urbanism

To restore our economy, Australian cities should embrace culture and imagination /  by Tom Oliver Payne

Covid-19 has sent Australia’s creative industries into distress, and the damage has been severe. More than half of the jobs (53%) in this sector ceased to function during lockdowns, resulting in hundreds of thousands of job losses across Australian cities. But what if we actively invest in making places more unique, exciting and creative? Could we make domestic travel more appealing – or even – make Australian cities the envy of the world?

Thought-piece I’ve written for RobertsDay - you can read online here.

Perth artist Matt Adnate’s work of celebrates Aboriginal culture. Photo courtesy Juddy Roller/Nicole Reed.

Perth artist Matt Adnate’s work of celebrates Aboriginal culture. Photo courtesy Juddy Roller/Nicole Reed.

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Great time helping launch The Place Economy III with the rest of the @hoynedesign team. 800+ pages of case studies and interviews on best practice placemaking projects. When Andy asked me to write for the book, I wanted to cover projects that better
Back in London last year I visited Battersea Power Station. Bricks and mortar that honour history and with a chimney lift-shaft, encircling shared street and basketball courts engage with the city in a new way. We’re lucky in Sydney that we can
Hong Kong, Mar 2023 _____________ . . . . . _____________ #hongkong #hk
_____________ . . . . . _____________ #berrynsw #bnw
Awesome experience speaking for @hoynedesign at a few events recently on the need for bold visions to bring life and culture into city centres. Some shots from the UDIA National Summit talk and q&a w Ticky Fullerton. 🤘🏼 _____________ . . . . .
A few photos from one of my favourite tall buildings in Sydney. Designed by Seidler, the MLC Tower (now 25 Martin Place) has definitely stood the test of time. Australia wasn’t a pioneer of modernism, but we did a good job of it. ____________
Featured
Talking Place Visioning on The Placemakers Podcast
Talking Place Visioning on The Placemakers Podcast
Tom_Oliver_Payne_2.jpeg
Reinterpret and reimagine through adaptive reuse
1.jpg
Why Australian cities should become vertical, multi-dimensional experiences
Re-imagining Glebe Island Bridge
Re-imagining Glebe Island Bridge
To restore our economy, Australian cities should embrace culture and imagination
To restore our economy, Australian cities should embrace culture and imagination
Sydney's summer spaces
Sydney's summer spaces
Autopsy on a Dream
Autopsy on a Dream
1.jpg
Another year, another trip to Copenhagen
Copenhagen_Tom_Oliver_Payne-6.jpg
Launch of a Copenhagen street with Mikael Colville-Andersen
Tom_Oliver_Payne_FWJW-1.jpg
East London's Fredd Wigg and John Walsh Towers
In the south of Sri Lanka
In the south of Sri Lanka
Demolition has begun: photos from Robin Hood Gardens
Demolition has begun: photos from Robin Hood Gardens
Kensington and Chelsea: a microcosm of divided London
Kensington and Chelsea: a microcosm of divided London
SMH Article: What Sydney can learn from London's approach to brutalist architecture
SMH Article: What Sydney can learn from London's approach to brutalist architecture
'In Drowned Concrete': photobook with Saal Digital
'In Drowned Concrete': photobook with Saal Digital
Conversation with London artist Lorna May Wadsworth
Conversation with London artist Lorna May Wadsworth
From screen to street: the photography project putting imagery in the public eye
From screen to street: the photography project putting imagery in the public eye
Branded Kings Cross
Branded Kings Cross
Cycling from London to Paris
Cycling from London to Paris
Photographing for Sydney's Neighbourhood Paper
Photographing for Sydney's Neighbourhood Paper
London calling
London calling
Photographing for #WeLiveHere2017
Photographing for #WeLiveHere2017
Sydney, it's time to face your addiction
Sydney, it's time to face your addiction
A conversation with Jess Cook of Sydney's 107 Projects
A conversation with Jess Cook of Sydney's 107 Projects
Reminding Sydney of Seidler
Reminding Sydney of Seidler
Interview with Sydney busker, Kane Muir
Interview with Sydney busker, Kane Muir
Photographing Sydney's innerwest
Photographing Sydney's innerwest
'Rom': Europe's first heritage listed skatepark
'Rom': Europe's first heritage listed skatepark
Toronto from above: views from the CN Tower
Toronto from above: views from the CN Tower
What would Ernő Goldfinger think of Balfron Tower today?
What would Ernő Goldfinger think of Balfron Tower today?

Another year, another trip to Copenhagen /  by Tom Oliver Payne

Last week I managed to fit in another quick trip over to Copenhagen. There are a million reasons why I love this city so much, but mainly because it's not an aggressive, traffic heavy, overdeveloped city... People are friendly, bike riders are respected and encouraged, the architecture - old and new - is elegant, nightlife is fun, and the Baltic is clean (swimming in the harbour ... amongst the ferries is fine).

There seems to be a simplicity, pragmatism and calmness that I haven't experienced in any other city. It's no wonder it's architects and urban designers are in demand in around the world.

This year my friend Mark and I rode our bikes up north and crossed over into Sweden for a couple of days. Awesome little trip and as always - can't wait to get back.

