Placemaking down under

ISSUE 503, SEPTEMBER 2012
*SPECIAL FOCUS ON AUSTRALIA*

IN FOCUS: PLACEMAKING DOWN UNDER: practitioners in Australia are increasingly taking a fresh approach to placemaking – one which attempts to understand the way in which the social, commercial and public elements of towns and cities interact. Could it offer new inspiration to the UK?

Liveable cities: linking quality urban design with governance is the key to improving urban areas, says Tim Horton

Jane-Frances Kelly of the Grattan Institute explores new research on the apparent breakdown of social networks in Australia’s major cities

INTERVIEW: Q&A with Gilbert Rochecouste as he discusses how to revive high streets and why placemaking is the new environmentalism

LOCAL WORK: LOCAL MAKERS RENEW NEWCASTLE: Marcus Westbury describes how meanwhile projects have revived the once ailing city of Newcastle in New South Wales

Q&A with Brendan Nevin who has swapped life in England for New Zealand. He reflects on the differing challenges found in both his adopted country and Australia