It's now over two years and $600,000,000 later, and maybe some of the promised $6 million for the South Bank station upgrade is still in the kitty, but it's not looking good for the 60,000 passengers who must struggle through this place out of necessity rather than choice.
Rosemary, the first recipient of the AIA Dunbar Fellowship, researches how Australia's apartment buildings can benefit from East-West design knowledge. She explores climate-focused architecture in South East Asia, analyzing strategies for liveability, affordability, and public amenity in high-density environments.
On the eve of a city wide forum to create a Charter of Principles that will guide strategic decisions and make sure Brisbane thrives as a friendly and liveable place for future generations, I propose two scenarios to focus our minds.
Australia's summer heat poses challenges for walkability in Brisbane, where aspirations for a pedestrian-friendly city clash with ongoing suburban design shortcomings. While some public spaces reflect subtropical planning, many infill developments lack shade and greenery. Effective urban design must prioritize pedestrian comfort to enhance community interactions and ensure sustainable living spaces.
Shenzhen showcases tree-lined streets that enhance urban life, supporting climate design principles. Research confirms street trees boost property value and ecological benefits, outweighing maintenance costs.
One way to make apartments more affordable for owner-occupants is to adjust the resident / architect relationship. Breathe Architects have done just that and created a new and useful procurement process that challenges the profit-driven developer model and delivers cost-effective climate-responsive design, livability and community values.
For residents of high-rise apartment buildings proliferating in cities across Australia energy insecurity is literally designed in to the dwellings they occupy. Energy unaffordability and problems that occur during power outages are intensified by energy-intensive building design. These problems are avoidable.
Dr. Rosemary Kennedy founded Subtropical Cities Consultancy to focus on low-energy livable high-density design, providing expertise to urban planners and developers on subtropical architecture.
subtropicalcities.com 