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Public Sydney

By Peter John Cantrill and Philip Thalis
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Brief Description
What makes a city beautiful, functional, memorable? Public Sydney reveals the city through its most powerful public spaces. Presenting more than 100 key sites in plan, section and elevation, it uncovers the layered history, harbour-shaped geography and design intelligence that give Sydney its distinct urban character.... Read More
Format: Hardback
$22000
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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

What makes a city beautiful, functional, memorable?

Public Sydney reveals the city through its most powerful public spaces. Presenting more than 100 key sites in plan, section and elevation, it uncovers the layered history, harbour-shaped geography and design intelligence that give Sydney its distinct urban character.

Meticulous drawings are paired with historical and contemporary images in incisive essays to trace how Sydney's public realm has been shaped over time – and why its shared spaces remain central to Sydney's identity, vitality and everyday life.

Representing over two decades of effort, research and recording, this new and thoroughly revised edition contains new maps, images and essays to offer fresh insights. Public Sydney shines a light on the past, present and future of the city. For designers, planners, policymakers, historians and anyone fascinated by the life of cities, it is an indispensable resource and a landmark study of urban public space.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781760765415

Publisher: Thames and Hudson (Australia) Pty Ltd

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 03 November 2026

Country: Australia

Imprint: Thames and Hudson (Australia) Pty Ltd

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 27.0mm

Width: 268.0mm

Height: 397.0mm

Weight: 2440g

Pages: 240

Collections

Arts & Culture Education & Reference Engineering, Technology & Agriculture History & Military Non-Fiction Peter John Cantrill Philip Thalis

About the Author

Philip Thalis is founding principal of Hill Thalis Architecture + Urban Projects, who led the drawings in this book. The practice has won many architecture, planning and landscape awards for their work. He is a Professor of Practice in Architecture at UNSW since 2017 and lectures widely across Australia. Philip served as a Councillor on the City of Sydney from 2016-2021, chairing committees on planning, heritage and transport issues, as well as advocating for public and affordable housing. He was co-recipient, with Peter John Cantrill, of the NSW Architects President's Prize in 2009, made a Life Fellow in 2019, and in 2024 was awarded the Australian Institute of Architects Gold Medal - the Institute's highest honour.

Peter John Cantrill is an urban designer at the City of Sydney, where he has worked for over ten years. In 2024, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award, the Urban Design Association's highest recognition. He is a respected leader within the broad community of practitioners he works with in the design of the public Sydney, and a mentor to younger professionals. He studied architecture at the University of Sydney and IAUV, Venice, and for many years was director of a leading architecture and urban design practice. He is dedicated to making public places that improve people's lives and that they will love.

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