TACTICAL

URBANISM 4
Australia & New Zealand
Contributors CoDesign Studio
Lucinda Hartley CoDesign Studio specialises in rapid community building. We
Creative Director are a placemaking and urban design consultancy that helps
Mike Lydon governments, property developers, schools and communities
Creative Director create low-cost improvements to streets and public spaces. At
the same time we help local communities build the skills and
Alex Mengel
confidence they need to drive long-term change.
Project Editor
Katie Wallace www.codesignstudio.com.au
Copy Editor
Matt Budahazy
Writer
Nicholas Monisse
Writer
Melissa Yee
Writer
Street Plans Collaborative
Selena Kearney
Graphic Designer The Street Plans Collaborative is an urban planning, design,
and research-advocacy firm. We strive to create high-
quality public spaces, and believe that the key to reversing
the harmful effects of suburban sprawl is to promote
compact, walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods. We thrive on
working with our clients, partners, and other likeminded
organizations to improve the quality and function of the built
environment. We seek to increase the effectiveness of multi-
modal transportation as a means to creating more competitive
and sustainable 21st century towns and cities.
www.streetplans.org
contents

Foreword 5
Introduction 7
Key 10
Tactics 11
Street Makeover 12
Better Block 16
Neighbourhood Gardening 20
Local Economic Renewal 24
Road Repair 28
Co-trading 32
Open Space Making 36
Placeholders 40
Knowledge Exchange 44
Visual Catalyst 48
Urban Games 52
Links 56
 Tactical Urbanism | Definition |
A city and/or citizen-led approach
to neighbourhood building using
short-term, low-cost and scaleable
interventions, intended to catalyse
long-term change.

4 TACTICAL URBANISM VOL 4

Foreword
Mike Lydon,
Principal
Street Plans Collaborative

Three and a half years ago we released the first 1) For citizens, Tactical Urbanism is a tool to
volume of Tactical Urbanism. The free and online- circumvent sluggish bureaucracies and shine a
only booklet shed light on an emergent North light on the myriad opportunities to improve our
American movement, one that used short-term and neighborhoods.
often unsanctioned urban actions to demonstrate
the need for long-term policy and/or physical 2) For municipalities and developers, Tactical
change. In many ways, Tactical Urbanism was a Urbanism allows ‘phase 0’ project implementation,
reaction to decades of sluggish bureaucracy, but also or placeholders that test ideas and bring benefits
the more immediate economic recession, which was long before permanent infrastructure may be
the worst America had experienced in generations. implemented.
Finding common ground in addressing these
challenges, actors across all sectors sought ways to 3) For municipalities and organizations, Tactical
do more with less, while also keeping up with the Urbanism increases awareness and offers
demand to improve urban livability. opportunities to expand public engagement
While initially written for a small audience of our throughout the municipal project delivery process.
peers, the ideas and projects presented in the first
volume resonated across the globe. This explains Now, here in your hands – or more realistically,
why we have since released three subsequent on your screen – is the fourth volume, researched
versions of the guide (one of them focusing on South and written by the CoDesign Studio team for the
America) and have a full-length book on the way. Australian and New Zealand context. We couldn’t
Through this process we have also learned that have selected a better partner and hope that
Tactical Urbanism is as much a way of thinking as this latest volume inspires you to take action at
a way of doing, which includes but is not limited to the scale where it matters to us all the most: our
three common pathways for creating change. neighborhoods.

TACTICAL URBANISM VOL 4 5

 Parks, streets, and other public
spaces provide the necessary
bandwidth for the flow of
information between people;
they are where we learn who we
live with, what they look like
and what they do.

– Melissa Mean & Charlie Tims

People Make Places: Growing the Public Life of Cities

6 TACTICAL URBANISM VOL 4

introduction
Lucinda Hartley,
Co-Founder and CEO
CoDesign Studio

For one weekend in 1985, the State of Victoria The purpose of this guidebook, Volume 4 in the
celebrated its 150th anniversary by laying 11,000 series, is to explore the social, cultural, economic,
square metres of grass along Swanston Street— physical and political factors of this city-shaping
Melbourne’s main retail street—as a public art movement in Australia and New Zealand. In
installation. preparing this guide, we highlight the depth and
This car-free experiment along Swanston Street breadth of the approach: big cities and small towns,
captured the local imagination, and was a major inner urban environments and suburbs, the sub-
spark behind the street’s closure to cars in 1992. tropics and temperate climates. It is not only a
However, Swanston Street was a hard-won battle. It tool for inner urban regeneration or post-disaster
remained a contested space for two decades to come, rebuilding, rather it is an emerging city-building
with regular campaigns to re-open the street to cars tool that has been adapted to a vast range of local
before it was permanently closed in 2011. contexts and is relevant to citizens, experts and
Swanston Street is one of Australia’s earliest and municipal governments alike.
best examples of tactical urbanism: a cheap, fast and In this guidebook we use local case studies
easy urban experiment that built local support for to explore 11 tactics and techniques to improve
more permanent change. In this regard, we can see your city: turn streets into parks, vacant lots into
that these techniques are nothing new. However, the community spaces and nature strips into productive
recent proliferation of adaptive, lean, DIY, pop-up gardens. A host of ways to get out there and make a
and guerrilla projects in Australia and New Zealand change!
does point towards something new – the desire for a
more democratic, equitable, fast-paced and flexible
way of making cities. The Tactical Challenge
Australia and New Zealand are home to some of the
Why this Guidebook? world’s most livable cities, but rapid urban growth
Tactical urbanism is a citizen-led approach to is turning up the pressure. Melbourne, Sydney and
neighbourhood building, characterised by short- Auckland are among the most unaffordable cities in
term, low-cost and scaleable interventions intended the world. Increased transport times, insufficient
to catalyse long-term change. The Tactical Urbanism public transport and stretched public services are
guidebooks capture a snapshot of this emerging issues of increasing proportion.
global movement through case studies from North Traditional city-making strategies are struggling
America (Volumes 1 and 2) and Latin America to keep up. These approaches are led by experts
(Volume 3). and based on analysis, with long-term planning
horizons and limited opportunities for citizen

