The architects of Melbourne’s future reimagine Broadmeadows

Published on 28 January 2020

Hume City Council Broadmeadows Office

Students from Swinburne University’s School of Architecture embraced the challenge to rethink Broadmeadows Train Station, creating exciting new possibilities for the station precinct and the suburb. 

Mayor of Hume City, Councillor Carly Moore said “Masters students led by Swinburne University’s Director of Urban Design, Dr Ian Woodcock, have used innovative design approaches and whole-of-precinct thinking to reimagine the train station.

“Council has been advocating for the Broadmeadows Train Station redevelopment for many years. The local community deserves better than the ad-hoc investment and works we have seen in recent years,” Cr Moore said.

“We are looking forward to seeing the imaginative designs from Swinburne University’s School of Architecture. The students have used clever and modern design to reconnect the western and eastern sides of Broadmeadows. 

“Considering the functionality of the entire area, these creative student designs resolve the accessibility and amenity challenges of the existing station.

“Their ideas transform a dark, confusing and uninviting transport interchange into a bright and welcoming place that has the potential to reinvigorate the surrounding area.”

Dr Ian Woodcock said “Each student carefully considered what a redeveloped Broadmeadows Train Station could look like, along with how a complete redevelopment could provide a far better experience for the community.

“While each design is different, each provides possible options to reconnect the western and eastern side of the Broadmeadows precinct; to create a seamless train and bus interchange; plus encourage improved pedestrian and cycling routes through the precinct,” Dr Woodcock said.

“The students have drawn on learnings from train stations around the world that demonstrate how designed public spaces and transport infrastructure can improve the desirability and economic productivity of a particular area.”

Swinburne Masters student, Nathan Wright said “The most challenging aspect of redesigning Broadmeadows Train Station was the fact that the site was so car dominated, which currently cuts the station off from the rest of the city centre.

“Designing with the pedestrian in mind had the best results and showed the true potential of Broadmeadows Train Station," Mr Wright said.

Swinburne Masters student, Maria Sanjna said “My design intent was to envision Broadmeadows station precinct as a transit hub.

“Being so close to Melbourne Airport it was important to consider that business people and tourists would be coming into the area, so the station precinct design needed to eliminate any barriers and focus on the importance of public transportation and pedestrian access,” Ms Sanjna said.

Swinburne Masters student, Almin Mulic said “The redesign process was a great opportunity to implement some of the world’s best practices from the mass transport industry.

“I applied these ideas in an effort to improve people’s lives through the built environment and to connect multiple modes of transport into the single interchange.

“Overall, the site possesses a large potential for improvements, it is just a matter of applying the correct infrastructure that will connect all the dots,” Mr Mulic said.