Mobility Design Hub

How will we get around in the City of Short Distances?

The Mobility Hub was conducted in December 08 and January 09, and was informed by research from the GAMUT symposium that featured international transport expert Prof. John Whitelegg. The symposium investigated slow transport, public transport and behaviour change; our design investigations were situated within these fields.  We were particularly interested in exploring the interconnections and spaces between slow transport and public transport.

Once again, the visions were positioned in 2032.  Mobility in 2032 included the premise that Melbourne has had to develop a more localised way of life (i.e. more access to local services / food / health / education / more localised work facilities), and that any activities that do not take place within 2 – 5 km are reached via a rapid public transport system.
We were not designing cars out of the system but rather proposing that peak oil had happened and petrol was in excess of $5.00 a litre; thereby hoping to encourage students to be system- as well as object- (car) focused.

The guiding assumptions of the Hub were that mobility and transport in Melbourne 2032 would be networked and decentralised; include some metro (mostly) rapid transport, and involve the majority of trips being taken within a 2km – 5km radius (freight and passengers).

The design workshop also referenced VEIL research and reporting on haulage and freight systems.  Several Design Studios resulted from the work done in the Mobility Hub, and the Grid, Corridor & Field exhibition included work from the Mess.Everyday Babylon studio.

Studio Participants included:

  • Selby Coxon, Monash University, Industrial Design
  • Mark Richardson, Monash University, Industrial Design
  • Kate Bissett-Johnson, Swinburne University, Industrial Design
  • Mark Strachan, Swinburne University, Systems & Services Design
  • Blair Kuys, Swinburne University, Product Engineering Design
  • Simon Curlis, RMIT University, Industrial Design
  • Malte Wagenfeld, RMIT University, Industrial Design
  • Simon Wollan, University of Melbourne, Architecture
  • Ammon Beyerle, University of Melbourne, Architecture
  • Ian Woodcock, University of Melbourne, Architecture
  • Michael Trudgeon, Crowd Productions
  • GAMUT Post-graduate Researchers
  • Chris Loader, Bus Association Victoria

Workshop Design & Facilitation:  Dianne Moy

Assistant: Kate Archdeacon