Cities are constantly evolving places where people come together. Who makes the decisions that shape the spaces and places we share, and how can cities be better for all?

Join us for an afternoon symposium that will examine city-making from different perspectives and provide practical ideas to inform a better, more sustainable future.

Three presentations will be followed by a panel discussion and question time, and the event includes viewing Monash University XYX Lab’s award-winning exhibition ‘HyperSext City‘.

Before the event, take the opportunity to tour the Walyalup Civic Centre, the award-winning building by Kerry Hill Architects. Places are limited, so be sure choose this option when you book.

The symposium is for architects, urban designers, planners, local government and anyone with an interest in city-making. This event will earn CPD points.

Make the most of your day – have lunch or dinner at one of the nearby restaurants and cafes. Why not come for the weekend? The Hougoumont Hotel and the Warders Hotel are ideally located for a Fremantle staycation.

Image of Walyalup Civic Centre: Nicholas Putrasia

Event presented by:

12PM – 12.45PM
Optional tour of Walyalup Civic Centre – limited places

1PM – 2PM
Arrival, registration and viewing of the ‘HyperSext City’ exhibition

Fremantle Design Week is proudly partnering with Monash University XYX Lab to bring the award-winning exhibition ‘HyperSext City’ to the PS Art Space. Through arresting hypergraphics and video works, ‘HyperSext City’ uses data to examine the nexus of gender and public space, drawing attention to the experiences of women, girls and LGBTQI+ communities in urban environments and amplifying the voices of those often unheard.

2PM – Presentation 1
Gender-sensitive approaches to design, architecture and urbanism
Nicole Kalms / Monash University XYX Lab (via Zoom)

What does spatial equity mean and why should we want it? Nicole Kalms will share the work of Monash University’s XYX Lab, a team of experienced design researchers exploring gender-sensitive design practices and theory at the intersection of gender, identity, urban space and advocacy. Her presentation will explore the concept of spatial equity and offer insights that can contribute to a larger movement for change that will make cities safer for women, girls, LGBTQI+ communities and everyone.

2:45PM – Presentation 2
Walyalup Civic Centre: A case study in getting civic architecture right
Russell Kingdom, Manager Strategic Planning and City Design, City of Fremantle and Patrick Kosky, Director, Kerry Hill Studios

The Walyalup Civic Centre swept the pool at the WA Architecture Awards and has been recognised as an outstanding example of public architecture and urban design. The building has boosted civic pride and changed the face of the port city. How does a project like this succeed – what are the ingredients and processes and how does the initial vision remain intact? Russell Kingdom from the City pf Fremantle and architect Patrick Kosky will share the story of the project from planning and funding through to design and construction.

4PM – Presentation 3
Elders-first approaches to city making
Barbara Bynder and Farley Garlett / Directors of Karrda Pty Ltd ; contributors to DevelopmentWA’s Subi East Redevelopment Project

DevelopmentWA’s Aboriginal Development Manager (ADM) pilot program began in 2019. One of the key determinants for the creation of ADMs on urban development projects is to develop mutually beneficial and transparent partnerships with development Project Teams to foster two-way learning environments for constructive professional growth and the inclusion of Noongar values and value systems to be embedded in the urban design approach. 

Barbara Bynder and Farley Garlett are working with DevelopmentWA across a range of projects and will share their experience on these projects alongside wider perspectives. They will also share their expertise on how urban environments can be better places when cultural knowledge and Elders-first approaches are embedded in projects from start to end – and beyond.

4:45PM – Panel discussion and question time
moderated by Shea Hatch, Studio Principal at UDLA and President of the WA Chapter of the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA)

What contradictions and synergies have emerged from the three presentations? The presenters will explore practical ways we can design our cities better, with a focus on the local context, and will open up to the floor for questions.

5:15PM – Close and drinks

The Fremantle Design Week Bar will be open for drinks, conversations and networking. Stay on for PechaKucha / Fremantle Design Week Closing Party, or a meal at one of the nearby restaurants.

The Designing Cities Symposium is proudly presented by DesignFreo and Sirona Urban.

Based in Western Australia, Sirona Urban is a property business focused on urban renewal, retail repositioning and residential development. Since founding in 2010, we have grown to become one of WA’s leading real estate developers.

We have left our mark on some of the state’s most iconic projects, including major mixed-use developments incorporating residential, retail, commercial office spaces and hotels. We have also been influential change-makers in the urban renewal of Fremantle, bringing to life a new metropolitan vision for Perth’s historic port city. Building on these successes, Sirona is well positioned to continue to deliver an exciting mix of built form projects across Western Australia.

Sirona’s enviable track record is founded on a unique combination of project ideation, exceptional delivery and large-scale construction. Each of our projects is informed by decades of experience in major Australian and international markets. This expertise allows us to develop even the most complex projects, earning us a reputation as specialists in visionary, one-of-a-kind developments.

Civic centre images: Nicolas Putrasia