THE PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT REVIEW
This led to insights about the importance of varied surfaces and materials in creating engaging environments. “We realised if you look at some of the old laneways … the percentage of glazing is less than 50 per cent,” Heide says. “Often in council guidelines, we get like 80 per cent activation and 70 per cent glazing requirement. We always push back against that.” The research found that newer developments with extensive glazing often struggle to create engaging environments. “You’re walking past fish bowls,” says Snoekstra, citing newer developments in Melbourne’s Southern Cross Lane precinct as examples of spaces that don’t work due to excessive glazing.
provides clear guidelines for creating these successful spaces. The optimal ratios and measurements can be applied to new developments, while the psychological insights help ensure these spaces will attract and retain visitors and tenants. The study suggests that successful urban spaces aren’t accidental—they follow consistent, measurable patterns. By understanding and applying these patterns, developers can create spaces that don’t just look good on paper but deliver the vibrant, profitable environments that cities need, Heide says. “The research is already influencing development decisions across Australasia, with developers using these principles to inform project designs,” he says As cities continue to evolve, this mathematical approach to urban design could help ensure new developments contribute positively to the urban fabric while delivering strong commercial outcomes. The firm has made its research open source, hoping to influence future development.
This matches findings from successful heritage spaces, where the mix of solid surfaces and openings creates more engaging environments. Even contemporary successful spaces such as Bourke Street maintain around 50 per cent solid surfaces at ground level. The study also revealed the importance of negative space—or the areas between buildings. Using Rome’s Nolli Map as inspiration, the team focused on how these interstitial spaces form the connective tissue of successful urban environments. The Nolli Map, created by Italian architect Giambattista Nolli and published in 1748, offered a revolutionary way to view urban spaces by inverting traditional architectural mapping. “Instead of drawing buildings, it highlights in white the spaces between buildings that are publicly accessible,” Heide says. “The map reveals the true connective tissue of a city by highlighting these interstitial spaces—the laneways, arcades and thoroughfares that connect one place to another. “It draws the public spaces that are accessible … and is what we are interested in here. Any good designer knows the value of negative space. It forms the glue, the space that we experience as we pass through, and then good architecture sits within that.” The research has relevance for developers working on new projects. At Melbourne’s Queen Victoria Market precinct, NH Architecture is applying these principles to create a series of laneways connecting the CBD with the market. Safety considerations were also factored into the research. The team found that creating safe spaces requires more nuance than simply installing bright lighting. “Fluorescent lighting, even if really bright, doesn’t make people feel safe,” Snoekstra says. “The quality of light matters, as does maintenance and the presence of activity.” The research, published in Decoding Urban Metrics: Melbourne,
Melbourne’s Centre Way is a prime example of a viable, active laneway, Snoekstra and Heide say.
“We’re making our design thinking open source because we want to start a conversation,” Snoekstra says. “Ultimately, the outcome we want is better, more vibrant urban spaces. “We fully expect the next generation of architects and developers to take these principles even further.”
February / March 2025 – 23
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