Architecture, Building and Planning - Theses

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Access, participation, and inclusion: the gender-disability-violence-service planning nexus and the role of integrated planning policy in addressing the right to adequate services

Yon, Alicia Prisca ( 2023-06)

This thesis is built around the help-seeking experiences of women with disabilities facing violence in peri-urban Australia; their socio-spatial barriers to mainstream social services; and how an integrated policy approach, including the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), could improve their access to those services. I invoke several human rights-based theoretical imperatives that support the argument that all humans, irrespective of their identity, are entitled to certain inalienable rights that enable them to participate fully in everyday life. These include the ‘right to the city’ (Lefebvre, 1996/1968), ‘intersectionality’ (Crenshaw, 1989) and ‘just diversity’ (Fincher & Iveson, 2008) to conceptualise an integrated policy framework to address the interlocking inequalities of gender and disability as compounded by violence and locational disadvantage. My narrative unfolds through an examination of one of the NDIS trial sites (Barwon) in a peri-urban setting in the State of Victoria, Australia. I specifically explore how the NDIS reliance on its service interface and partnerships can drive an integrated approach to the design and delivery of violence response services. I employed a multi-method approach involving policy diagnoses and interviews. My findings revealed a mismatch between need and service provision and confirmed a lack of consideration of non-physical barriers and diversity in service planning. The main themes derived from my empirical analyses (broader access, holistic integration and transformative representation) were paired with my theoretical themes (recognition, redistribution and participation) to establish the right to the reimagined peri-urban city for producing counter-space to exclusion. I argue against the right to the city’s universalism in favour of a relational and targeted approach. Shifting current planning thought, discourse and practice from abstract homogenous constructions of the female disabled body to a fuller understanding of its complexities and associated oppressions (violence) and discrimination (locational disadvantage) and their relationship to access is fundamental to achieving the right to the reimagined peri-urban city.
Public transport and disruptive technology. How the past shapes future urban possibilities

Lawrie, Iain James ( 2023-07)

Emerging new mobilities innovations in ‘Mobility as a Service’ (MaaS) and connected autonomous vehicles (CAVs) have the potential to disrupt existing public transport systems. Key literature suggests societal outcomes will be optimised where public transport is integrated with these new technologies to maintain a core role in a city’s transport offering; a ‘transit-fusion’. However, capacity to implement such policies differ significantly; cities are constrained by their past choices. Equally, fleets of private autonomous vehicles may offer very low-cost travel, complicating efforts to integrate the mode with public transport. The principal aim of this study is thus to understand how MaaS and ultimately fully independent CAVs may impact public transport in different city typologies. The research uses an adapted multivalent path dependence framework, addressing the research aim by considering the trajectory of three distinct urban typologies: Los Angeles, Singapore and Melbourne. The multivalent approach suggests outcomes will be influenced by an interplay of technical built form infrastructure, institutional governance arrangements and discursive ‘storylines’ held by policy actors. Historic and contemporary data on technical and institutional elements was gathered from documentary sources. Discursive data was gathered through interviews with policy actors in each city. Los Angeles and Singapore were selected as ‘critical’ cases, representing ‘least’ and ‘most’ likely cities to successfully implement ‘transit fusion’ approaches. Melbourne was selected as a representative case. The findings suggest that path dependent urban forms, governance and ‘storylines’ will have substantial influence over how MaaS and CAVs may emerge and interact with public transport. MaaS presents as a problematic approach, offering little advantage over the dominant existing modes in each city. The market for multi-modal MaaS is limited by public transport which is insufficient in Los Angeles and Melbourne and by transit which is too good in Singapore. MaaS, with current technologies is thus likely to have limited impact on public transport in these typologies – although it may have success elsewhere. However, the advent of fully independent CAVs has potential for disruptive change to public transport. This is facilitated by a complementarity between pre-existing infrastructure supporting private vehicles and the needs of CAVs. In this context, for ‘transit-fusion’ outcomes to succeed, clear alignment of institutional and discursive support is required. On balance this alignment was seen in Los Angeles and Singapore, but less so in Melbourne.
Comparison of measured and perceived fundamental characteristics to identify strategies for increasing the rate of daily walking in suburban areas

Panawannage, Thanuja Dilrucshi Nandapala ( 2020-07)