TACTICAL URBANISM VOL 4 7

engagement. These strategies are not flexible enough • High levels of participation by citizens
to accommodate our shifting social structures, rapid • Temporary spaces that model a change or
economic change, local variations or new knowledge preferred future for a place
and insights. • Government-sanctioned or government-led
In this context, non-traditional city-making activities
can fill the gaps. Tactical urbanism is one such • Short-term duration (1 day to 12 months)
approach. It is led by users as well as experts, based • Intention to catalyse long-term change
on evidence and provides immediate action.
The tactical challenge is not a question of Behind these fast-paced, creative projects lies
strategic planning or tactical urbanism. Traditional an adaptive critique: more city-shaping should be
planning is still relevant to large urban services such delegated to citizens, and government should take
as arterial roads, rail networks, large infrastructure, the role of enabler rather than controller.
hospitals and the protection of wildlife corridors. In Australia and New Zealand we note an
But in the detailed shaping of neighbourhoods, there interesting paradox: while many tactical projects
is a good case for increased local empowerment. begin with citizens, local governments either
This can help shape the local identity of a place, sanction, manage or deliver the projects. There are
build shared-responsibility and reduce the reliance few ‘guerrilla’ case studies in this book, unlike in
on local-government as the sole provider of public many other regions around the world. In this regard,
space. perhaps we have not yet seen the full potential for
tactical urbanism in Australia and New Zealand.
Tactical Urbanism in
Australia and New Zealand Applications
Urban planning in Australia and New Zealand is Tactical urbanism is more than just how the city is
influenced by trends in Western Europe and North made, it questions who is making the city. It can be
America. Proof is all around us, from the grid- both bottom up and top down.
like backbone of early British settlements to the
Garden City layout of Canberra and sprawling, car- Top Down: Local Government
dominated suburbs. Local governments want better ways to collaborate
Tactical urbanism in Australia and New Zealand with their residents, and more effective ways to
also looks to Europe and North America, but our allocate stretched resources. Traditional forms of
projects’ motivations, leadership and politics are community engagement, like town hall meetings
highly context-specific. and complex planning documents, drive people to
Tactical urbanism projects in Australia and New NIMBYism or apathy. This leads to blocked decisions
Zealand exhibit five key factors: or spending that doesn’t meet residents’ needs.

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The benefits of government-led tactical urbanism as Gapfiller and Greening the Rubble transformed
include: vacant spaces into thriving community assets, using
low-cost materials and an army of local volunteers.
• More effective conversations with citizens
• Proof of concept before committing major What about risk?
resources to a project Tactical urbanism projects inevitably come
• Stronger communities and social capital up against questions of risk. Yes, there is no
• Rapid revitalisation of depressed areas denying there are risks involved. However, this
should be weighed against the inherent risks in
Large programs give power back to residents, any neighbourhood improvement project. The
enabling local people and businesses to organise social risks of not effectively collaborating with
events and projects in their public spaces. As such, citizens may be greater than running a temporary
government-led tactical urbanism is effective but experiment.
still works within the existing urban planning
system. Where to from here?
Among the criticisms of tactical urbanism is the
Bottom Up: Citizens accusation that it is just a fad, and will become
Citizens are increasingly taking the lead, often in planning history like the garden city or modernism.
partnership with local governments and experts. Elements of tactical urbanism, such as the ‘pop up’
The benefits of community-led tactical urbanism trend, will certainly fade. However, critical elements
include: of the approach demonstrate a completely different
way of city-making.
• Easier participation in the planning process Tactical urbanism demonstrates how the
• Peer-to-peer learning horizontal, peer-to-peer exchange of knowledge
• Filling the gap left by funding shortfalls can change and improve cities. Other major urban
planning trends have relied on vertical flow of
Projects such as Why so Empty, which helps knowledge, from expert to user.
people find vacant space for rent, and 3000 Acres, As cities in Australia and New Zealand
whose crowd-sourced map matches underutilised experience rapid growth, it is more critical than
land with would-be gardeners, exemplify this ever to consider how urban environments can be
process of grounds-up action where the government improved both vertically and horizontally. We hope
may have traditionally stepped in. the tactics and the case studies in this guidebook
In Christchurch, citizens set up temporary offer simple tools to enable more livable, connected
projects to meet basic public needs after the neighbourhoods, more quickly.
earthquakes in 2010 and 2011. Organisations such

TACTICAL URBANISM VOL 4 9

key
Improving the livability of our towns
and cities commonly starts at the
neighbourhood, street, block, building or
micro scale. This is where social capital and
creativity are most easily catalysed. The
following key identifies the scale of the case
studies profiled within this guidebook.

Micro Building Block Street Neighbourhood

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TACTICS

TACTICAL URBANISM VOL 4 11

Street
Makeover

Purpose
To repurpose public roads into pedestrian
spaces that encourage people of all ages to be
social and active

Leaders
Community groups, Government, Local
Business, Urban practioners

Summary
Street makeovers temporarily repurpose a single parking space into a temporary
public roads for car-free use. In Australia, public park by simply paying the metre for
30% of our urban space is dedicated to a few hours. This ingenious idea quickly
roads and car parks. Reclaiming this gathered momentum and is now a popular
space for pedestrians, even in the short platform for communities to experiment
term, can change streets into active places with their urban environments in new and
that contribute to health, wellbeing and exciting ways. It also popularised the concept
environmental quality of neighbourhoods. of ‘parklets’, where kerbside car parks are
Tactical street makeovers encourage reinvented as public spaces for a day, a
people to temporarily re-imagine how their month, or even years at a time.
roads could serve them as public spaces. At the larger scale, temporary street
Inspired communities then push their closures like the Yarraville Pop Up Park, the
governments to adopt more permanent Bondi Junction Complete Streets Project and
changes. This grass-roots tactic applies the Better Block movement demonstrate that
equally to individual car parks and entire short-term road transformations can – and
parking lots and roadways. do – catalyse long-term change.
At the smaller scale, the globally
renowned Park(ing) Day project is the source
of much inspiration. This project by ReBar
had humble beginnings: they transformed

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Image courtesy Waverly Council and RobertsDay
TACTICAL URBANISM VOL 4 13
 Street Makeover — Case Studies

Bondi Junction
Complete Streets Project
Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia
Leader: Waverley City Council, RobertsDay,
Anderson Hunter Horne

Urbanist Jan Gehl has described Sydney as a city

choking in vehicular traffic, where pedestrians
and cyclists are at the bottom of the agenda. The
Bondi Junction Complete Streets Project seeks a
fairer balance between competing transport modes
in the bustling urban precinct of Bondi Junction,
in Sydney’s inner east. Temporary installations
tested different methods to provide a more liveable
landscape. Among the most popular was an ‘urban
lounge’ parklet with public seating, artistic bike
racks and mobile and laptop recharge outlets. The
‘urban lounge’ demonstrated the potential for
Bondi Junction to shift from a vehicle-oriented to a
people-oriented space, and was a proof of concept
for bold initiatives with minimal investment. The
installations contributed to an increase in retail
sales and received strong public support, resulting
in an extension of the trial and prompting Council to
start the first long-term, detailed design for Spring
Street. While overcoming the dominance of cars
in our urban environments is a major challenge,
bottom-up projects like this street makeover are a
model for incremental change.

