A landmark former orphanage site in Surrey Hills could be transformed into a new residential community under plans lodged by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/antipodean-land-developments">Antipodean Land Developments</a> that would deliver 76 apartments and townhouses while restoring some of the suburb's most significant heritage buildings.

The burgeoninng Melbourne-based developer has submitted plans for the 9,158 sqm site at 1 Kent Road and 24 Durham Road, home to the former St Joseph's Home for Destitute Children, a historic institutional complex dating back to the late 19th century. The proposal seeks to adaptively reuse several heritage buildings while introducing two new four-storey residential buildings set within extensive landscaped grounds.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/woods-bagot">Woods Bagot</a> and Kerstin Thompson Architects, the project has been conceived as a contemporary residential village embedded within a restored heritage precinct. The development team describes the design approach as "The Village in the Garden," with new buildings positioned among mature landscaping by OCULUS and significant heritage structures.

<img alt="First look: Antipodean Land Developments plans heritage-led apartment community in Surrey Hills" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="44ec8c1b-c0b6-44ae-859e-5811b3e6a023" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%281%29.png?VersionId=p.p1_KFh4iQoV4nisdnPfQBAsWNi7m79" />

The proposal would deliver 76 dwellings comprising a mix of apartments and duplex-style residences, significantly increasing housing supply on one of the largest privately held residential landholdings in Surrey Hills. The development includes 127 car spaces, 24 bicycle spaces and more than 1,000 sqm of communal amenity, with the existing chapel building earmarked for conversion into resident facilities.

According to the planning submission, the project centres on the restoration and adaptive reuse of the site's most significant heritage assets, including the original c.1889 St Joseph's building, the chapel designed by architect Augustus Andrew Fritsch, and the historic brick perimeter walls and entry gates. The proposal also incorporates the retention of other contributory buildings including the former infirmary and school building.

Tract Consultants, in the planning report accompanying the application, said the scheme had been shaped through extensive heritage analysis and design development.

"The shared vision for the Site by the project team has culminated in a scheme which successfully breathes life back into a historic site while delivering upon the objectives of Victoria's Housing Statement in a carefully curated and contextually responsive manner."

<img alt="First look: Antipodean Land Developments plans heritage-led apartment community in Surrey Hills" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7263b7d8-95ea-400f-9531-6ca7d22c3c33" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%282%29.png?VersionId=4cR1tiWOsDpgxEOwZi5vVFcyvvOsYkIE" />

The proposal is being assessed under Victoria's Significant Residential Development with Affordable Housing pathway. As part of the application, three per cent of the project's residential development cost would be contributed to the Social Housing Growth Fund. The development would also provide a diverse mix of one, two and three-bedroom residences targeting a broader range of buyers than typically found in Surrey Hills' detached housing market.

Sustainability initiatives include an anticipated 66 per cent BESS score, natural cross-ventilation to 80 per cent of apartments, 28 per cent deep soil landscaping and a canopy cover outcome exceeding local planning requirements. The proposal also sets aside more than 1,083 sqm for communal indoor and outdoor resident amenity spaces.

<img alt="First look: Antipodean Land Developments plans heritage-led apartment community in Surrey Hills" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="33fad46f-fe26-4d0a-acfd-6b776e1c6a3d" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Untitled%20design.png?VersionId=D9F6WVSyYCtGvSUmith35LRp6R7PQkw_" />

Planning documents describe the property as one of the largest underutilised residential sites in Surrey Hills, arguing it presents a rare opportunity to introduce "missing middle" housing in an established inner-eastern suburb while preserving and revitalising a significant heritage precinct.

Antipodean Land Developments has built a reputation for design-focused residential projects across Melbourne, particularly in the medium-density sector. Previous developments include Neighbourhood in Brunswick East, delivered with Breathe Architecture, and Balfe Park Lane, designed by Kerstin Thompson Architects.

They've been very active in site acquisition as they build out their future development pipeline. They recently launched Thornubury House, 45 apartments above a mix of commercial, retail, and food and beverage tenancies, and have plans for a boutique project in Fitzroy and another <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/vic/antipodean-plan-apartments-for-deepdenes-missing-middle-on-whitehorse-road">"missing middle" project</a> on Deepdene's Whitehorse Road.

Joel Robinson

First look: Antipodean Land Developments plans heritage-led apartment community in Surrey Hills

Developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/auyin-property-development">Auyin</a> is the latest to turn to the Victorian Government's Development Facilitation Program in an effort to secure approval for its long-planned, mixed-use project in Elsternwick.

In 2018, Auyin lodged plans with Glen Eira City Council for a 14-storey building, however Council approved a reduced eight-storey scheme. A subsequent VCAT appeal in 2019 upheld the eight-storey height limit.

The project was later amended to nine storeys, but Auyin is now seeking to revive something closer to its original vision. The developer argues that the planning context has evolved significantly over the past decade, particularly within the Elsternwick Activity Centre, where higher-density development has increasingly been encouraged along Glen Huntly Road.

The proposal would transform the 1,239 sqm site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/7-12-horne-street-elsternwick-vic-3185">7-15 Horne Street</a>, opposite Elsternwick Railway Station, into a 13-storey residential and retail development designed by CBG Architects, with 40 apartments

The site currently comprises three commercial properties.

<img alt="First look: 13-storey mixed-use tower planned for Elsternwick activity centre" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5f465dd4-509b-4082-a669-0253b313914b" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/elsternwick%20podium.png?VersionId=72frWi0SmQ5AVJ3ARRhX5ILUYObhTm7x" />

The proposed apartment mix comprises 25 two-bedroom and 15 three-bedroom residences above 200 sqm of retail space at ground level. Residents would have access to a 90 sqm wellness facility, a 351 sqm communal indoor and outdoor terrace on the third level, and extensive landscaped areas throughout the development. A publicly accessible 135 sqm plaza would be created on the north-east corner of the site, providing seating, landscaping, and a new gathering space adjoining Horne Street.

The design adopts a four-storey podium that references the finer-grain character of the surrounding streetscape, with the upper tower recessed behind generous setbacks on all boundaries.

