BMW Group Australia has announced the winners and finalists of this year’s YourMelbourne student competition, held in collaboration with The University of Melbourne and RMIT University. The winners sat down with Architecture & Design to talk about their vision of Melbourne in 2030.

For the fifth consecutive year, BMW Group Australia and the two universities invited students to research, design, and present their vision of Melbourne in 2030 in line with the 17 United Nations Sustainability Development Goals.

Students were challenged to think of innovative and sustainable ways to address climate change, a growing population and the future of mobility within Melbourne’s expanding population sprawling urban landscape.

Each entry was judged on five core pillars: Public Mobility, Private Mobility, Urban Planning, Connectivity and Sustainability.

Students entering the YourMelbourne initiative could submit their vision as a group or individually, with entries judged by representatives from BMW Group, RMIT Capire Consulting Group.

The 2024 group winners and finalists are Eco Spark, Recharge Melbourne and Melvement.

Eco Spark, by Aileen Natasha, Anastasia Jesica, Dennis Jonathan (RMIT University and The University of Melbourne): A unique multi-faceted transformation of Fishermans Bend, with consideration for private and public mobility, tourism, and waste management.

“We believe that Melbourne must distribute its growing population beyond the CBD, without extending so far as to trigger urban sprawl. Our solution focuses on positioning Fishermans Bend as an integral part of Melbourne’s growth narrative,” say the Eco Spark winners.

“Our initiatives tackle climate change through clean energy initiatives. The Eco Spark Waste to Energy facility serves as a cornerstone that addresses two critical challenges simultaneously: managing non-recyclable waste and generating clean energy. Additionally, our mobility and social innovation solutions rely solely on renewable energy, utilising kinetic energy, solar power, and energy produced by the Eco Spark facility.

“Through our idea, we aim to inspire immediate action. As there is no better time than the present to address issues that might escalate in the future. We also believe that the adoption of emerging technologies is essential to ensure Melbourne remains a leader in its commitment to climate action.”

Recharge Melbourne, by Naphatsadol Pansailom, Tiptanya Polpak, Yanisa Vongsmaenthep (RMIT University): A solution that harnesses each stage of the coffee-making process, weaving something truly Melburnian to a hub of renewable energy.

“Our design seamlessly integrates the UN SDGs by focusing on three core areas: sustainable urban infrastructure, renewable energy, and inclusive community development,” say the Recharge Melbourne winners.

“Each component of Recharge was purposefully crafted to address key global objectives, ensuring that our project not only benefits Melbourne’s future but also contributes meaningfully to broader sustainability targets. From energy systems to transport networks, every element was aligned with these goals.”

Melvement, by Xinying Xiao, Chenyu Shen, Yuchen Wang (The University of Melbourne): A fusion of urban transformation and the Melvement app, which offers Melbourne residents ways to track and enhance their impact on the environment, and even earn rewards.

“We have a profound love and connection to Melbourne. Although as international students, we found a special connection with Melbourne city, which has fostered a sense of responsibility and desire to contribute positively to its future,” say the Melvement winners.

“Participating in the competition was a way to channel this sentiment into constructive action. Secondly, the competition theme, "YourMelbourne in 2030," resonated with us because it presented an opportunity to think big and imagine a vision for the city's future. We were intrigued by the challenge of envisioning how Melbourne could evolve and improve in the next decade, considering technological advancements, social trends, and environmental considerations.

Lastly, by participating, we had the chance to influence decision-makers and help shape policies and initiatives that could have a lasting impact on the city's future. This was a powerful incentive to share ideas and engage in the competition.”

The 2024 individual winners and finalists are Melbourne Reimagined, Urban Mobility and S.M.A.R.T. City.

Melbourne Reimagined, by Michelle Setianto (The University of Melbourne): An encompassing travel app alongside with shuttles and green corridors to improve the livability and reduce car-dependency amid the growing urban sprawl.

"My project addresses Melbourne’s growing population and the issue of climate change by leveraging the feasibility and benefits of Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS). MaaS simplifies access to multiple transport modes, integrating public transport, ride-sharing, and active mobility options like cycling into a single platform,” says Setianto.

“This approach can significantly reduce reliance on private cars, directly lowering emissions and easing congestion. For a growing population, MaaS offers scalable and adaptable solutions without requiring massive infrastructure changes. It ensures that as Melbourne expands, transportation remains accessible, efficient, and inclusive for everyone.

“By encouraging sustainable transport choices and reducing the city's environmental footprint, MaaS aligns perfectly with Melbourne’s needs for both population growth and climate resilience. This solution combines practicality with long-term benefits, creating a more connected, sustainable, and liveable city.”

Urban Mobility, by Sophia Li (The University of Melbourne): A futuristic proposal leveraging available space to build SkyWalks and SkyTrams, high-speed rails, and more.

“My approach was to focus on Melbourne’s specific needs and then look at how those are connected to the SDGs. For example, SDG 11 on sustainable cities and SDG 13 on climate action were at the core of my project because they directly address the issues Melbourne is facing, like transport equity and emissions,” Li says.

“I also wanted every solution to do more than just solve one problem—for instance, Green Pods reduce emissions, but they also make transport more accessible. I tried to design solutions that worked together to create a bigger, lasting impact.”

S.M.A.R.T. City, by Siddhant Dharwadkar (RMIT University): A vision to make Melbourne generate renewable energy in communal areas and reduce food waste, including parking structures that offer shelter to homeless and under-educated Melburnians.

“My inspiration was the love for this city which I had visited and fell in love with, so even a small contribution towards the betterment of the city would be held significantly high in my regards,” Dharwadkar says.

“While [S.M.A.R.T. City] wouldn’t magically solve the problem overnight, I strongly feel that it would guide the direction of the initial steps to be taken to achieve a solution.”

Follow this link for more information about the BMW YourMelbourne initiative.

Image: The winners alongside Wolfgang Buechel, CEO of BMW Group Australia/supplied