ACTIVATE CITY OF PORT PHILLIP HIGH STREETS_

The ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on businesses across Victoria has required the adoption of creative design approaches to safely address the reinvigoration of popular high streets. Enlocus were engaged by City of Port Phillip to design, fabricate and install temporary public seating along the bustling commercial precincts of Bay Street, Port Melbourne, and Clarendon Street, South Melbourne.

Following their fabrication by Power to Make and Rock Martin Industries, the seating pods were installed across four locations on each site.  Consisting of 948 components honed from 88 sheets of ply, the forms are accompanied by vibrant ground decals and bold lettering which complement the contrasting shades of the seats, and extend its footprint.

The project directly addresses Council’s ‘Live, Love, Local’ campaign, collaborating closely with traders under their COVID-19 economic recovery roadmap.  This will see the incorporation of a series of temporary parklets and pop-ups that allow extended footpath trading for hospitality. The project ultimately aims to imbue a sense of optimism, while creating new pedestrian areas along major retail sites.  Differentiated by form and colour, these unconventional seating configurations highlight the uniqueness and history of each centre, and provides the public with a playful and engaging space to enjoy over the coming summer.

Photography by Land Media