Future cities will increasingly face health, socio-economic and environmental problems, including disease, social isolation, economic breakdown, excessive carbon dioxide emissions, climate change, and fossil fuel depletion. The planning and design of neighbourhoods which provide high levels of pedestrian accessibility to daily needs destinations such as schools, grocery shops, greenspaces and public transport could contribute to solutions to these problems by the reduction of car-based travel. Future cities need to be walkable based on solutions that can be achieved through better planning and design which takes into consideration accessibility as well as Key Urban Place Characteristics (KUPCs). The author considers walkability to be formed by two factors: the first, accessibility, is the distance to daily needs destinations, and the second is KUPCs, the safety and security, comfort, and attractiveness of the walk to those daily needs’ destinations. Although many suburban neighbourhoods in Melbourne have good access to daily needs, people who live in these areas often choose to drive to their destinations rather than walk. This may be due to negative perceptions of the place and the lack of fundamental place characteristics. The aim of this research is to identify strategies to increase rates of daily walking based on an understanding of the relationship between urban place characteristics and accessibility in suburban neighbourhoods. Therefore, the author has chosen four case studies; two international best practice case studies to validate a theoretical framework obtained from the best practice literature, and an in-depth examination of two local case studies in Melbourne using the validated theoretical framework to assess the scale of walkability in the most accessible areas in selected suburban samples. Both quantitative and qualitative methods are used in this study, in keeping with a sequential explanatory design mixed-method approach. Data collection was conducted using mapping, urban informatics, desktop analysis, field observations of KUPCs, and face-to-face interviews with residents. The analysis of walking-related values using key research studies provided opportunities to reveal the most important characteristics needed for walking to daily needs in the case studies. These results were used to identify strategies for increasing the rate of daily walking in suburban areas.
Yard trees in a small to medium sized city in China

Zhang, Ang ( 2023-05)

This study is the first investigation of trees in private yards in China. Physical characteristics, rural-urban variation, impact factors, individual preferences, and governance regarding private yard trees were addressed in a combination of fieldwork, questionnaires among residents, and interviews with local governors. Six villages and two communities were examined for yard trees in Zhoukou, a city classified as a small-to-medium city. Trees in private yards were small trees constrained by a generally small-sized yard. There was a decline in the number of private yards and a decline in yard trees from rural to urban areas; however, residents and governors showed supportive attitudes towards more planting of yard trees. A small number of species dominated the yard landscape, and they were related to edibility and the symbolism of the tree. Interviews with governors of the villages showed that yard trees should be better protected, especially in rural areas. Although small in size, yards in small and medium-sized cities contribute to the city canopy and the urban forest and there is a need to foster public awareness about the value of trees and tree planting on a wider scale. This study showed that trees in private yards need to be included in decision making. Governments could set specific aims and strategies for both private and public greenspace to enhance urban greening; for example, there is a need to compensate the small number and limited range of species found in private yards with large trees and a greater range of species in public space, especially native species, to enhance species diversity in Chinese cities.
Institutionalising governance experiments in cities that lack a metropolitan government: Lessons learnt from 100 Resilient Cities initiative in Melbourne, Sydney, and Christchurch

Nguyen, Thi Minh Phuong ( 2023-07)

This thesis investigates the institutionalisation of governance experiments, specifically focusing on the context of cities that lack a metropolitan government. The thesis draws upon the 100 Resilient Cities [100RC] network as the primary context of research. It employs a qualitative research methodology with the application of a multiple-case study research design, focusing on the three case studies of Living Melbourne (Resilient Melbourne), Resilient Sydney, and Resilient Greater Christchurch as governance experiments initiated via the 100RC network. To address the aim of this research, a novel analytical framework is developed, drawing upon the sustainability transitions literature. This framework centres on the notion of 'beyond experiments' and two key conceptual foundations: the role of urban governance context (specifically cities lacking a metropolitan government) and the role of city networks. The framework is subsequently applied to analyse the selected case studies, providing empirical evidence for the research. This research finds that the institutionalisation of governance experiments occurs in cities that lack a metropolitan government by generating lasting changes within urban governance, particularly around two key domains: ways of thinking and ways of organising. However, it argues that most changes generated via institutionalisation are predominantly incremental and reformistic in nature. They are rarely sufficiently transformative to bring about substantial urban sustainability transitions. In addition, this research identifies key factors that influence the extent of institutionalisation, which include: (1) existing metropolitan governance conditions (with the absence of a metropolitan government), (2) internal conditions of governance experiments, and (3) city networks (albeit to a limited degree). This research concludes that governance experiments can support the development of new approaches to urban sustainability. Nevertheless, the institutionalisation of these experiments requires considerable governance commitment, leadership, and collaborative efforts to embed these new approaches.
A study of housing affordability for knowledge workers in Beijing’s science park

