Knowledge

Master Planning

Hames Sharley is a multi-disciplinary organisation that employs experts with skills in city and regional planning, statutory planning, social analysis, urban design, architecture, urban economics, environmental science and landscape architecture. This combination of diverse, in-house skills produces well-considered design solutions.

We respond to the unique scale and type of each commission. It may be an inner city regeneration program, a strategy to enliven a suburban town centre, a district structure plan, subdivision or a new civic square. The geographic spread of our projects within the Asia-Pacific region encompasses diverse climatic and cultural environments - a testament to our ability in understanding local context.

Thumbnail for the article 'Three keys to thriving centres in a post-pandemic world'

Three keys to thriving centres in a post-pandemic world

Opportunities for people to connect have been limited since work, school, holidays, and all other usual activities ground to a halt over the past year, write Hames Sharley’s Rebecca Spencer and Harold Perks.

Thumbnail for the article 'We’re gonna need a bigger Allen key'

We’re gonna need a bigger Allen key

There’s no denying that flat-packed, modular furniture is well-established feature of the modern design landscape. Well, get ready, because plans are afoot for flat-packed, modular design to become part of the actual landscape, too.

Thumbnail for the article 'Enhancing health and wellbeing through urban design' by Chris Maher, Jason Preston and David McCarroll

Enhancing health and wellbeing through urban design

Chris Maher, Jason Preston and David McCarroll

Human behaviour is intrinsically influenced by our surroundings, and as a nation predominantly made up of city-dwellers, our urban environment contributes a major part to making us who we are. Here Chris Maher, David McCarroll and Jason Preston uncover some of the tools used by designers of the built environment to enhance health and wellbeing.

Thumbnail for the article 'The notion of nodes' by Chris Maher, Jason Preston and David McCarroll

The notion of nodes

Chris Maher, Jason Preston and David McCarroll

What is a city node? What are its benefits? And what is its place in the Australian urban environment?

Thumbnail for the article 'From little things, great things grow: Shaping the future of Adelaide' by Andrew Russell, Principal Urban Designer

From little things, great things grow: Shaping the future of Adelaide

Andrew Russell, Principal Urban Designer

Adelaide has great bones. Its founding fathers planned a city which not only looks beautiful, but is highly functional and extremely liveable, but we need to be bold and seize the opportunity to create an even more vibrant and innovative place to live that is proudly local and yet globally connected…

Thumbnail for the article 'Incentivising and Controlling Population Growth' by Caillin Howard, Yaara Plaves and Tim Boekhoorn

Incentivising and Controlling Population Growth

Population Roundtable: Part 3

Caillin Howard, Yaara Plaves and Tim Boekhoorn

The population debate is one of equal opportunity. While some Australian states and cities boom and expand rapidly, others progress at a slower rate or even decline. So, do our policymakers and society as a whole need to look carefully at putting measures in place to evenly distribute the population across the country?

Thumbnail for the article 'Shifts in Population Growth' by Caillin Howard, Yaara Plaves and Tim Boekhoorn

Shifts in Population Growth

Population Roundtable: Part Two

Caillin Howard, Yaara Plaves and Tim Boekhoorn

Alarmingly, by 2022, Australians who have reached retirement age are predicted to outnumber children. There is also a current population shift of people from all around Australia moving to Melbourne and Sydney, leaving other cities to dwindle. What do these trends mean for our future?

Thumbnail for the article 'Transparency in Population Growth Data' by Caillin Howard, Yaara Plaves and Tim Boekhoorn

Transparency in Population Growth Data

Population Roundtable: Part One

Caillin Howard, Yaara Plaves and Tim Boekhoorn

Information and data relating to population growth do exist, but perhaps it is not as widely distributed or as fully understood as it could be. Here we discuss how increased transparency could make a difference.

Thumbnail for the article 'Laying the tracks for great Transit Oriented Developments' by Chris Maher

Laying the tracks for great Transit Oriented Developments

Chris Maher

For today’s developers, urban planners and governments, development around transit areas requires extremely careful planning. Here we explore the key principles that will allow projects to truly serve and support their surrounding communities.

Thumbnail for the article 'How to sustain Australia’s rural-urban communities; a case study part 2' by Shannon O'Shea

How to sustain Australia’s rural-urban communities; a case study part 2

Shannon O'Shea

A Spatial Framework was developed in response to Serpentine Jarrahdale’s expected population growth and embodies the values and outcomes expressed by the Serpentine Jarrahdale residents.

Thumbnail for the article 'How to sustain Australia’s rural-urban communities; a case study part 1' by Shannon O'Shea

How to sustain Australia’s rural-urban communities; a case study part 1

Shannon O'Shea

Serpentine Jarrahdale have a predicted population growth of 1.5 million people in 20 years. Hames Sharley has assisted in creating a strategy and vision together with the Shire and the community.

Thumbnail for the article 'Are microtowns the new high streets?' by Jacinta Houzer

Are microtowns the new high streets?

Jacinta Houzer

They’re the traditional locations for shops, banks and other businesses, but high streets could be facing new disruption from an unexpected area.

Thumbnail for the article 'Digital era calls for new style of placemaking' by Jacinta Houzer with Rachel Seal

Digital era calls for new style of placemaking

Jacinta Houzer with Rachel Seal

Today, people are increasingly communicating online rather than face-to-face, replacing social spaces with social networks. So, what does this mean for physical communities? Are they diminishing in value?

