705-313 Participatory Planning Practice

Planners are integral in the process of designing, reviewing and approving new housing developments. This subject explores the challenges of creating new communities in three contexts: the inner city, the middle suburbs and the fringe. Through a workshop format students will respond to a set of requirements for each of these areas within metropolitan Melbourne with site analysis and preliminary layouts. These three exercises will highlight the complex nature of developing new residential areas and the need for planners to understand and critically evaluate housing proposals. The semester will conclude with a discussion of the three geographical contexts in relation to state housing policies and the possibilities for their implementation through schemes such as those prepared by the class.

At the completion of the subject the student will be able to:

• conduct analysis of factors affecting and affected by housing developments

• synthesise such analysis through systematic site designs for new housing

• understand different housing responses in varying urban contexts across metropolitan areas

• recognise the challenges and opportunities for state government to develop comprehensive housing policies.

Three written group reports accompanied by plans and oral presentations (30% each), individual participation (10%).