Regenerating regional landscapes: Kalgoorlie City Centre at Design Speaks

Last week, our Perth Studio Director, Tom Griffiths, presented at Design Speaks’ The Architecture Symposium: An Other City in Sydney. The event explored how shifting dynamics in Australia's metropolitan and regional landscapes are redefining architectural and infrastructural opportunities.

As landscape architects and urban designers, we see the public realm as playing a crucial role in regenerating and re-energising regional centres.

Tom presented ASPECT’s Kalgoorlie City Centre a project that addresses the many challenges facing regional centres across Australia. The renewed city centre has been designed to celebrate the character of Kalgoorlie, the people, the place, the past and the present.

He highlighted that the key to transforming places like Kalgoorlie lies in listening: listening to the land and to the voices of the community. When designing for regional centres, the solution isn’t to replicate nearby cities but to embrace the distinctive qualities that make these places unique.

Special thanks to curators Andrew Burges and Maryam Gusheh for the opportunity to share this project.