Bondi Junction Complete Streets Project

Images courtesy Waverly Council and RobertsDay

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 Yarraville Pop Up Park
Location: Yarraville, VIC, Australia
Leader: Maribyrnong City Council

Every summer since 2011, a park has popped

up in Melbourne’s eclectic Yarraville Village,
transforming a major street with moveable objects
like synthetic turf, potted plants, picnic tables, deck
chairs and umbrellas. The three-month closure
provides fresh public space for locals and visitors to
connect, while generating extra foot traffic for local
traders. When the future viability of the project was
in doubt, local traders spearheaded a community
campaign to lobby for its return. The pop up park
was so popular that the local government proposed
a permanent park in its place, restricting traffic and
fulfilling the need for more complete streets in the
area.

Image credit: Planning Observer

Image credit: COUNCIL

TACTICAL URBANISM VOL 4 15

Better
Block

Purpose
To promote liveable streets and vibrant,
healthy neighbourhoods

Leaders
Community Groups, Local Advocates,
Local Business, Government

Summary
Better Block temporarily activates vendors and cafe tables provided meeting
public space and vacant storefronts with places, native landscaping and street
neighbourhood-building street parties. The furniture gave a sense of place and painted
Build a Better Block movement had humble “New York-style” cycle tracks slowed traffic.
beginnings, but grew into a major force A key lesson of the Better Block initiative
through the use of social media. is the useful role of social media. By
Before its spread around the world, communicating online, organisers attract
Better Block began in the Dallas, Texas both local participants and global attention,
neighbourhood of Oak Cliff. Local inspiring other communities to follow suit.
community group Go Oak Cliff harnessed A How To Guide is available at the Build a
volunteers and cheap or donated materials to Better Block website.
transform an underutilised city block: food

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Image courtesy City of Moreland
TACTICAL URBANISM VOL 4 17
 Better Block — Case Studies

Image courtesy Suzette Jackson Image courtesy City of Moreland

Geelong Better Block Brunswick Better Block

Location: Geelong and North Geelong, VIC, Location: Brunswick, VIC, Australia
Australia Leaders: City of Moreland, Victoria Police,
Leaders: Innate Ecology, Geelong Better Block, City Department of Justice
of Greater Geelong, Two and Five Inc.

Brunswick’s Wilson Avenue is an important

Organised by Innate Ecology, the first Australian thoroughfare between the suburb’s main street and
Better Block project attracted more than 700 local railway station. Volunteers transformed it into
visitors to Little Malop Street in June 2013. Located an inviting public space with a program of events
in the heart of Geelong, the event was a catalyst ranging from skateboarding to massages, food
for likeminded community groups to explore demonstrations and performances. A new mural was
ideas for activating the city, from safer pedestrian unveiled, honouring the area’s Indigenous heritage
access to sustainable living, efficient housing, safe with a depiction of the Kulin Nation’s creator spirit
cycling access and growing food in the city. This Bunjil the Eagle. The project was funded by the
inspired further Better Block projects, including state government’s Community Crime Prevention
North Geelong Better Block in the suburb of Program, highlighting how tactical urbanism
Norlane. Musicians, artists, children’s activities, a techniques can meet policy objectives while also
pop up craft stall, food and edible garden projects making cities more inviting – crime in the area
contributed to Labuan Square’s transformation into dropped by 40% following the event.
a “colourful, vibrant piazza.”

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Image courtesy Clovelly Better Block

Clovelly Road Better Block

Location: Clovelly, NSW, Australia
Leaders: Clovelly Road Better Block

Clovelly Road Better Block was Sydney’s first Better

Block event. Approximately 3000 people joined in
the festivities, which quintupled the green space
in an area that was almost exclusively paved. This
success inspired community members to form a
group called Park to Pacific. Park to Pacific aim to
transform Clovelly Road into a complete street with
greenery, outdoor seating, kerbside dining, cycle
paths, thriving businesses, parklets, community
gardens and places for children and the elderly, in
order to increase a sense of community.

TACTICAL URBANISM VOL 4 19

Neighbourhood
Gardening

Purpose
To repurpose underutilised spaces for edible
gardens

Leaders
Community Groups, Property Developers,
Government Agencies, Local Advocates,
Local Business, Not-For-Profit Organisations

Summary
Neighbourhood gardening is a While less prominent in New Zealand,
growing movement to improve access to nearly 90% of Australians live in urban
locally-grown food in the city. Tactical environments and are increasingly
neighbourhood gardening involves making embracing neighbourhood gardening
simple, low-cost improvements to streets in collaborations between community
or underutilised spaces, making them groups, councils and property developers.
available for growing food. This can involve Repurposing underutilised land for food
everything from street-side planter boxes production not only means more locally
to community gardens and food forests in grown food, but improved social and
public nature strips (verge planting). physical wellbeing, skill development, street
Neighbourhood gardening’s key benefit is activation and local economies.
that it improves access to healthy food. This
is especially important in areas where fresh
produce is hard to find or too expensive for
some to access.

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Image credit: Sustainable Chippendale
TACTICAL URBANISM VOL 4 21
 Urban Gardening — Case Studies

Nine Smith Street

Location: Fitzroy, VIC, Australia
Leaders: 3000 Acres, Neometro

Not all vacant land is available for long-term reuse

– temporarily vacant spaces pose a particular
challenge. With this in mind, Melbourne-based
organisation 3000 Acres connected with property
developers Neometro to create a temporary
community garden on the site of a future housing
development. With support from University of
Melbourne horticulture students, 3000 Acres
transformed the site into a temporary urban oasis
with 22 garden plots and a compost station to
recycle food and garden waste from on and off the
site. Located on a former industrial site, however,
the soil wasn’t safe for growing food. The problem
was solved by repurposing interim bulk containers
(IBCs) to create self-irrigating raised wicker beds.
These modular beds mean the whole garden can
be relocated within the community when the site
is ready to be developed. This project is a strong
example of how communities, businesses and
governments can unlock temporarily vacant spaces
for neighbourhood gardening – a tactic covered
further in the Placeholders chapter.

