Dr Sebastien Darchen
Senior Lecturer
School of Architecture, Design and Planning
+61 7 336 53910
Researcher biography
Dr. Sebastien Darchen holds a PhD in Urban Studies obtained in 2008 at Institut de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS-Urbanisation) in Montreal, Canada.
His main research area is about the political economy of the built environment. I study the political economy of the built environment with a focus on the strategies of urban stakeholders involved in the provision of the built environment especially in regeneration contexts (Developers, City Planners, Urban Designers). I am also interested in the cultural aspects of urban planning and in developing practical solutions to sustain creativity in cities.
Key words: urban regeneration, cultural history of cities, political economy.
Publications
Book Chapters
Ahmad, Mubeen, Darchen, Sebastien, Alidoust, Sara and Sipe, Neil (2022). Smart densification. The Palgrave encyclopedia of urban and regional futures. (pp. 1520-1528) edited by Robert C. Brears. Cham, Switzerland: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-87745-3_278
Darchen, Sebastien, Charrieras, Damien and Willsteed, John (2021). Introduction: Electronic music, policies and spaces in the contemporary city. Electronic cities: music, policies and space in the 21st Century. (pp. 1-16) edited by Sébastien Darchen, Damien Charrieras and John Willsteed. Singapore: Palgrave McMillan. doi: 10.1007/978-981-33-4741-0_1
Charrieras, Damien, Darchen, Sebastien and Willsteed, John (2021). Conclusion. Electronic cities: music, policies and space in the 21st Century. (pp. 279-296) edited by Sebastien Darchen, Damien Charrieras and John Willsteed. Singapore: Palgrave McMillan. doi: 10.1007/978-981-33-4741-0_17
Darchen, Sebastien, Johnson, Laurel, Sipe, Neil and Mongard, John (2020). Project implementation. Placemaking fundamentals for the built environment. (pp. 177-199) edited by Dominique Hess and Cristina Hernandez-Santin. Singapore, Singapore: Palgrave McMillan. doi: 10.1007/978-981-32-9624-4_9
Panjaitan, Tigor, Pojani, Dorina and Darchen, Sebastien (2020). Global homogenization of public space? a comparison of Western and Eastern contexts. Companion to public space. (pp. 165-181) edited by Vikas Metha and Danilo Palazzo. Abingdon, Oxon, United Kingdom: Routledge.
Napoli, Amanda, Darchen, Sébastien and Spivack, Donald (2019). Los Angeles, United States: adaptive re-use of buildings to regenerate the inner-city. Global Planning Innovations for Urban Sustainability. (pp. 135-147) edited by Sébastien Darchen and Glen Searle. Abingdon, Oxon United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781351124225-10
Darchen, Sébastien and Searle, Glen (2019). Conclusion. Global Planning Innovations for Urban Sustainability. (pp. 197-207) edited by Sébastien Darchen and Glen Searle . Abingdon, Oxon United Kingdom: Routledge.
Darchen, Sébastien and Searle, Glen (2019). Planning innovation politics and process for urban sustainability. Global Planning Innovations for Urban Sustainability. (pp. 1-11) edited by Sébastien Darchen and Glen Searle. Abingdon, Oxon United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781351124225-1
Darchen, Sébastien and Poitras, Claire (2018). Accommodating densification and social sustainability in the inner city: case study of Griffintown in Montreal. Compulsory property acquisition for urban densification. (pp. 67-80) edited by Glen Searle. Abingdon, Oxon, United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.1201/9781315144085-6
Darchen, Sébastien and Searle, Glen (2018). Conclusion. Global planning innovations for urban sustainability. (pp. 197-207) London, United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781351124225-14
Darchen, Sebastien (2016). Toronto: Creative City Practice and Redevelopment in the Entertainment District. 文化、创意产业与城市更新. (pp. 189-197) Beijing, China: Tsinghua University Press.
Darchen, Sébastien and Tremblay, Diane-Gabrielle (2014). Attracting knowledge workers and the creative city paradigm: Can we plan for talent in montreal?. Seeking Talent for Creative Cities: The Social Dynamics of Innovation. (pp. 141-158) Toronto, ON Canada: University of Toronto Press.
