Jury comment
The transformation of Southbank Boulevard seized an opportunity to prioritise space for pedestrians, cyclists, and public transport. Designers working with multiple state authorities and more than 50 stakeholder institutions worked to imagine how 22,000 m² of space liberated from vehicles could offer more to its community.
Five new civic spaces have been created that offer a variety of outdoor space types and uses. Site-wide strategies explore ecological objectives including soil, indigenous vegetation, and water-sensitive urban design. A new urban forest canopy has increased urban resilience and is supported by understorey planting to create biodiversity corridors linking parkland to river.
The team describes the design process as one of ‘courageous innovation.’ Amongst its innovations, the project has delivered a pilot green tram track, in conjunction with Yarra Trams, and a much-loved artist play space that tests the boundaries of existing regulatory limits. As Australian cities are asked to accommodate increasing densities, the transformation of Southbank Boulevard demonstrates that streets become the setting for vibrant and sustainable community life when they are appropriately valued and well designed
Southbank Boulevard is located in Naarm/Melbourne on the land of the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung peoples of the Kulin Nation.
To view all the winners of the 2024 Australian Urban Design Awards, go here.
