This project will prototype and test novel ways to reimagine how we interact and value aquatic biodiversity in highly urbanised and degraded natural areas, such as the lower Birrarung (Yarra River) in Fisherman’s Bend.

Globally, the proximity of cities and major urban centres to waterways presents significant challenges for maintaining the biodiversity and services of these natural systems. Failure to consider and integrate principles of ecology has often led to significant changes to these systems to the point where they are no longer able to be restored to their wild and natural states.

As a result, not only has the natural system itself changed, but the social-ecological perspectives of how we observe, interact, and value nature across these systems has also changed.

Using Fishermans Bend as a case study, this project will explore ways to rethink the role of design in aquatic urban centres and how it can be leveraged to broker new relationships, services and biodiversity assemblages across cities.

To build awareness and community engagement, the first stage will include exhibition and program of events during Melbourne Design Week in May 2025. The proposed exhibition “Novel Futures” will provide provocations about current and future scenarios in terms of biodiversity and invite participants and stakeholders to engage in critical discourse around the role of design in leveraging and facilitating “novel natures” in urban aquatic systems in a time of rapid environmental change.

This will lead to the final design and deployment of prototype aquatic habitats in the lower Birrarung near Lorimer Beach and/or Port Education Centre. The prototypes and ongoing monitoring of the habitats will be designed by Haptera Design Studio and form part of Shane Hunt’s PhD research within RMITs School of Design and ICON Science group.