RMIT Bundoora Campus

Client: RMIT Bundoora
Type: Education Facilities
Date: 2005-present

For over 12 years Urban Initiatives has been involved in the design and implementation of a wide range of landscape projects on RMIT’s Bundoora Campus. This includes extensive improvements to a number of the main courtyard spaces and landscape works associated with new buildings and facilities. A landscape masterplan was prepared in 2006 to provide the framework for future works and improvements at the Campus including the protection of the significant remnant Red Gums on the site.

The staged implementation of our design for the student ‘Meeting Place’ adjacent to the Clements Drive entrance to the Campus has been particularly successful and enabled us to reflect through improvements to the landscape, RMIT’s commitment to environmentally and culturally sensitive design. The project involved the enlargement of an existing shallow and degraded lake into a large open waterbody, which has been planted with indigenous wetland plant species. Changes in the site drainage improved the water collection opportunities and pipes were installed to collect excess water from the Aquaculture Research facility.

The harvested water is available for irrigation purposes. Subsequent improvements within the precinct designed by our practice include a timber viewing deck, stage and BBQ area and a large tensile shade structure. A focal point of the space is the trunk of an aboriginal scar tree that was relocated from the adjacent Bundoora East Campus after it blew over in a storm. This tree forms part of the Keelbundoora Scarred Tree and Heritage Trail, which opened in May 2008 and extends around the Campus.