<img alt="First look: 13-storey mixed-use tower planned for Elsternwick activity centre" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e637e763-2abc-4c34-a0aa-5c7ad36fae18" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/elsternwick%20open.png?VersionId=J1AoOpZgTyaF.KeeFSX6lMjEScX8KKRi" />

A key element of the proposal is the reconfiguration and widening of the surrounding laneways. Vehicle access would be retained from Lois Lane, with upgraded pedestrian connections linking Ross Street and Horne Street. The development would provide 58 residential car spaces, two retail car spaces, and 52 bicycle spaces across two basement levels and ground-floor facilities.

Architecturally, the building draws inspiration from the established character of Elsternwick Village. The façade combines dark charcoal brickwork, textured concrete, bronze-toned metal detailing, and extensive planting integrated into podium and tower levels. The design also incorporates a chamfered corner treatment and publicly accessible plaza intended to strengthen pedestrian activity around the station precinct.

Elsternwick's last new development completion was&nbsp;EVA Elsternwick by Pitard late last year. <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/milieu-property">Milieu</a> is working away on its nature-led neighbourhood, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/elsternwick-gardens-by-milieu-8-gordon-street-elsternwick-vic-3185">Elsternwick Gardens</a>, on Gordon Street, with its first stage expected to complete next year.

First look: Auyin seeks mixed-use apartment project in growing Elsternwick Activity Centre

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/otium-parkdale-123-125-como-parade-east-parkdale-vic-3195">Otium Parkdale</a>, the 13-residence boutique development by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/huxtable-property">Huxtable Property</a>, has entered its final stages of delivery, with completion expected within the coming month and more than half of the residences sold.

The Como Parade East project is nearing the finish line at a time when opportunities to purchase new apartments in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/parkdale-vic-3195">Parkdale</a> remain exceptionally limited. Fewer than 10 per cent of dwellings in the bayside suburb are apartments, making developments like Otium a relatively rare addition to a market traditionally dominated by detached housing.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134974 project_image_fid=5427]

The three-level development comprises 13 residences, including ten two-bedroom apartments and three larger three-bedroom homes, all positioned above a secure basement car park.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/almeida-architects">Almeida Architects</a> with a strong connection to its coastal surroundings, Otium combines red brick, exposed concrete and dark metal detailing with integrated landscaping and greenery. Expansive glazing, generous balconies and terraces have been incorporated throughout the design to maximise natural light and reinforce indoor-outdoor living.

Inside, the residences feature engineered European oak flooring, natural and reconstituted stone benchtops, Bosch kitchen appliances, ducted heating and cooling, lift access and secure entry systems. The larger three-bedroom residences on the upper level have been designed with house-like proportions, while the two-bedroom apartments prioritise functionality, flexibility and low-maintenance living.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134974 project_image_fid=5421]

The project is now in its final stages, with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/labco">Labco</a> completing the remaining landscaping and external finishing works following the completion of the residences' interiors.

Otium's location within the heart of Parkdale continues to underpin its appeal. Residents will be just steps from local cafés, restaurants, shops and the newly elevated Parkdale Station, while the beach is less than a kilometre away.

With the project tracking ahead of schedule, buyers can currently secure a residence with a five per cent deposit and benefit from settlement terms of up to eight months. The advanced stage of construction also provides buyers with the opportunity to walk through the near-complete residences and experience the quality and finishes firsthand ahead of completion.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134974]

Otium Parkdale enters final month before completion as rare apartment opportunity nears sellout

A new boutique apartment development is entering the market in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/chermside-qld-4032">Chermside</a>, with Brisbane-based developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/ausdev">Ausdev</a> bringing 33 residences to a well-connected pocket of Brisbane's north.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/parkdrive-apartments-chermside-25-sammells-drive-chermside-qld-4032">Parkdrive Apartments</a>, at 25 Sammells Drive, will comprise a mix of one- and two-bedroom residences positioned within walking distance of Westfield Chermside, The Prince Charles Hospital, and Bradbury Park.

Established in 1989, Ausdev has a long-standing presence across both development and construction, with Parkdrive Apartments representing its latest residential project in Brisbane's northern suburbs.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152125 project_image_fid=363778]

The development has been designed around open-plan living and natural light, with residences featuring stone benchtops, timber cabinetry, BOSCH appliances, and private balconies that extend the living areas outdoors.

Kitchens are positioned as the centrepiece of the homes, incorporating natural material palettes and integrated appliances, while bathrooms have been designed with a focus on functionality and understated finishes.

Residents will have access to a communal barbecue and entertaining area on Level 3, providing shared outdoor space within the development. Secure parking and lift access are also incorporated into the building.

The project will deliver a limited collection of 33 apartments, with one-bedroom residences priced from $749,000.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152125 project_image_fid=363782]

Beyond the building itself, the location places residents within easy reach of several of Chermside's key amenities. Bradbury Park is around 350 metres away, while Westfield Chermside is approximately 1.3 kilometres from the site. The Prince Charles Hospital is located within 750 metres, and the Chermside Bus Interchange is around 1.5 kilometres away, providing connections across Brisbane.

Parkdrive Apartments adds to the growing residential pipeline in Chermside, a suburb that continues to evolve as a major retail, healthcare, and transport hub for Brisbane's north.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152125]

Ausdev introduces boutique Parkdrive Apartments to Chermside's growing centre

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/skymark-group">Skymark</a>'s boutique Cronulla development Solis has secured a 10-year Latent Defects Insurance policy through Resilience Insurance, providing buyers of the 16-residence building on Ewos Parade with structural and waterproofing protection that extends a decade beyond the building's completion.

Currently under construction and due for completion in late 2027, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/solis-cronulla-8-ewos-parade-cronulla-nsw-2230">Solis</a> is one of a small number of new developments in the Sutherland Shire to carry Resilience LDI coverage, a distinction that carries increasing weight as buyer confidence in the off-the-plan sector continues to be shaped by how developers stand behind their product.

Latent Defects Insurance, which entered the Australian market in 2022 when Resilience Insurance was approved to offer the cover, protects buyers against major structural or waterproofing defects for ten years post-completion. Unlike traditional statutory warranties, it operates as a first-resort policy, if a covered defect arises, the insurer responds directly, without the buyer needing to pursue the builder or developer through a lengthy claims process.

Resilience Insurance CEO Corey Nugent has noted that the product addresses something fundamental to the new apartment market.

"The overarching feedback from prospective buyers in the new development space is that they want more confidence and assurances around the quality of the build," Nugent says.

