Beyond buildings: urban design’s power to create and connect communities

There is a lot of confusion over what urban design is and what it is not. In this talk, Dr Lee Beattie will explain what role urban design plays in New Zealand today and how it differs from architecture, landscape architecture and urban planning.

Join Lee to hear how, at its heart, urban design focuses on the relationship between public and private spaces. It is fundamentally about how thoughtful design can positively contribute to the public realm and help shape towns and cities in ways that serve the local community. Rather than focusing on the design of individual buildings, urban design considers how parks, open spaces, roads and surrounding buildings all relate to one another. Lee will also explain how urban design can play a critical role not only in constructing communities, but in creating more resilient and sustainable communities – by reducing travel demands and offering greater employment opportunities and access to shops and public services close to home.

Bio

Dr Lee Beattie is an associate professor of urban design and head of the University’s School of Architecture and Planning. A practicing and registered urban designer (UDIA) and urban planner (FNZPI) with almost 30 years’ experience, Lee was made a Fellow of the New Zealand Planning Institute in March 2025. He is also an independent hearing commissioner for several councils around the country. His research explores the obstacles to creating urban environments that are sustainable, resilient and designed to reduce travel demand while meeting the needs of local residents.

Event

8:00pm @Mr Murdochs, Level 1/16 Fort Street, Auckland Central, Auckland 1010

Also speaking at this location at 6:00pm is Antje Fiedler