Li, Zhiyuan ( 2023-06)

The significance of the knowledge economy in boosting innovation and local economic growth has attracted wide attention. More importantly, knowledge workers support the knowledge economy with their creative and innovative insights. As a result, regions with a knowledge-based development agenda are attracting the most valuable asset in the 21st century—knowledge workers—through various strategies. At the urban level, as a critical platform for the development of knowledge economy, science parks agglomerate a large number of knowledge-based economic activities and knowledge workers. Although this agglomeration could promote regional growth through innovation, it may also lead to an increase in land/housing prices, which can impose housing affordability and livability challenges on knowledge workers. However, current studies on knowledge economy and science parks mainly focus on innovative and economic performance, downplaying housing affordability issues. Hence, this research aims to explore the situation and impact of knowledge workers’ housing affordability situation. Specifically, four research questions are raised: 1) What is the scale of housing affordability affecting knowledge workers; 2) What is the divergence of knowledge workers in terms of housing affordability and residential preferences; 3) What are the housing impacts on knowledge workers’ productivity; 4) What are the policy responses to knowledge workers’ housing issues and their limitations. To address these questions, this research developed conceptual and analytical frameworks based on a synthesis of theories on agglomeration, science parks, knowledge workers and housing affordability. Furthermore, this research selected three science parks in Beijing, a highland of China’s high technology development, as study cases because knowledge workers there are grappling with high housing prices. Both quantitative and qualitative research methods were employed to explore these research questions. The quantitative methods included questionnaire surveys and archival records analysis, while the qualitative methods encompassed semi-structured interviews, documentary analysis and direct observation. 487 valid questionnaires were obtained from knowledge workers, and 29 semi-structured interviews were conducted with knowledge workers, government officials, and science park operators. The quantitative analysis elucidates the overall housing affordability challenges faced by knowledge workers in Beijing, providing a foundation for a comprehensive comparative investigation among different types of knowledge workers based on their job categories, family compositions and sites of work Furthermore, this research statistically demonstrated the correlation between housing and productivity and identified housing supports available for knowledge workers. This study has found that most knowledge workers do not have housing affordability problems when considering their income in relation to housing costs. However, this is the result of sacrificing non-housing expenses and housing needs. Moreover, knowledge workers in Beijing show different housing preference patterns from those depicted in Florida's creative class theory, and the questionnaire survey results indicate that the needs of knowledge workers for education, neighborhood relationships, and community activities are not being well met. Secondly, there indeed exist differences in housing affordability and housing preference among different knowledge workers, which questions the assumption of 'homogeneity' of knowledge workers or the creative class. Thirdly, housing can influence knowledge workers' working time, work efficiency, innovation, and social opportunities through commuting, living conditions, residence location, and affordability. This finding bridges the gap between housing and the productivity of knowledge workers. Fourthly, knowledge workers in Beijing can obtain various types of housing support, among which talent public rental housing and shared-ownership housing are the main in-kind subsidies, and rent is the primary monetary subsidy. The limitations of these policies are also identified.
Exploring Perceptions of Urban Leftover Spaces and their Multifunctional Possibilities: The Neighbourhood Perspective

Denipitiya, Dulani Nadeesha ( 2023-07)

