Q&A with Malcolm Smith, Director of Integrated Urbanism, ARUP UK

Why do Green Cities matter?

Green cities matter because cities are one of the human creations that have the most impact on the environment. We have ultimate control over the way they function, the impacts they make. If we are to truly mitigate the impact of human settlement, the city is one of the key places to start to achieve maximum change with minimum investment.

What makes a Green City?

Is a place that evolves with the aspiration to function in balance with the physical, social and economic environment. It is also a place that re-establishes the relationship between the city and the rural, and recognizes the necessary symbiosis of these conditions.

Overall, what is your vision for the development of green precincts?

Firstly, that the city is recognized as a collection of parts with differing characteristics, expectations and opportunities. In this 're-localization' of the city, the ability for parts to operate in a much more independent manner, but exist as part of a resilient network must be central to the idea of green precincts. This is not only about the physical hardware of the city, but the software systems of governance, economic systems, information systems etc.

Can you please share some of your experiences of the regeneration of the Urban Stratford Rail lands and other projects relevant?

Stratford is the 75 ha site in the east end of London, that came about as a result of the new high speed train to Europe passing through. This area has some of the worst social deprivation in Europe, a transitory migrant community interfacing with the historic working class society. The rail lands, with its scale and accessibility, was first and foremost a social and economic opportunity. It was estimated that approximately 50% of the economic turnover from the east end was being directed to the westend of London.

Stratford offered an opportunity to create a new metropolitan centre for the north east corner of London, and begin to redress this economic leakage that was occurring. The scheme pioneered a number of sustainable strategies including carbon mitigation and reduction strategies in the planning approval, social infrastructure reinforcement strategies, project based design and sustainability review processes as part of planning commitments. The opportunity created by Stratford was further leveraged when it became a central part of the successful London 2012 Olympic bid. It will be the location of the athletes accommodation, one of the few Olympic accommodation venues designed as a piece of city before being an Olympic facility. These strategies formed the basis of further projects including the eco-city projects in China, Northstowe new town in the UK, and more recently projects in Europe including the Zuidas project in Amsterdam and the Sitra project in Helsinki.

What are your top five key tips for Australia in the development of Green Cities?

1. Compact cities to enable non car based transport to become the norm
2. Retrofit strategies for suburbs that allow greater intensity and diversity of use
3. Relocalization of cites into precincts that reflect governance structures ie local councils/energy supply and waste treatment systems.
4. Diversification of land use strategies that allow introduction of such uses as food production in living environments
5. Cultural master planning as part of regeneration strategies

Contact:
Karen Jamal
Communications
Green Building Council of Australia
Phone: 0412 179 135
Email: karen.jamal@gbca.org.au