An international architect who was commissioned by the Western Australia state government to brainstorm on regenerating Perth’s CBD has called the city “monofunctional” and claimed it needs a “personality transplant”.
Professor Jan Gehl studied public spaces and public life in the capital 15 years ago, and now he’s back with a fresh and critical eye. The City of Perth and the state government are paying Gehl $250,000 to dream up ways to revitalise the CBD.
“Perth’s future development relies heavily on physical projects taking full advantage of the city’s greatest assets — the fabulous landscape setting and the wonderful climate,” he said.
The city needed to reassert itself with “more experimental and leisure-orientated uses”, he said.
Gehl recommended increased housing density for the inner city, more student facilities and education departments. More diverse public spaces were needed to engage city-dwellers and it was essential that the city be made to feel safer at night.
The city was dead at night time, he said.
Director of Perth-based DnA Architects, Wayne Dufty, told Architecture & Design that Professor Gehl’s input was a great move forward for the city but that more should be done to engage the local profession.
Architects in Perth would benefit from strong political leadership, such as that recently seen in France with the discussion around rebuilding and redesigning Paris, he said.
“In France, they start with the president and it really gains great momentum. Here, the momentum is in breakaway forums and urban design discussion groups, but it is very hard to get a concept in front of the power brokers. It doesn’t seem like an easy path to get a fresh idea delivered,” Dufty said.
“I think the problem comes down to urban maturity and the willingness to find a solution within our own ranks. I think the skill base is here,” he said.