"Resilience Insurance Latent Defects Insurance not only gives them complete peace of mind for 10 years, but it shows the developer they are buying from is standing by their product."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150499 project_image_fid=370898]

For Solis, the Resilience LDI policy adds a meaningful layer of accountability to an already considered project. The development comprises nine two-bedroom and seven three-bedroom residences, including one dual-level three-bedroom apartment, across a five-storey building on Ewos Parade, positioned between Shelly Beach and South Cronulla.

Garden apartments connect directly to private landscaped courtyards, while upper-level homes capture beach views to the east from level four and above.&nbsp;

All 16 residences include at least one balcony or courtyard, and select apartments on the upper floors feature bar areas and secondary flexible living spaces.

Hiba Sander, Managing Director of Skymark, says Solis offers a rare balance, nestled between the quiet beauty of secluded beaches and the lively charm of South Cronulla's esplanade.

"It's a place to choose your pace and live gracefully, seaside'," Sander says.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150499 project_image_fid=370900]

The architecture, designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/ida-design-group">IDA Design Group</a>'s Michael Trinh, draws from the natural erosion patterns of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/cronulla-nsw-2230">Cronulla</a>'s sandstone headlands, translating the organic forms of the coastline into soft curves, pavilion-style massing, and a material palette chosen for longevity in a salt-tinged environment.&nbsp;

Textured natural stone, soft renders, and timber-look battens reference the tones of the surrounding cliffs, while the building has been oriented to maximise natural light and passive ventilation, with primary living spaces facing north and east to capture morning sun and sea breezes.

"At Solis, our aim was to create architecture that feels quietly confident, grounded in natural materials like stone and timber, and elevated by light and landscape," Trinh says.&nbsp;

"The buildings are designed to sit gently within their coastal surrounds, with expansive glazing and abundant greenery creating a seamless dialogue between inside and out."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150499 project_image_fid=370897]

Interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/hot-black">Hot Black</a> carry the same material language through to every room. Kitchens feature integrated Gaggenau appliances, sculpted stone benchtops, and Lo &amp; Co joinery, while bathrooms feature natural stone, timber, and brushed metal finishes.&nbsp;

Hot Black Founder and Design Director Sophie Safrin describes the intent as one of considered restraint: "At Solis, every detail has been thoughtfully considered to create a timeless coastal retreat, calm, refined, and effortlessly liveable. From natural finishes to seamless indoor-outdoor flow, Solis offers a quiet elegance that's deeply connected to its surroundings.

The landscape, designed by Julian Brady of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/sitedesignstudios">Site Design Studios</a>, treats green space as an integral part of the resident experience rather than an afterthought.&nbsp;

"Gentle curves and layered native plantings mirror the ebb and flow of the ocean," Julian Brady says, "creating a serene connection between architecture and place."&nbsp;

Coco Republic has provided bespoke furniture packages tailored to the project's coastal palette.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150499 project_image_fid=370899]

Skymark has an established track record in the Sutherland Shire, with a portfolio spanning Cronulla, Woolooware and Burraneer that includes Isla, Sylva, Bask, Shells, Sula and Mist. Securing LDI on Solis reflects a broader shift in how the developer is positioning its buildings to buyers, at a time when Resilience Insurance expects the policy to become mandatory in New South Wales by 2028.

Sales at Solis are launching soon through Ray White Projects, with an official event scheduled for 11 June. Enquire for more information.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150499]

Skymark takes out 10-year Resilience Insurance LDI at Solis Cronulla

Sustainable Living

Located just 9km from the Melbourne CBD and in the heart of an established community, The Fabric is Mirvac&#39;s latest&nbsp;sustainable townhome community offering&nbsp;7-Star green living.

Offering&nbsp;brand new two and three-bedroom homes starting at $695,000, the&nbsp;Altona North development has been thoughtfully designed by Mirvac&rsquo;s award-winning team to prioritise sustainability comfort, style and functionality.

Part of the sustainable initiatives on offer include fully electric energy efficient appliances, 7-star NatHERS energy rating, rooftop solar PV and battery storage, plus you can monitor your own energy usage through an app to identify and minimise costs and expenditure.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=22699] 
Smart design layouts take advantage of optimum solar orientation and ensure cross ventilation and natural light into your home is maximised. Coupled with high performance double glazing to all windows and doors, additional sealing of the building envelope and upgraded insulation, all homes achieve a minimum 7-star NatHERS energy rating, meaning your home is more comfortable to live in.&nbsp;&nbsp;

By designing homes to maximise cross ventilation and natural light, indoor air quality is improved, ensuring homes at The Fabric are as healthy as they can be.

<a href="/new-townhouses/the-fabric-altona-north-188-198-blackshaws-road-altona-north-vic-3025"><img alt="" height="805" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/omnia_moorabbin.jpg" width="1200" /></a>

Townhomes at The Fabric are fully-electric and are designed to generate enough renewable energy to offset the average household energy usage over a year. The sustainability features have been selected with a focus on reducing energy use and generating renewable energy, both of which assist in reducing the cost of energy bills.&nbsp;

The Fabric also features top of the line&nbsp;water reuse facilities with both passive irrigation and an innovative rainwater harvesting system.

Designed with walkability in mind, the masterplan takes you on a journey through streets lined with leafy green trees, contemporary architecture and beautiful private front gardens.

<a href="/new-townhouses/the-fabric-altona-north-188-198-blackshaws-road-altona-north-vic-3025"><img alt="" height="802" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/omnia_moorabbin_2_0.jpg" width="1200" /></a>

A special feature of The Fabric townhomes is a seamless connection between the indoors and outdoors in collaboration with Eckersley Landscape Designers.&nbsp;

Outside your doorstep, explore nature with the future Patchwork Park as the landscape masterpiece to the community designed for all ages. Patchwork Park is planned to feature barbeque facilities and shelters, large kickabout areas, edible planter beds, and a custom-designed playground including climbing equipment, slides, connector tunnels and musical instruments, all set amongst large shady trees.

Mirvac has partnered with Homes for Homes, an innovative not-for-profit scheme led by The Big Issue, to assist homeless and disadvantaged Australians. 0.1% from the sale of every home at The Fabric has been pledged. We also encourage our customers to contribute the same from future sales of their home.

