Northcote Wayfinding

This project was undertaken as an extension of the Northcote Streetscape Masterplan, previously completed by Urban Initiatives for the Darebin Council.

Wayfinding being ambiguous between Northcote Station and the shopping strip at Northcote High Street, Urban Initiatives was tasked with establishing clearer direction for walking visitors. The limited budget inspired a strategy to utilise unconventional interventions reflecting the unique character of Northcote, a kind of breadcrumb trail, to guide pedestrians through from the quiet, suburban station and adjacent car parks, to the bustling shopping strip.

Funded by the Department of Sustainability and the Environment, Urban Initiatives ran an intensive consultation workshop (in association with BJ Seminars International), which identified a broad range of artistic elements and treatments that would help achieve the project’s objectives.

Realisation of the final design included working with local artists to create designs for pavement inlays, playful line-markings, improved street lighting, laneway upgrades which include street art, bespoke signage and two precinct locality maps.