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Place Making
The way we approach how we deliver our redevelopment projects is evolving. We've got a fresh approach to urban development. It's called Place Making and it's all about putting people first - designing places around people.
The founder and president of New York's Project for Public Spaces, Fred Kent, is one of the foremost thinkers in liveability, smart growth and the future of cities. He believes successful places have four key attributes:
- They are accessible
- People are engaged in activities
- The space is comfortable and has a good image
- They are sociable and somewhere people can meet
Place Making turns a neighbourhood, city or town from a place you can't wait to get through, to a place you never want to leave.
How will the MRA do this?
The MRA's Place Making approach has clearly defined regeneration strategies. We aim to:
- Attract residents, students and workers to redevelopment areas
- Activate redevelopment areas including Perth's riverside, streets and key public spaces
- Focus on creative industries
- Feature great architecture
- Utilise infrastructure projects, led by the public and private sector
Place Making is central to all aspects of our work through project conceptualisation, planning, development control and asset management.
Place Leaders Association
The MRA is a member of the Place Leaders Association - a not-for-profit organisation that promotes leadership in place making and place management practices throughout Australasia.
Place Making case study: Perth Cultural Centre
The Perth Cultural Centre contains some of Western Australia's key cultural institutions. Unfortunately, the area had previously developed a reputation for being uninviting, harsh and unsafe at night. These factors adversely affected the attractiveness and use of the Cultural Centre, limiting public visitation to the institutions.
The MRA has worked with stakeholders to turn this area into a now vibrant, successful place using a variety of strategies. These include integrating the space with surrounding streets and connecting it with the social environment of Northbridge and the city's retail core. We are delivering a space that is 'alive', through a regular program of events, festivals and art commissions.
To achieve this, the Perth Cultural Centre is being developed in consultation with the precinct's tenants, neighbours and stakeholders and we are creating a destination that is safe, secure, friendly and enjoyable for the community to live, work and play in. Together we have created a place that draws people to it - the true heartbeat of the city.
