In-Between Spaces: Regenerative design strategies for under-utilized spaces in Wolli Creek

Cities are continuously changing, and urban space bears the imprint of societal progress. Urban wastelands or built environment gaps are left behind when industries fail, or cities are abandoned due to migration. Under-utilized spaces are spaces that are useless, abandoned or in-between spaces among public and private realms. Urban regeneration seeks to develop existing parcels of land into more community-friendly spaces in an ecological approach. The Bardwell Valley Parklands and the Wolli Creek Green Grid Corridor, which formerly defined the area, are now a part of the area's history and present memory. The site is located in Wolli Creek's high residential and industrial area. Due to a railway track running alongside the site, it is largely inaccessible to its users, rendering it as an unused space. A sewage aqueduct runs adjacent to the site, which is unmaintained but has a historical significance to it marking it as a local landmark. The vegetation in and around the Wolli creek station is neglected. There is no social interaction seen in the site (Lusty street reserve), and the area is unmaintained with weed growths and garbage dumps. The vision for the project is to restore the environment, encourage long term sustainability, increase biodiversity and enhance resilience. The approach is inspired by various factors, including form, the sense of place, and movement experience.