Rapid urban development and urbanisation have resulted in various types of underutilised or formally neglected land, referred to as urban leftover spaces. While they project a negative impression, the literature has identified positive social and ecological implications of such spaces, particularly in urban neighbourhoods, as valuable resources for local communities. However, the significance of leftover spaces at the neighbourhood level and residents’ relationship with these spaces, particularly in developing countries, remains unclear. This research explored different types of leftover spaces and how residents perceived them within four urban neighbourhoods in the Kirulapone precinct of Colombo, Sri Lanka. It aimed to better understand these spaces and their potential based on an exploratory, bottom-up approach through a perception-based framework. The study adopted a mixed methodology, which included field reconnaissance, projective mapping, focused interviews and photo elicitation using the photo Q-sort method. These methods were used to identify neighbourhoods and leftover spaces within them, explore residents’ perceptions of the associated landscape features and assess their preferences to inform potential treatment. Residents’ knowledge of the physical environment and social networks primarily influenced how they conceptualised their neighbourhood areas and boundaries. Although seven types of leftover spaces were identified in Kirulapone, the four most commonly defined by residents lacked formal development and stewardship. These spaces encouraged informal uses, which reflected an ambiguity in residents’ distinction between the public and private domains. Such spaces were perceived as unclean or unsafe and typically had distinct visual qualities attributed to the effects of informal uses and unintended vegetation. However, the spaces with vegetation and features that could afford recreational opportunities were most preferred, while messy and polluted spaces were the least preferred. Residents’ socio-demographic conditions also influenced their preferences. Further, three perceptual dimensions underlying residents’ preferences revealed perception related to the degree of cleanliness, naturalness and defined use in such spaces, reflecting residents’ evaluations for potential improvement based on aesthetic quality and utilitarian values. Overall, their perceptions highlighted inherent values that need to be considered in treating these spaces and ecological and socio-cultural attributes that can be addressed to benefit the local community. The findings suggest multifunctional treatment and management can be explored in these leftover spaces to serve diverse community needs and various socio-cultural, ecological, economic and aesthetic functions. Potential improvements of these spaces include introducing recreational amenities, enhancing their ecological value, integrating existing community functions, aesthetic improvement and more formally programmed uses. This thesis contributes a bottom-up approach that design professionals and local authorities can adopt to instigate community engagement in informing the treatment of leftover spaces. Thus, it promotes a nuanced understanding of such spaces and their potential to create more sustainable and socially responsive neighbourhood spaces for the future.
A technology acceptance framework for the adoption of Construction 4.0

Perera, Colombapatabendige Savindi Ranthika ( 2023-06)

Information technology (IT) integrated with cyber-physical systems (CPS) has been the principal component of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, also called Industry 4.0. In the construction context, this change has been termed Construction 4.0 and irrespective of the benefits of adopting these technologies, most have yet to be readily accepted for use in the construction industry (CI). Construction 4.0 impacts both construction practices and processes and, thus, how people work. Many challenges affect the uptake of Construction 4.0, and despite extensive research on the potential use of these new technologies, their implications for people within construction are widely unconsidered. This research developed a Technology Acceptance Framework for construction firms to adopt Construction 4.0. The theory of contingent authority innovation adoption was selected as the foundation for developing the conceptual framework, which also incorporated the technology-organisation-environment (TOE) framework and technology acceptance model (TAM). These theories suggest that technology acceptance and adoption in an organisation occurs in primary and secondary stages, in which both management and end-users are involved in the adoption process. Eighty-eight published journal articles (in English) within the Scopus database were systematically reviewed to develop the conceptual framework. The analysis identified twelve factors influencing the management’s intention, and under secondary adoption, twenty factors influenced the perceived ease of use (PEOU), and seventeen factors affected the perceived usefulness (PU). An iterative qualitative approach was adopted to verify and validate the conceptual framework. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants from construction company’s management, technology developers and construction project participants in Australia. The findings were content analysed using NVivo 12 software. Four specific contributions were made to the conceptual framework. These include: 1. the principal factor influencing the management’s intention was the perceived need to adopt the technology, 2. the role of pilot projects, particularly where technologies were complex, 3. the involvement of the technology provider in the technology acceptance and adoption process, and 4. the end-user perspective with twenty-six factors influencing the PEOU and nineteen factors affecting the PU, including eight previously unidentified influential factors. This study makes four significant contributions to the field of technology acceptance and adoption in the construction industry. Firstly, the study provides insights into the management’s technology acceptance rationale for adopting Construction 4.0-related technologies. Secondly, the impact of company attributes such as culture, firm’s age, size, annual turnover, etc., on the decision and the resources required. This evaluation can guide construction firms in positioning themselves within the industry and identify the issues to consider when adopting technology. Thirdly, the study highlighted the significance of collaborations with technology providers in developing technology for the construction industry. Fourthly, the importance of the user perspective on technology acceptance and adoption was identified and can be leveraged by the management to ensure that users optimally use technologies. This research also contributes to construction practice by highlighting the importance of the management, users and technology providers in technology acceptance and adoption and contributes practical insights for construction firms looking to adopt Construction 4.0 successfully.
From Environmental Data to Landscape Design: Responding to urban heat in inner city Melbourne

Walls, Wendy Laurel ( 2023-05)

