Research projects

Advancing new home sustainability through demand-side empowerment

Investigating homebuyer decision-making. Monitoring of energy efficiency and sustainability communication on volume home builder websites and social media.

Architecture and Industry: The migrant contribution to nation-building

Linking immigrant social histories to industrialisation through an explicitly spatial analysis, this project explores the post-war architectural, rural and industrial landscapes of Australia as shaped by the labour of displaced persons.

Australia/China Research Network on Planning Global City-Regions

A three-year Melbourne School of Design project is facilitating international research in global city-regions.

Australia’s new cities: past present and future

To conceptualise Australia’s urban future, we must not only look beyond metropolitan boundaries, but also to successful—and failed—past projects and visions for population relocation, placement, and growth.

Bauhaus Australia

Bauhaus Australia: Émigrés, Refugees and the Modernist Transformation of Education in Art, Architecture, and Design, 1930 to 1970

Building an Integrated System for Australian Bushfire Prevention

This project aims to work closely with researchers, practitioners, the community and Crime Stoppers to develop a comprehensive approach to prevent arson.

Campus: Building Modern Australian Universities

The commitment to the environmental quality of university campuses is central to the modern contemporary tertiary experience and represents a growing multi-million dollar public investment in higher education infrastructure.

Citizen Heritage: Digital and Community-based Histories of Place

This project explores new digital technologies to enhance the visibility of lesser-known precincts of urban heritage.

Community Activated Placemaking Spaces (CAPS)

The project harnesses community-based participatory research to evaluate existing use patterns of playgrounds and ancillary public spaces as intergenerational spaces to inform improved design for social inclusion and community wellbeing.

Cross-cultural analysis and capacity building in construction management

Practices focusing on housing and infrastructure sectors in Assam and Australia – An initiative of ‘Smart Villages” research

Development and trial of a low-carbon living co-benefits calculator

The aim of this project is to develop and trial a prototype low-carbon precinct co-benefits calculator for use by urban planners and designers.

Effects of feedback and incentive-based insurance on driving behaviours

The broader funded project is the first experimental study to examine the extent to which direct-feedback and incentive-based insurance modify a driver's behaviour.

Environmental Performance in Construction (EPiC)

Experiential, Adaptive Learning Tools for a Resilient Built Environment

Globally, the annual frequency of recorded disasters has increased fourfold since the 1960s. The effects of climate change, inappropriate use and management of natural and human made resources, have combined with increases in urban populations interacting with natural hazards.

Exploring the contribution of Indigenous Cultural Practices for Health and Wellbeing in Indigenous young people

This project is developing an Elder-led model of health care that includes reclamation of Indigenous cultural practices, guided by Indigenous artists, to improve mental health and wellbeing.

Improving Environmental Performance in Construction

Dr. Robert Crawford is the Chief Investigator on a 2015 ARC Discovery project, Improving the Environmental Performance of Australian Construction Projects.

Innovative Learning Environments and Teacher Change (ILETC)

An Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage Project funded for four years from 2016 to 2019 led by The University of Melbourne.

Integrating climate change adaptation and mitigation in built environments

This project aims to facilitate climate change adaptation and mitigation across Australia’s built environment: progressing climate change action, informing investment decisions and reducing harm and cost of climate change impacts.

An International Comparative Assessment On Public Transport Safety

A Case Study Of Metro Manila

Nested Phoenix: a multi-scale model for life cycle environmental performance in the built environment

This projects aims to develop one of the most advanced computer models to measure and improve life cycle environmental performance in the built-environment, across its scales, from construction materials, to cities.

Peripheral Centralities: Lost, Past, Present and Future

A series of four seminars exploring the role of suburban peripheries in the expansion of cities, and their perception in the public imagination.

Planning the driverless city

Autonomous vehicles may improve road safety, reduce car ownership, and reduce the need for parking. They may also entrench car dependency, encourage sprawl and shift investment away from vital public transport systems.

Parametric Adjustable Mould (PAM)

PAM is a computer numerically controlled (CNC) mould frame design which produces double curvature concrete panels.