Darchen, Sébastien and Tremblay, Diane-Gabrielle (2014). Attracting knowledge workers and the creative city paradigm: can we plan for talent in Montreal?. Seeking Talent for Creative Cities: The Social Dynamics of Innovation. (pp. 168-189) edited by Jill L. Grant. Toronto, ON, Canada: University of Toronto Press.
Darchen, Sebastien and Tremblay, Diane-Gabrielle (2010). La thèse de la «classe créative» : Revue des écrits et perspectives de recherche. La classe creative selon Richard Florida: Un paradigme urbain plausible?. (pp. 17-37) edited by Diane-Gabrielle Tremblay and Rémy Tremblay. Quebec, Canada: Presses de l'Université du Québec.
Darchen, Sébastien and Tremblay, Diane-Gabrielle (2010). Chapitre 1. La thèse de la « classe créative ». La classe créative selon Richard Florida. (pp. 17-37) edited by Rémy Tremblay and Diane-Gabrielle Tremblay. Marseille, France: Presses universitaires de Rennes. doi: 10.4000/books.pur.26546
Darchen, Sebastien and Tremblay, Diane-Gabrielle (2010). Attracting and retaining knowledge workers: the impact of quality of place in the case of Montreal. Knowledge-based development of cities and societies: integrated multi-level approaches. (pp. 42-58) edited by Kostas Metaxiotis, Francisco Javier Carrillo and Tan Yigitcanlar. USA: IGI Global. doi: 10.4018/978-1-61520-721-3.ch003
Darchen, Sebastien and Tremblay, Diane-Gabrielle (2009). L’intervention de l’acteur municipal au Québec : L’étude de cinq politiques familiales municipales. Concilier travail et famille : Le rôle des acteurs France-Québec. (pp. 409-432) edited by Marie-Agnès Barrère-Maurisson and Diane-Gabrielle Tremblay. Quebec City, Canada: Presse de l'Universite du Quebec.
Darchen, Sebastien (2009). Vers un urbanisme de créneau. Saint-Laurent dans la région métropolitaine de Montréal. La métropolisation et ses territoires. (pp. 87-103) edited by Gilles Senecal and Laurence Bherer. Quebec City, Canada: Presse de l'Universite du Quebec.
Journal Articles
Browning, Yanto and Darchen, Sébastien (2024). The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the music industries of Brisbane and an evaluation of the policy response. Australian Planner, 60 (2), 113-124. doi: 10.1080/07293682.2023.2298428
Darchen, Sebastien, Browning, Yanto and Willsteed, John (2023). Alternative Brisbane: Evolution of goth and punk subcultures as ‘counter-cities’. Cities, 141 104484, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.cities.2023.104484
Darchen, Sebastien (2023). Regeneration and ‘placemaking’ without governance in a greyfield context: the transformation of Salisbury, Queensland, Australia. Built Environment, 49 (1), 115-131. doi: 10.2148/benv.49.1.115
Searle, Glen and Darchen, Sebastien (2023). New urban sustainability policies: Deleuze and local innovation versus policy mobility. Planning Theory and Practice. doi: 10.1080/14649357.2023.2166302
Panjaitan, Tigor Wilfritz Soaduon, Pojani, Dorina and Darchen, Sébastien (2022). Alternative public space: experiences and lessons from Indonesian cities. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Urban Design and Planning, 175 (2), 56-66. doi: 10.1680/jurdp.21.00005
Darchen, Sebastien, Willsteed, John and Browning, Yanto (2022). The music city paradigm and its policy side: A focus on Brisbane and Melbourne. Cultural Trends, 32 (3), 1-15. doi: 10.1080/09548963.2022.2062565
Soaduon Panjaitan, Tigor Wilfritz, Pojani, Dorina and Darchen, Sébastien (2022). The transformation of public space production and consumption in post-reformation Indonesian cities. City, Culture and Society, 29 100444, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.ccs.2022.100444
