From a fixed street classification to context-responsive streets
High-quality public spaces and streets are crucial for fostering the social, cultural, economic, and environmental wellbeing of communities, essential for the development of competitive and efficient cities and towns. In Victoria, transforming streets into multifunctional spaces required new planning guidelines that promote resourcefulness and community connections.
Gehl facilitated a multi-party engagement process to develop these guidelines, which aimed to redefine the role of streets both now and in the future. Working alongside ARUP, Gehl led the facilitation process and collaborated on two guidelines for the DoT. These documents, building on ARUP’s ‘Movement & Place’ framework, drew inspiration from international best practices such as NACTO guidelines in North America and European street design guidelines. They provide a shared vocabulary to guide decision-making, street classification, design, implementation, and operations.
This work coincided with COVID-19, the situation providing a more urgent focus, with broader acceptance for accelerated street changes that encourage more outdoor activities and facilitate active mobility such as dedicated bike lanes.
