Two researchers from UQ’s School of Architecture, Design and Planning are exploring pioneering approaches to city design that combine living, work and sustainable production to tackle climate change and enhance community wellbeing.
Dr Silvia Micheli and Associate Professor Antony Moulis have been investigating areas of Brisbane to understand how to develop urban environments where housing, local production and suburban businesses thrive side-by-side.
Watch to explore how UQ researchers are pioneering urban design strategies to create self-sufficient, sustainable cities.
“Making cities more productive and self-sufficient, where residents do not need to commute far to work and the things they need are produced on their doorstep, makes sense for the climate, circular economy and the community,” Dr Moulis said.
“Our study of West End in Brisbane showed it to be a great example of this, where goods and services that residents want to access are often available just a couple of streets away from where they live, and they may even know the person who makes or delivers them.”
“The right infrastructure, flexible building design and a renewed urban approach will make it easier to rethink our existing urban environments to meet the changing needs of our cities, as they continue to grow, and reduce our impact on the climate.”
The COVID-19 pandemic, with its lockdowns and limits on mobility brought the benefits of living local into sharp focus, said the book’s co-author, Dr Silvia Micheli.
“The pandemic taught us valuable lessons about the advantages of having everything we need close to where we live,” Dr Micheli said.
“Our project looks at how we can incorporate these learnings to make our cities more productive and sustainable.”
The research is part of a book titled House Precinct Territory: Design strategies for the productive city, which was written in collaboration with academics from universities, including RMIT, Melbourne, UTS, Sydney and Hongik, Seoul.
The team looked at the city of Brisbane, but also Melbourne and Seoul, exploring how to apply these solutions to urban contexts of different scales to solve common problems.
The book was officially launched at a community event in Brisbane this week, and includes a speculative project for West End that been shortlisted for the prestigious Architecture Australia ‘AA Prize for Unbuilt Work 2025’.
Purchase your copy of House Precinct Territory: Design strategies for the productive city from Avid Reader in West End or from your favourite local book shop.