Images courtesy 3000 Acres

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Image credit: Sustainable Chippendale Image credit: Northcote Library Food Garden

Sustainable Chippendale Northcote Library

Location: Chippendale, NSW, Australia Food Garden
Leader: Sustainable Chippendale, City of Sydney Location: Northcote, VIC, Australia
Leaders: City of Darebin

Mobilised by a love of gardening, “cool roads”

and sustainable living, environmental consultant The City of Darebin wanted to promote
Michael Mobbs set up Sustainable Chippendale in neighbourhood gardening and sustainable gardening
2009. While the organisation has a wide scope, one practices, so it set up the Northcote Library Food
of their major projects is transforming nature strips Garden in 2011. Planting began in July 2011, and three
from grass into productive landscapes; the City of large growing beds now overflow with edible annuals
Sydney got the ball rolling with a donation of 200 and perennials and beneficial companion plants. A
fruit trees and educational resources. Fruit, herbs, food forest with fruit trees, edible shrubs, berries
vegetables, leafy greens and native edibles now line and herbs mimics the canopy, mid-layer and ground
two main streets in the suburb. The community cover of natural forest. After the project was up and
established a shared garden shed with a roster for running, Council set up a community management
weekly maintenance. Sustainable Chippendale model; experts provide community workshops, and
also created a blueprint for overhauling the entire volunteers are welcome regardless of gardening
suburb, with a focus on sustainable transport, experience and time commitments. Three years on,
stormwater harvesting, heat-reflective roads, food Council and members of the community have created
growing, greening buildings and businesses and a sustainable and inclusive garden that demonstrates
incentives for participation in sustainable living. how a small, 160 square metre space can be leveraged
The initial nature strip planting catalysed enormous to promote community togetherness, health,
community momentum, setting a precedent for sustainability and education.
transforming other areas of redundant land for
urban agriculture.

TACTICAL URBANISM VOL 4 23

LOCAL ECONOMIC
RENEWAL

Purpose:
To promote economic development and
revitalise streets by filling vacant retail space
with short-term, low-cost occupations

Leaders
Creative Industries, Community Groups,
Government, Not-For-Profit Organisations,
Property Owners, Urban Practitioners

Summary
Ideas of local economic renewal are often led to the establishment of Renew Australia,
limited to pop up retail, where companies empowering communities across the country
create an event-like atmosphere in vacant to revitalise their suburbs and towns.
shopfronts for a limited time – sometimes Technology is also key in connecting would-
just for one day. be economic renewal projects with vacant
In Australia and New Zealand, however, space, illustrated by Spacemarket and Why
local economic renewal has evolved beyond So Empty in Perth.
a purely commercial tactic to become Importantly, the interest and public
an effective community revitalisation exposure generated by these temporary
technique. Common locations include economic renewal projects are a powerful
laneways, car parks and main streets with tool for long-term change. Successful stores
vacant shop fronts. These locations act as often earn the right to stay, creating a win-
local incubators for a seemingly endless win for the property owner, occupant and
number of temporary or permanent neighbourhood.
commercial and community uses.
This tactic is a useful tool for urban
revitalisation and local capacity building. For
example, the success of the Renew Newcastle
movement in revitalising Newcastle’s CBD

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Image credit: Spacemarket
TACTICAL URBANISM VOL 4 25
 Local Economic Renewal — Case Studies

Image credit: Renew Australia

Renew Australia established in Newcastle, leading to global media

attention and a Lonely Planet listing as one of the top
Location: Australia-wide 10 cities in the world to visit in 2011.
Leader: Renew Australia Renew Australia has expanded beyond the
urban model of Newcastle. Empty Spaces Project
took on the rural and regional settings of Creswick,
Clunes and Talbot in Victoria, while Greensborough
Comes Alive and Renew Leichhardt are suburban
Renew Australia is a national social enterprise examples. The former industrial area of Melbourne’s
designed to catalyse community renewal, economic Docklands is being revitalised with Docklands
development, the arts and creative industries across Spaces. Renew’s projects follow a similar model, but
Australia. It works with communities and property by involving communities each project produces
owners to take otherwise empty commercial and unique outcomes that create more connected and
public buildings, shops and offices, and make them characterful neighbourhoods.
available for short-term use by artists, creative
projects and community initiatives.
Renew Australia is based on the intellectual
property and experience of Renew Newcastle,
an enormously successful low-budget DIY urban
renewal scheme. In less than two years, more than
70 new creative businesses and initiatives were

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 Image credit: Spacemarket

The Rocks Pop Up Spacemarket and

Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia Why So Empty
Leaders: Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority, Location: Perth, WA, Australia
Arts NSW, NSW-based Creative Individuals, The Leaders: Spacemarket
Rocks community

Pairing disused spaces with useful people is

The Rocks Pop-Up is an initiative of Sydney Spacemarket’s mission. Spacemarket repurposes
Harbour Foreshore Authority to find creative uses underused and opportune pieces of the city like
for temporarily vacant buildings, attracting new upper floors, ground floors and basements, then
visitors to Sydney’s historic heart. It provides connect the spaces with artists and businesses.
creative workers with access to affordable space Spacemarket differs from a real estate agency
to produce and showcase original work, incubate as its main focus is to support and advocate for
businesses and host unique events while a long- sustainable tenancies, rather than making a
term tenant is secured. In its first year, The Rocks profit. Why So Empty is a smart phone application
Pop-Up participants hosted more than 200 events which enables users to directly send reports to
and attracted more than 70,000 visitors through 10 Spacemarket about vacant and disused spaces, and
spaces. Currently in its third year, the program will offer suggestions for their future use. By harnessing
continue to bring NSW’s most innovative emerging technology, Spacemarket and Why So Empty
creatives into The Rocks to activate temporarily illustrate how the traditional relationship between
vacant properties and bring activity into the real estate agents, landlords and tenants is being
precinct. reinvented to provide meaningful changes to the
city.

TACTICAL URBANISM VOL 4 27

Road
Repair

Purpose
To provide a safer and more engaging public
environment for pedestrians and cyclists

Leaders
Community Groups, Government, Local
Advocates

Summary
Road repair makes streets safer for Equally, streets and landscapes need to work
pedestrians and cyclists through simple harder as population density increases. Road
and low-cost physical changes. Transport repair’s small but influential changes have
policy and urban planning in Australia and made roads safer for sustainable transport
New Zealand often prioritises car use at the methods, thereby encouraging a wider
expense of walking and cycling. As a result, variety of use.
many streets are unsafe for cyclists and
pedestrians, or lack easy-to-use crossing
points. Road repair is a direct response, with
communities taking the lead to make streets
safer and more attractive.
Temporary road repair projects are
popular in Australia and New Zealand, partly
due to cycling’s growing popularity as both
a recreational pursuit and form of commuter
transport. Sydney alone has seen a 230%
increase in cycling over the past four years.

