WHAT HAPPENED?

The system has permitted widespread inappropriate housing development, creating soulless urban ‘dead zones’ inhabited by young professional workers in high-density complexes with none of the demographic, economic and cultural diversity that forms the bedrock of any successful community.

The pursuit of profit and pointless housing targets have hollowed out the hearts of our cities. Architecture Initiative is determined to get them beating again, by focusing on diversity, and by living and learning

ENCOURAGING DIVERSITY AND SUSTAINABILITY

One size does not fit all. If we fail to accommodate the broader society; the young, the elderly, families, key workers, the haves and the have nots we will create greater problems that will take years to solve.

So, what’s the solution?

It seems clear that if cities are going to thrive economically and retain a compact form, their inner-urban areas must cater for both high and low income families as well as better-off singles, young couples and empty-nesters.

This means building urban neighbourhoods in which parents choose to raise their children – inner city developments that maintain a compact, environmentally sustainable footprint and create a climate of integration and inclusion.

Developments that live and breathe and that provide stability and opportunity for generations of inhabitants.

Embracing that level of societal responsibility is a big ask but it makes commercial and social sense - you just have to think about things differently.