A few holiday snaps below. :-) 

Featured
Talking Place Visioning on The Placemakers Podcast
Talking Place Visioning on The Placemakers Podcast
Tom_Oliver_Payne_2.jpeg
Reinterpret and reimagine through adaptive reuse
1.jpg
Why Australian cities should become vertical, multi-dimensional experiences
Re-imagining Glebe Island Bridge
Re-imagining Glebe Island Bridge
To restore our economy, Australian cities should embrace culture and imagination
To restore our economy, Australian cities should embrace culture and imagination
Sydney's summer spaces
Sydney's summer spaces
Autopsy on a Dream
Autopsy on a Dream
1.jpg
Another year, another trip to Copenhagen
Copenhagen_Tom_Oliver_Payne-6.jpg
Launch of a Copenhagen street with Mikael Colville-Andersen
Tom_Oliver_Payne_FWJW-1.jpg
East London's Fredd Wigg and John Walsh Towers
In the south of Sri Lanka
In the south of Sri Lanka
Demolition has begun: photos from Robin Hood Gardens
Demolition has begun: photos from Robin Hood Gardens
Kensington and Chelsea: a microcosm of divided London
Kensington and Chelsea: a microcosm of divided London
SMH Article: What Sydney can learn from London's approach to brutalist architecture
SMH Article: What Sydney can learn from London's approach to brutalist architecture
'In Drowned Concrete': photobook with Saal Digital
'In Drowned Concrete': photobook with Saal Digital
Conversation with London artist Lorna May Wadsworth
Conversation with London artist Lorna May Wadsworth
From screen to street: the photography project putting imagery in the public eye
From screen to street: the photography project putting imagery in the public eye
Branded Kings Cross
Branded Kings Cross
Cycling from London to Paris
Cycling from London to Paris
Photographing for Sydney's Neighbourhood Paper
Photographing for Sydney's Neighbourhood Paper
London calling
London calling
Photographing for #WeLiveHere2017
Photographing for #WeLiveHere2017
Sydney, it's time to face your addiction
Sydney, it's time to face your addiction
A conversation with Jess Cook of Sydney's 107 Projects
A conversation with Jess Cook of Sydney's 107 Projects
Reminding Sydney of Seidler
Reminding Sydney of Seidler
Interview with Sydney busker, Kane Muir
Interview with Sydney busker, Kane Muir
Photographing Sydney's innerwest
Photographing Sydney's innerwest
'Rom': Europe's first heritage listed skatepark
'Rom': Europe's first heritage listed skatepark
Toronto from above: views from the CN Tower
Toronto from above: views from the CN Tower
What would Ernő Goldfinger think of Balfron Tower today?
What would Ernő Goldfinger think of Balfron Tower today?

INSTAGRAM

Great time helping launch The Place Economy III with the rest of the @hoynedesign team. 800+ pages of case studies and interviews on best practice placemaking projects. When Andy asked me to write for the book, I wanted to cover projects that better
Back in London last year I visited Battersea Power Station. Bricks and mortar that honour history and with a chimney lift-shaft, encircling shared street and basketball courts engage with the city in a new way. We’re lucky in Sydney that we can
Hong Kong, Mar 2023 _____________ . . . . . _____________ #hongkong #hk
_____________ . . . . . _____________ #berrynsw #bnw
Awesome experience speaking for @hoynedesign at a few events recently on the need for bold visions to bring life and culture into city centres. Some shots from the UDIA National Summit talk and q&a w Ticky Fullerton. 🤘🏼 _____________ . . . . .
A few photos from one of my favourite tall buildings in Sydney. Designed by Seidler, the MLC Tower (now 25 Martin Place) has definitely stood the test of time. Australia wasn’t a pioneer of modernism, but we did a good job of it. ____________

Photographing for #WeLiveHere2017 /  by Tom Oliver Payne

Over the last few weeks, I've been shooting documentary photos for the #WeLiveHere2017 campaign. Each day I've been visiting the neighbourhood of Waterloo in central Sydney to document the people who live there. I've been taking their portraits, as well as asking them a few questions about their connection with the neighbourhood. 

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Sydney, it's time to face your addiction /  by Tom Oliver Payne

The New South Wales Government is desperate. It ignores ongoing advice from friends, family and experts to seek alternatives. It fights all obstacles in its path for more. It cares only for the short-lived gratification, euphoria and high, to the detriment of healthy decades ahead. I guess when life feels is so good right now, why would it care?

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A conversation with Jess Cook of Sydney's 107 Projects /  by Tom Oliver Payne

Jess Cook has been involved in a range of events and creative projects over the last 15 years. From running collaborative art exhibitions and managing large-scale festivals, her latest endeavour is arguably her most ambitious. As Managing Director of Sydney’s 107 Projects, she’s been integral in creating an impressive cultural space in central Sydney. I met with Jess to check out 107 and talk to her about creative spaces, more generally.  

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Why Copenhagen is such an incredible city /  by Tom Oliver Payne

Everyone knows that Copenhagen is the happiest city in the world, but not so many people appreciate just how interesting it is. As a regular visitor I've listed out my top reasons why Copenhagen is the world's coolest city.

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