At a time when cities around the world are increasingly looking and feeling the same, and similarly adding to mounting environmental crises, the Subtropical Cities conference hosted by the Centre for Subtropical Design in Brisbane a few months ago generated keen enthusiasm for ways subtropical environments can produce new models for urbanism and address the problems of the contemporary city. Subtropical Cities was characterised by a genuine sense of excitement about how, in the subtropics, we can plan and design urbanism that is enriched by commitment to local distinctiveness through attention to climate, cultural values and landscape. The conference confirmed that if we are to face the challenges of today and the future, we need a framework that accommodates complexity and diversity. Invaluable micro-tactics and subtle incremental changes which dwell on amenity and liveability are necessary; not the tallest, not the biggest, not the most spectacular! Such excesses are easily achieved
