Research Highlights:

• New City Development and Urban Infill: Julian’s exploration into how new urban spaces are created and existing ones are optimised.
• Public Open Space Design: The significance of designing accessible and functional public spaces for communities.
• Critical Examination of Urban Growth: Analysis of historical and contemporary urban growth strategies in Australia through Julian’s publications.

Books Discussed:

• “The Ghost Cities of Australia”: A critique of past settlement strategies.
• “Scavenging the Suburbs”: Potential for densification and repurposing of underutilized urban spaces in Perth.
• “Take Me to the River”: The importance of the Swan River to Perth’s ecological and cultural landscape.

Environmental Concerns:

• Human impact on wetlands and river areas.
• Consequences of climate change like sea level rise and intense storms.
• Balancing urban densification with biodiversity and ecosystem services.

Innovative Proposals:

• Low-rise apartments near large parks as a sustainable development model.
• Investing tax revenue in park improvements and environmental initiatives.
• The concept of “solastalgia” and reclaiming urban land by nature.

Cultural Perspectives:

• Examining the relationship between Australians and their indigenous landscapes.
• Addressing cultural shifts in colonial and post-colonial contexts.

Urban and Suburban Synergy:

• Embracing the greenness of suburbia and the energy of urban life.
• Excitement for population decentralisation and the creation of new city developments.

Concerns and Advocacy:

• Warning against an overreliance on quantitative data in an AI-centric world.
• Advocating for housing affordability that includes all living costs.
• The necessity of considering individual needs in urban planning.