01 Anna Robinson, Urban design / Sydney
A conversation with urban designer Anna Robinson, exploring practices for Indigenous participation, inclusive design, and sustainable open space as critical elements of planning.
Join Eduardo Guerrero, an urban designer based in Tucson, as he talks with urban idealists and designers about their work and stories. Listen in as he engages these relevant thinkers in reflections and conversations about the environment and culture.
01 Anna Robinson, Urban design / Sydney
Acknowledgement of Country
I’d like to begin today by acknowledging the Traditional owners of the land on which I am meeting with you, the Gadigal people of the Eora nation, and I pay my respects to their Elders, past present and emerging.
Bio:
I’d describe myself an urban designer, city shaper, strategic thinker and problem solver… I have a Bachelor of Design, a Master of Urban Design and an MBA and I’m Group Leader for Healthy Water & Civil Solutions at AECOM which comprises a team of 100 planners, designers and engineers – my role involves a lot of multidisciplinary collaboration and communication, so I’m constantly learning new things from a very broad range of technical disciplines and working out how to best fit all the pieces of the puzzle together.
Workplace:
AECOM, a global infrastructure consultancy, focused on delivering a better world through six core values (Safeguard, Innovate, Collaborate, Deliver, Sustain, Thrive).
Current city:
Sydney, Australia – I live in a neighbourhood called Naremburn, affectionately known as the golden triangle because it is wedged between three pieces of linear infrastructure) which is 6 kilometres (4 miles) north of Sydney CBD, across the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and it offers the ultimate walkable neighbourhood, it’s a 5 minute walk to the bus stop which is one stop (6 minutes) into the city; it’s a 5 minute walk to the local shops which includes a couple of cafes, a bakery, a pizzeria, a fish and chip shop, a Thai restaurant, an exquisite florist; it’s a 10 minute walk to the supermarket and a whole range of other shops; there are half a dozen fantastic parks and playgrounds all within a 10 minute walk.
Guest’s reflections:
I have a couple of reflections to share about trends emerging in the way we think about the future design, planning and engineering of our city here – in terms of the way clients are thinking, the way the industry is moving and the way urban designers approach their projects:
Indigenous focus – greater respect for the 60,000-year history of our country including a the focus towards ‘Designing for Country’, partnering with Indigenous consultants and growing our Indigenous workforce.
Inclusivity focus – consciously designing safer places (a city that’s safe for women is a city that’s safe for all) and more accessible spaces (such as playgrounds that are accessible for people of all ages and abilities).
Sustainability focus – embedding sustainability not just in the projects being delivered but also in the way organizations operate more broadly with an ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) lens.
Links:
AECOM:
Committee for Sydney and NSW Government’s Public Space Ideas Competition:
https://sydney.org.au/psic/homepage/
NSW Government’s Everyone Can Play:
Greater Sydney Commission’s Women’s Safety Charter:
https://www.greater.sydney/thought-leadership/womens-safety-charter
Glasgow COP26 Billboards:
Join Eduardo Guerrero, an urban designer based in Tucson, as he talks with urban idealists and designers about their work and stories. Listen in as he engages these relevant thinkers in reflections and conversations about the environment and culture.
Learn more at CrossingCityLimits.com
January ‘22.