Urban Designer is responsible for the urban design and development of precincts, city blocks, and urban estates. It will strategize the design and development of all elements of city development. It is important to interpret Structure plan requirements and apply its principles on the municipal level. It will provide urban designs as a practical application of all requirements established by the Urbanist.
Often acting as the project manager, the urban designer will manage overarching designs in obtaining estate planning permits.
Urban designers will appoint a town planner, civil engineer, environmental scientist, water engineer, heritage advisor, traffic and other relevant fields in their projects and coordinate their reports to deliver great urban design solutions that can be built.
Other urban design projects can include re-design of the existing precincts or city blocks, preparation and delivery of heritage preservation projects, infrastructure designs, and VCAT professional advice. Urban Designers will work closely with the City Urbanist and follow long-term city development intent.
When Urban Design is finalized, the land is clearly allocated for Architects to design future built forms.
Required Education
The requirement for an Urban Designer is to be educated as an architect and engineer with specialist urbanism subjects. The urban designer should have a Master’s Study in Urbanism including Urban design accreditation.
Key Responsibilities
- The project lead for the urban design of residential precincts.
- Apply all design elements of the Structure Plan requirements.
- Provide urban design research.
- The urban design of heritage preservation and reconstruction.
- Client representation at VCAT
- Understand the overarching city functions when proposing new designs.
- Work closely with Strategic Planner.
- Provide statistics of the densities proposed for precinct design or re-development.
- Engage environmental scientists, civil engineers, water engineers, heritage advisors, traffic and water engineer, and other relevant fields on the project and coordinate their reports to deliver great urban solutions that can be built.
- Submit proposed Urban Designs for approval by the council planner.
Required Skills
- Great drawing abilities.
- Use of CAD or other Autodesk/ MicroStation/ ArchiCAD software programs.
- Ability to sketch and conceptualize future design.
- Ability to present 3D models or manage their preparation by design teams.
- Ability to present and describe future places for business, residence, industry, or similar use and needs.
- Written and verbal skills including the ability to prepare urban design proposals for the tender process.
- Ability to analyze and interpret a wide range of information and issues.
- Ability to represent the Urban Design profession at public forums.
- To lead consultancy teams in delivering documentation for Planning Permit.
- Be able to prepare cost estimates for all levels of Urban Design projects.
One place to watch would be Seek job provider, Urban Designer doesn’t exist yet as a category. Link here to Seek
In addition to the Urban Designer role, you might want to check the Urbanist role description. Link here
Prepared by Tatjana Medvedev BSc Eng. Arch.; MSc Eng. Arch. and Urb.