20 minute neighbourhoods, we are all placemakers and “Farnarklin” – All covered in Day 2 of the Australian Placemaking summit 2022.
Following a very insightful first day from multiple industry leaders I was excited to attend Day 2 of the placemaking summit 2022. Day 1 helped establish the fundamentals of placemaking and how it has a significant impact on everyone’s lives. Day 2 expanded on this and even highlighted that if done well it can extend life expectancy!
The day kicked off with a keynote from Lucinda Hartley (Neighbourlytics) exploring the world of big data to provide alternative ways to score places using hyper-local analytics for 20 minute neighbourhoods backed by global research and coverage. The case studies from cities around the world explored the interaction between social life, wellbeing of places and citizen-centric design.
This presentation was followed by Peter Smith (City of Port Phillip) on the opportunities and challenges of Fishermans Bend, a development close to my heart being in my local neighbourhood.
Fishermans Bend is Australia’s largest urban renewal project covering approximately 480 hectares in the heart of Melbourne. The development will create employment opportunities for up to 80,000 people and provide approximately 80,000 homes by 2050.
Peter highlighted the importance of the three critical success factors, software, hardware and orgware. The concept of ‘orgware’ was new to me but one that will not be forgotten, orgware helps to provide the framework of a development and resonated with me as it ensures the place has a soul. You can build the best buildings, install the best features but without the place having a soul it will struggle with the test of time.
Frith Walker (Panuku Development) was unable to make the conference and pre-recorded a presentation, a masterclass of how to pre-record a presentation I must add! The passion Frith has for placemaking shone through into the room and had every attendee glued. Frith took us on a guided tour of a project across the ditch in Tāmaki Makaurau, a project that has been designed with a heart and encompasses one of the initial quotes:
“Hutia te rito o te harakeke
Kei whea to kōmako e kō?
Ki mai ki ahau
He aha te mea nui o te Ao?
Maku e kī atu,
he tāngata, he tāngata, he tāngata”
“If the heart of the harakeke was removed,
Where would the bellbird sing?
If I was asked what was the most important thing in the world
I would be compelled to reply,
It is people, it is people, it is people”
From an engineering perspective the development needed a pumping station, from a placemaking perspective the development embraced the requirement for a pumping station, seeing it as an opportunity to bring artwork into the community.
A panel discussion followed discussing placemaking and the property development, Sophie Pickett-Heaps (Stockland) stated they embrace placemaking and see it as a critical aspect in their role as developers. Afterall, they are not simply selling a product, they are first hand creating a community and lifestyle. Bec McHenry (To Good Use) provided a key take away comment; we should all call ourselves placemakers, not just Architects, Planners, Engineers etc.
This is a great way to break down the barriers and encourage collaboration, by each profession coming together with the one vision – to create a better place through great design. It just so happens this is the reason I joined PJA, to integrate all aspects of development!
Farnarkling?
I was then introduced to one of the most Australian words I have come across: ‘Farnarkling’ – The group activity whereby everyone sits around discussing the need to “do something” but nothing actually happens.
Bruce Mills (City of Parramatta) went on to explain how they have one of the largest local government place-making teams linking projects, initiatives and priorities across multiple business units.
We have all seen the “Equality = Sameness and Equity = Fairness” image but the third “Remove the Barrier!” is rarely depicted, why can’t we just remove the barrier! Wouldn’t this create a world we can all celebrate? I believe the more conversations we have around inclusive design, collaborating between all professions and increased consultation with every stakeholder the outcomes can only ever be celebrated.
Are there other engineers at a placemaking summit you ask?
This time taking centre stage with a panel discussion: Placemaking and public lighting.
Highlighting the importance of lighting, not just on safety but the transition between space and creating places through light play. It was great to hear the passion from other engineering professionals to be included in initial designs and just how flexible lighting can be, not just fit for purpose but can be embraced. Why just design places for the day when dark occupies up to 50% of the time?
But…did I get questions answered?
So were my initial three questions answered on Placemaking?
• Is it implementing shared spaces and slowing vehicular traffic?
• Is it removing parking and encouraging active travel?
• Is it just another buzzword in the industry?
The answer is both yes and no to all three and that is ok.
Every presenter had a different definition of placemaking and that’s ok too, so long as we all have the ambition to create great places.
Afterall, we are all placemakers!
Got questions or fancy a conversation over a coffee? Get in contact as it would be great to keep the topic at the forefront of discussions.
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