Located amongst local hot spots for diverse cuisines, tasty treats and fresh market stalls, find joy in the ability to walk to your closest supermarket, transport hub and even the beach.

Construction on the future townhomes are set to begin in early 2021.

Located just 9km from the Melbourne CBD and in the heart of an established community, The Fabric is Mirvac's latest sustainable townhome community offering 7-Star green living

jordan_55689

Why Mirvac's Altona North townhouse community The Fabric received 7-star green living rating

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GUEST OBSERVATION
Australia was already <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.jstor.org/stable/44609144?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents" target="_blank">one of the most urbanised nations</a> by the end of the 19th century. Unlike European and North American countries, Australia’s pattern of settlement did not have a neat urban hierarchy. The gap between the large and small towns was huge.
These patterns have intensified in the decades since federation, especially after the second world war. International and internal <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/3218.0" target="_blank">migration trends have driven rapid growth</a> in the big cities, especially Melbourne and Sydney. This has created major problems with providing adequate <a href="https://theconversation.com/housing-policy-reset-is-overdue-and-not-only-in-australia-112835" target="_blank">housing</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/congestion-busting-infrastructure-plays-catch-up-on-long-neglected-needs-114598" target="_blank">infrastructure</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/some-suburbs-are-being-short-changed-on-services-and-liveability-which-ones-and-whats-the-solution-83966" target="_blank">services</a>.
The fundamental issue is the reluctance of urban communities and their leaders to discuss what might be sustainable populations.
The folly of unlimited growth
No Australian city has a long-term vision showing how a future stabilised population might be supported with the essential resources of food, water and energy. No Australian city has faced up to the inevitable social tensions of <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-did-the-rich-man-say-to-the-poor-man-why-spatial-inequality-in-australia-is-no-joke-73841" target="_blank">increasing inequality</a> between a well-served inner-urban elite and an increasingly under-resourced urban fringe.
Leaders in cities that have not grown as rapidly, such as Adelaide, <a href="https://www.news.com.au/finance/economy/australian-economy/as-the-east-coast-struggles-with-population-numbers-south-australia-is-desperate-for-a-boost/news-story/5ebca065ebe3f975ed83827d2373db37" target="_blank">lament their failure to grow like Sydney and Melbourne</a>, despite all the associated problems. All implicitly believe unlimited growth is possible.
In reality, the expanding ecological footprints of the large cities have created unsustainable demands on land to support urban dwellers. And the wastes the cities produce are straining the capacity of the environment to handle these.
Given the many unpriced flow-on effects from dense urban growth and market-led development, governments are struggling to deal with the undesirable consequences. <a href="https://theconversation.com/australian-city-workers-average-commute-has-blown-out-to-66-minutes-a-day-how-does-yours-compare-120598" target="_blank">Congestion</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/walking-mightnt-be-good-for-you-if-its-through-australias-polluted-city-streets-88772" target="_blank">pollution</a> threaten to overwhelm the many social and economic benefits of urban life.
The growth and concentration of populations are also driving chronic excess demand for appropriate housing. The result is <a href="https://theconversation.com/affordable-housing-lessons-from-sydney-hong-kong-and-singapore-3-keys-to-getting-the-policy-mix-right-123443" target="_blank">serious affordability problems</a>, which are adding to inequality across society and generations.
In 1970, urban historian <a href="https://theaimn.com/book-review-ideas-for-australian-cities-by-hugh-stretton/" target="_blank">Hugh Stretton pointed</a> to the role of Australia’s widespread owner occupation in offsetting the inequalities generated in labour markets and by inherited wealth. This is no longer the case.
The dominant neoliberal economic ideology has resulted in a <a href="https://theconversation.com/australia-needs-to-reboot-affordable-housing-funding-not-scrap-it-72861" target="_blank">retreat from providing public housing</a>. Abandoning would-be home-owners to the market has produced a situation in which urban land and house ownership is <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-the-housing-boom-is-remaking-australias-social-class-structure-66976" target="_blank">reinforcing class-based inequalities</a>. Home ownership is increasingly the preserve of the affluent and their children.
Housing-related inequality is also seen in the geography of our cities. <a href="https://theconversation.com/city-by-city-analysis-shows-our-capitals-arent-liveable-for-many-residents-85676" target="_blank">Poorer households are priced out of locations with better access</a> to good jobs, schools, transport, health care and other services.
Failures of governance
Governments in Australia’s federation are poorly placed to respond adequately. <a href="https://theconversation.com/metropolitan-governance-is-the-missing-link-in-australias-reform-agenda-55872" target="_blank">Responsibilities and fiscal resources are divided</a>, creating obstacles to effective planning and infrastructure provision.
The main factor driving urban population growth is an unprecedented <a href="https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/rp1617/Quick_Guides/MigrationStatistics" target="_blank">rate of inward migration</a>. The national government <a href="https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/what-we-do/migration-program-planning-levels" target="_blank">sets large migration targets</a> as an easy way of creating economic growth. This leaves state governments with the impossible task of meeting the resulting demand for infrastructure.
Jane O’Sullivan <a href="/news">has shown</a> each extra urban citizen requires about A$250,000 of investment. The total sum is well beyond the capacity of state and local governments.
Arguments between federal and state governments are heavily politicised, especially when it comes to major transport investments. Even within single jurisdictions, complex demands and unexpected consequences prevent effective action. The <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-recycling-crisis-may-be-here-to-stay-112055" target="_blank">waste recycling crisis</a> is a prime example.
State governments must also deal with difficult trade-offs between, for example, allowing further <a href="https://theconversation.com/living-liveable-this-is-what-residents-have-to-say-about-life-on-the-urban-fringe-111339" target="_blank">development on the edges of cities</a> or <a href="https://theconversation.com/becoming-more-urban-attitudes-to-medium-density-living-are-changing-in-sydney-and-melbourne-84693" target="_blank">encouraging higher density in built-up areas</a>. This often involves <a href="https://theconversation.com/vested-interests-behind-city-shapers-often-subvert-higher-density-policies-74244" target="_blank">conflicts</a> with local governments and communities, concerned to protect their ways of life.
Australian planners and governments have long tinkered with <a href="https://theconversation.com/making-small-cities-bigger-will-help-better-distribute-australias-25-million-people-101180" target="_blank">policies to encourage decentralisation to smaller cities</a>. Despite these attempts, the dominant pattern of urbanisation with its seemingly intractable problems has hardened, a triumph of reality over rhetoric.
What needs to change?
To get beyond the rhetoric and make our cities more sustainably liveable requires a much more deliberate and interventionist role for government. It also requires residents of our cities and suburbs to be willing to allow their governments to interrupt business as usual.
This, we know from experience, is a big ask. It will step on the toes of the <a href="https://theconversation.com/housing-policy-is-captive-to-property-politics-so-dont-expect-politicians-to-tackle-affordability-55384" target="_blank">property lobby</a> and ordinary home owners. In some cases, for example, the short-term financial interests of property owners are leading local authorities to ignore scientific warnings about the impacts of climate change on coastal development.
Major changes are also needed in how urban land is taxed and the proceeds invested. “Simple” reforms like <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-way-australia-taxes-housing-is-manifestly-unfair-58421" target="_blank">replacing stamp duty on land transfer with a universal land tax</a>, as the <a href="http://www.taxreview.treasury.gov.au/content/Content.aspx?doc=html/home.htm" target="_blank">Henry Tax Review</a> recommended, will take political courage that has been absent to date.
More complex policies like finding ways of diverting population growth to non-metropolitan regions will take careful thought and experimentation. This might include relocating government agencies to provincial cities. This has been tried sporadically in the past at the <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-04-19/decentralisation-push-for-federal-government-departments/8453816" target="_blank">federal</a> level and in states such as <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/may/04/victorian-public-service-jobs-to-move-to-ballarat-and-latrobe-valley" target="_blank">Victoria</a> and <a href="https://psa.asn.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/NSW-Decentralisation-Taskforce-Report-April-2013-FINAL.pdf" target="_blank">New South Wales</a>. However, such cases tend to be one-offs and do not reflect an overall strategic plan.
Future generations will inevitably be critical of the complete failure of current leaders to plan for sustainable development.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/123916/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;">
Mike Berry, Emeritus Professor, RMIT University.
Ian Lowe, Emeritus Professor, School of Science, Griffith University.
This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/no-australian-city-has-a-long-term-vision-for-living-sustainably-we-cant-go-on-like-this-123916" target="_blank">original article</a>.
This article is part of a series on rebalancing the human–nature interactions that are central to the study and practice of ecological economics, which is the focus of the 2019 ANZSEE Conference in Melbourne later this month.
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No Australian city has a long-term vision for living sustainably. We can’t go on like this

