Urban Choreography: Central Melbourne, 1985–

Despite a very substantial architecture and urban heritage, Melbourne in the mid 1980s was experiencing a flight to the suburbs and becoming a rather dull city that closed on evenings and weekends. While many challenges remain, the incremental transformation of central Melbourne is now a global success story that needs to be better studied. This is not one story but many: the design of new architecture and public space reclaimed from cars and rail yards; from turning its back on the water, Melbourne has integrated the river and become a waterfront city. It has grown greeneraEURO"literally, environmentally and politically. Laneways that were once filled with garbage are now filled with 'hidden' bars, artworks, housing and urban art. Urban Choreography will document and discuss the many urban design transformations over this period with a focus on key events, plans, projects, places and people involved and seeks to understand the political and other forces that drove, framed and constrained these changes.