The underpass: a road or path that goes under something, such as a busy road, to facilitate connection and safety. It is a by-product of a larger idea, such as a bridge, freeway, or footpath. However, the underpass is often forgotten and marginalised, forms a backdrop to a layered world of experiences, places, and people.
Recent projects that address this neglected typology are part of larger infrastructure, defined by multi-million-dollar budgets and designed for a singular public, rather than the diversity of publics who find their place underneath the arches.
Architectus is presenting a conversation with its own design and thought leaders, as well as guest speakers from the fields of architecture, urban design, and their adjacent fields. The goal is to question the impact and role that can be played in designing these spaces.
The event will take place at Customs Square, an underpass in the Melbourne CBD and a case study in its own right. As the steady stream of cars, trams, trains, nature, bicycles, and pedestrians move around us, participants and speakers will occupy this space to question the public that they are designing for and what they need.