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GUEST OBSERVATION
As environmental crises and the urgency to create ecological sustainability escalate, so does the importance of ecological economics. This applied, solutions-based field of studies is concerned with sustainability and development, rather than efficiency and growth. Also, given that cities account for <a href="http://nua.unhabitat.org/details1.asp?ProjectId=33&amp;ln=1" target="_blank">70-80% of global economic activity</a> and associated <a href="https://www.journals.elsevier.com/environmental-development/news/urban-resource-flows-and-the-governance" target="_blank">resource use</a>, <a href="https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/cities-pollution.shtml" target="_blank">emissions</a> and <a href="https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2018/09/20/global-waste-to-grow-by-70-percent-by-2050-unless-urgent-action-is-taken-world-bank-report" target="_blank">waste</a>, they are central to finding solutions to the challenge of sustainability.
Ecological economics recognises local to global environmental limits. It ranges from research for short-term policy and local challenges through to long-term visions of sustainable societies. Ecological economists also consider global issues such as <a href="https://theconversation.com/climate-explained-what-each-of-us-can-do-to-reduce-our-carbon-footprint-123851" target="_blank">carbon emissions</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-amazon-is-on-fire-here-are-5-things-you-need-to-know-122326">deforestation</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/plenty-of-fish-in-the-sea-not-necessarily-as-history-shows-84440" target="_blank">overfishing</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/plants-are-going-extinct-up-to-350-times-faster-than-the-historical-norm-122255" target="_blank">species extinctions</a>.
Core concepts
You’re probably familiar with some core concepts of ecological economics. These include “steady-state economies”, “carrying capacity”, “ecological footprints” and “environmental justice”.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/299762/original/file-20191031-187912-wzwxwn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/299762/original/file-20191031-187912-wzwxwn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=237&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
Nicholas Georgescu-Roegen was one of the first economists to argue that an economy faces limits to growth as a result of resource depletion.
A <a href="https://www.casse-nsw.org.au/" target="_blank">steady-state economy</a> is both relatively stable and respects ecological limits. Drawing on the work of mathematician and economist <a href="https://www.hetwebsite.net/het/profiles/georgescu.htm" target="_blank">Nicholas Georgescu-Roegen</a>, economist <a href="http://np4sd.org/about/herman-daly/" target="_blank">Herman Daly</a> elaborated the model, editing a 1973 anthology, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herman_Daly#Toward_a_Steady-State_Economy" target="_blank">Toward a Steady-State Economy</a>.
In 1990, Daly co-founded the International Society of Ecological Economics (<a href="http://www.isecoeco.org/" target="_blank">ISEE</a>). It had three key principles:
<ul>
<li>
the human economy is embedded in nature, and economic processes are actually biological, physical and chemical processes and transformations
</li>
<li>
ecological economics is a meeting place for researchers committed to environmental issues
</li>
<li>
ecological economics requires transdisciplinary work to describe economic processes in relation to physical reality.
</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://www.uvm.edu/gund/profiles/joshua-farley" target="_blank">Joshua Farley</a>, who has worked with Daly, discusses some of these principles in an opening address to the Australia New Zealand Society of Ecological Economics (<a href="https://anzsee.org.au/" target="_blank">ANZSEE</a>) <a href="https://anzsee.org.au/2019-anzsee-conference/" target="_blank">conference</a> at RMIT University later this month.
In a partnership program of several North American universities, Farley teaches <a href="https://e4a-net.org/what-is-e4a/" target="_blank">Economics for the Anthropocene</a> postgraduates. They apply ecological economics to “real-world environmental solutions”. Some will talk at the conference about their research.
Today overconsumption is measured against Earth’s <a href="https://theconversation.com/human-carrying-capacity-and-our-need-for-a-parachute-7160" target="_blank">carrying capacity</a>.
<a href="http://williamrees.org/biography/" target="_blank">William Rees</a> and <a href="https://www.footprintnetwork.org/about-us/people/?_ga=2.189136171.1872162861.1572564412-1050177602.1571894476" target="_blank">Mathis Wackernagel</a> developed the related concept of the <a href="https://www.footprintnetwork.org/" target="_blank">ecological footprint</a>. It’s an indicator of the ecological impacts of everyday activities and practices.
Ecological footprints are useful ways for industries, <a href="https://theconversation.com/chinese-migrants-follow-and-add-to-australian-city-dwellers-giant-ecological-footprints-103921" target="_blank">governments</a> and <a href="https://www.wwf.org.au/get-involved/change-the-way-you-live/ecological-footprint-calculator#gs.8476ub" target="_blank">people</a> to assess which practices we need to reduce to keep within the limits of Earth’s regenerative capacity.
ISEE co-founder <a href="https://ictaweb.uab.cat/personal_detail.php?id=15" target="_blank">Joan Martinez-Alier</a> established the global <a href="https://ejatlas.org/" target="_blank">Environmental Justice Atlas</a>. Activists and scholars developed this online database of around 3,000 environmental justice conflicts. It provides open access to many and various ecological and economic value assessments.
Issues of <a href="https://ejatlas.org/country/australia" target="_blank">environmental justice in Australia</a> include:
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://gards.org/asbestos-related-disease-facts-and-figures-australia-2018/" target="_blank">fatalities from asbestos-related diseases</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://theconversation.com/fossil-fuels-are-bad-for-your-health-and-harmful-in-many-ways-besides-climate-change-107771" target="_blank">health and climate impacts of coal mining</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/expanding-gas-mining-threatens-our-climate-water-and-health-113047" target="_blank">natural gas fracking</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://theconversation.com/dont-just-blame-government-and-business-for-the-recycling-crisis-it-begins-with-us-121241" target="_blank">ineffective waste systems</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/explainer-how-much-landfill-does-australia-have-78404" target="_blank">landfills</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://theconversation.com/logged-native-forests-mostly-end-up-in-landfill-not-in-buildings-and-furniture-115054" target="_blank">clear-felling of Australian forests</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/australia-might-water-down-illegal-logging-laws-heres-why-its-a-bad-idea-86832" target="_blank">timber imports</a> from Asia-Pacific deforestation. 
</li>
</ul>
A new kind of economics
Ecological economics partly developed from frustration with the narrowness of environmental and resource economics. These approaches apply mainstream economics to the environment. In doing so, they fail to incorporate critical environmental concerns that arise with inputs, outputs and waste.
In addition, ecological economists have a <a href="https://theconversation.com/beyond-gdp-are-there-better-ways-to-measure-well-being-33414" target="_blank">broader view about what “progress” is</a> and how to measure it. Ecological econonomists are more sceptical about how much human-made capital improves on the benefits we get from nature. Critically, they ask: “How useful is it to put a monetary value on nature?”
Ecological economist <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/clive-hamilton-195">Clive Hamilton</a> <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-price-of-god-at-coronation-hill-49235" target="_blank">discusses</a> that question in the case of Coronation Hill in Kakadu National Park. He argues that market-based assessments such as “willingness to pay” favour market-based solutions. Similarly, <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/brian-coffey-162907">Brian Coffey</a> <a href="https://theconversation.com/cents-and-sensibility-why-its-unwise-to-put-dollar-figures-on-nature-49508" target="_blank">highlights</a> the conundrum of monetising ecological values: "I would rather ask “why is nature important?” and “how can we live with, and within, it?”
Despite this, certain ecological economists use monetary data to make powerful ecological statements. For instance, <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ida-kubiszewski-142545" target="_blank">Ida Kubiszewski</a> and her co-authors surveyed land uses under different future scenarios. They <a href="https://theconversation.com/without-action-asia-pacific-ecosystems-could-lose-a-third-of-their-value-by-2050-63452" target="_blank">concluded</a> that continuing business as usual could wipe out a third of the value of Asia-Pacific ecosystems by 2050.
Solutions for sustainable and just futures
In short, ecological economics has contributors from diverse disciplinary and professional backgrounds.
Presenters to the ANZSEE conference of course include ecologists and economists. But there are also social and physical scientists, sociologists, philosophers, historians, planners and sustainability experts.
Sustainability expert <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/samuel-alexander-102353" target="_blank">Samuel Alexander</a> speaks about <a href="https://theconversation.com/limits-to-growth-policies-to-steer-the-economy-away-from-disaster-57721" target="_blank">living well with degrowth</a>. Others argue that a climate-safe world requires radical forms of economics.
Contributors will also talk about <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-our-response-to-climate-change-needs-to-be-a-just-and-careful-revolution-that-limits-pushback-123588" target="_blank">just transitions</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/keeping-the-city-cool-isnt-just-about-tree-cover-it-calls-for-a-commons-based-climate-response-120491" target="_blank">commoning</a>, the <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-search-for-an-alternative-to-gdp-to-measure-a-nations-progress-the-new-zealand-experience-118169" target="_blank">genuine progress indicator</a> (GPI), <a href="https://theconversation.com/i-stand-with-the-climate-striking-students-its-time-to-create-a-new-economy-123893" target="_blank">School Strike for Climate</a> (SS4C), <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-next-after-100-resilient-cities-funding-ends-116734" target="_blank">resilience</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/2050-is-too-late-we-must-drastically-cut-emissions-much-sooner-121512" target="_blank">decarbonisation</a> and ethical investment. Keynote speaker <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jon-altman-2991" target="_blank">Jon Altman</a> presents a model of hybrid economies that’s useful in the context of Indigenous peoples.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/123915/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;">
Anitra Nelson, Associate Professor, Centre for Urban Research, RMIT University.
Brian Coffey, Vice-Chancellor's Research Fellow, Centre for Urban Research, RMIT University, RMIT University.
This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-is-ecological-economics-and-why-do-we-need-to-talk-about-it-123915" target="_blank">original article</a>.
This article is part of a series on rebalancing the human–nature interactions that are central to the study and practice of ecological economics, which is the focus of the 2019 ANZSEE Conference in Melbourne later this month.
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What is ‘ecological economics’ and why do we need to talk about it?