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Image courtesy City of Sydney
TACTICAL URBANISM VOL 4 29
 Road Repair — Case Studies

Image courtesy Mt Hawthorn Hub

Wayfinding Stencils Guerrilla Bike Activism

Location: Mt Lawley and Mt Hawthorn, WA, Location: Sydney, NSW and Canberra ACT,
Australia Australia
Leader: Beaufort Street Network, Mt Hawthorn Hub, Leader: Anonymous
City of Vincent

Guerrilla tactical urbanism is almost unheard

Wayfinding Stencils promote healthy, sustainable of in Australia and New Zealand, but frustrated
and activated communities by highlighting easy cycling activists have started to take matters into
walking and cycling routes. Community groups in their own hands to push for safer shared streets.
Mt Lawley and Mt Hawthorn, dismayed by the local While participation in cycling continues to grow,
dominance of cars, set out to challenge perceptions infrastructure and social awareness have largely
of convenience by stencilling walking and cycling failed to keep up. Activists challenge this by
directions on the ground between popular spots. The changing existing infrastructure and making eye-
site-specific stencils build a better understanding catching statements. Examples include placing ghost
of local attractions, contributing to a sense of civic bikes as memorials to cyclists that have been killed
pride and local identity. The understated wayfinding riding, boldly highlighting hazards that authorities
stencils also pique curiosity, giving the sense of have failed to address, and stencilling bike lanes on
stumbling across a piece of information that no one the road. Their unsanctioned work raises awareness
else knows. The stencils not only promote walking and legitimises the presence of cyclists on the road,
and cycling, but also encourage people to spend making cycling safer and more enjoyable in the
more time in their town centre – a boon for residents absence of strong government action.
and traders alike

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 Image courtesy City of Sydney

Rainbow Crossing the Assistant Police Commissioner, argued that it

increased pedestrian safety. Although the crossing
Location: Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia was removed following the six week trial, 15,000
Leader: City of Sydney members of the public signed a petition calling for it
to remain. Its legacy lives on, however, as it inspired
the painting of more sanctioned and unsanctioned
Rainbow Crossings in other parts of Sydney and New
South Wales.
Inspired by the Rainbow Crosswalk in West
Hollywood, the City of Sydney installed a temporary
rainbow-painted crossing in celebration of the city’s
LGBT community and Mardi Gras festival. Council
received approval from the State Government’s
Roads and Maritime Services to trial the crossing,
which if proven to be safe was to become a permanent
installation. It was installed in early 2013, with bright,
non-slip paint spilling across the road at Taylor Square
on Oxford Street. The crossing was an immediate
success, becoming a popular destination for both
tourists and local residents and bringing more life
and business to the area. Many people, including

TACTICAL URBANISM VOL 4 31

Co-trading

Purpose:
To incubate new businesses and sustain
existing ones through the co-location of
mutually supportive uses

Leaders:
Creative Industries, Entrepreneurs,
Government, Local Business, Not-For-Profit
Organisations, Urban Practitioners

Summary
Co-trading, also known as micro-mixing, quickly adapted to handle multiple users or
is a simple concept: inspired by the rise of businesses. In this way, co-trading spaces in
co-working and shared office space, traders Australia and New Zealand play a unique role
decided to share retail space too. in supporting small businesses while also
This is not a new tactic – bookstore cafes contributing to urban renewal.
are a classic example. In Australia and
New Zealand, however, unconventional
co-trading is making a positive impact on
communities.
In Christchurch, co-trading restored retail
space to the earthquake-shattered CBD much
earlier than expected. In Brisbane, Winn
Lane is a creative hub for designers, artists
and retailers to test new ideas in a flexible
and unique space, while also revitalising
an underutilised laneway. In Adelaide, the
mobile Fork on the Road project supports
food startups and brings creative events to
different parts of the city.
With clever merchandising and efficient
space planning, underutilised spaces can be

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Image courtesy Winn Lane
TACTICAL URBANISM VOL 4 33
 Co-trading — Case Studies

Winn Lane
Location: Fortitude Valley, QLD, Australia
Leaders: Brisbane City Council

In Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley, Winn Lane houses a

vibrant community of first-time retailers including
boutiques, bookshops, salons and cafes. This was
made possible by its location in a formerly disused
laneway with low rent. This mix of creative energy
allows new ideas to be tested, while also attracting
people to a space which would otherwise be Images courtesy Winn Lane

neglected. Winn Lane’s success saw it host events

like St Jerome’s Laneway Festival, and inspired
further incubator projects in Bakery Lane and
California Lane. Winn Lane is a model example of
how co-trading can have tangible impacts on the
built environment and support the local economy.

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Image credit: Re:START Mall Image credit: Fork on the Road

Re:START Mall Fork on the Road

Location: Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand Location: Adelaide, SA, Australia
Leaders: Re:START Leaders: Fork on the Road, Splash Adelaide,
Government of South Australia

The Re:START shipping container mall was born

from the need to breathe new life into central Based in Adelaide, Fork on the Road is a mobile
Christchurch following the devastating earthquakes. celebration of local food and culture. Fork showcases
The mall was the first part of the shattered city Adelaide’s best new food trucks, vans, pop ups, carts
centre to reopen to the public, providing a gathering and bikes in one spot, supported by young South
spot, a morale boost and much-needed services Australian musicians and entertainers. Fork events
including shops, restaurants, cafes and banks. pop up in different locations on different days,
This was made possible by the use of repurposed turning mealtimes into an event, and social media
shipping containers. While creative containers fosters a relationship between vendors, artists and
are now a common sight in Christchurch, the idea the community. Fork in the Road demonstrates
was considered a wildcard when Re:START was how co-trading can accommodate for both
first proposed. Re:START’s success demonstrates entrepreneurial and creative pursuits without the
that fast-paced urban renewal is possible in need for a fixed location. However, most importantly
disaster zones, providing the community with it demonstrates how open spaces can be used in a
accessible services and acting as a placeholder while more people-friendly way.
reconstruction continues.

TACTICAL URBANISM VOL 4 35

Open Space
Making

Purpose:
To increase the supply of permanent public
open space by reclaiming underutilised land

Leaders:
Local Advocates, Government,
Urban Practitioners

Summary
Many of our neighbourhoods reinforce
sedentary behaviour and car dependence.
Large open spaces that encourage
physical activity are hard to find in urban
neighbourhoods, and most tactical urbanism
projects provide public open space at a
smaller scale.
Open space making is a direct response to
this challenge, deploying scaled-up parklet
techniques where communities, business
and government work together to create new
urban parks on underutilised land.

