Urban design is, by definition, interdisciplinary, and it embraces a multitude of stakeholders in a manner which transcends traditional silo approaches of planning and building cities. There is universal recognition that urban design is not the preserve of any one profession or interest group.
What is urban design, what is an urban designer, and who is an urban designer? The questions will continue to be debated. The ongoing debate is important, a sign of strength, not weakness. It is an indication of the healthy interaction between those involved in exploring, creating and managing our cities and towns.
It is recognition that the questions do not have simple answers. The challenges to be addressed by urban design are complex and dynamic.
…The landscape architect’s skills are holistic, strategic, synthetic and imaginative, and pragmatic. Their creative propositions are realised by negotiating outcomes in the real world of the constructed project… Catherin Bull …Economics has come a long way in assessing community willingness to pay for those features of city which leading urban designers hold dear – diversity, inclusiveness, sustainability and cultural vitality. These economic tools can help frame powerful business cases for the elevation of better urban design in project and plan formulation… Marcus Spiller
…the three large east-coast cities have invested heavily in motorway infrastructure incorporating significant sections of tunnel… On face value, they all appear at this stage to be engineering masterpieces but spectacular urban failures…we are on the cusp of some genuine breakthroughs in the establishment of accepted parallels between non-car movement and more socially and economically sustainable villages, towns and cities… Steve Burgess
…Trade practices legislation introduced decades ago in the interest of ensuring competition has, in fact, made the process of commissioning the services of professional design and planning consultants quite arbitrary - and very inefficient…the Act effectively precludes the longer term professional advisory role that is so important if policy is to be implemented consistently over an extended period, as most city improvement needs to be… Bruce Echberg
A reconfigured and activated Buckingham Avenue, Springvale. Drew Echberg 2013. Urban Initiatives 2013
…the body of knowledge has grown, and it has increasingly come to influence what is seen as best practice design of urban environments, itself increasingly influenced by Jane Jacobs’ observations+…The relationship and contribution of CPTED to good city-making is strong… Wendy Bell
…Australian New Urbanism has had a significant influence on the practice of urban design in Australia over the past 20 years. Its principles and values are now largely embedded in most policies and in many projects across Australia…its practitioners have, without doubt, been significant contributors in changing…the default setting of urban sprawl across much of Australia… Wendy Morris and Chip Kaufman
…Infrastructure takes up a major proportion of the total area of cities and, as a result, has a major impact on the built environment and the liveability of cities… Tina McFarlane
…Success in urban design comes from collaboration and champions. It’s a story of people connecting to make places for people to connect… Chris Stapleton
…In 1986, when Urban Design Forum began, our revolutionary re-learning about the essence of good city design was just beginning. We’ve come a long way!.. Mike Scott
…making a clear distinction between the New Urbanist version of the neighbourhood, and a more integrated and connected urban world is essential…Urban corridors, not disconnected urban cells or so-called neighbourhoods, are the urban traditions we have inherited… Planners and urban designers…should avoid by-passing the real issues, and reflect traditional urban structure and avoid the imported idea of the ‘neighbourhood’… Steve Thorne
Marysville streetscape a water sensitive urban design (WUSUD) treatment tailored to the place. Stormwater drainage was revealed in the landscape as part of works to improve the main street. This photo predates the Black Saturday Bushfire of 2009. This landscape partially survived the fire. Photographer Drew Echberg. Urban Initiatives
