Future Cities Making

The document explores the grand challenges cities face in the 21st century, including climate change, biodiversity loss, rapid urbanisation, and social inequality. It adopts a mission-oriented approach, focusing on transformative innovations that can help design, build, and manage cities in a more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient manner.
At the heart of this vision are urban imaginaries, such as “resilient cities,” “circular cities,” and “nature-based regenerative cities.” These concepts inspire new ways of thinking and acting to address urban complexities and create equitable futures. Resilient cities are designed to adapt to shocks and stresses, balancing social, ecological, and economic domains. Circular cities focus on resource efficiency, promoting recycling, reuse, and closed-loop systems to reduce environmental impacts. Nature-based regenerative cities seek to restore ecosystems and integrate green infrastructure into urban planning, fostering biodiversity and human well-being.
The document highlights the importance of collaboration among governments, industries, academia, and communities to drive change. It also underscores the role of digital innovation, such as AI and smart sensors, in enabling effective urban governance and optimising infrastructure. Additionally, adaptive governance frameworks are crucial for managing trade-offs between competing values and objectives, ensuring justice and inclusivity in urban transformations.
Case studies, including Australia’s “Greening the Greyfields” initiative, demonstrate practical applications of these ideas. This project focuses on regenerating ageing, low-density suburbs through medium-density development integrated with green infrastructure and public transport.
Ultimately, the document argues that achieving sustainable urban futures requires imagination, bold leadership, and mission-scale interventions. By embracing these principles, cities can transform into hubs of innovation and resilience, addressing global challenges while improving quality of life for all.