Introduction

Since 1996, the Australian Urban Design Awards have showcased successful efforts in building and sustaining Australia’s urban communities.

The awards celebrate the very best of urban design contributions and successful and promising innovations that will improve the performance of our cities and the quality of life of our communities.

The awards are intended to help forge a network of exceptional urban thinkers and activists in urban design and city building. The awards create an opportunity for nation wide sharing of what constitutes good urban design and provides insights into intelligent innovations in urban design occurring across the country

WHAT IS URBAN DESIGN?

Urban design gives us the tools with which we can consciously improve the quality of our cities and regions (Urban Design in Australia by the Prime Minister’s Urban Design Taskforce 1994)

Urban design is the process of designing and shaping cities, towns, suburbs, streets and public spaces in a way that considers the cultural, social and physical qualities of the place, the environmental and ecological factors and the health, community and economic impacts and benefits. Urban design prioritises the quality of the public realm. Great urban design delivers better places at a wide range of scales and contributes significantly, positively, and generatively to the city.