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Image courtesy Creative Communities International
TACTICAL URBANISM VOL 4 37
 Open Space Making — Case Studies

Image courtesy Penrith City Council Image credit: Greening the Rubble

Make My Park Pop Greening the Rubble

Location: Penrith, NSW, Australia Location: Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand
Leaders: Penrith City Council, Place Partners, The Leaders: NZ Institute of Landscape Architects
Lot, The Street Plans Collaborative, University of (NZILA), Lincoln University, Canterbury
Technology Sydney (U.LAB) University, Christchurch City Council

Using best-practice tactical urbanism – short-term Greening the Rubble Trust is a volunteer community
action to create meaningful long-term change project that responds creatively to the damage
– Make My Park Pop is an open space-making caused by the Christchurch earthquakes. Volunteers
project with a twist. At an intensive workshop in transform derelict city sites into parks and colourful
late 2013, three multi-disciplinary teams came gardens, encouraging activity in areas that might
together to take on the challenge of designing and otherwise be left to deteriorate. Experimental
delivering a trial one-year park installation. The design combines with a sustainable approach to
brief was to provide the city with a greener and more deliver projects made from recycled materials
attractive gateway, allowing locals and visitors to and incorporating biodiversity principles. These
enjoy activities while producing an economic and sites are only temporary, until owners are ready
recreational hub to redefine Penrith’s retail core. to redevelop – anywhere from six months to a few
The trial is a cost-effective blueprint for creating years later – but they make a long-term difference to
new public open space in an established city, the community spirit.
particularly in a manner that reflects local identity,
heritage and community values. The park has
already hosted a number of community events,
increasing opportunities for socialisation and
building community capacity. At the time of going
to print, the trial’s success is being measured with
a number of tools including behaviour mapping,
business owner engagement and traffic studies. At
the end of the trial the results will inform the brief
for a permanent park.

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Image courtesy Creative Communities International Image courtesy CoDesign Studio

Horotutu – Our Place Launceston City Heart

Paihia Waterfront Location: Launceston, TAS, Australia
Location: Paihia, Bay of Islands, New Zealand Leader: Launceston City Council, CoDesign Studio,
Leaders: Paihia Phantom Placemakers, Creative University of Tasmania
Communities International, Focus Paihia
Community Trust, Stephenson&Turner, Far North
District Council
Launceston City Heart is a collaborative project to
re-energise the centre of Tasmania’s second city,
based on community consultation and prototyping.
Horotutu - Our Place is a community-funded and Local government, urban practitioners and
community-built project that transformed a large car architecture students worked together on the
park near Paihia’s waterfront into inviting public open project, forging strong local relationships in the
space. The new park provides a relaxed destination process. First, community consultations identified
for locals and visitors to enjoy the waterfront, key themes such as the need for more meeting
incorporating seating, plants, grassy spaces and a and gathering places, seating and shelter, art and
water feature. As a consequence, hundreds more culture, greenery and connectivity. Solutions were
people are now spending time on the waterfront, with then prototyped for Civic Square and Brisbane Street
the added benefit of increased foot traffic for local Mall. Prototyping is a way to test ideas in a live
businesses. The name was chosen by a public vote. It is environment, generate feedback to further refine
the largest project undertaken by the Paihia Phantom ideas, build community support and demonstrate
Placemakers since the adoption of the community- action. It is a powerful tool that allows placemakers
developed Paihia Masterplan in 2011, facilitated by to trial and measure the potential success of new
the Focus Paihia Community Trust, and contributes to infrastructure without having to commit to costly
Paihia’s long-term renewal. permanent fixtures. Prototyping is therefore a
means to inform development priorities, allowing
communities to take an active role in improving
their neighbourhoods’ liveability.

TACTICAL URBANISM VOL 4 39

Placeholders

Purpose
To temporarily activate vacant sites

Leaders
Property Developers, Government
Not-For-Profit Organisations, Urban
Practitioners

Summary
This tactic involves repurposing temporarily revenue for the land, raise community
vacant land for community use. The end awareness about a site’s long-term potential,
result is the creation of public markets, and build community capacity while
art exhibitions and studios, community supporting local entrepreneurs.
festivals, urban agriculture, micro-retail
opportunities and other temporary
programs on sites that would otherwise
sit empty. These examples focus on
development sites; during the planning,
approval and financing stages, vacant spaces
earmarked for construction can provide
low-cost community-building and economic
opportunities. These placeholder projects
facilitate the transition from an inactive
parcel of land to a fully redeveloped and
programmed addition to the city’s urban
fabric.
Tactical improvements to vacant spaces
allow owners and developers to generate

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TACTICAL URBANISM VOL 4 41
 Placeholders — Case Studies

Image credit: Testing Grounds

The School of Life

Pop Up Space Testing Grounds
Location: Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Location: Collingwood, VIC, Australia
Leader: Arts Victoria, These Are The Projects We
Leader: CoDesign Studio, School Of Life, Small
Do Together
Giants

Testing Grounds provides free public space for new

Milk crates. Lots and lots of milk crates. They were
works of art and creative ideas to be developed
a key secret behind the success of a 2013 project
and shared. Situated in the heart of Melbourne’s
that transformed a derelict warehouse into a
Southbank arts and cultural precinct, the plot of
thriving community asset in a gentrified pocket
of government-owned land had been vacant and
of Melbourne’s inner north. For three months the
underutilised for around 30 years. The project acts
transitional site became home to The School of
as an alternative to the more traditional large-scale
Life, who offer a program of classes and events
dedicated arts buildings that surround the site.
to help people “live wisely and well”. Clusters of
Since opening to the public in October 2013, Testing
recycled milk crates were bound with cable ties
Grounds has hosted exhibitions, performances,
and configured to create a community seating area
rehearsals, a continuing artist-in-residence
and a thriving vertical garden, with an impressive
program, collaboration with universities, chefs,
amphitheatre and new terraced area to house a
artists, illustrators, tattoo workshops, foundries
“bibliotherapy” space, cafe and bookshop. This
and more. This exhaustive list of pop ups are
project is a great example of how collaboration
accommodated on site by reclaimed wooden pallets
between landowners and urban practitioners or
and 20-foot shipping containers, with reused car
other interested groups can lead to transitional
stereos and a mobile film projector also helping to
spaces that facilitate new and interesting uses.
bring this engaging transitional space to life.