Plans to Pedagogy

A research and consultancy project funded for three years from 2018 to 2020 led by The University of Melbourne.

Public transport safety for tertiary students

An international study

Global South Research and Pedagogy

ROOM: Digital design to fabrication in temporary accommodation options for youth homelessness

ROOM harnesses digital design to digital fabrication and building optimisation to produce a customised performance-efficient, low cost ‘self-build’ unit - offering training opportunity - in producing external living space as reusable temporary accommodation.

Safer cycling in the urban road environment

The study is the first comprehensive study in Australia that combines academic, government and community efforts to enhance cycling activity while addressing safety concerns.

Tourism development and local resilience: self-organisation and community empowerment perspectives

How can tourism development affect community resilience to natural hazards in different self-organisation and regulatory contexts? How should policy-making address these relationships?

Transforming Building Environmental Design

Buildings are responsible for significant environmental impacts. Only with considerable improvements to the design, construction and operation of buildings can ambitious national environmental goals be achieved.

Transforming Housing: Affordable Housing for All

Transforming Housing: Affordable Housing for All is an action-research project focused on influencing and supporting the transformation of the housing policy and delivery environment in Victoria.

Temporal Cities, Provisional Citizens: Architectures of Internment

The expedient design, assembly and erection of WWII internment facilities, and their subsequent transformation for post-war detention and commemoration has produced a legacy of camp environments associated with citizenship.

Urban planning for natural hazard mitigation

Integrating urban planning and disaster risk reduction

Wave Hill Walk Off Trail

The Wave Hill Walk Off Route is a National Heritage Listed site that is associated with the events that took place in 1966 -1975 which saw the Indigenous Gurindji people, led by Vincent Lingiari, take a stand against oppressive working conditions and maltreatment.

Wildfire Disaster Prevention, Preparedness, Response and Recovery in Coastal Tourist Destinations: the case of Wye River, Australia

From a regional resilience perspective, what were the outcomes of prevention, preparedness, response and recovery strategies in place for the 2015 Wye River wildfires? How does tourism help shape these?

Women in Transport Leadership in Australasia Knowledge Network

Creating knowledge, fostering partnerships and empowering women and women leaders in transport for positive change in Australasia

Innovation Infrastructure: Planning for Growth

This project aims to identify policy and practice actions to achieve effective innovation infrastructure planning in Australia.

AGORA works - Alex Selenitsch

AGORA works – exhibition by Alex Selenitch,Place Gallery Melbourne, 3 July to 27 July 2013.

A Browning Cabinet of Curiosities: Is Less More?

The Armstrong Browning Library at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, has the largest collection of material relating to the life and work of the husband and wife Victorian-era poets, Robert Browning (1812-1889) and Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861).

Amoonguna Transport Facilities

Shaping new community aspirations and furthering design capability

Anglican Church Grammar School New Generation Learning Spaces (NGLS) Project

A collaborative research initiative between Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie) and LEaRN at the University of Melbourne for seven years from 2010 to 2017.

Animating the Archive

The aim of this project is one of outreach to and engagement with cultural organisations to probe the future of innovative uptake of mobile and media technology.

Bellary Springs Community Centre

Partnering with communities to develop solutions

Belyuen Community Project

Partnering with communities to develop solutions

Building Health Hardware in Papua New Guinea

Sustainable facilities for improved health outcomes

Building with Drones

Experimenting a new ‘flying’ construction technique for cable-beam and tensile structures.

Climate Change Adaptation: Suitability Indices of Human Settlement Fire Vulnerability

Identifying and assessing bushfire risk to homes

Complex Adaptive Systems and Rule-Based Design

This project will foster collaborations between interdisciplinary research teams at The University of Melbourne and The University of Campinas in the general fields of architecture, urban design and computational modelling.

Designing Australian Schools: A Spatial History of Innovation, Pedagogy and Social Change

Designing Australia’s Schools is an historical, cross disciplinary study of innovations in the design of Australian primary and secondary schools across the twentieth century.