External site design is traditionally the domain of landscape architecture and urban design, yet the challenges of climate change in inner urban projects require joint expertise from the sciences, engineering, planning, architecture, and landscape architecture. Despite the increasing need for collaboration, little research examines how these diverse disciplinary values, methodologies, and knowledge come together in the design of the built environment. With a focus on Melbourne, Australia, a city known for its fluctuating climate, this thesis addresses this gap through an interrogation of the multi-disciplinary processes which inform the conceptualisation of designing for urban heat. Part One (chapters 2-4) comprises an extensive literature review tracing the development of environmental data, simulation, and thermal sensation research. This section documents the major theoretical and technical drivers influencing how architects, landscape architects and engineers conceptualise and engage with thermal conditions for designing external urban space. Part Two (chapters 5-7) then turns to the challenges of designing for heat in the unique climate of Melbourne, Australia. Chapter five establishes the core models of built environment interdisciplinarity and further draws on theory from social and political geography to highlight the influence of institutional, sociological, and epistemic values in shaping how disciplines come together in response to complex problems like urban heat. These values provide the analytical lens for exploring the policy and design case studies in the final two chapters. Chapter six focuses on the evolution of climate policy related to heat in inner Melbourne, where the institutional response, aided by the rise of digital tools, has shifted from risk assessment towards collaborative planning models, followed by design guidelines and tools. Chapter seven focuses on a major built project that foregrounds the landscape's value and addresses urban heat in the initial project proposal. This final analysis traces the evolution of that project through the design brief, interviews with designers and the constructed outcome. This study reveals layers of misalignment from policy to practice, which shape how urban heat is addressed in external site design. Fragmentation of the Australian climate governance structure and the adoption of loading-dock models privilege science in policy development and contribute to persistent implementation gaps between research priorities, policy-led ambitions, and design in the competitive built environment industry. In all contexts, the role of external space is overloaded with competing demands, from climatic and ecological performance to community engagement, social programming and functional concerns like access and maintenance. Finally, this thesis demonstrates that while technology, simulation, and data provide more knowledge and tools for working with the complex conditions of urban heat, it cannot be assumed that they offer the answer. Instead, institutional frameworks, power dynamics and conflicting disciplinary values continue to shape the success of policy and design in addressing the demands of climate change.
Parks, promenades, prosceniums, and piazzas: performance and performativity in the designed public spaces of Melbourne, 1850-2000

Naidoo, Thirunesha ( 2023-02)

Despite the extensive scholarship dedicated to the history of Melbourne’s public realm, there are few studies which consider a spectrum of designed public spaces in relation to their changing social context. (Designed public spaces are dedicated areas within the public realm purposefully shaped around social relations). Architectural histories of public places usually concentrate on the creators, their intent, and architectural form without necessarily examining the range of social practices or behaviours over time. Paradoxically, these destabilising socio-historical processes are key to understanding how design might shape better social and civic outcomes— especially when considering the limitations of historical antecedents. Rather than focusing on why public spaces fail in comparison to these normative models, more research is needed on how valued public spaces work as a social reality. This thesis aims to understand more about the design, use and meaning of public space by employing a version of Lefebvre’s spatial triad as a framework to analyse a range of case studies in central Melbourne, from 1850 to 2000. It focuses on how spatial form is crafted by individual or successive designers in relation to fluid or conflicting expectations, perceptions, values, and practices to produce resilient yet meaningful places. The research project draws on several social theories to discuss the findings including Jeremy Benthem’s panoptic model for self-disciplining subjects, Walter Benjamin’s “flaneur,” Richard Sennett’s open city concept, James Fredal’s idea of mutual visibility, Sharon Zukin’s conceptualisation of civil society, and performative theories by Judith Butler and Lisa Henry-Benham. All examined architectural frontages, thresholds and open spaces demonstrated coherent design responses to known spatial practices and conflicts, however, the better examples incorporated theatral space. Theatral designs guided attention towards co-performers in shared space, or towards performers on open, accessible stages framed by architectural prosceniums, landscapes or panoramas. Such spatial arrangements enhanced desirable social performances and simultaneously constrained “performativity” (repeated, unexpected acts which could subvert or consolidate space). In this thesis, I argue that by encoding public spaces for a select set of performances, and a degree of performativity through theatral approaches, designers could establish a basis from which to calibrate built form for evolving social norms, new visitors and shifting spatial practices. Recasting designed public space in this light enables architects and historians to move beyond the assumption that public space is static setting for a stable public. More significantly, this study develops the idea of theatral space which design practitioners might find useful for creating more enduring and successful public places.

Architecture, Building and Planning - Theses

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