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Image credit: Guy Jansen

Pallet Pavillion project was that unskilled volunteers were involved

in all phases of the project, from construction to
Location: Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand activation and deconstruction. As a result, the local
Leader: Gap Filler community has a strong stake in the project. Pallet
Pavillion was created on private land, and was
designed as a temporary activation to attract people
back to the city over one summer. An extraordinary
crowd-funding campaign generated support from
The Pallet Pavillion was developed by Gap Filler in all corners of the globe, raising $80,000 in 29 days
response to the 2010 earthquakes that devastated to extend the pavillion for another season. This
Christchurch. The Pavillion quite literally ascended success was testament not just to the support for
from the rubble as an answer to the city’s demand Christchurch’s rebuild, but to the connection people
for new event venues, after so many were lost. felt to the project. By recycling materials, harnessing
Driven by community resilience and a desire for volunteer power and thinking outside the box,
interesting temporary architecture, more than 80 projects like Pallet Pavillion demonstrate that
volunteers and 40 businesses gathered to create a the power to regenerate our urban environments
new public space on the site of the former Crowne does not have to be solely dictated by large-scale
Plaza Hotel. Materials were reused and salvaged, development. Temporary, low-cost and people-
including over 3000 pallets and the wreckage of centred approaches have an important role to play in
nearby buildings. An important element of this shaping our cities too.

TACTICAL URBANISM VOL 4 43

Knowledge
Exchange

Purpose
To strengthen community ties and share
skills, perspectives or stories

Leaders
Community Groups, Local Advocates, Local
Business

Summary
Knowledge exchanges build strong
community ties; programs are often led by
locals, for locals, and celebrate sharing and
collaboration. Book exchanges are the most
prominent example, promoting literacy and
collaborative consumption. Stumbling upon
hidden bookshelves or micro-libraries also
provides moments of surprise and delight in
the busy streetscape.
Sharing knowledge builds cohesive and
collaborative communities, leaving them
better equipped to work together for change
in their cities. These initiatives can make
significant physical contributions too, by
creating shared public gathering space in
busy urban centres.

44 TACTICAL URBANISM VOL 4

 Image courtesy Little Library
TACTICAL URBANISM VOL 4 45
 Knowledge Exchange — Case Studies

Image courtesy Fremantle Outdoor Reading Room

Book Exchange Fremantle Outdoor

Location: Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand Reading Room
and Chippendale, NSW, Australia Location: Fremantle, WA, Australia
Leader: Gap Filler, Sustainable Chippendale Leader: Fremantle City Library, MANY 6160,
King’s Square Working Group, Fremantle Press,
Love 2 Read - National Year of Reading

Phone booths, old refrigerators and beat-up eskies

are receiving new life as public book exchanges,
springing up in communities across Australia and The Fremantle Outdoor Reading Room takes
New Zealand. In Christchurch, book exchanges the library outside, with books, newspapers and
activate vacant space and provide a much-needed magazines available to read free of charge in
service in communities whose libraries were out of a comfortable corner of King’s Square. It blurs
operation as a consequence of the earthquakes. In the boundary between the physical library and
Sydney, the Chippendale community implemented community space, and book sales, a poet’s breakfast
their book exchange as part of a wider project to and live readings encourage public participation.
promote sustainable living through recycling and During cooler months and the reconstruction of
community togetherness. Both initiatives use the King’s Square, it moves indoors to the Many 6160
“take one, leave one” policy, allowing community co-trading space. The Outdoor Reading Room is
members to share works that have impacted their the result of a community placemaking workshop,
lives. This creates a sense of ownership within the drawing inspiration from pop up libraries and
community and a shared local story. book exchanges around the world. The project not
only creates a positive atmosphere, but promotes
an informed community, highlighting how tactical
urbanism techniques can facilitate lifelong learning.

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Image courtesy Little Library

Little Library
Location: Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Leader: Melbourne Central, GPT Group

The Little Library at Melbourne Central shopping

mall is a free book exchange, established by
property owners GPT Group. In its first month of
operation the Little Library exchanged over 500
books. The concept is simple: borrow a book, read
it, and either return it or bring another book in its
place. Intended as a community-building initiative,
it promotes reading and encourages people to share
their love of books with each other. It also provides
a free, quiet place in Melbourne’s CBD to escape
the hustle and bustle. The Little Library highlights
how knowledge-sharing initiatives can also work in
privately-owned spaces.

TACTICAL URBANISM VOL 4 47

Visual
Catalyst

Purpose
To improve the visual quality of public spaces
through changes to existing infrastructure

Leaders
Community Groups, Local Advocates, Local Business,
Government, Not-For-Profit Organisations

Summary
Visual catalysts are visual improvements that Visual catalysts account for some of the
humanise run-down public spaces. There is a only guerrilla tactical urbanism in Australia
wide scope, from the painting of blank walls and New Zealand. Activists are coming out of
through to the installation of artworks in the shadows, however, as small businesses,
vacant and unused spaces. What distinguishes community groups and governments
visual catalysts from other forms of public increasingly commission them. This
art is their ability to act as stimuli for further, highlights a growing recognition of the need
long-term change in the public realm. They to have inviting, engaging, and interesting
can facilitate community discussion as seen public spaces. Visual catalysts provide the
with Doorways, provide a backdrop for new impetus for further positive development
social and economic activity as is the case with in the public realm, whilst quickly making
PUBLIC, and act as a precursor for further unpleasant urban environments more
revitalisation as highlighted by Moving. conducive to our well-being.
In addition to long-term improvements,
visual catalysts pack an immediate punch.
They reclaim boring, underutilised public
spaces to make our environment more
interesting and appealing. They stimulate
conversation and social interaction, create
interesting destinations for locals and
visitors, reduce vandalism and build a sense
of ownership within the community.

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Image courtesy Doorways
TACTICAL URBANISM VOL 4 49
 Visual Catalyst — Case Studies

Image courtesy Doorways

Doorways Moving
Location: Glenroy, VIC, Australia Location: Ringwood, VIC, Australia
Leaders: Pollen Studio, City of Moreland Leaders: Village Well, Maroondah City Council,
Victorian Government

Part art installation, part engagement exercise,

Doorways transformed an underutilised laneway Moving was a response to the growing number
in the Wheatsheaf Road shopping precinct into of vacant shops in central Ringwood. To activate
a vibrant hub of art and community discussion. empty store windows and connect with the
Brightly painted doors, letterboxes and planted community, these spaces were offered to local artists
canopies lined the laneway, turning the formerly as temporary exhibition and studio spaces. The
unattractive and underutilised space into a excitement of the project, combined with the use of
destination. As part of the installation, local traders local artists, promoted a sense of belonging within
were asked to consider the potential of other the community and improved the overall feeling of
underperforming spaces in the area and share their safety in Ringwood. The first Moving ran from late
feedback with City of Moreland in the laneway’s 2009 to early 2010, attracting an extraordinarily
letterboxes. The installation changed over time positive response from the artists and community
to reflect the ideas collected. Doorways not only before extending for a second round. The event’s
improved the visual quality of the laneway, but also success highlights how community-driven creative
encouraged further activation and empowered local projects can transform the physical environment
traders to take ownership of these transformations. and build more cohesive neighbourhoods.

