Search
Flood remediation brings regeneration opportunities for New Lynn
Decades ago you could go floundering in the Rewarewa Stream, but it is now sadly neglected and obscured by overgrowth, with residential and commercial buildings turning their backs on the corridor. However, the severe storm events of March and April 2017, which resulted in devastating losses and damage to local businesses, have presented an opportunity […] more...
A step-change for Auckland
Our transport-specific urban design approach has helped prioritise $8 billion of transport infrastructure for 30 years of growth including new town centres, residential communities, employment areas, rail stations, rapid transit networks, and cycleways. Urgency fueled by Auckland’s housing crisis required an alliance of three agencies, Auckland Transport, Auckland Council, and the NZ Transport Agency, […] more...
Transport as a Tool for Transformation
Councils and communities around Australasia are grappling with complex transport challenges which threaten to stifle their economies and weaken their communities. Typically they are either confronted with too much traffic, congestion, and harsh environmental conditions, or too few linkages to satisfy community and business needs. Yet some new processes are delivering remarkable outcomes, saving […] more...
Urban economics by design
The nexus between urban economics, urban design, and the politics of local governance is seldom understood. Economic strategies often lack a spatial (place-based) dimension, as much as urban plans often lack an economic logic. These inter-relationships are important if we want our cities to be more efficient and our communities more equitable and prosperous. […] more...
Soft urbanism could save cities millions
With the ever-present need to do more with less resources, Council’s across Australia and New Zealand are working innovatively to find new ways to leverage off, and partner with, external organisations. In some cases the savings could be in the millions. Urbanismplus have helped to drive innovation in this area over the last 5 years, […] more...
Abu Dhabi’s exciting shift from oil dependency to diversification and sustainability
Kobus Mentz is the urban design expert advisor to the government on their new capital plan which is being delivered through the Urban Planning Council by Arup and Larry Beasley Associates. The extent of the future city is larger than Paris and encompasses high profile components such as the new capital complex, Jean Nouvel’s new […] more...
Defending Sustainable Urbanism
Sustainable urbanism is fast becoming a casualty of the financial squeeze. Local authorities are cutting important strategic initiatives and, in some cases, sprawl is set to make a comeback by loosening growth boundaries. To counter this requires efforts which go beyond the conventional urban design approaches. Urbanists need to illustrate: How sound economics can be […] more...
Green light for nation’s newest city
The creation of Marsden City, to be developed in Ruakaka as New Zealand’s newest city, has been given the go-ahead. “The Environment Court has cleared the way for the development of a mixed-use town centre that, under the Whangarei District Council’s structure plan, envisages a population growth of up to 40,000 within the next 20 […] more...
Property Council declares University Hill as ‘Best Master Planned Community’ in Australia
A second major win for this project which was conceived in 2004 by a unique client/council/consultant team led by urban designer Kobus Mentz, now director of Urbanismplus and supported by TTM, Prosperous Places and Urbacity (then Patrick Partners). University Hill was been declared the 2011 ‘Best Master Planned Community’ in Australia at the Property Council’s […] more...
New Town wins esteemed UDIA award
Designed in 2004 by a team led by Kobus Mentz, University Hill has been awarded the 2010 ‘Master Planned Development Award for Excellence’ by the Urban Development Institute of Australia – Victoria (UDIA). University Hill is a comprehensive mixed-use development at Bundoora, City of Whittlesea. Located next to RMIT University, this project is developed by MAB […] more...