Why did you decide to study urban design at AUDRC?

It is important to me that university study is both theoretical and also connected to industry and contemporary issues. Therefore, it was very appealing to me that AUDRC is located in the City close to industry and not on a campus. I also saw the consulting side of AUDRC as a further demonstration of AUDRC’s lecturers being exposed to relevant issues and industry contacts.

As I continue to grow professionally my perspective has not changed and I hold great importance on the ability to make the connection between theory and practice and believe this skill makes great planners and urban designers. !

What is your professional /academic background?

I currently work in a Perth Metropolitan Council as a Manager of Strategic Planning and have experience in planning in both private and local government in NSW and the UK. I greatly enjoy working on planning and urban design projects that require strategic thinking and problem solving. Specifically, precinct planning for town centres, neighbourhoods and activity centres, strategies requiring an economic development focus, strategic land use planning, urban design, project management and community engagement. I try to bring a diverse perspective to my work with a Master of Business Administration (MBA), and Masters in both Urban and Regional Planning and Urban Design – as well as a qualification in landscape design.

How has studying urban design at AUDRC enriched your practice? Which skills do you actually use now?

Studying urban design at AUDRC gave me one of my best professional capabilities – the ability to be an independent thinker with a strong ability to problem solve and think critically.

AUDRC also exposes you to a significant number of industry professionals when undertaking the final year thesis and as a result has broadened significantly my contacts in Perth. This was especially beneficial to me as I had moved from NSW to live in Perth and commence my studies here.

How has your experience collaborating with staff on research projects and teaching students at AUDRC enriched your practice?

I was very fortunate to be asked to assist with tutoring classes at AUDRC when I completed my studies and this has now evolved to lecturing over the last few years. Having one foot in Local Government and one in academia ensures I am always learning and am exposed to new projects and conversations with industry, AUDRC staff and students/emerging urban designers.

Teaching and being connected to AUDRC helps reflect on what you are doing in the workplace and collaborate on projects and new ideas. An example of this is the My Best Home project undertaken by AUDRC and the City of Cockburn. The project involved Grace Oliver (AUDRC researcher), Anthony Duckworth-Smith (AUDRC lecturer) and I to work together on a research project focused on promoting homes people over 55 want to live in, in infill situations. My studies have resulted in not only wonderful professional opportunities but also strong relationships with some very talented designers!

What inspires you? Professionally and or personally?

I love design and I love learning! I am passionate about promoting research, knowledge and collaborative processes to improve the built environment with good design. As a member of the Western Australia State Design Review Panel I am lucky enough to sit on design review panels with panellists with diverse experiences and qualifications. What I love most about being a panellist is the opportunity to share my experience and also learn from others while at the same time hopefully improving design outcomes..  

From all of your professional and academic practice what is your definition of Urban Design?

From a practical perspective if urban design is about shaping the places we live in, then the profession of urban designer is to promote the best a place can be. Some may initially see urban designers as creating pretty pictures however, the profession is concerned with much deeper matters that influence the design of places. Urban design is about understanding the complexity of layers behind a place/project and identifying strategies, and in some cases a beautiful designs, to make a place ‘work’ for what is usually a very diverse mix of stakeholders in very complex environments.

BELOW: Pages from Rachel Pleasant’s Master of Urban Design Thesis. 2015. District Centres: Intensification Around Perth’s Big Box District Centre Shopping Centres; The question framing this research was: “What are the urban design considerations for intensifying development around big-box shopping centres”. Read the complete thesis here HERE

ABOVE: Rachel addressing the participants involved in Workshop 1 of the ‘My Best Home’ Project, held at the Cockburn Seniors Centre, October 2018. BELOW: Pages from the ‘My Best Home’ Community Engagement Report produced by the City Of Cockburn and AUDRC. Learn more about the project HERE