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An apartment building in Alexandria has been recognised at the AustralianGreen Smart Awards 2019 for its achievement in sustainable building. 
7 Wyndham Street, known as The Fern Development, was the winner of the HIA Australian GreenSmart Professional and the HIA Australian GreenSmart Multi Dwelling Development.
The Fern was also a finalist in the HIA Australian GreenSmart Energy Efficiency category.
The building comprises of 11 one-bedroom apartments over six levels.
The development utilises a heat recovery ventilation system, high quality insulation, and triple glazed doors and windows to conserve energy. 
This amounts to a purported 90% cut (compared to the average house) in the energy required to heat and cool the residence.  
Redfern train station is 400 metres from the residential complex by foot.
The development sits on a 236 square metre site, with an internal building area of 626 square metres. 
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wdavis-8cCN98p7xp

Alexandria development takes home AustralianGreen Smart Awards

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Melbourne-based developer Lucent has received development approval from council to build Brighton’s first fossil free apartment project, due to launch next month.
Located on the corner of 7 Bleazby Avenue and 51 Male Street, the permit approves 14 apartments to be developed on the 1,392 square metre site.
The project, to be known as Slate House, will consist of eight two-bedroom and six three-bedroom residences, ranging from 90–200 square metres in size, across three levels.
Centred upon sustainable design principles, the project achieves a NatHERS rating of 7.8 – the highest of any residential project in the area.
<a href="https://maynardarchitects.com/bleazby" target="_blank">Slate House</a> incorporates a fossil fuel free embedded network, high-efficiency appliances and uses rainwater harvesting to encourage residents to lead a zero emissions lifestyle.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/10/3/Slate%20House%201.jpg" alt=""> Plans for the apartment development
Designed by the award-winning Austin Maynard Architects, Slate House aligns with Lucent’s strategic vision to develop well-located projects that meet a gap in the market, whilst promoting liveability, sustainability and community, said Lucent’s managing director, Panos Miltiadou.
“Good design transcends far beyond a project’s look and feel. Drawing on our past experience we know that socially and environmentally led design is at the forefront of purchaser’s minds, particularly owner-occupiers, and therefore we see Slate House as contributing to the shift in challenging the status quo of apartment design in Australia,” Miltiadou said.
“Slate House is aimed at meeting the growing demand for apartment living in Brighton, particularly among the growing owner-occupier family and downsizer market.”
Slate House will be within walking distance from the Church Street retail precinct, as well as local schools, transport and parks.
The developer lodged plans for the project in November last year after purchasing the site in October.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/10/3/Slate%20House%20site.jpg" alt=""> The current site
The suburb has experienced a recent boom in apartment developments, with a new wave of downsizers buying into smaller, low-maintenance homes.
Units in Brighton have risen by 5.1%, despite Melbourne’s median house price falling over the past year.
With the project launching to the market in mid-October 2019, construction is set to be completed in 2021.
Slate House follows on from the sell-out success of the developer’s Nightingale and Little Miller apartment projects in Brunswick East which are nearing completion.
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Development approval granted for fossil fuel free Brighton apartment project Slate House

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Lendlease have opened a new display home in Yarrabilba that showcases design solutions and products that decrease the need for heating and cooling by up to 60%.
The company utilised the services of a social enterprise that provides opportunities to the area’s long-term unemployed and disadvantaged groups to build the home.
The Logan-based Access Employment Services(AES), which is operated by Access Community Services, helped build the 139.9 square metre energy-efficient home.
The three-bedroom, two-bathroom home with single-car garage was designed by <a href="https://www.arkistruct.com/">Arkistruct</a> and home and land packages at the project are priced between $375,000 and $390,000.
Techniques used in the home include passive solar heating and cooling, insulation, polished concrete flooring and glazed windows.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/8/3/Lendlease_160718_Yarrabillba_Sustainable_Display_Home_018.jpg" alt="">
The home boasts an 9-star NatHERS rating, according to Arkistruct Managing Director, Daniel McGrath.
“It’s been a fantastic opportunity to work alongside Lendlease to design Yarrabilba’s sustainable display home and demonstrate to home buyers what’s possible when using the latest technology to save time, energy and money,” McGrath said.
“The display home has been designed to take advantage of natural heating and cooling to increase residents’ comfort and importantly reduce power consumption.”
He also praised the construction’s used of disadvantaged people.
“With each build, we’re addressing barriers among people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities, growing opportunities for collaborative communities whilst fostering a sense of inclusion and empowerment for newly arrived migrants and refugees.” 
Lendlease Communities Managing Director, Matthew Wallace said that the home showcases how it is possible to reduce costs associated with sustainable living and building.
“The home has been constructed from carefully chosen materials that minimise waste and environmental impact, and has been designed to reduce and re-use water inside and out with features such as a rainwater tank,” Wallace said.
“Lendlease is proud of its expertise in areas such as community enterprise, education, economic development, environmental initiatives and the development of a wide range of innovative and affordable housing.
“Our objective is to help ensure a balance between economic, environment and social outcomes to provide greater benefits to all, now and into the future.”
Lendlease have opened a new display home in Yarrabilba that showcases design solutions and products that decrease the need for heating and cooling by up to 60%. 
The company utilised the services of a social enterprise that provides opportunities to the area’s long-term unemployed and disadvantaged groups to build the home.
The Logan-based Access Employment Services(AES), which is operated by Access Community Services, helped build the 139.9 square metre energy-efficient home.
The three-bedroom, two-bathroom home with single-car garage was designed by <a href="https://www.arkistruct.com/">Arkistruct</a> and home and land packages at the project are priced between $375,000 and $390,000.
Techniques used in the home include passive solar heating and cooling, insulation, polished concrete flooring and glazed windows.
The home boasts an 9-star NatHERS rating, according to Arkistruct Managing Director, Daniel McGrath.
“It’s been a fantastic opportunity to work alongside Lendlease to design Yarrabilba’s sustainable display home and demonstrate to home buyers what’s possible when using the latest technology to save time, energy and money,” McGrath said.
“The display home has been designed to take advantage of natural heating and cooling to increase residents’ comfort and importantly reduce power consumption.”
He also praised the construction’s used of disadvantaged people.
 “With each build, we’re addressing barriers among people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities, growing opportunities for collaborative communities whilst fostering a sense of inclusion and empowerment for newly arrived migrants and refugees.” 
Lendlease Communities Managing Director, Matthew Wallace said that the home showcases how it is possible to reduce costs associated with sustainable living and building.
“The home has been constructed from carefully chosen materials that minimise waste and environmental impact, and has been designed to reduce and re-use water inside and out with features such as a rainwater tank,” Wallace said.
“Lendlease is proud of its expertise in areas such as community enterprise, education, economic development, environmental initiatives and the development of a wide range of innovative and affordable housing.
“Our objective is to help ensure a balance between economic, environment and social outcomes to provide greater benefits to all, now and into the future.”
 
