Zac Whitley reviews Charles Landry’s take on Perth.
It seems that finally Perth has begun to address the long-perceived problems with its social, political, regulatory, architectural, entrepreneurial, entertainment, and transport sectors – indeed is there a sector not affected by a vacuum in this fine city of ours?
‘Thinker in residence’ Charles Landry has been here conducting a series of workshops throughout the city to establish, firstly, what the people of Perth want out of their city; and secondly, to determine future modes of action to help provide a more vibrant and inspiring urban culture. Following some enthusiastic coverage by The West Australian, people are sitting up and listening to what he has to say – as if approval (or disapproval) from an outsider is all that is required to alter the psyche of Western Australians.
Mr Landry has suggested a variety of pathways that could improve the city’s vibrancy for visitors and residents. These stem from a framework of thought he has developed during his career as an advisor for cities such as Helsinki, Ottawa, Paris, Delhi and Chicago; along with appointments to the Melbourne City Council and the Adelaide Thinkers in Residence program.
The success of this program in Perth depends more on a conscious will to change within the general population than the actual ideas presented, which act as the catalyst for discussion.
Among the opportunities presented is the chance for Perth to become a major gateway to the emerging cultural and economic powers of China and India. This requires a shift in mindset towards intercultural thought and a conscious engagement with our neighbours – rather than thinking of Perth as the ‘most isolated city in the world’, why not think of it as the ‘closest major Australian city to Asia’.
Landry mentions that ‘cities have greater confidence to live with diversity… (while) town thinking finds this difficult to cope with.’ A fairly striking example of this is the Perth Mosque, which is unable to broadcast the call to prayer outside its walls. While no one would restrict the church bells coming from St Mary’s, it is fine to place such restrictions on the Islamic faith. Landry speaks of interculturalism, versus multiculturalism as being the pathway forward. In a country of immigrants: be they European, Arab, African or Asian, at what point do we recognise and truly celebrate difference – not because ‘they’ are different, but because we are all different.
Another criticism is that we are too highly regulated. He mentioned Perth as a place where ‘everything is forbidden unless it is allowed’, and a city where the ‘one person complaint action team’ wins every time. How can a city grow and be innovative when ‘all change must be officially sanctioned’? Think of the closure of the Hudson Gallery bar due to King St. resident complaints, and the raft of complaints by residents moving to Northbridge about the noise levels at The Deen nightclub.
There is a range of opportunities on Perth’s doorstep. However, these will not be solved purely through developing the foreshore or sinking the railway. It requires fundamental change in the community mindset, and the political will (and talent) to reflect those changes in legislation and funding.
For further information on Charles Landry and creative city building, visit:
