Gareth Bansor’s Post

Parkville Station — one of five new stations for the forthcoming Metro Tunnel Project in Melbourne, Australia — is set to connect passengers to the heart of the city’s world-renowned health and education precinct. Here, we reveal five little-known facts about the design of this newly completed landmark for the city, due to open to the public later this year. 1. Parkville Station is conceptualised as a street beneath a street — a subterranean reflection of the new ‘boulevard’ above, providing places to meet and interact. 2. A central design feature is a 54-metre-long glass and steel canopy which, together with skylights, draws natural light into the station concourse. 3. You can see the sky from the platform, which is 25m below ground.  4. The station has some of the tallest uninterrupted concrete columns on the entire metro project, where one column is a whopping 21m high. That is the rough equivalent of a seven-story building. 5. Artist Patricia Piccinni has created Vernal Glade — an expansive field of handmade tiles located on the entrance wall that responds to the precinct’s identity as a place of medicine, healing and learning. In addition to the new station, a grand promenade and biodiversity corridor along Melbourne’s Grattan Street has been created to complement the city’s vibrant health and education quarter — a place of exploration and ideas. The generous streetscape design connects the station with the many tram, bus, cycling and walking routes, creating a gateway to The University of Melbourne and hospitals. The design for the Metro Tunnel is a world-class collaboration between leading design practices Hassell, WW+P Architects and RSHP. 🔗 Learn more about our collaborative design for Melbourne’s Metro Tunnel Project: https://lnkd.in/g3uc_GkP #ParkvilleStation #MetroTunnel #MetroTunnelProject #Melbourne Rail Projects Victoria

Our firm was retained by the Waldorf School through the Community Design Collaborative to complete a master plan for the School’s new campus. The School was awarded a design assistance grant from the Collaborative, with the project being an adaptive reuse of vacant church property. The intent was to create a conceptual design plan for integrated outdoor spaces. The goal was to create sustainable outdoor spaces that integrated and connected many aspects of the educational programs of the two-acre school for the 200 to 300 pre-K through eighth-grade students. A thorough analysis of the site was undertaken, as well as meetings with the staff and students to develop a wish list of activities for the new campus grounds. The concept for the project is called “The Body of Play”. The intent was to show the interconnection between man and nature, and how systems in the body are similar in nature. Key Features: -A series of outdoor learning areas and classrooms -Report to be used to obtain grants -Spaces perform multiple functions -Interactive design process to develop a master plan -Participation by students staff and neighbors in the design process Team: Community Design Collaborative; Lindsey Allen, Historic Preservation; Clemens Construction Company . . . #campusdesign #sustainablespaces #outdoorclassroom #landscapearchitecture

Betwixt and Between Loughborough Junction I was delighted, through Where Pathways Meet to celebrate 20 years of London Festival of Architecture by hosting an interactive walkshop and workshop last week exploring the residual urban spaces of Loughborough Junction (London Borough of Lambeth) with EcoResponsive Environments and studio 8FOLD Responding to this year’s festival theme ‘REIMAGINE’ – we #reimagined how some of the left over spaces that characterise a lot of our streets and housing estates could be envisioned as green and resilient spaces connecting people and nature – responding to the wider climate and ecological emergencies. Hosted by Meanwhile Space CIC (many thanks!) in the very inspiring LJ Works building (designed by ARCHITECTURE 00 ) which itself sits within Loughborough Farm. Both are very much exemplars of how left over spaces can be creatively repurposed to support communities and their wider social, natural and economic ecosystems. Our activities complemented lots of other creative community activities being hosted on the site as part of the festival. We managed to dodge the torrential June rain for our walkshop, and then returned to work with the beautiful models created for us by Studio 8 Fold’s work placement student Hassan (big thanks to him!). Many thanks also to the participants who joined us including the Loughborough Junction Action Group. There were no shortage of ideas generated, but we did touch on the blocks to implementing these – which often comes down to lack of resource, particularly for ongoing maintenance of projects that have an urban greening element (yes John Little – we definitely need more gardeners and need to value them appropriately too!) ‘Once you spot or think about these spaces you start to see them everywhere’ Prachi Rampuria Soham De Aleksandar Stojakovic Alexander Frehse Anthea Masey Matthew Dibben #Community #Resilience #Climate #Placemaking #Placeshaping #Placekeeping #LandscapeArchitecture #ResidualUrbanSpaces #SpaceLeftOverAfterPlanning #SLOAP #Freelance

A new #sustainable mixed-use facility under #construction at Harvard University will include 250 sheltered bicycle parking spaces, numerous green spaces, an integrated stormwater-management system and a plethora of natural daylight. Learn more about the project - led by Shawmut Design and Construction - which aims for Living Building Challenge Certification from the Living Future Institute, on Green Building News.