Designing for Wellbeing: Realizing Benefits for Patients through Best Practice Hospital Design

The environmental design of healthcare facilities has been shown to directly affect the wellbeing of patients and their families.

The Digital Provide

Can the use of mobile communication technologies improve the work and home life of construction site staff?

The effect of anticipatory modification on design

Evaluating housing adaptation grant programs for people with disabilities as drivers of innovation.

Encyclopedia of Australian Architecture

The first comprehensive reference text to be published on Australian architecture. Unique in its breadth and depth, and revealing new knowledge on architects, their buildings and the ways they designed and built them.

Equitable Outcomes in Adaptation to Sea Level Rise

Adapting to sea-level rise is a challenging but important task for communities and governments to navigate.

Evaluating 21st Century Learning Environments

The recent raft of educational capital works projects in Australia have developed a wide range of '21stC' learning environments.

fragrance permeates the garments - Alex Selenitsch

fragrance permeates the garments – exhibition by Alex Selenitch, Wunderlich Gallery, University of Melbourne, September 2014.

From principles to practical application: Developing and sustaining innovative educational practices in innovative learning environments

A partner-informed project funded for one year from 2012 to 2013 by LEaRN to understand how schools and universities might better align practice and space.

Future Cities Node Project

Cities play a key role in relation to low-carbon resilient futures. Although they occupy less than 2% of the earth’s land mass, cities now house over half of global population and contribute around 70-80% of greenhouse gas pollution.

The Future of Bicycle Transport in Urban China: a Case Study of Xi’an

This research aims to discover new knowledge and emerging business opportunities in the planning and development of bicycle transport in Chinese cities.

Future Proofing Schools

An Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage Project funded for three years from 2010 to 2012 led by the University of Melbourne.

Getting to Yes: Overcoming Barriers to Affordable Family Friendly Housing in the Central City

Examing the concepts of 'family-friendly' and 'affordable' in the context of the central city

Glass at Work

The construction industry has the reputation to innovate slowly in time. Technological retrospectives, therefore, have the potential to help to identify how strategic changes can affect the built environment.

Global supply chains, incomes and jobs

A preliminary analysis of the Australian construction industry.

Homestead Regeneration Project (SSEI Module 3 – Woodleigh School)

LEaRN commissioned project to apply the SSEI Evaluation Model (developed by researchers in the faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning) at two 'homesteads' at the Woodleigh School in 2013.

HORIZON works - Alex Selenitsch

HORIZON works – exhibition by Alex Selenitch, grahame galleries + editions, 26 October to 23 November 2013.

Hospital Corridors: the value of informal learning spaces

A partner-informed project funded by LEaRN for one year from 2013 to 2014 led by the University of Melbourne.

How Can Food Hubs Catalyse Healthy and Resilient Local Food Systems in Victoria?

Supporting sustainable farming and access to food

Indigenous Placemaking in Central Melbourne: Representations, Practices and Creative Research

Exploring the processes behind indigenous cultural placemaking

The Influence of Hospital Education Spaces on the Pedagogical Activities of Medical Students and Educators

LEaRN Commissioned Project funded by the University of Melbourne (Learning and Teaching Initiatives Grant) for one year from 2011 to 2012.

Intelligent Estimator

Leveraging on Artificial Intelligence Technology for Effective Forecasting and Management of the Cost of Building Services Elements at the Design stage of Building Projects

Intensifying Places: Transit-oriented Urban Design for Resilient Australian Cities

Future Scenarios for Transit-Oriented Urban Design

Landscape Assessment and Analysis of the Cooper Creek Catchment

Knowledge to inform sustainable management solutions

Level-crossing removals: learning from Melbourne’s experience

Getting the best from level-crossing removals in Melbourne.

LIFE/TEXT - Alex Selenitsch

Alex Selenitsch: LIFE/TEXT, curated by Linda Short at Heide II, Heide Museum of Modern Art, Melbourne. October 2015 - April 2016.

