A city within a city, Chinatowns throughout the world have seen by outsider to be an exotic localities, Melbourne’s Chinatown has certainly had this reputation. Most Melburnians in the late nineteenth century regarded Chinese as immoral, avaricious and deviouse.

 

Defined by two city blocks, Chinatown Melbourne is bounded by Swanston, Lonsdale, Exhibition and Bourke Street Bisected by Little Bourke Street. Little Bourke Street, like the other ‘little’ streets in the Melbourne Central Activities District, its 10m wide abutted by many two to three storey 19th century buildings. This combination of these low rise building and the present day concentration of Chinese business setting in this relatively narrow street results in an attractive urban enclosure that is human and comfortable in scale.

 

The aim of this project is to revitalized existing Chinatown with the realization of the constant conflict between pedestrian/traffic and the possibility of foothpath extension to accomodate more humanized activities. This revitalization Strategy also creates a linkage together thoroughfare of mixed architectural styles which some are signigicant to the site. The design of the streetscapes is to enhance the arts, cultural and historic character of the precinct creating a consistent look for the street with particular emphasis on the intersection as unifying elements. The new face for Chinatown is a design with the concept of Contemporary design with tradition Chinese essences.

 

Owing to the service function of Lt Bourke Street, kerbsite turnover of parked vehicles is high and constant. The effective

pedestrian street width is often reduced by sign posts, customers window shopping, people opening car doors, people

making deliveries etc. The remaining width is not sufficient to accomodate two people abreast on the footpath. There is 

situation is further aggravated by the numerous side streets and car parks that abut little Bourke Street and rely on Bourke

Street for access.

 

As a result, the street experiences constant vehicular movement that interrupts pedestrian movement on foothpaths, as well as pedestrians crossing the street. In order that more space can be given over to pedestrian in the street, it is important that

on-street parking to be reduces and that the use of existing off street parking is maximized. This can be achieved with the 

minimum of interference to the delivery and service function of the street by banning private vehicles from parking during

weekday working hours. This would allow parking to be limited to one side of Little Bourke Street only, without reducing the

existing opportunities for delivery and service parking.

 

If Chinatown is to increase its attractiveness, little bourke street and its important tributary must be made inviting the pedestrians.

This may need to be at the expense of some inconvenience to the delivery and service function and could result in a reduction

in the number of vehicles parking in the street and lanes during the day and particularly in the evening. The following were the

main issues subject to investigation.

 

- removing unnecessary vehicular traffic in Little Bourke Street

- upgrading Little Bourke Street and the important tributary lanes for pedestrian and dining use.

- encouraging more appropriate use of available road space

- improving the amenity and provision for pedestrian

- The design of the streetscapes is to enhance the arts, cultural and historic character of the precinct creating a consistent look

   for the street with particular emphasis on the intersections as unifying elements.