Six Degrees has been working closely with Monash.

We run studios, present lectures, collaborate on housing and policy studies, and provide industry placements. Many of our young architects have graduated from Monash’s master’s program. Together, we’re shaping design thinking in the next generation and contributing to the future of housing and urban planning in Australia.

Looking at the Victorian Government's introduction of major planning reforms targeting better-designed medium-rise housing, including the new Townhouse and Low-Rise Code {source}, which Six Degrees contributed to, we believe the focus on well-designed medium-density housing has never been more relevant.

As architects and urban designers, we play a crucial role in shaping communities, advocating for better housing, and influencing policy to create more liveable cities.

Our strong partnership with Monash University is an important part of this, bridging academic research, real-world design, and policy advocacy to help shape the next generation of housing in Victoria.

We recently collaborated with Monash University and Dr Lee-Anne Khor on Merri-bek Neighbourhood Renewal, a Monash Design Studio and real-world project.

These initiatives help us develop new approaches to density, neighbourhood character, and green infrastructure. They are as rewarding for students as they are for us, offering fresh perspectives and innovative solutions to the challenges we face.

Our Urban Design Studios take this to a bigger scale, exploring how cities function and what makes them vibrant and engaging places to live. In our most recent studio, students have used an entire city block in Nipaluna/Hobart as a laboratory for experimentation and innovation.

The ‘Hanging Gardens’ precinct—a mixed-use cultural zone focused on music, entertainment, and hospitality—offers a unique case study in urban activation. While it thrives during the annual Dark Mofo festival, the challenge is ensuring it remains a precinct for locals, deeply connected to Hobart’s identity, all year round.

Students are investigating why some districts, despite appearing similar on paper, feel vastly different in their vibrancy and engagement. Through this lens, they are developing both large-scale strategies and finely tuned interventions, considering new buildings, adaptive reuse, and the fine balance between cultural preservation and renewal.

Relating real-world projects to real-world thinking—and seeing how different students engage with different urban challenges—has been invaluable to our studios.

As our relationship with Monash University grows, we will continue to explore new ways to connect architectural design, government policy, and academic research to create better homes, stronger communities, and more connected city spaces.