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CITIES OF THE FUTURE

CITIES OF THE FUTURE Chris Johnson, CEO of Urban Taskforce , discussed the Cities of the Future at the recent API National Conference. VANESSA MITCHELL reports.

019 CITIES OF THE FUTURE

SYDNEY NEEDS TO DOUBLE ITS AMOUNT OF HOMES FROM THE CURRENT 1.66 MILLION OVER THE NEXT 40 YEARS

he cities of the locate growth around city centres, of tall buildings across the world. future are going to corridors and public transport nodes “Seventy-five stories is the be more urbanised, for a new way of living. We will see tallest building in Sydney currently, with higher density high-rise developments around due to aircraft restrictions, but this living—particularly railway stations and a spreading is changing. aroundT public transport hubs. out to areas within walking distance “In New York we are seeing a These sometimes contentious of railway stations. trend towards tall, thin, elegant issues were discussed by Chris “This is already happening; we are buildings, such as Johnson, Chief Executive Officer of seeing towers popping up in various (see image on previous page), which Urban Taskforce Australia, on the final areas that include a mix of residential features one per floor and day of the API National Conference. and commercial offerings. What stands at over 1,400 feet. The top Chris, who is a former NSW needs to happen in the future is a apartment of this development sold Government Architect and former strong integration between transport for US$90 million recently. Executive Director at the NSW networks and the planning system, “, featuring 100 Department of Planning, said we will and dialogue between these two areas. storeys, is under construction, and be living a different way in the future. “Infrastructure is also key. We’ve will add to the skyline in “There is already a trend, suggested a long term metro circle line and feature shared living spaces particularly in Sydney, towards people around Sydney that runs out to the between apartment and hotel dwellers. living in a different way. There has Hills district, Chatswood, Bankstown, “The new metro rail line in been a big swing in Sydney towards and the new airport, to connect the Sydney is generating new buildings, apartment living; 70 per cent of new whole city. Sydney really needs to such as Wynyard Place, designed by building approvals are for . be thinking about light rail loops London architects MAKE. There is a This is necessary, because we are not connecting to the main rail system to rejuvenation of tall buildings in Sydney going to solve our population growth try to minimise car usage. In this way, now occurring that include mixes of increase issues without accepting we could get 100,000 new dwellings residential and commercial. This will apartment towers,” he said. around these metro lines. be the big trend moving forward as “Sydney needs to double its “It is also important to realise that the city grows. Star Casino is currently amount of homes from the current height is the way our cities will need building a new 70 storey building, 1.66 million over the next 40 years. to grow into the future, much like the while the Casino at Barangaroo But, Sydney as a city is hemmed in height trend happening across the will feature a building of about 70 by the sea on the east, and National world. Currently, the Gold Coast’s storeys (see image next page). These Parks and mountains on the west, so building is Australia’s tallest building two new towers will offer a spectacular it is reaching the maximum density at 78 floors, but when Melbourne’s entrance to Sydney.” horizontally it can reach. Solutions Australia 108 is built it will stand at Of course, the high-rise to this include doubling the density 100 storeys (see image next page). developments are not without across the entire existing Sydney “We are a little behind, however, their objections. footprint and therefore changing the when you consider the tower being “There is drama as Sydney very nature of the suburban detached built in Jeddah, which will be one changes. About a third of our homes way of living. kilometre tall when finished. This kind are currently apartments, but this “The more likely solution is to of thinking is challenging the future will grow to about 50 per cent over

020 ANZPJ MARCH 2018 CITIES OF THE FUTURE

the next 20 years. This threatens the dynamic future Sydney. However, the worry that a large percentage of big character of suburban living in Sydney, move to more urban and apartment houses have only got one or two people so there is a lot of reaction against living is a critical part of our cities in living in them. We need to encourage growth. But demographics show that the future. There will be a swing to a people to live in other ways. those people who live in apartments living style that is more cooperative “This is a complex dialogue, and tend to be younger people who are and sharing, and the Federal the easy answer is to say ‘we’re full’, not necessarily interested in owning Government should be pouring money but that’s not a solution to keeping houses, three cars, etc., what they want into metro railways in the cities, and our position as a modern, dynamic is a convenient lifestyle with access State governments should be ensuring city. When you get to a population of amenities like shops, pools, and gyms. that’s where density is occurring. eight million, which is where Sydney is It will be an urban living model as we “To change people’s thinking you heading, then you need a more urban move forward as a city,” Chris said. need something bold, you do need to layout. Sydney is building 725,000 “Of course it is a challenge to get leap forward sometimes by putting out homes over the next 20 years, so we people to look forward, and to accept stronger ideas. Detached houses are all need to look at a different way of living in a more resort-like, more of course ideal for families, but it is a living,” he said. 

Australia 108, Melbourne. Star Casino Tower in Sydney.

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