Thesis Studio 01

Studio 1: The Future (Pandemic) Park 2.0

Jillian Walliss

Studio Description

In 2019, ABP ran the Future Park competition, challenging designers to consider how factors such as climate change, shifting demographics, Reconciliation and biodiversity, would influence the design of open space in Melbourne 2050. Missing from this list of considerations was the impact of a global pandemic. This studio revisits the challenges of Future Park competition, within the context of the longer-term consequence of COVID.

Studio Outcomes

First, as a studio group, we will analyse the 120 entries received as part of the Future Park competition to identify the strategies and tactics proposed for procuring land for new open space. This will be developed into a common ‘toolbox’ of approaches. Second, each student will select a strategy/tactic to explore in the Melbourne context. This will be the starting point for an open space design that explores the opportunities and challenges presented by the COVID pandemic.

Studio Leader

Jillian Walliss is an Associate Professor in landscape architecture at the University of Melbourne. Her research explores the relationship between theory, culture, and contemporary design practice. She has published widely, including the award-winning book Landscape Architecture and Digital Technologies: Re-conceptualising Design and Making (2016) with Heike Rahmann. She is the co-editor of the forthcoming book The Big Asian Book of Landscape Architecture which will be published by Jovis in Nov 2020.

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