CASBE is proud to be partnering on Sub-topia: A clustered vision for living at the urban fringe – a multidisciplinary ideas competition inviting students and early career practitioners to rethink greenfield development in Victoria.
The competition provides an opportunity to explore bold, climate‑responsive approaches to neighbourhood design, building on the principles behind BESS Subdivisions and shaping the next generation of low carbon, resilient communities.
Sub-topia is an initiative of Urban Design Forum Australia and the Robin Boyd Foundation, in partnership with the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA), VicHealth, CASBE, the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV), and the National Growth Areas Alliance (NGAA).
Key dates: Registrations close 7 June, competition runs 8 June – 12 July, with winners announced 31 July.
The Paddock Eco Village, Crosby Architects with Emergent Studios. Photographed by John Gollings.
A curated podcast series has been developed to support participants, offering insights into suburban development, ecological design, and alternative models for growth at the urban fringe. Two new recordings are now available, completing the four-part series.
The significance of greenfield suburban development in Australia
Izzie White with Ash Alam, Catherine Murphy and Andrew Butt
Explores the role and challenges of greenfield development in Australia, highlighting the social, environmental and economic drivers shaping growth at the urban fringe and the need for more sustainable approaches.
Sub-topia Launch Event – Panel Discussion
Recorded at Melbourne Design Week, this session brings together key contributors to reflect on the forces shaping suburban development, opportunities to rethink form, and the role of design-led innovation in building resilient communities.
Alan Pert – Winter Park and Elliston Estate
Examines suburbia, density and civic life through historical and contemporary precedents, highlighting how alternative subdivision models can support more diverse and compact communities.
Matthew Hamilton (Emergent Studios) – The Paddock Eco Estate
Showcases a leading ecological neighbourhood, demonstrating how landscape-led design can deliver strong environmental and community outcomes in greenfield contexts.
Together, these recordings provide a valuable knowledge base to inform competition entries from multidisciplinary teams and inspire new thinking about clustered, climate-responsive communities.
Learn more
Sub-topia invites participants to propose bold alternatives to conventional subdivision models, helping to shape more sustainable outcomes for Victoria’s growth areas.
Access the podcast series and register: Sub-topia: A clustered vision for living at the urban fringe | Robin Boyd Foundation