How much of our hard rubbish is being wasted? And can our trash really be treasure?

Could Cardigan Street become a green wonderland? And what is the community’s wildest dream for the site?

As part of RMIT PlaceLab, we’re excited to present an Exhibition of our Cycle #2 Melbourne Research Projects – ‘Flatpack: Repacked’ and ‘Cardigan Commons’!

Opening on Friday 8th December and running until Wednesday 20th December, come along and see what we’ve been up to, working with community, industry, academics and students to investigate vital urban challenges.

Trash as Treasure

‘Flatpack: Repacked’ asked: “That lumpy couch – trash or treasure?”

We investigated how residents in the City of Melbourne furnish their homes and the opportunities to minimise waste.

  • Find out what gets thrown away in hard rubbish and how big the problem is.
  • View some of the hard-rubbish pieces collected from around Cardigan St and see how these have been re-imagined.
  • Learn about innovative ideas from the community around how to solve the issue.

Wild Streets

‘Cardigan Commons’ asked, “What’s the street of your wildest dreams?”

Here we explored Cardigan Street’s potential to transform into a more inclusive, collaborative and wild ‘greenscape’.

  • Learn about our interactive science events to promote nature connection, including wildlife shows and botanical drawing.
  • See a selection of landscape architecture student works developed as part of our aligned Design Studio.
  • Find out what the community had to say about their vision for a greener, more connected Cardigan Street.

Images from locating discarded furniture for Flatpack : Repacked and student work activations for Cardigan Commons. Photos by RMIT PlaceLab.

Engage with the Planter Boxes Planting Workshop arranged in collaboration with RMIT’s Landscape Architecture Academics along with Salad Dressing.

Grab your copy of our specially created Project Zines ‘Trash as Treasure’ and ‘Wild Streets’, including your own Cardigan Commons’ Co-Lab Toolkit to reimagine your own street.

Our Exhibition won’t be open for long so mark a time in your calendar to come visit us soon!

Venue: RMIT PlaceLab Melbourne
17 — 21 Cardigan Street, Carlton 3053

Exhibition Dates: Fri Dec 8th – Wed Dec 20th
Exhibition Times: Mon – Fri 12pm – 4pm

The ‘Wild Streets’ Zine. Image by RMIT PlaceLab.

RMIT PlaceLab Melbourne exhibition visitor. Image: Suzanne Phoenix.