Re-imagining our regional towns: A case study of Bairnsdale Tim Biles, Message Consultants Australia Urban Design Conference, Melbourne, 2012
Mar 31, 2015
Re-imagining our regional towns:A case study of Bairnsdale
Tim Biles, Message Consultants AustraliaUrban Design Conference, Melbourne, 2012
reimaginingbairnsdale.com
Regional context
Gippsland Lakes
Bairnsdale
Reduction in public life in the core
Attachment to the motor car
Public spaces remain largely vacant after 5pm
Diversity and authenticity vs. standardisation
Meeting the challenges
Roads & carparks
Buildings
Open spaces & footpaths
Main St gardensNicholson St MallLibrary
Catalyst projects
Main Street Gardens
Main Street gardens
Main Street gardens
Nicholson Street Mall
Nicholson Street Mall
Bairnsdale Library
New library design by NOW Architects
Extending the walkability through connections
Existing links
Desired links
Through-shop links
Linking key assets
Bairnsdale Railway Station
The grand boulevard
City grid comparison
Perimeter block path vs mid block path
200m
90m
200m
90m
Campbells Centreway Arcade
Paper Chase outdoor café
Rear of Paper Chase bookshop & café (facing lane)
Laneway access to Nicholson St and river beyond
Loss of connection to the river
Mitchell River
Encouraging new approaches to activity - busking
Outdoor concerts
Temporary space – Joost cafe
Temporary use - Section 8 bar, Melbourne
“…After the assistant Surveyor’s provision of ample
tempting space [in Main St], one can wrongly
suspect the town of perpetual poverty, and uneasily
of poverty of imagination.
Generations of citizens seem to have missed a
point and misused a heritage and an
opportunity.” (Hal Porter)