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JOC | 2013
What a year! Thanks to everyone who I’ve had the pleasure of working with and to those people that continue to inspire me. Looking forward to an ever bigger and better year in 2014! If you're interested in anything you see in the below graphic please get in touch....
Clovelly Road Better Block
On Sunday 27 October 2013 a group of passionate locals made Clovelly Road greener, safer and more human. The Road was temporarily changed by adding trees, tables, chairs, art, and music, encouraging the community to re-imagine the street the way they would want it....
Bondi Junction Complete Streets Project
A short video on the Bondi Junction Complete Streets Project. More information at Trending City. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56Onjm0o8DY
Blockbrief: zoning at your fingertips!
My latest article in New Planner magazine looking at the Blockbrief App. See article below and more information about New Planner here:
Interview with Urban Times: Next-Gen Cities
I was recently interviewed by Tom Payne from the Urban Times about ideas, action and urban planning in Sydney. Check out the full article here.
Sydney PARK(ing) Day
Live in Sydney and like parks but not the biggest fan of the car? Check out the Sydney Parking Day website and convert a parking space into a people park for one day only - Friday 20th September 2013. Parking Day was started in 2005 by Rebar, a design firm in San...
Creativity and Innovation at Idea Bombing Sydney!
Like Idea Bombing Sydney on Facebook or follow on Twitter. Download the idea bombs here Idea Bombing Sydney Infographic #1 Last month I wrote about a new event I was co-organsing with the awesome Melinda Garcia. And last week we delivered. Idea Bombing Sydney was a...
Community Gardens: how to grow it local!
We are the supermarket generation, but if we want to, how do we re-learn how to grow food? Community gardens are one answer - connecting community, promoting sustainability and growing local food for local people. When designing and activating community gardens I...
New event: Idea Bombing Sydney
RSVP via Facebook. There is so much is happening in Sydney at the moment! We have events, talks and a new strategy aimed at building the creative life of our city! Part meet-up and part pop-up bar, Idea Bombing Sydney is a unique fusion of creative endeavours. The...
Is Sydney a Creative City?
Richard Roxburgh summed it up best when discussing creativity in Sydney at last night's City Talk - "we're young, beautiful and hot - we love crackers - but what do we want to be when we grow up?" The City Talk titled 'What creative life do you want for Sydney?' comes...
Presentation: When planning do what the kids do!
If you missed my presentation last night in Canberra you can download the pdf version here: > When Planning do what the kids do! by John O'Callaghan [PDF] I joined the panel with Dr Alison Taylor and Patrick Fensham and spoke about two trends happening around the...
Presentation: the role of design in building place and activating community!
For the PIA Congress 2013. If viewing this post via smart phone please click on the heading or 'Continue reading' below for access to the presentation information sheet. The below information sheet highlights key findings from the six initiatives as part of the City...
In Canberra, Australia this Wednesday?
UPDATE: Download the PPT here. In Canberra and interested in culture, social design and urban planning trends? Come along to 'Urban Development' at Old Parliament House this Wednesday 27 March at 5:30pm. I'll be joining Dr Alison Taylor and Patrick Fensham on the...
The Martian Embassy: A kids learning paradise that’s out of this world!
By guest contributor Cameron Heggie, Acoustic Consultant, Arup A new type of learning has landed in Redfern, Sydney. The Martian Embassy, a place for children, many of them underprivileged, is a great place to learn outside school hours. The space aims to ignite...
Fostering Vibrancy and Connecting our Neighbourhoods
In Australia, a new policy implemented at a local level could be viewed as the latest iteration of cultural planning. This policy, known as a Social Activations Program, is responding to local culture without the long standing confusion of ‘what is culture?’ Its focus...
Top 5 place making trends in Australia!
I was recently asked to be a guest contributor on Rethink Urban, a great website and consultancy, improving cities through creative placemaking and citizen engagement. The article focusses on the top 5 place making trends in Australia right now and mentions laneways,...
Chair bombing at Green Square
Thanks to everyone who helped with chair bombing at Green Square! The chairs look great and I can't wait to start bombing the Food Trucks, Pop Up Ping Pong and local cafes!
Sydney PARK(ing) Day
In 2011 over 900 parking spaces were converted to parks for just one day - PARK(ing) Day. It was started by Rebar, a design firm in San Francisco, who wanted to experiement with their surroundings. Since this time it's gone on to become an international hit. As much...