50 TACTICAL URBANISM VOL 4

Image credit: Bewley Shaylor

PUBLIC temporary bar and cafe. The program led to lasting

change and ongoing activation in some areas,
Location: Perth, WA, Australia helping to create a stronger sense of identity for
Leaders: FORM Perth and its people.

FORM, a not-for-profit arts organisation, rose to the

challenge of activating Perth’s dormant spaces with
PUBLIC. The PUBLIC arts program transformed
underutilised public spaces through street art,
installations and creative events; over the course
of a week, 35 blank walls in the heart of Perth were
transformed into works of art by 45 artists from
around the globe. Not only did the artworks give the
walls a renewed purpose, but the events program
also engaged the public with the space. This was
achieved by showcasing the creation and installation
of the artwork by the artists, establishing pop up
design installations, hosting DJs and opening a

TACTICAL URBANISM VOL 4 51

urban
games

Purpose
To provide public activities that build and
strengthen communities

Leaders
Community Groups, Government
Agencies, Local Advocates, Not-For-Profits

Summary
There is some debate about whether games the tragic earthquakes.
are truly tactical urbanism, as they are These games’ small and informal nature
not always implemented with strategic, is also a benefit, as they can easily spread
long-term benefit in mind. Used tactically, throughout communities. This brings sport
however, games are a useful way to build and recreation closer to people’s homes and
healthier and more cohesive communities workplaces, and promotes a sense of place at
with a sense of place. We believe they have a the hyperlocal scale. All in all, urban games
place in any urbanist’s toolkit. create a hub of localised activity by providing
Public open spaces have hosted sport a place where groups of people can gather to
and group activities for millennia. We play, socialise and build community.
are brought together by the moments of
passion and excitement that can come from
a surprise victory, heart-breaking loss or
astonishing feat, even on a local scale. These
urban games bring life to open space, create
local history and bring the community
together. In the case of Christchurch, they
also boosted morale and encouraged people
to re-engage with the city centre following

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Image courtesy Gapfillers
TACTICAL URBANISM VOL 4 53
 Urban Games — Case Studies

Image courtesy Gapfillers Image courtesy Gapfillers

Gap Golf The Dance-O-Mat

Location: Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand Location: Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand
Leader: Gap Filler Leader: F3 Design, Gap Filler

Cast-off synthetic turf, timber off-cuts and empty The Dance-O-Mat was one of Gap Filler’s first
baked beans tins don’t sound like much, but in 2012 initiatives following the Christchurch earthquakes.
Gap Filler transformed these materials into an It was developed in consultation with the local dance
eight-hole mini-golf course to brighten the mood community in response to a lack of dance venues
and landscape of central Christchurch. This cheap, post-disaster. A converted washing machine was
simple project created a journey in and around connected to stand-mounted speakers around a
the CBD, reacquainting residents with their post- mirror ball-bedecked dance floor, allowing anyone
earthquake city. Each hole included a photograph of to connect their music device, insert $2 and start
the building which once stood in its place, providing dancing. The first iteration of the Dance-O-Mat saw
a tangible reminder of the history of the land. approximately 600 hours of dance, from salsa to
Gap Golf added not only a much-needed sense of flamenco, swing, ceroc, belly dancers and break
playfulness, but by empowering specific community dancers. As of 2014, the Dance-O-Mat has moved
groups to participate in the design and construction to four locations around Christchurch and is used
of the course, the project encouraged discovery and by professional dancing troops, dance schools
acceptance as golfers traversed from hole to hole. and those with a love for an impromptu boogie,
reflecting a practical yet innovative response to a
need in the community.

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Image courtesy Giant Games

Games Night Public Outdoor Ping Pong

Location: Brisbane, QLD, Australia Location: Australia-wide
Leader: Giant Games Leader: POPP

Games Night is a monthly event at Brisbane’s King POPP (Public Outdoor Ping Pong) set up in Australia
George Square, where people socialise and play life- after discovering public ping pong tables in Berlin.
sized (and regular-sized) games like chess, Connect POPP make free-to-use, permanent, weatherproof
Four and Jenga. The event has grown significantly ping pong tables for parks and open spaces, teaming
since it began in 2012, reinvigorating an often up with local artists to bring the tables to life and
maligned open public space and allowing people to give a sense of community ownership. The tables
make new friends. Games Night was a winner of the have several benefits: they encourage healthy
2012 Brisbane Lord Mayor’s Australia Day Awards, activity, function as public art, activate passive
its ongoing success illustrated by the subsequent urban spaces and unify communities. POPP’s tables
establishment of the Giant Games rental service for are installed across Australia, including urban
social and corporate events. Fremantle, WA, suburban North Fitzroy, VIC and
tourist destination Rottnest Island, WA, illustrating
the flexibility of this tactic across environments.

TACTICAL URBANISM VOL 4 55

Sources
Street Makeover Open Space Making
Parking(ing) Day Penrith City Council
RobertsDay 202020 Vision
Waverley City Council Greening the Rubble
Maribyrnong City Council Future Christchurch
Rebuild Christchurch
Better Block Focus Paihia
Better Block Far North District Council
City of Greater Geelong Stephenson&Turner
Geelong Better Block Facebook Page Creative Communities
Innate Ecology Launceston City Heart
Park To Pacific
Placeholders
Neighbourhood Gardening Pallet Pavillion
Urban Agriculture Australia Creative Spaces
Michael Green The Projects
202020 Vision Arts Victoria
Food Alliance The School of Life
Northcote Library Food Garden CoDesign Studio
3000 Acres
Knowledge Exchange
Local Economic Renewal Gap Filler
Renew Australia John O’Callaghan
Renew Australia Facebook Page City of Freemantle
Renew Newcastle Freemantle City Library
Docklands Spaces Melbourne Central
The Rocks Pop Up The World Loves Melbourne
The Rocks Pop Up Facebook Page Melbourne Places
Space Market
Why So Empty iOS Application Visual Catalyst
All City
Road Repair Projects for Public Spaces
NSW Now Pollen Studio
Heart Foundation FORM
CoDesign Studio ArchitectureAU
City of Sydney Village Well
Maroondah City Council
Co-trading
Winn Lane Urban Games
Winn Lane Facebook Page Gap Filler
Re:START F3 Design
Re:START Facebook Page Giant Games
Fork on the Road Cvent
Fork on the Road Facebook Page Games Night
Public Outdoor Ping Pong

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