Studio 3/02


Realising The Gap

Marti Fooks

Studio Description

‘The Gap,’ the winning entry for the Future Park Competition (2019), made a bold incision into Melbourne’s urban fabric, proposing that 9.3% of the inner north-west be converted into public open space. This 9.3% was generated by the decision to highlight and create discussions about social inequity but what form might ‘The Gap’ take if generated by other social, environmental, cultural and economic factors?

Studio Outcome

This studio will explore this question in two parts. Working in groups, students will document and critically analyse the existing and future projections for influential factors such as vegetation/biodiversity, housing stock, demographics, water and transport systems. These detailed studies will provide the foundation for interrogating ‘The Gap’s’ size, location, scale and function. In the second part of the studio, students must decide whether to continue to work with the gap’s location and develop its design or instead propose an alternative form and/or location. This studio will advance student’s ability to move from analysis and research into a speculative design proposition, along with graphic presentation skills.

Studio Leader

Marti Fooks has extensive experience both locally and internationally working on a number of highly acclaimed and complex projects including Perth's Yagan Square and Prahan Square, Melbourne. Marti’s skills range from conceptual thinking to project management but she is most well known for her design activism. As her ongoing passion for landscape architecture remains in its potential to advocate of equity, combat the climate crises and challenge the status quo.

Readings & References

Studio Mondays 12:00-18:15 in MSD Room 213

Contact Handbook

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Stop 1 provides enrolment and other support to Bachelor of Design, Bachelor of Environments and Melbourne School of Design students.