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‘Bumping spaces’ build community – when they are within reach

Social connection needs time and effort, but crucially it also needs meeting places, and our Map of the Month highlights that not all Melburnians have equal access to these ‘bumping spaces’

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Design

From urban planning to the architecture of the built environment, the structure and function of our surroundings can influence all aspects of human life.

  1. 30 June 2023 – Asia, COVID-19, Employment, Global South, Work

    The COVID cost for Asia’s informal workers

    A new book from the University of Melbourne investigates the ravages of the COVID-19 impact on people in the informal economy across Southeast and South Asia

  2. 15 June 2023 – Cities, Infrastructure, London, Urban Planning, Water Management

    ‘Invisible’ infrastructure is the background to our modern lives

    They are critical to urban life, but we don’t often think about infrastructures. We should, says a new book from University of Melbourne researchers

  3. 7 June 2023 – Apartments, Architecture, Public Housing, Social Justice, Urban Design

    The future of our public housing towers

    Clever refurbishments of Melbourne’s ageing public housing towers instead of demolition could save millions of dollars, say University of Melbourne researchers

  4. 2 May 2023 – Homeless, Protest, Protest Movements, Urban Design, Urban Planning

    Bendigo Street and occupation as protest

    The Bendigo Street Occupation shows housing activists and local governments can better work together for housing justice, say University of Melbourne experts.

  5. 24 April 2023 – Animals, Architecture, Building and Planning, Design, Urban Ecology

    Design for (all) life

    Humans create most designs for themselves but can and should create spaces that benefit all forms of life, say University of Melbourne experts.

  6. 9 February 2023 – Architecture, Cities, Poverty, Urban Design, Urban Planning

    Upholding the human rights of Manila’s urban poor

    University of Melbourne researchers and grassroots networks in Manila are supporting the health and livelihood of the ‘urban poor’ for a post-pandemic recovery

  7. 16 November 2022 – Climate Change, Floods, Infrastructure, South Korea, Urban Planning

    Planning floodproof cities

    Devastating flooding in Seoul highlights the need to understand our environment when designing infrastructure for cities says University of Melbourne expert.

  8. 25 October 2022 – Australian History, Books, Film, Hollywood, South Australia

    Zanuckville: Australia’s strangest suburb?

    In the 1950s, the Hollywood Western came to Australia; a University of Melbourne expert says the cast and crew were put up in ‘Zanuckville' near Port Augusta.

  9. 17 October 2022 – Infrastructure, Melbourne, Public Transport, Transport, Urban Planning

    A Big Build or a big bet?

    Melbourne’s Suburban Rail Loop aims to support growth, but better land use and transport may deliver more benefits for less say University of Melbourne experts.

  10. 6 September 2022 – Bushfires, Design, Extreme weather, Floods, Insurance

    Designing homes for extreme weather

    The devastating effects of extreme weather mean we urgently need to design homes to protect human life and protect buildings says University of Melbourne expert