Community urban design will see people at the centre of a new 'smart city' concept, thanks to the work of master developer behind south-east Queensland's Ripley Town Centre vision, Sekisui House Australia and placemaking partner RobertsDay.

While the smart city framework typically draws on digital solutions to solve urbanisation challenges, RobertsDay Principal, Craig Christensen, believes in creating environments for people, rather than solely relying on technologies that could raise privacy and control concerns when it comes to our data. 

“To us, a true smart city doesn’t forget that cities are places for people," said Mr Christensen.

"They are loved because they encourage social interaction, rich exchange, and moments of surprise and delight. 

Ripley Town Centre is created around people. Courtesy: RobertsDay

“Together at Ripley Town Centre, we’re creating a place that people want to be in and one that enriches lives, and this requires a very holistic and ‘smart’ approach.” 

For the Ripley Town Centre masterplan vision, this has meant creating a community based on walkability and transit to enable seamless connectivity to all of life’s necessities — healthcare, education, retail, commercial, and recreational and community facilities. 

The Centre’s vision draws on the 20-minute neighbourhood philosophy with all major facilities and amenities within a 20-minute walk, allowing future residents to live locally and in harmony with nature. 

“We’ve taken on this philosophy at Ripley Town Centre to get people out walking, cycling and interacting with their community,” said Mr Christensen. 

“With COVID-19 placing a renewed and potentially long-term focus on remote working, what our local environment can offer in terms of walkability becomes critically important.” 

To reinforce Ripley Town Centre’s connectivity vision, a proposed transit hub will link the region to Ipswich, Springfield, Brisbane and beyond, delivering on the requirements under the Ripley Valley Priority Development Area (PDA).

Ripley Town Centre Photo: RobertsDay

The transit hub, featuring rail and bus connections, will be vital to lead and sustain the community, and provide residents with affordable transport options that improve access to services and employment. 

Mr Christensen says his take on a smart city considers placemaking and the human experience as its core, but at a much broader level than architecture or urban design. 

“When you’re placemaking, you’re attempting to make a place more loveable, liveable and productive — a place that people will thrive in,” said Mr Christensen. 

“We look at the community, social, environmental and economic perspectives simultaneously and how we can sustain investment over a long period of time — a much more holistic approach than conventional urban design.” 

It’s this thinking that brought to life Ripley Town Centre’s 10 character precincts, guided by the Japanese concept of Satoyama (‘ribbons of green’) to integrate natural habitats with built environments, allowing the community to connect with nature. 

South Village of Ripley Town Centre Photo: RobertsDay

The Centre’s Civic Heart, for example, will be one of the many dedicated community spaces featuring cultural institutions, education and retail experiences surrounding a green forecourt, which will become home to major community events. 

The nearby Esplanade and The Green will feature alfresco dining, retail, community play and exercise areas, lagoons, family entertainment and leisure facilities, wide open spaces, and office and residential living with a public thoroughfare.

Unique and playful ‘moments’ every 100 to 150 metres will also be revealed along the precinct journey to further encourage walkability, social interaction and a feeling of place. 

Taking advantage of Ripley’s scenic landscape, the Centre’s constellation pattern of buildings creates a dramatic skyline with framed gateways and arrival points, allowing for access to breezes and daylight — the opposite to the traditional concentric dome of most other town centres.

For more information on Ripley Town Centre visit here.

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