Our research shows decisions on the fate of public housing towers that are based on a proper process of considering all the evidence could go either way: demolish and rebuild, or retrofit.
Lagos has a long history of housing demolition.
Pius Utomi Ekpei/AFP via Getty Images
What steps is the state government taking to bring Brisbane closer to being a smart city while managing rapid growth? And what differences can city residents expect to see for themselves?
Ageing brick apartment buildings of two to three storeys are being redeveloped in many suburbs. Typically, they are knocked down to be replaced by much bigger developments. But here’s an alternative.
Sheas Creek runs into Alexandra Canal.
Photo: Ilaria Vanni
Long before Green Square was a huge urban renewal project it was Country known to Traditional Owners for its wetlands. Until now, those water stories have remained largely invisible.
Much of our public housing stock is ageing and substandard. But we can learn from outstanding examples of retrofit projects that have transformed existing blocks into high-quality housing.
Public housing renewal often aims for a 70:30 private-public mix of dwellings. Modelling shows applying this mix to Waterloo housing estate would cut the suburb’s social housing share from 30% to 17%.
Community projects play a vital role in city life.
The Crown Casino rising over the Barangaroo precinct on Sydney Harbor was approved without a competitive tender or public planning assessments.
Paul Braven/AAP
Overseas, city-shaping mega-projects are generally overseen by local government, but in Australia state governments often step in and exclude council and community representatives from the process.
Greater Dandenong Civic Centre was completed in 2014 with new council chambers, a library and Harmony Square.
Photo: Hayley Henderson
A major investment in renewing the urban centre of Dandenong is starting to pay dividends. But while research has found three keys to success, the benefits haven’t reached everyone.
It was once seen as a public menace – now, skateboarding is a global sport that empowers young people to improve their cities.
Sydney’s Darling Harbour: popular but noisy and expensive. Here’s how we could do better to provide a safe place to work and play.
from www.shutterstock.com
Rob Roggema, Hanze University of Applied Sciences, Groningen
Cities around the world are redeveloping their waterfronts to be accessible and resilient to the effects of climate change. Here’s where Sydney’s Darling Harbour went wrong and what we can do better.
Canberra’s Civic is home to a high concentration of knowledge workers.
Mick Tsikas/AAP
Canberra is growing as fast as anywhere in Australia. It’s driven by a knowledge economy that is transforming the city centre but is also displacing poorer residents.
Heavy traffic in Lagos, Nigeria.
EPA/Ahmed Jallanzo
Universities teach students and produce research – but do they have responsibility to engage with the communities that surround them? Two university presidents explain why their answer is an emphatic yes.