Discovering Melbourne’s Creative Urbanism

Creative urbanism is a term used to describe the process of city planning and building that prioritises creativity and artistry. Often the role of art and creativity is overlooked in the planning of modern cities in favour of soulless infrastructure development and population expansion. Creative urbanism seeks to correct this imbalance by returning life, colour and vibrance to our metropolises, incorporating values of culture into the development process, thereby humanising the cityscape.

The study of urban geography, including creative urbanism, was one of my favourite subjects as a teenager and formed part of my final studies for secondary school. I found the idea so inspiring that it forms a large part of this site; the ‘urban’ referring to the exciting city life.

Art in Fitzroy, Melbourne

Melbourne is perhaps one of the best examples of a city that has incorporated creative urbanism into the city planning process. In few cities around the world has art, artistry and the development of identity been so key to the building of a city as in Melbourne, particularly from the 1980s to the present day.

Melbourne’s Chinatown

This has been achieved through initiatives such as the Postcode 3000 policy, encouraging industrial laneways to be revived as iconic commercial and residential precincts, and the development of the Arts Precinct and Docklands, both creatively visionary districts with varying degrees of success. Creativity and diversity has also been allowed to naturally flourish in the form of cultural precincts including Chinatown, the ongoing support of the Greek Precinct, Lygon Street and the alternative hubs of Fitzroy and Collingwood.

Centre Place, Melbourne

Earlier this year my friend Agness Walewinder, one half of eTramping.com, asked me if I would be interested in collaborating in the development of her eBook, a guide to creative urbanism in Melbourne. Of course I was happy to oblige, and I’m proud to say that I, through UrbanDuniya, have been part of the creation of this interesting new guide.

A typical travel guide it isn’t; Discovering Melbourne’s Creative Urbanism is a visual handbook to what makes Melbourne Australia’s most interesting city, and why creative types are drawn here from across the country and the world. And unlike most travel guides, this one is free! All you need to do is sign up to eTramping’s mailing list, and you can receive it as a free gift.

Discover Melbourne’s Creative Urbanism with Agness and UrbanDuniya, and then discover the world with eTramping.com!