Darchen, Sébastien and Simon, Gwendal (2022). ‘Transitory urbanism’ for the creative industries in a top-down regeneration process (Nantes, France). European Planning Studies, 30 (10), 1-18. doi: 10.1080/09654313.2021.2024149
Darchen, Sebastien, Charrieras, Damien and Willsteed, John (2021). Place-bound attributes in music scenes. Evolution of the independent electronica music scene in Brisbane since the mid-1980s. Continuum, 36 (1), 1-14. doi: 10.1080/10304312.2021.1998370
Darchen, Sébastien and Poitras, Claire (2020). Delivering social sustainability in the inner-city: the transformation of South-West Montreal, Quebec (Canada). Local Environment, 25 (4), 305-319. doi: 10.1080/13549839.2020.1744117
Zenkteler, Matthew, Darchen, Sebastien, Mateo-Babiano, Derlie and Baffour, Bernard (2019). Home-based work in cities: in search of an appropriate urban planning response. Futures, 135 102494, 102494. doi: 10.1016/j.futures.2019.102494
Darchen, Sébastien (2019). Contextual and external factors enabling planning innovations in a regeneration context: the Lyon Confluence project (France). International Planning Studies, 25 (4), 1-15. doi: 10.1080/13563475.2019.1626220
Sparshott, Paul John, Darchen, Sebastien and Stjohn, David (2019). Do sustainability rating tools deliver the best outcomes in master planned urban infill projects? City to the Lake experience. Australian Planner, 55 (2), 1-9. doi: 10.1080/07293682.2019.1569077
Damien, Charrieras, Darchen, Sebastien and Sigler, Thomas (2018). The shifting spaces of creativity in Hong Kong. Cities, 74, 134-141. doi: 10.1016/j.cities.2017.11.014
Darchen, Sebastien and Poitras, Claire (2018). Accommodating densification and social sustainability in the inner city Case study of Griffintown in Montreal. Compulsory Property Acquisition for Urban Densification, 67-80.
Zhou, Jiangping, Sipe, Neil, Ma, Zhenliang, Mateo-Babiano, Derlie and Darchen, Sebastien (2017). Monitoring transit-served areas with smartcard data: a Brisbane case study. Journal of Transport Geography, 76, 265-275. doi: 10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2017.07.005
Darchen, Sébastien (2017). Creative clusters? Analysis of the video game industry in Brisbane, Australia (1980s-2014). International Journal of Knowledge-Based Development, 8 (2), 168-182. doi: 10.1504/IJKBD.2017.085153
Pojani, Dorina, Johnson, Laurel, Darchen, Sebastien and Yang, Katie (2016). Learning by doing: employer expectations of planning studio education. Urban Policy and Research, 36 (1), 1-9. doi: 10.1080/08111146.2016.1221814
Sebastien, Darchen (2016). Regeneration and networks in the Arts District (Los Angeles): rethinking governance models in the production of urbanity. Urban Studies, 54 (15), 3615-3635. doi: 10.1177/0042098016669917
Darchen, Sebastien (2015). ‘Clusters’ or ‘communities’? Analyzing the spatial agglomeration of video game companies in Australia. Urban Geography, 37 (2), 202-222. doi: 10.1080/02723638.2015.1067981
Greenop, Kelly and Darchen, Sebastien (2015). Identifying ‘place’ in place branding: core and periphery in Brisbane’s ‘‘New World City’’. GeoJournal, 81 (3), 379-394. doi: 10.1007/s10708-015-9625-7
Searle, Glen, Darchen, Sebastien and Huston, Simon (2014). Positive and negative factors for Transit Oriented Development: case studies from Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. Urban Policy and Research, 32 (4), 437-457. doi: 10.1080/08111146.2014.931280
Darchen, Sebastien and Tremblay, Diane Gabrielle (2014). Policies for creative clusters: a comparison between the video game industry in Melbourne and Montreal. European Planning Studies, 23 (2), 311-331. doi: 10.1080/09654313.2013.865712
Huston, Simon and Darchen, Sebastien (2014). Urban regeneration: An Australian case study insights for cities under growth pressure. International Journal of Housing Markets and Analysis, 7 (2), 266-282. doi: 10.1108/IJHMA-01-2013-0005
