A "renowned danish architect" is impressed by Perth's concrete expansion. Wow.
Professor Jan Gehl was paid to come to Perth, twenty years ago, to suggest ways that public spaces could be improved. He recommended replacing the parks and lawns between city and river, with a concrete jungle. Twenty years on and he likes the look of artists' impressions of Elizabeth Quay.
He's not too pleased with the large puddle in the middle. But at least there will be lots of enormous buildings.
Gehl also wants more work done to encourage people to ride bikes to work. Lots of people ride bikes in his home town of Copenhagen. Do they still ride when the temperature reaches forty ?! Oh, wait, Copenhagen is in a cold climate, isn't it.
Still, as we destroy the parks and gardens, why not encourage more bike riders ? They can ride to work along the concrete canyons that Gehl seems to support. One huge benefit: with all that concrete and steel, no-one will waste time enjoying the scenery as they ride to work.
Twenty years ago, Gehl also noticed that the central city was deserted after dark. And he was afraid to go to Forrest Place. His answer ? Redevelop, with lots more concrete and steel.
You know, I'm afraid to visit Kakadu. It's all that water, all filled with crocodiles. So I don't go to Kakadu. Quick ! Fill it with concrete ! Would that be Gehl's answer ?
If you don't like a place -- fill it with buildings. Make it as much as possible exactly like some other place... Like every other place.
Ask an architect what to do and he'll say -- obviously -- build more buildings.
Ask tourists why they like Perth. Ask locals why they like Perth. They answer, beaches, lifestyle, open spaces... None of them say that they like Perth for its concrete and steel buildings.
That's why the government had to pay an architect to give an opinion.
"If he had a mind, there was something on it." PG Wodehouse, of a troubled Pongo Twistleton
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