Brisbane Urban Commons

Our meager system of social security is not designed for a world of insecure work. Low benefits leave no room for insecurity; and our social housing system does not have the flexibility to match people’s work lives. Fixing our housing system will require more social housing and greater security for private renters, but it also needs more security at work.

Based on research and collaboration with a group of gig workers, the report by digital thinktank Doteveryone argues that the spiral can be reversed by government action – or by the platforms themselves adopting changes. As such, this proposal becomes a comment on non-standard forms of employment, on the gig economy and proposing a space where young people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities (CALD) feel a sense of belonging, are connected with others within the community, with housing vacancies, with job opportunities, and are understood by the welfare system, the government and the general public.

Through the creation of a united voice, the Urban Commons becomes a dedicated space to erase the systemic racial inequalities that seep through our society and prod stakeholders to adopt changes towards a fair, inclusive and sustainable democratic society.

Identifying with the landscape qualities of the place we inhabit reaches to the very core of belonging and remembering. In the Subtropical City of Brisbane, the survival of its identity, as such, is dependent on the survival of the extent and the continuity of its landscape – its hills, its trees its river and its greenness.

exploring the possibility of using real building projects as training grounds for skill development

This proposal presents an alternative method of construction by using engineered timber products to provide a solution to the many issues we face across the affordable housing and construction industry across Australia. This method saves time and money allowing for the addition of extra units with increased density on-top of existing structures as timber is far lighter than typical concrete structures. Through the nature of the product and its ability to store carbon, as well as the prefabricated design reducing construction time and costs, timber construction reduces the impact on the environment by the amount of CO2 that goes into the atmosphere (Metsawood, 2018).

The strategy proposes that the techniques that are taught during the construction of the commons will be used for a future where timber is used throughout the city ontop of existing structures – a sustainable alternative to new affordable housing apartment buildings.

Material charts prepare to guide the work on each project. The following is an example of the training manual sheets that will be used during construction. These will be assisted through the use of Hindsite headwear for onsite training.

lets have a look inside…

And outside…