Places Victoria
Lonsdale Street Dandenong Revitalisation
A visionary revitalisation plan for Dandenong’s urban centre, enhancing connection, cohesion and multicultural character of place.
The Revitalising Central Dandenong project was initiated by Vic Urban in 2006, to address Dandenong’s declining urban centre through a process of shared government and private investment. In partnership with TCL, BKK Architects led the development of an ambitious 25-year masterplan for a large area of land that Vic Urban had acquired in the centre of Dandenong which spanned from the train station to the city’s main thoroughfare, Lonsdale Street.
Our research-driven and engagement-rich approach to this comprehensive urban renewal project spanned over a number of years to develop a sustainable and place-specific revitalisation vision. The outcome has addressed the lack of orientation, cohesion and activation, shaping a series of interconnected precincts comprising developable lots within an urban design framework that seeks to celebrate the city’s cultural diversity while creating new opportunities for community connection and economic growth. Our team also had the opportunity to implement part of the masterplan, transforming Dandenong’s underutilised, boulevard width main street, Lonsdale Street, into a dynamic, pedestrian-focused heart of the community.
Big Picture Thinking
Our approach began with months of intensive community engagement, consultation, research and investigation before any design work commenced. We undertook a deep dive into place, examining the grain of the city, including the laneways and arcades, the different ethnic precincts and cultural spread of the streets, the green spaces and distribution of trees through the street network, and the car parking, and we analysed the complex interplay of movement patterns and public spaces.
Our masterplan sought to create a clear narrative for moving through the city, defining the station and market as the thriving bookends of the city centre and positioning strategic nodal points between that draw people through the city, providing an urban framework for connection. We curated a journey comprising new civic spaces, pedestrianised zones, a new city walk, and developable parcels with stringent design guidelines, enabling the parcels to be sold for private development. We redesigned the bus network, designed streetscapes, established Lonsdale Street as a greened urban arterial, and utilised high quality urban design to shape places for Dandenong’s diverse community to come together. Our approach sought to maintain local character while facilitating positive change, ensuring the renewal process would enhance rather than erase Dandenong’s unique identity.
Collaboration and Humility
Our team worked on the revitalisation masterplanning for over 5 years, collaborating with a diverse range of consultants and project stakeholders over time, with our equal partnership and collaborative process with TCL spanning the project in its entirety.
A key element to the project was engagement with community: asking them what they wanted for their city. We undertook our initial investigations alongside engagement consultants, Village Well, who assisted in facilitating extensive community engagement to understand the essence of Dandenong. The project also required ongoing collaborations with traffic engineers and various government stakeholders to successfully articulate and achieve the transition to a pedestrian-priority environment.
Playfulness and Innovation
BKK Architects, in partnership with TCL, worked together on the reimagining of Lonsdale Street as Dandenong’s main street. This important project presented an opportunity to create a memorable boulevard that reverses traditional priorities. Instead of cars dominating the space, pedestrians are given precedence through generous crossings, outdoor room spaces, carefully designed edges that encourage activity and interaction, and cobbled shared zones that invite people to spill out into the street.
The design maintains the grand boulevard tradition while introducing human-scale habitation spaces. Rich landscaping creates comfort and visual interest, with distinctive street lighting features, designed by artist David Sequeira, adding character and safety to the public realm. The result is a series of fun, engaging places that support multiple modes of transport while prioritising the pedestrian experience.
Leadership and Advocacy
The project transformed not only Dandenong’s physical environment but also the way various organisations approach urban renewal. By bringing together VicRoads, the Department of Transport, and state government agencies, we established new models for collaborative city-making that have influenced subsequent projects throughout Victoria.
Our approach to stakeholder engagement, particularly with local retailers, demonstrated innovative ways to communicate change and build support for transformation. We recognised and addressed the natural anxiety about change by presenting ideas clearly and maintaining open dialogue throughout the process.
Transformative Places, Holistic Benefits
The renewal of Dandenong’s city centre demonstrates how thoughtful urban design can catalyse broader social and economic transformation. The implementation of the masterplan is still underway, continuing to support the initial aspirations and delivering high-quality civic spaces that provide enhanced cohesion, support cultural diversity and deliver vibrant places for communities to come together.
By reimagining Lonsdale Street as a greened, pedestrian-prioritised urban arterial, we’ve created a framework for sustainable urban growth that celebrates Dandenong’s character while positioning it for future success. The project is a testament to the power of patient, community-focused design in creating vibrant, inclusive urban environments.
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Selected Awards
2013 AIA Victorian Architecture Awards, Winner Melbourne Prize
2013 AIA Victorian Architecture Awards, Winner Urban Design
2013 PIA Australia Award for Urban Design, Commendation
2012 AILA Awards, Excellence Award for Design in Landscape Architecture
2012 AILA Awards, Urban Design Awards