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Greenline Health Check and Design Recommendations

Revitalizing and connecting Melbourne’s city centre to its riverfront

Sector

Civic & Public

Region

Asia Pacific

Timespan

2023

The river lies right on the city’s doorstep and offers a relaxing respite from the urban hustle and bustle, yet it is often difficult for all users to access. Credit: Gehl

Building on a longstanding relationship with the City of Melbourne, Gehl collaborated with local landscape architecture practices, Aspect Studios and TCL, to contribute to the Greenline Masterplan. Gehl conducted Urban Research of existing spaces, assessed their usage, and translated these findings into a Visioning and Site Strategy complete with design recommendations for the local masterplan team.

The Urban Research uncovered very different levels of vibrancy across the 4km stretch of riverfront. Credit: Gehl
An example of Gehl’s design recommendations for shared paths, based on our urban research findings. Credit: Gehl

Turning behavioral data into design recommendations

The northern banks of Melbourne’s Yarra River (Birrarung) hold immense potential for becoming a physical, cultural, ecological, and economic bridge between the city and river. The ambitious Greenline Project aims to transform the disconnected riverbank sites into a series of iconic urban parklands and destinations, all connected by a new riverfront promenade that links Birrarung Marr Parklands to Melbourne’s Docklands.

To understand how the spaces truly performed for people, Gehl used a mix of qualitative and quantitative assessments and spatial mapping. Over three days, the team collected 22,000 data points using Gehl’s Public Life App. The findings revealed big differences in how the riverfront is used by various age groups and perceived genders. The findings also showed how public behaviors had shifted since COVID-19, along with changes in commuter habits. These insights were key to guide the design of the future masterplan and ensure that the riverfront is equipped with the right mix of everyday amenities, services, and vibrant destinations to bring the area to life. 

The project has won several prestigious awards, including the ‘Future Projects Masterplanning Award’ and the ‘WAFX Prize for Water’ from the World Architecture Festival, and the ‘2024 AILA National Award of Excellence for Landscape Planning’ from the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects.

More vibrant and engaging spaces of international significance that cater to people of all ages, are essential along the riverfront. Credit: Gehl
Henriette Vamberg, Managing Director Europe, Gulf & Asia Pacific, Partner Kym Lansell, Project Manager
Adam Eriksson, Urban Data Analytics Expert
Credit: Gehl

Reimagining Duisburg, Germany’s industrial site as a vibrant public destination

  • Place Activation
  • Social Spatial Research
  • Urban Strategy
Broadway at Times Square in 2009, after Gehl worked with the City of New York and the Department of Transport on a major urban realm and bicycle strategy. Credit: Department of Transport (DOT)

Redefining New York City’s relationship with its streets

  • Place Activation
  • Social Spatial Research
  • Urban Strategy
Connecticut Avenue is a wide, historic corridor that has grown less pedestrian-friendly over time. Yet, it holds strong potential to string together public spaces like Dupont Circle, Longfellow Park (pictured), and Farragut Square. Credit: Gehl.

Shaping inclusive public realm transformation in Downtown DC

  • Place Activation
  • Urban Design & Masterplanning
  • Urban Strategy
The public realm poses a challenge to healthy food access in peripheral neighborhoods of Bogotá. Steep terrain, lack of transportation, and limited healthy food offerings make it difficult for Bogotanos to access the fresh produce needed to cook at home. The nature of the public realm forces people to rely on processed and fast food that is more accessible and heavily advertised. Credit: Gehl

Working across silos to address Bogotá’s food deserts through public space improvements

  • Community Engagement
  • Social Spatial Research
  • Urban Strategy
Ajuda residents have a median income in the bottom 30% of Lisbon’s earnings and well below the city’s average (2009). The neighborhood’s population nearly doubles daily due to the influx of university staff and students. Credit: Gehl

Improving food access in a disinvested community in Lisbon

  • Community Engagement
  • Social Spatial Research
  • Urban Strategy
Due to investments in large-scale infrastructure, the density of Melbourne’s peripheral areas is increasing. This is causing significant changes in the urban fabric of suburban centers. To measure changes over time, Gehl established a benchmark study in each of the station precincts focused at impacts on the public realm and changes in public life patterns. Credit: Suburban Rail Loop Authority

Enabling future impact assessment of Melbourne’s expanding rail infrastructure

  • Social Spatial Research
  • Urban Mobility
  • Urban Strategy

‘People-first’ includes you

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