Jeremy Hansen on Placemaking: Private Investment as a Public Good

Jeremy Hansen is Director of Communications and Community at Cooper and Company, the people behind Auckland's highly successful Britomart precinct. Jeremy's contribution to Auckland and Aotearoa, however, is even broader - he has co-written and edited several important books on architecture and urban design, is a frequent contributor to national print and online media, and hosts the popular podcast 76 Small Rooms. Britomart is one of Auckland's greatest examples of placemaking - turning an under-loved precinct into sought after commercial space and popular public realm. So, Jeremy has a key role in a company that has curated and delivered an optimal mix of premium commercial spaces, conserved heritage and an attractive public realm - infused with visual elements that place Britomart in the cultural context of Tāmaki Makaurau, Aotearoa. We were thrilled to get Jeremy's perspective on placemaking. (0:00) Introduction (1:30) An Interest in Architecture (3:11) How Cooper and Company is Not a Regular Property Developer (4:15) The Britomart Precinct (5:50) The History of the Precinct (9:26) How Public Transport Transformed the Area (13:20) How Public Goods Give Better Returns over the Long Term (18:12) The Value of Public Art in the Precinct (21:31) The Changing Attitude towards Public Art (23:17) The Influence of Workplaces on Social Wellbeing (28:12) The Effects of Local Government Policies on People-based Experiences (30:37) The Scale of Transformation in the City Centre (31:56) Challenges in the City Centre (34:11) Placemaking as an Ongoing Service (41:51) Farewell Jeremy Hansen on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeroski/ Britomart website: https://britomart.org/community/