Urban Coding in Logan. Teaching urban design with the support of local government

Abstract

Since 2015 Logan City Council (LCC), a major urban area south of Brisbane in Queensland, Australia, has hosted students from the Bachelor of Design (Architectural Studies) at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) for an intensive two-day urban design charrette. The charrette is delivered as coursework and assessment for an architecture unit on urban morphology and urban dynamics; the format of this learning experience allows students to directly interact with Council personnel and to gain an in-depth understanding of the urban issues they are asked to solve. Over the years, LCC has offered engaging and challenging briefs to the students.
In 2015 the theme was the densification of Wembley Road, the main commercial spine of Logan Central currently characterized by the fragmented forms of big boxes and large carparks. In 2016 students were challenged with the design of a new masterplan for Logan Central Civic and Community Precinct s with the aim of creating a new civic and urban centre. In 2017 the focus was Springwood and the brief sought the creation of a new CBD alongside the M1, the main motorway between Brisbane and the Gold Coast and southern states. In each instance, LCC has provided both the facilities where the workshop was hosted, and engaged several stakeholders to speak to the students. This mix of perspectives presented diverse issues and questions from the local area.