Thumbnail for the article 'A (very brief) history of cities' by Jacinta Houzer

A (very brief) history of cities

Jacinta Houzer

Cities are centres of population, commerce and culture, yet it is not widely known how this way of life came about. Looking to the past, however, enables us not only to decipher how cities came to be but also how they are defined and what they mean for the future of our societies.

Thumbnail for the article 'Melbourne and Sydney battle it out to become Australia’s first megacity' by Vanessa McDaid

Melbourne and Sydney battle it out to become Australia’s first megacity

Vanessa McDaid

Melbourne and Sydney, two great Australian rivals. They’ve been at it since the first stone was laid.

Now there is a new race in play – to become Australia’s first megacity.

Thumbnail for the article 'Byron’s new railway a shining example' by Jacinta Houzer

Byron’s new railway a shining example

Jacinta Houzer

The town of Byron Bay has launched Australia’s first entirely solar-powered train, turning a heritage engine that has sat idle for the past 25 years into an important transport solution for the area.

Thumbnail for the article 'Middle Metro Suburbs: Dotty and Mike’s Story' by Andrew Russell

Middle Metro Suburbs: Dotty and Mike’s Story

#Adelaide2027lifestyles - Part 1

Andrew Russell

Hames Sharley has been a proud contributor to Deloitte’s recent ‘Make it a plan Adelaide’ report released late last year. In part 1 of a continuing series, we follow Dotty and Mike’s story.

Thumbnail for the article 'Inner Urban: Pierre, Simone and Evette’s Story' by Andrew Russell

Inner Urban: Pierre, Simone and Evette’s Story

#Adelaide2027lifestyles - Part 2

Andrew Russell

Hames Sharley has been a proud contributor to Deloitte’s recent ‘Make it a plan Adelaide’ report released late last year. In part 2 of a continuing series, we follow Pierre, Simone and Evette’s Story.

Thumbnail for the article 'Transit Corridors: Peter and Bob’s Story' by Andrew Russell

Transit Corridors: Peter and Bob’s Story

#Adelaide2027lifestyles - Part 3

Andrew Russell

Hames Sharley has been a proud contributor to Deloitte’s recent ‘Make it a plan Adelaide’ report released late last year. In part 3 of a continuing series, we follow Peter and Bob’s Story.

Thumbnail for the article 'Middle Metro: David and Lucy’s Story' by Andrew Russell

Middle Metro: David and Lucy’s Story

#Adelaide2027lifestyles - Part 4

Andrew Russell

Hames Sharley has been a proud contributor to Deloitte’s recent ‘Make it a plan Adelaide’ report released late last year. In part 4 of a continuing series, we follow David and Lucy’s Story.

Thumbnail for the article 'City Central: Mai and Cheng’s Story' by Andrew Russell

City Central: Mai and Cheng’s Story

#Adelaide2027lifestyles - Part 5

Andrew Russell

Hames Sharley has been a proud contributor to Deloitte’s recent ‘Make it a plan Adelaide’ report released late last year. In part 5 of a continuing series, we follow Mai and Cheng’s Story.

Thumbnail for the article 'Bigger Adelaide, Better Lifestyles' by Andrew Russell

Bigger Adelaide, Better Lifestyles

Andrew Russell

Hames Sharley has been a proud contributor to Deloitte’s recent ‘Make it a plan Adelaide’ report. We share their view that a key strategy in transforming and growing South Australia’s economy is to grow its population.

Thumbnail for the article 'Geography students learn from Subiaco Case Study' by Jacinta Houzer

Geography students learn from Subiaco Case Study

Jacinta Houzer

Hames Sharley’s collaborative initiative to educate Year 7 students about Transport Oriented Developments (TOD) and interconnected communities.

Thumbnail for the article 'Designing communities that flourish' by Vanessa McDaid

Designing communities that flourish

Vanessa McDaid

Hames Sharley’s Associate, Shannon O’Shea, and Manager Planning for WA, Malcolm Somers, explain why their disciplines play a key role in the resurgence of urban neighbourhoods.

Thumbnail for the article 'It’s a shore thing' by Michael Cooper

It’s a shore thing

10 Considerations for Planning the Perfect Waterfront

Michael Cooper

Approximately 85% of our population live within 50km of the ocean and our climate has facilitated a deeply embedded culture of life at the water’s edge. Therefore it is natural that our nation has become leaders in the field of waterfront urban design. But what are the factors that make a truly great waterfront? We present ten key considerations when for planning the perfect place at the water’s edge.

Thumbnail for the article 'Cities taking great strides towards walkability' by Vanessa McDaid

Cities taking great strides towards walkability

Vanessa McDaid

Cities such as Seoul, Barcelona and London are transforming parts of their cities by increasing walkability and bringing pedestrians back, bringing about a new lease of life to urban areas.

Thumbnail for the article 'Urban growth creates a perfect storm for flooding' by Michael Cooper

Urban growth creates a perfect storm for flooding

Michael Cooper

Extreme weather conditions have made news headlines in the past month, with major hurricanes making landfall in large parts of America. As floodwaters from Hurricane Harvey receded, The New York Times reported that much of the damage to infrastructure could have been avoided.

Thumbnail for the article 'Scenery, not greenery?' by Pete Kempshall with Rachel Seal

Scenery, not greenery?

Pete Kempshall with Rachel Seal

It’s common knowledge that if you want to rediscover your calm you head back to nature. But could it be that we’re too narrow in our view of what we experience as uplifting, and could architecture have the same effect on our mood as parkland?