Darchen, Sebastien (2013). The creative city and the redevelopment of the Toronto Entertainment District: a BIA-led regeneration process. International Planning Studies, 18 (2), 188-203. doi: 10.1080/13563475.2013.774147
Darchen, Sebastien (2013). The regeneration process of entertainment zones and the Business Improvement Area model: a comparison between Toronto and Vancouver.. Planning Practice and Research, 28 (4), 420-439. doi: 10.1080/02697459.2013.784941
Darchen, Sebastien and Ladouceur, Emma (2013). Social sustainability in urban regeneration practice: a case study of the Fortitude Valley Renewal Plan in Brisbane. Australian Planner, 50 (4), 340-350. doi: 10.1080/07293682.2013.764909
Huston, Simon Hugh and Darchen, Sebastien (2013). Decline, regeneration and constraints: Perespectives on Ipswich City Heart. SSRN Electronic Journal doi: 10.2139/ssrn.2206694
Sebastien, Darchen and Tremblay, Diane-Gabrielle (2013). The local governance of culture-led regeneration projects: a comparison between Montreal and Toronto. Urban Research and Practice, 6 (2), 140-157. doi: 10.1080/17535069.2013.808433
Darchen, Sebastien and Huston, Simon (2012). Sustainable urban regeneration and the TOD development model: Lessons from Albion Mill in Brisbane. Pacific Rim Property Research Journal, 18 (2), 95-105. doi: 10.1080/14445921.2012.11104353
Huston, Simon, Darchen, Sebastien and Ladouceur, Emma (2012). De-risking transport-oriented development regeneration. Journal of Urban Regeneration and Renewal, 5 (3), 224-234.
Darchen, Sebastien and Tremblay, Diane-Gabrielle (2010). What attracts and retains knowledge workers/students: The quality of place or career opportunities?. Cities, 27 (4), 225-233. doi: 10.1016/j.cities.2009.12.009
Tremblay, Diane-Gabrielle and Darchen, Sébastien (2010). Municipal family policy and work-family articulation: the case of five Québec municipalities. The Canadian Journal of Regional Science, 33 (1), 15-32.
Tremblay, Diane-Gabrielle and Darchen, Sebastien (2010). The creative class thesis and the mobility patterns of knowledge workers considering the place of birth: The case of Montreal. International Journal of Knowledge-Based Development, 1 (3), 176-203. doi: 10.1504/IJKBD.2010.035658
Darchen, Sebastien and Tremblay, Diane-Gabrielle (2009). La mise en forme d’un pôle de haute technologie en proche banlieue: D’un aménagement fonctionnaliste à un urbanisme de créneau. Le cas de Saint-Laurent dans la région métropolitaine de Montréal. The Canadian Geographer, 53 (2), 222-238. doi: 10.1111/j.1541-0064.2009.00255.x
Darchen, Sébastien and Tremblay, Diane-Gabrielle (2008). La these de la "classe creative": son incidence sur l'analyse des facteurs d'attraction et de la competitivite urbaine. Interventions Economiques, 1 (37), 1-16.
Darchen, Sebastien and Poitras, Claire (2007). Saint-Laurent: Transformations urbaines d’une ville de banlieue: Quels changements dans la relation centre/périphérie?. Canadian Journal of Urban Research, 16 (2), 73-93.
Conference Papers
Matthew, Zenkteler, Darchen, Sebastien, Derlie, Mateo-Babiano and Anthony, Halog (2015). People, places and technology: mapping the locational preferences of home based workers in Sydney and Melbourne metropolitan areas. State of Australian Cities National Conference, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia, 9-11 December 2015. State of Australian Cities Research Network.
Darchen, Sebastien and Napoli, Amanda (2014). Adaptive re-use and the marketing of downtown LA living: the construction of a new urbanity. The Mediated City Conference, Los Angeles, California, 1-4 October 2014. Los Angeles, California: Architecture_media_politics_society.