Part of my MA in Interior and Spatial Design Studies: The "Silhouettes of LA" project addresses the pressing need for affordable housing in Los Angeles, targeting the youth aged 18–30. This initiative arises in response to the city's escalating housing costs, which have increasingly burdened lower-income groups and exacerbated homelessness. By emphasizing high-quality, sustainable, and cost-effective living spaces, the project aims to create housing solutions that are accessible to those earning below the area median income (AMI). The proposed development centers on a strategically chosen site in Northridge, Los Angeles. With its proximity to California State University and well-developed infrastructure, this location offers significant opportunities for low-income residents to access education, employment, and community services. The .82-acre parcel will host multiple residential units designed to integrate functionality, comfort, and community engagement. The design approach leverages the site’s rectangular layout, incorporating energy-efficient building orientations, shared green spaces, and community facilities to foster social interaction while maintaining privacy and environmental sustainability. This project sets out to reimagine urban living, balancing affordability with the quality of life. For more: https://lnkd.in/dHkP9wsQ

Working under the late Graham Tunstill, I picked up some invaluable lessons in construction that I carry with me to this day. Key lessons include: never disclose your actual project completion date—always keep a buffer to account for unexpected surprises below ground; avoid celebrating low tender prices too soon, as those "savings" often disappear; be prepared to address unforeseen underground issues, as they inevitably come with a cost; and, most critically, always conduct an unannounced pre-handover audit five days prior to the final handover. For the past eight years, I’ve made it a point to live by these principles—especially the surprise audit. Today, I conducted one of those audits on what I’d call one of our most challenging projects of the past year. This project has seen it all: significant latent conditions, a complete redesign of the slab mid-construction, an entire carpark shutdown due to safety concerns, and even anonymous calls to WorkSafe from disgruntled individuals intent on causing delays. Despite all this, walking the site this morning made everything feel real. What’s even more exciting? Our iconic Costa Hall is getting a spectacular new entrance that will be unveiled in 2025. But beyond the architectural upgrade, what truly matters to me is the improved accessibility. Having a close family member who has been wheelchair-bound since a young age, I know first-hand how vital it is to have a clear, accessible path of travel. Before this project, reaching Costa Hall felt like navigating a campus-sized Enchanted Adventure maze. Now, we’ve created an entrance that is welcoming and accessible to everyone—a feature that makes every sleepless night worth it. A quick sneak peek of the site this morning was a reminder of what’s possible when determination meets design. With just another coat of paint and a good clean-up, it will be perfect. Stay tuned for more photos next week—the best is yet to come! 😃 Ashwini Pradhan Devadathan Kannathussery Shaji #Deakin #Costahall

Aggressive forms of “hostile architecture” can be highly problematic contributing to social exclusion and enclaves. Marcus Foth, Nick Kelly and Skye Doherty argue that urban designers need to broaden their understanding of creativity if they are to design liveable, sustainable and equitable places to live and work. #urbandesign #creativedesignprudence #hostilearchitecture https://lnkd.in/gxSkkj4V

🏛️ In celebration of UCL’s 200th anniversary in 2026, Burwell Architects has been entrusted with reimagining the Wilkins’ Cloisters and Main Quad. The project will bring new life to these historic spaces, enhancing accessibility and creating a more inclusive and dynamic campus for students, staff, and visitors. With planning and listed building permissions now secured, we’re ready to embark on this exciting transformation! Burwell's bicentennial project at UCL will: 🌿 Enhance the Main Quad with improved accessibility, sustainable landscaping, and flexible spaces for events and everyday use. 🏫 Retrofit and reconnect the Grade I Listed Wilkins Building, including a new lift and circulation routes to improve accessibility. 🎨 Convert underutilised circulation areas into vibrant, multi-functional spaces for exhibitions, study, and events. 💬 Nicholas Burwell, Design Director, shares: "We have been entrusted with the reinvigoration of a set of spaces that will form a welcome to UCL Bloomsbury, creating an active, accessible, and open campus heart for students, staff, and visitors. The improvements in accessibility and environment will create a legacy of inclusion that respects the historic setting while embracing its future." Hannah Milner, Director of Capital Programme, UCL Estates, adds: "Creating multi-functional spaces for the UCL community is a core driver of this groundbreaking project. We’re excited to deliver a transformed campus heart in time for the Bicentennial celebrations." Works began in early 2024, with completion set for late 2025—just in time for UCL’s milestone year. Read more: https://bit.ly/4jzvvhg #UCL200 #BurwellArchitects #HeritageAndInnovation #CampusTransformation #SustainableDesign #Architecture #HigherEducation #PublicSpaces

Architects and planners in NYC are rethinking space to address urban challenges like affordability, accessibility, and community connection. Innovations include cantilevered apartments, mixed-use developments, and community-focused projects like The Eliza, which combines affordable housing with a library and cultural spaces. Projects like Sendero Verde in East Harlem integrate sustainability, green spaces, and community input, while new models, like community land trusts, offer alternative approaches to ownership. Architects are also engaging in policy reforms, such as addressing school inequities, to foster greater social cohesion. These efforts aim to create a more livable, equitable, and connected city.