Oxford Street, like many other Sydney high streets, is in a state of emergency. Retail Vacancies, a noisy road environment, underused public spaces and lockout laws have led to a major decrease in patronage and cultural vitality. 89 shops along the 4.3km stretch between Hyde Park and Bondi Junction are vacant, for lease or closing. The streets are empty, underutilised and awaiting reclamation.
 

In response, the City of Sydney has proposed a new set of planning controls allowing building heights to be increased by two floors in exchange for facade preservation and 10% of the total floorspace dedicated to creative and cultural industries.  However, we believe that adding more lettable space, when the street is already struggling to find tenants, is unnecessary and does not address the underlying issues that Oxford Street currently faces. 

​

In response, we proposed the creation of a fictional department of the City of Sydney Council, called the Bureau of Activation. Its purpose was to oversee the re-activation of Oxford Street, by decreasing rents and the number of vacant shopfronts. The bureau would also be responsible for the activation of Oxford Street's roads and alleyways through temporary events.