Over the past few months, the world has endured floods, heatwaves, droughts, fires and many events due to climate change’s impacts. Some commentators state that these events have been part of living with ‘nature’ for decades and that we have to live with them. However, many are starting to ask, Is it time to retreat? Can communities […]
Understanding the pandemic | Is density to blame?
Over the past few weeks, we have watched the cities go into lockdown as the Coronavirus (COVID-19) impacts across the world showing them at their barest with no people and resembling a scene out of Hollywood blockbuster (Vanilla Sky or I am Legend). There is a sense of angst, trepidation, fear and at times humour […]
Decentralising Australian cities via high speed rail
I lived in China for over 10 years and saw the transformation of cities through the building high-speed rail connections. The first weekend of my time in China in 2005, I took a K-Train to Suzhou(about 100kms from Shanghai) to see the gardens, and it took about 55-60 minutes on the train and we passed through […]
Cities as Brands in China
Cities are like brands – they need to have a plan, market, grow, and innovate. Cities can’t just plan and grow and expect investment, residents and tourists to appear. Just getting by can work for some cities such as Paris, Rome or Venice or other world-renown tourist cities – if that is the one of […]
Cities in China need to think like brands
Cities are like brands – they need to have a plan, market, grow, and innovate. Cities can’t just plan and grow and expect investment, residents and tourists to appear. Just getting by can work for some cities such as Paris, Rome or Venice or other world-renown tourist cities – if that is the one of […]