 
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Lendlease launches new sustainable display home in Yarrabilba 

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<img src="https://counter.theconversation.edu.au/content/57114/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">
GUEST OBSERVER
A major campaign, “Cool Japan”, is underway to promote the nation as a “cultural superpower”. As part of a resurgence of interest in the Edo era (the name for Tokyo between 1603-1868), we want to suggest that “Edo Japan is Cool!”
Today, the Japanese have an insatiable appetite for all things Edo. This goes deeper than the daily long lines outside the Edo-Tokyo Museum or the very popular historical dramas on TV every Sunday evening.
Azby Brown, author of Just Enough: Lessons in Living Green from Traditional Japan, believes current anxieties about the state of the world are driving interest in the Edo experience.
At the beginning of the Edo period, Brown argues, Japan faced ecological collapse from deforestation, erosion and watershed damage. New conservation practices were introduced in response to this crisis and to promote Satoyama landscapes. This brought about a sustainable interaction between nature and humans.
This is supported by Conrad Totman, author of The Green Archipelago. Totman argues that the Edo government (Bakufu) responded to these ecological threats by introducing new technologies. Complemented by a combination of social and cultural value changes, this led to Edo becoming a sustainable city.
What lessons can growing, developing-country cities learn from Edo?
<h2>Edo’s global relevance</h2>
With a population of 38 million, modern Tokyo is 13 million people larger than the world’s second-largest city, Delhi. While Tokyo’s population is predicted to decline slightly, Delhi’s is still growing and the two cities will be the same size in the next 15 years.
In 1721, Edo was also the world’s largest metropolis with a population of around one million. The next-largest city was London with 630,000 people.
London’s growth was limited, in part, because it couldn’t efficiently dispose of sewage. This problem wasn’t solved until the invention of Victorian sewerage pipes. Edo dealt with this problem by collecting and disposing of night soil.
The intensity of Edo’s agriculture gave the city a crucial advantage. Rice farming required smaller plots of land than grain or animal husbandry, so it could be closely woven into the fabric of the city. This, in turn, reduced the effort and cost of transporting night soil.
Agriculture also buffered flooding from typhoons, giving the city a clean and stable water supply. As for food, such was the primacy of urban agriculture, fruit and vegetables were named after the Edo suburbs known for producing them.
The first lesson from Edo was therefore to develop and maintain a unique home-grown technological solution to urban life. 
In addition, efficiency was central to the Edo economy and daily life. Rather than have a bath in each house, co-operative bathing in a sento became an essential place for socialising, while saving on water and firewood for heating. Clothes were maintained and mended, ceramics repaired. Whole industries were built around recycling and resource recovery.
The people of Edo understood the meaning of a zero-waste society well before the term was invented. Edo teaches us the value of looking carefully at planning solutions that are developed in a particular context. It also shows us that, for cities such as Delhi, West is not necessarily best.
<h2>Ethical but not utopian</h2>
The second lesson relates to the ethical framework of the citizens of Edo. Their worldview was informed by an ethic of life and interaction.
Brown suggests that the people of Edo understood the “big picture". They recognised that they needed to run their city, economy and lives within the  limits of the natural world. This is something most people struggle with today.
We live as if we are free to ignore ecological limits and planetary boundaries. For most people today, a life lived within limits easily equates to impoverishment and austerity. This constrains our imagination of what it may be like to live in a constrained economy, as in Edo Japan.
Edo was by no means a utopia. It had a rigid class structure of samurai, peasant farmer, artisan, merchant and untouchables. You were born into your position and could not move between classes. The samurai lived in gated communities and the average merchant or artisanal family lived in cramped conditions with few possessions.
Yet, knowing your place in the community extended out to knowing your place in the city and the natural world. This was a key mechanism to help citizens understand the right thing to do and live an ethical life through codes of honour, loyalty and a sense of duty.
While this might jar with our modern values, it raises the question of what rights, if any, we would be willing to give up. And what responsibilities would we be willing to accept for a truly sustainable future? 
<h2>Edo and the future of Japan</h2>
The third and final lesson derives from a dystopian prediction of our ecological predicament.
One of the most forceful advocates for reassessing Edo is the Japanese author Eisuke Ishikawa. In his 1998 book, 2050 is the Edo Period, he argues that Japan is undergoing a “slow crash”.
The book traces the decline of Japan through the memories of an old man in 2050. Society has declined and aged. The economy has stagnated for decades. In 2050, according to Ishikawa, 99 percent of the population will be living rural lifestyles and the big cities of Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka are derelict.
In the West, this dystopian Japanese vision of the future is paralleled by James Howard Kunstler’s “long emergency” and his engaging novel, World Made by Hand. Kunstler depicts small-town US after the collapse of the global economy and modern society. It is a world where we have to live with less – no electricity, no running water, no health services, no government and so on.
Interestingly, Kunstler writes about Japan in his blog and comments on the nation’s two-decade economic malaise, as the population shrank and its debt climbed. He suggests that all this is “getting to them [the Japanese] in a deep, major way” and “they perhaps secretly long to get back to something like an older traditional Japanese society” – the Edo era.
It would be impossible for Japan to revert to that time, but we can profit vastly from Edo’s experience. In the words of Azby Brown:
The challenge that faces us now is to redesign our production and our consumption so that they share the virtues of their Edo-period counterparts, to link our sophisticated technical systems to the kind of mentality that those prescient forebears displayed.
As the Japanese government promotes a “soft power” campaign of “Cool Japan”, it should embrace a larger and more nuanced view of Edo’s contribution to human progress.
Brendan Barrett is research fellow, RMIT University and can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/brendan-barrett-179124" target="_blank">here</a>.
Marco Amati is associate professor of International Planning, Centre for Urban Research, RMIT University and can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/marco-amati-209638" target="_blank">here</a>.
Both are authors for The Conversation.
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