
Manager Community Regeneration Mt Druitt - Housing
NSW
Young:
L i s s a B a r n u mBelinda
:
C l a s s c o - o r d i n a tSenior
o r a n dClient
t u t o r Service Officer - Community Regeneration
Team - Housing NSW
Catrina Kim:
Matthew Devine:
– WSR, NSW Land & Housing
A r c h i t e c t a n d h eRegional
r i t a g e s pAsset
e c i a l i Director
st
Corporation, Department of Finance & Services
Graeme Yeo:
C a t r i n a K i m Senior Project Manager, NSW Land & Housing Corporation
G r a e m e Ye o
Tim Pearson:
Ti m P e a r s o n : Social Work Intern - Housing NSW
S o c i a l Wo r k I n t e r n ( H o u s i n g N S W )
IMAGE 36
The Team
Matthew Devine:
Architect and Heritage Specialist - Government’s Architect
Office
49