Richmond Power Station Cremorne

Upper Pool Studio

Studio leaders: Maud Cassaignau and Clara Reutter

In partnership with Naomi Milgrom Foundation

Semester 1, 2023

The industry partnered studio collaboration between RMIT Landscape Architecture and Naomi Milgrom Foundation investigated potentials for creating a Creative Innovative Hub on the Former Richmond Power Station Site in Cremorne. It looked at how to regenerate its post-industrial surroundings within the incredibly dynamic post-industrial Suburb of Cremorne.

Cremorne has undergone a dramatic transformation in the last decades, from an industrial precinct with iconic Melbournian factories into an overlooked creative area to then be discovered by the tech industry and massive investment. The pandemic depopulated the area temporarily of its 9-5, Monday-Friday workers. Since then, young techies have flocked back, mainly during the week. Universities are due to join the influx with a New Digital Hubs. The study investigated in this changing context, how urban spaces surrounding a new creative hub could invigorate the site as well as the wider area: its creative community, its connectivity with wider Cremorne, Yarra River and an industrial heritage, while providing interesting passive, active and productive landscapes, programs and activities and addressing issues of sustainability, climate, heat, flooding, sealed surfaces, contamination prevalent in Cremorne and on the site in innovative ways.

It further studies how a vision for the site reflects on plans for Cremorne, and surrounding urban contexts of Melbourne. A first exhibition has led to professional and local community engagement with further development to come.