LIMINAL HOUSE - Alex Selenitsch

LIMINAL HOUSE, before & after… - exhibition by Alex Selenitsch, ALKF Gallery, MSD, Melbourne, July 2016.

Making Architectural Identity: The Architecture of John Andrews

Understanding the contemporary globalisation of architecture

Making Landscape Architecture in Australia

This book on the history of landscape architecture in Australia, the first of its kind, profiles the people who have shaped the nation's landscape.

Mapping embodied environmental impacts in the built environment

Cities and their building stocks result in significant environmental effects which are critical to reduce.

Mapping Melbourne's Peri-Urban Agricultural Land

Protecting land around Melbourne for food production.

Neonatal and Composting Ablutions Facility in Suanum, PNG

Building safer and healthier facilities for mothers, babies and the community

New Tools and Techniques for Learning in the Field

Enabling interactive learning in the field

PARLOUR: women, equity, architecture

Expanding the spaces for women in Australian architecture

PedCatch

Topographical accessibility modelling for people with mobility impairments

Performance Analysis of Cool Roof Products

Evaluating the effectiveness of cool roof coatings

Post Occupancy Evaluation of Learning Environments

A partner-informed project funded by LEaRN from 2011 to 2012 before evolving into a commissioned project funded by the Catholic Education Office Melbourne from 2012 to 2013.

Procuring innovation or triggering fragmentation?

A multiple case-study analysis of the interactions between construction design and façade specialist sub-contractors in Australia.

Renewable energy for carbon neutral cities

Feasibility of solar, wind and biomass for sustainable energy landscape planning in Victoria

Review of Standard Entitlement Frameworks for Schools & School Site Size and Outdoor Space Requirements (including Special Schools & Special Developmental Schools)

Commissioned research project for the Department of Education and Training, State of Victoria from 2015 to 2016.

ROAD TO BOURKE - Alex Selenitsch

ROAD TO BOURKE - exhibition by Alex Selenitsch, grahame galleries + editions, Brisbane, November/December 2017.

Seacombe West – Australia’s First Regenerative Community

The Seacombe West site is significantly degraded as a result of salt water entering the Gippsland Lakes system in the late 1800s.

Smart Green Schools

An Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage Project funded for three years from 2008 to 2011 led by the University of Melbourne.

Southern Cities Research Centre

The SCRC is a multi-institutional, multi-disciplinary research centre with hubs in Brazil and Australia.

Towards Effective Learning Environments in Catholic Schools (TELE)

A collaborative research initiative between Catholic Education Melbourne (CEM) and LEaRN at the University of Melbourne for three years from 2015 to 2017.

Transit for All: Better Stations and Access Infrastructure

This research program addresses one of the most challenging questions facing Australian cities - namely; how to substantially improve public transport facilities, and get ever-larger numbers of travelers onto and away from transit efficiently and comfortably, without over-reliance on costly and outdated park-and-ride approaches.

Translational Briefing: Footscray Learning Precinct Case Study

Commissioned research project for the Department of Education and Training, State of Victoria to prepare a Translational Brief for the Footscray Learning Precinct in 2017.

Travelling Together: Disability Inclusive Road Development in Papua New Guinea

Road infrastructure is a recognised approach to poverty reduction in developing countries, through improving community access to essential services, social networks and economic opportunities.

Rapid Sky-View Factor Modelling using Global Illumination

This project aims to respond to the growing issue of heat retention in dense urban centres – urban heat island effect (UHI) and the associated heat related morbidity, by developing a new analysis model.

Victorian Eco Innovation Lab

The Victorian Eco-Innovation Lab (VEIL) was a research-design-action group focused on innovation for more sustainable and resilient future cities. It was an interdisciplinary group whose work engaged with and embedded in industry, government and communities.

Visions, Scenarios and Pathways for Low-Carbon Resilient Futures in Australian Cities

The aim of this project is to explore and articulate visions, scenarios and pathways for a low carbon and resilient built environment in Australia.

Visualising an Irresistible Future

Imagining an Irresistible and Sustainable Future using Film and Testing Behavioural and Attitudinal Shifts in a School Community