Burton, Paul (7B)

Adolescent urbanism: the Gold Coast comes of age?

Paul Burton Urban Research Program Griffith University

ICTC Conference: Cities in transition

Outriggers Surfers Paradise 17-19 October 2012

Cities are born...

and die

in between times they grow up

the city of the Gold Coast is a young city, growing up fast

perhaps an adolescent city?

what does this mean?

growth spurts

identity experiments... & sometimes crises

ego centrism

emerging sexuality

and periods of creativity

what does the Gold Coast need to be creative about?

strong leadership + effective community engagement

our identity... who shall we be today

knowledge city?

can we become a post-bikini city?

how best to connect with the rest of the world?

learning as well as trading

will the adolescent city do things that it later comes to regret..?

we need spaces & places for: debate argument investigation experimentation

universities are well placed to fill this role

but also other spaces and places

paul burton urban research program griffith university

p.burton@griffith.edu.au 0431 564 403