Studio 13

Supercity

Benjamin Lau

Studio Description

Around 7 billion people, two-thirds of the world population will be living in cities by 2050. In 1990, there were just 10 urban centres of over 10 million inhabitants worldwide. Today we have 33 megacities and will rise to 43 by 2030.

At the turn of this century when Melbourne decided to densify mainly within the Hoddle Grid and South Bank by developing upwards rather than expanding outwards, we have been experiencing the fastest urban densification in Australia's history.

Students will experience the challenges of urban densification faced by most architects and urban designers nowadays. Supercity is a SELF-SUSTAINABLE MULTI-FUNCTIONAL ZERO-CARBON hypothesis project located at half of a city block within the central Melbourne's Hoddle Grid.

Studio Outcome

This thesis studio will design to the highest permissible FAR of 18:1 without comprising our urban environment and the quality of architecture. Critical issues due to rapid urbanisation will be identified through research and in-depth discussion, meanwhile design methodology and modern technology will be explored to overcome these. Dense development does not necessary mean starting from ground zero, we should respect the local culture of our place and our rich history.

The structure of this studio will be in two parts:

MASTERPLAN by a group of 4

Space Positive Urban Design | Pattern Movement | Public Realm | 24/7 Mixed Use | Transport Integration | Place Making | Conservation

ARCHITECTURE by Individual

Contextual | Cultural | Sustainable | Multi-functional

Studio Leader

Benjamin Lau is a Design Partner of Farrells who has led many key projects of the practice in the Asia Pacific region. Farrells is renowned for place-making and sensitivity to public realm. Working between the Farrells offices in London, Hong Kong and Australia for over twenty years, he is specialised in mixed-use urban design, integrated complexes and transportation. Time after time, Benjamin's deft combination of cultural sensitive architecture and public realm sensitive urban design has produced mixed-use destinations renowned for vitality, beauty and multifaceted complexity

Readings & References

• Shaping London - Sir Terry Farrell
• 10 things to know about the impacts of urbanisation - ODI
• Unlocking Melbourne's CBD - URBIS
• Sustainable Urbanism: Urban Design with Nature - Douglas Farr
• Kowloon Transport Super City - Terry Farrell & Partners
• Cities without Ground, a guidebook to Hong Kong's elevated walkways - Adam Frampton Jonathan D. Solomon & Clara Wong
• 2040 film - Damon Gameau
• Rapid Urbanisation and Urban Resilience - UNSW https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbJg62zvEC0
• Urbanization and the future of cities - Vance Kite https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKnAJCSGSd

Schedule Mondays 15:15-18:15 in MSD Room 241 and Fridays 15:15-18:15 in MSD Room 141

Contact Handbook Key Dates