Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) planning principles have informed Australian city planning for over two decades. As such, policy makers and planners often unquestioningly apply its principles. In contrast, this book critiques TOD and argues that while orientating development towards public transport hubs makes some sense, the application of TOD principles in Australia has proven a significant challenge. As a complementary strategy, the book stakes out the potential of Greenspace-Oriented Development (GOD) in which urban density is correlated with upgraded green spaces with reasonable access to public transport. Concentrating urban densification around green spaces offers many advantages to residents including ecosystem services such as physical and mental health benefits, the mitigation of extreme heat events, biodiversity and clean air and water. Moreover, the open space and leafy green qualities of GOD will ensure it resonates with the lifestyle aspirations of suburban residents who may otherwise resist urban densification. We believe in this way, that GOD could be an urban dream that befits the challenges of this 21st century.

Autorentext

Dr Julian Bolleter is Co-Director of the Australian Urban Design Research Centre (AUDRC) at The University of Western Australia. His role at AUDRC includes teaching a master's program in urban design and conducting urban design related research and design projects. Julian is a landscape architect and urban designer and has worked in Australia, the USA, the UK and the Middle East. He has completed a PhD concerning urban development in Dubai and has published six books. Julian's research focusses on the design of new cities, urban densification and multifunctional public open space. He has received funding from the Australian Research Council, Healthways and the Western Australian Government. Dr Cristina E. Ramalho is a postdoctoral research fellow in urban ecology at The University of Western Australia. She is Project Leader of the Urban Greening for Liveability and Biodiversity Project within the Clean Air and Urban Landscapes Hub of the Australian National Environmental Science Program. Cristina's work is inter-disciplinary and focuses on how we can better plan, design and manage urban environments in order to make these more livable and biodiverse. She is particularly interested in: 1) understanding how the design of urban green spaces can be better informed by multidisciplinary knowledge aiming to optimize their socio-ecological benefits; 2) conservation of urban biodiversity, especially remnant plant communities; and 3) integration of traditional knowledge in land-use and water planning and biodiversity conservation.

Inhalt

1. Introduction2. A critique of TOD3. A critique of OD4. The potential of GOD5. Conclusion