Searle, Glen, Darchen, Sébastien and Huston, Simon (2013). Delivering successful TOD projects in the context of inner-city suburbs: case studies from Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. PIA 2013: Planning Institute of Australia National Congress 2013, Canberra, ACT, Australia, 24-27 March, 2013.
Darchen, Sebastien and Tremblay, Diane-Gabrielle (2013). Creative economy policies for the video game industry: an Australia/Canada comparison. AAG Annual Meeting 2013, Los Angeles Ca, 8-14 April 2013. Washington, DC, United States: Association of American Geographers.
Greenop, Kelly and Darchen, Sebastien (2013). Brisbane's urbanism: looking for an identity. What can we learn from Inala. 49th Congress of the International-Society-of-City-and-Regional-Planners (ISOCARP), Brisbane Australia, Oct 01-04, 2013. HAGUE: ISOCARP.
Mateo-Babiano, Iderlina B. and Darchen, Sébastien (2013). Vertical mixed use communities: a compact city model. SOAC 2013: 6th State of Australian Cities Conference, Sydney, NSW, Australia, 26-29 November, 2013. Hobart, TAS, Australia: State of Australian Cities Research Network.
Huston, Simon, Darchen, Sebastien and May, Kylie (2013). Recent Ipswich CBD revitalisation - backdrop and reflections. 19th Annual Pacific Rim Real Estate Society Conference, Melbourne, Australia, 13-16 January 2013. Melbourne, Australia: Pacific Rim Real Estate Society (PRRES).
Greenop, Kelly and Darchen, Sebastien (2013). Brisbane’s urbanism: looking for an identity. What can we learn from Inala. 49th ISOCARP Congress 2013, Brisbane, Australia, 1-4 October 2013. Hague, Netherlands: ISOCARP.
Huston, Simon, Darchen, Sebastien and Ladouceur, Emma (2012). TOD development in theory and practice: The case of Albion Mill. 18th Annual Pacific-Rim Real Estate Society Conference, Adelaide, Australia, 15-18 January 2012. Adelaide, Australia: Pacific Rim Real Estate Society (PRRES).
Darchen, Sebastien (2012). Creative economy policies : the case of the video game industry in Brisbane and Melbourne (Australia). AAG Annual Meeting 2012, New York City, N.Y. United States, 24-28 February 2012.
Darchen, Sebastien (2012). Does place-making lead to socially sustainable communities? Study of the Fortitude Valley Renewal Plan. 5th International Urban Design Conference 2012, Melbourne, Australia, 10-12 September 2012. Brisbane, Australia: AST Management.
Darchen, Sebastien (2011). Creative city movements in Toronto and Vancouver: A comparative analysis. 3rd World Planning Schools Congress (WPSC2011), Perth, W.A., Australia, 4-8 July 2011. Perth, W.A., Australia: University of Western Australia.
Darchen, Sebastien (2011). Creative city strategies in Toronto and Vancouver: Towards a comparative analysis with Australian cities (Melbourne and Brisbane. State of Australian Cities National Conference 2011, Melbourne, Australia, 29 November - 2 December 2011. Melbourne, Australia: Australian Sustainable Cities and Regions Network (ASCRN).
Newspaper Articles
Darchen, Sebastien (2021, 01 13). Pandemie et musique electro: vers un second souffle? The Conversation
Darchen, Sebastien and Willsteed, John (2019, 09 19). It's hot in there: evolution of the Goth subculture in subtropical Brisbane The Conversation
Darchen, Sebastien, Simon, Gwendal and Roitman, Sonia (2018, 05 25). When neighbourhoods become dangerous, look to local strengths for a lifeline The Conversation
Liu, Yan, Mateo-Babiano, Iderlina and Darchen, Sebastien (2018, 01 30). How virtual 3D modelling and simulation can help us create better cities The Conversation
Darchen, Sebastien, Pojani, Dorina and Sipe, Neil (2017, 09 11). Movies and TV choose to tell us different stories about the cities of today The Conversation