What makes a successful urban development in a global context?

In this article summarizing the interview with Tom Faulkner, Managing Director at Hines, we discuss his journey in urban development, the influence of prominent urbanists, and the differences between Nordic and Australian approaches to city-building. This conversation, a part of the collaboration together with ULI Denmark explains how global experiences shape local urban transformations.

From Melbourne to Copenhagen

Tom’s career has crossed multiple continents, beginning in Melbourne, Australia, where he developed a passion for the built environment. Having studied at the University of Melbourne, he was deeply influenced by Rob Adams, Melbourne’s City Architect, whose work in revitalizing the city’s downtown left a lasting impact. Tom recalls his first exposure to Danish urbanism through Jan Gehl, who guest lectured at his university.

These early influences laid the foundation for his approach to urban development, combining practical real estate knowledge with a deep appreciation for human-centric city design. Tom’s move to Copenhagen four years ago provided an opportunity to immerse himself in the Nordic urban landscape.

Melbourne and Copenhagen, despite their geographical and cultural differences, share common threads in their urban development journeys. Melbourne’s transformation in the 1990s, driven by initiatives such as the “Doughnut City” and “Cafe Society” movements, revitalized its urban core, bringing life back to the city center. Similarly, Copenhagen’s commitment to public spaces and cycling infrastructure has made it a global model for sustainable urbanism.

Tom highlights that while urban design principles from Copenhagen are influencing Australian cities, their implementation varies due to differences in governance. In Australia, urban development is largely market-driven, with private developers playing a key role in shaping cityscapes. In contrast, Nordic urbanism benefits from strong public-sector involvement, ensuring long-term planning and sustainable growth.

Bridging architecture, real estate, and urban planning

One of the most intriguing aspects of Tom’s career is his multidisciplinary approach. His education integrated urban planning, real estate, and architecture, providing him with a holistic perspective on city-building. While studying, he worked for Mirvac, a vertically integrated real estate firm in Australia that handled everything from construction and finance to landscape architecture and investment management.

This experience gave Tom an early appreciation of the full lifecycle of urban development—from ideation and planning to execution and long-term management. It also shaped a pragmatic approach to influencing change, emphasizing the importance of collaboration across disciplines.

Large-scale urban projects

Large-scale urban projects are integral to shaping modern cities, but they come with unique challenges. Tom has been drawn to complex urban projects and, early in his career, embarked on a research journey to deepen his understanding of urban development projects (UDPs) worldwide. He secured sponsorship from the urban development industry in Australia to travel across 22 cities in 11 countries, visiting some of the most ambitious UDPs and learning from their successes and setbacks.

His research included a secondment at UCL’s Bartlett School of Architecture in London and a business and global leadership course at Charles University in Prague. Along the way, he immersed himself in urban planning literature, from Camillo Sitte’s classic works to Jane Jacobs’ insights on urban vitality. This exploration provided him with a multicultural perspective on how cities evolve and the key factors that contribute to successful urban regeneration.

The 5 dimensions of successful urban projects

In the world of urban development, achieving the best outcomes requires mastering multiple dimensions. Traditionally, Tom lists four key aspects:

• financial,

• technical,

• legal,

• stakeholder engagement.

However, there is an argument for a fifth dimension—global benchmarking. Understanding how different markets operate and adopting international best practices can significantly enhance the quality and success of development projects.

A balance across dimensions

Balancing these dimensions is critical. A developer may excel in one or more areas, but without looking beyond their immediate environment, they risk stagnation. As discussed in the conversation, having the courage to benchmark against global best practices ensures continuous learning and improvement.

Developers who are too protective of their ideas may limit their own growth, whereas those who embrace knowledge-sharing and fast adaptation tend to stay ahead in the industry.

The importance of knowledge sharing

Knowledge sharing is particularly relevant in architecture, where firms often hesitate to disclose their solutions for fear of losing a competitive edge. However, according to Tom, Hines demonstrates a different approach. With a presence in over 300 cities and more than 1,200 developments worldwide, Hines builds a culture of internal collaboration and external engagement. Employees can readily exchange insights across markets, learning from both challenges and successes in different urban contexts.

Beyond internal networks, firms like Hines actively participate in industry-wide discussions through platforms such as the Urban Land Institute (ULI). These forums allow professionals to contribute to broader industry goals, emphasizing that urban development should not only be about financial success, but also about creating meaningful and impactful projects for communities.

Urban development vs. sport

We agreed that there is an interesting analogy for urban development and competitive sports. Just as athletes push themselves to improve through rivalry and collaboration, developers benefit from a competitive yet cooperative environment. Sports also highlight the importance of teamwork—no individual athlete reaches peak performance alone. They rely on coaches, teammates, and a broader support network. The same principle applies to urban development, where successful projects result from the combined efforts of planners, architects, financiers, and community stakeholders.

Demographic shifts and changing urban needs

Demographic trends significantly influence urban planning. In Copenhagen, for instance, previous planning policies focused on creating large-format housing units to encourage families to settle in the city center. This approach aimed to promote age diversity, passive surveillance, and street activation. However, as demographic shifts occur, the need for smaller housing units has increased. The last decade saw an influx of 20 to 29-year-olds, but looking ahead, the dominant demographic is expected to shift to people in their late 30s and early 40s. This evolution presents new challenges for urban development, requiring adaptable solutions that balance independence with communal amenities.

Nordic principles and the future of urban living

The Nordic model of urban living provides valuable insights for addressing these demographic shifts. A strong emphasis on community, shared amenities, and social cohesion coexists with an equally strong commitment to individual independence. As cities move towards smaller residential units, the importance of well-designed communal spaces becomes even more pronounced. Future developments must integrate shared amenities that facilitate community interactions while respecting the need for personal space and autonomy.

Urban development is an ever-evolving field, shaped by financial realities, legal frameworks, stakeholder needs, and technical advancements. However, it is the ability to benchmark globally, collaborate openly, and adapt to shifting demographics that ultimately defines long-term success.

The need of long-term approach

We reflected with the importance of long-term partnerships in development. The key to success lies in prioritizing the end user while maintaining a forward-thinking approach. A strong collaboration between developers and architects requires not just a shared vision, but also a willingness to extract lessons from each project to inform future endeavors. This iterative process is crucial for continuous improvement in urban development.

A critical distinction between developers and architects is the need to balance vision with financial viability. While architects strive for ambitious designs, developers must ensure projects remain practical and economically sustainable. This creates a "healthy tension"—an essential dynamic that, when managed effectively, leads to well-rounded solutions that serve both business and communities.

How can architects collaborate with developers?

A key question raised in our conversation was how architects can challenge developers while maintaining a productive working relationship.

The answer lies in transparency.

Being open about compromises and maintaining honest communication fosters trust and collaboration. Developers value architects who champion their designs while also being receptive to practical constraints and alternative solutions. This ability to balance advocacy with adaptability ensures that projects not only meet aesthetic and functional goals, but are also financially and operationally feasible.

Tom emphasized Hines’ approach to collaboration as a model, with a culture of curiosity and open dialogue. The ability to ask "silly questions" without fear enables both architects and developers to refine ideas and align their visions. Ultimately, transparency and a shared sense of ownership in decision-making lead to projects that leave a lasting legacy.

Book recommendation of the episode:

Utopia for Realists by Dutch economist Rutger Bregman.