A great new guide to making great places


Released 19/08/2020

The City Renewal Authority has released a guide to placemaking to help those involved in Canberra’s renewal take a best practice approach to making great places.

The Great Place Guide acknowledges that while government has a significant role in renewal, everybody has a role to play, from businesses, community groups and developers to architects, designers, planners, entertainers, artists and any member of the community.

City Renewal Authority chief executive Malcolm Snow said the guide was a free resource for anybody with an interest in creating great places that support great communities.

“The Great Place Guide is an opportunity to share our place-related work as we pursue our ambition for the transformation of our city centre,” Mr Snow said.

“The guide takes a practical approach and reflects the Authority’s ‘people first’ philosophy, putting the community at the core of the renewal process.

“The Great Place Guide describes the steps for realising successful renewal outcomes and creating memorable places where people want to spend time. A city full of places that people love, and love to use, must of course be a universal goal for anyone involved in shaping the urban environment.

“I encourage people to read and share this guide in the hope that it will assist others in their placemaking endeavours.”

Developed with the assistance of Canberra landscape architects and placemaking specialists, Tait Network, the guide draws on the experience of placemaking organisations around the world, including the non-profit Project for Public Places.

The guide explains what placemaking is, why it’s important, and how to do it.

It aims to help people make great places that:

  • are accessible and well connected to other places in the area;
  • are comfortable and project a good image;
  • attract people to participate in activities there; and
  • are social environments where people want to gather and visit again and again.

The Great Place Guide is only a starting point for people who are interested in placemaking but also contains a list of resources to help people take their next steps on the path to making great places.

The guide has been welcomed by globally recognised urban strategist Lucinda Hartley, co-founder of Neighbourlytics.

"Great places don't happen accidentally, their authenticity requires careful cultivation of context, community and culture,” Ms Hartley said.

“The Great Place Guide is a simple overview of the key factors to consider when working on any placemaking project.

"Placemaking is as much about the process as it is about the place itself. It's about a combination of the hardware, software and a place's operating system (or organisational infrastructure). The best places are by everyone, for everyone." 

The Great Place Guide is available online at www.cityrenewalCBR.com.au or in hard copy by request at cityrenewal@act.gov.au

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