Commissioners on the unique perspective of intermediary cities
Commissioners share their thoughts on intermediary cities, what role they play and why considering this topic is timely.
What are intermediary cities?
“Intermediary cities are more or less coherent urban entities as cities within their hinterland, as cities in a city-network, and as sub-centres in large agglomerations. They all base on the principle of short distance, mixed use, density and diversity. Some have specific socio-cultural or economic focuses, like university towns, creative neighbourhoods or innovative districts, and as such work as catalysts and qualifiers for their surroundings. They equally form a resource for a more climate neutral urban condition, due to reduced mobility requirements and logistics and their compact physical and ecological footprint”.
PROFESSOR EM. KEES CHRISTIAANSE, Architect and Founder of KCAP (Rotterdam, Zurich, Shanghai)
What role do intermediary cities play?
“The role played by intermediary cities in our growing megacities or urban agglomerations is an area that needs more enquiry. They help to curb urban sprawl, perform different but complementary functions to Central Business Districts and can provide resilient buffers in times of crisis. More importantly, how do we create or develop intermediary cities by taking a systemic approach such as governance, planning, development strategy, incentives for private development and to bring communities on board”.
PROFESSOR KHOO, TENG CHYE, Professor in Practice, Department of Architecture, and Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore
“In the era of global urbanization, where the majority of the world's population now resides in urban areas, much more attention deserves and indeed needs to be focused on intermediary cities and their relationship to the overall urbanization process. The rapid growth of intermediary cities is raising major challenges with respect to governance, infrastructure development, social inclusion, and so on, yet the older central urban areas are the ones that have historically been best understood, planned, and serviced”.
PROFESSOR KRIS OLDS, Professor, Department of Geography, University of Wisconsin-Madison
The focus for this Monash Commission is interesting and timely because...?
“...it will bring a fresh perspective on the spatial and economic development of cities with a genuine interest in the improvement of quality of life. I am interested in unique governance frameworks whereby decisions are based on personal well-being, access and connectivity, the economy, education and lifelong learning, environment and climate, health, housing affordability, identity and belonging and safety".
GABRIELLE TRAINOR AO, Non-Executive Director and Advisor, ACT City Renewal Authority, and the Western City and Aerotropolis Authority
“...it explores the new role of cities in bridging the gaps and inequalities profoundly exposed during the pandemic”.
JULIE WAGNER, President of The Global Institute on Innovation Districts and President of Urban Insight
“...it investigates the role of intermediary cities in the future of work and workplaces—more fluid temporal, spatial and organizational arrangement, and examines the technological, physical, and relational implications."
PROFESSOR JINHUA ZHAO, Director of the MIT Mobility Initiative and Edward and Joyce Linde Associate Professor of City and Transportation Planning at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
“...it has the opportunity to build on the challenges of today to create a better world for all and always”.
TERRI BENSON, Managing Director of Birdon
“...COVID-19 has changed our lives as many city workers have now worked from home extensively for more than a year. People now shop, exercise and go to neighbourhood community centres. Companies are thinking of setting up satellite offices near where people live. So as cities recover from the shock of the pandemic, there will be changes in the way cities will be shaped. But the pandemic is not the only type of shock that will disrupt cities. Climate change and other potential shocks from natural disasters or resource disruptions can also bring cities to a standstill. Resilience in cities is therefore an urgent issue that occupies the minds of researchers, policymakers and all of us who live in cities”.
PROFESSOR KHOO, TENG CHYE, Professor in Practice, Department of Architecture, and Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore
“...it will help generate novel insights on the nature of intermediary cities, as well as on futures-oriented planning and development processes, so as to maximise positive impacts for society and economy”.
PROFESSOR KRIS OLDS, Professor Department of Geography, University of Wisconsin-Madison