Danish architect Professor Jan Gehl has a grand plan to bring Adelaide alive

EXPERT who helped revive New York and London has come up with a blueprint to transform Adelaide.

A VISION has been put forward by one of the world's leading urban planners to transform Adelaide.

An ambitious new blueprint for the CBD, drawn up by Danish architect Professor Jan Gehl who has transformed pedestrian access in New York, London and Sydney will be unveiled today to underpin development of the city over the next 20 to 30 years.

The 160-page report contains five key recommendations to transform Adelaide into a world-class city.

>> SEE A GALLERY OF DESIGNS FROM THE BLUEPRINT

It also calls for a multi-billion-dollar network of tramlines between the Adelaide Hills, Adelaide Airport, Port Adelaide and Kensington and connecting with the O-Bahn.

"This fascinating, thought-provoking, intelligent, visionary document, based on good-quality research, challenges us to reinvent the city as a fantastic place for people," Lord Mayor Stephen Yarwood said.

He added: "It challenges us to reinvent the city as a fantastic place for people."

The report, commissioned by Adelaide City Council, the State Government and Integrated Design Commission, also calls for:

THE gradual shutdown of all Adelaide City Council-owned carparks;

THE closure of Rundle St, Gouger St, Pirie St and Gawler Place during lunchtime trade;

SELECTED roads through the parklands to be turned into dedicated public transport routes;

A RANGE of activities, such as tai chi and line dancing classes, across city squares;

SELECTED city streets to be closed to traffic on Sundays for cyclists;

BUTTERFLY parks, herb gardens and a water playground in the parklands; and

PONTOONS for fishing, wading pools and canoeing and kayaking in the River Torrens.

Gehl Architects director and project manager Henriette Vamberg said Adelaide needed to develop more attractions to entice people to the city centre.

"Adelaide has been good at focusing on projects on the riverfront, Victoria Square and Rundle Mall, but the big message in the report is to look at the city centre as a whole and how everything fits together," Mrs Vamberg said.

"You need to do the big projects but you also need to do the smaller ones.

"Adelaide needs to lift the bar in terms of its aspirations for the city.

"It is also about having a whole number of places and attractions where you don't need to spend money, such as public artwork or improved public spaces."

Integrated Design Commissioner Tim Horton said it was vital streets, squares and other public places were reclaimed for residents and visitors to enjoy.

"So often, when you stand back and look at a public space in Adelaide, you suspect that you could do it better," Mr Horton said.

"This is about managing how people move around the city and what they do when they dwell in those places."

Renewal SA chief executive Fred Hansen said extending the tram network would drive investment, stimulate development and create a more pedestrian-friendly city.

"What we have found is that it is not just about the movement of people, it is about creating a place and steel wheels (trams) do a tremendous job of helping to create a good place," Mr Hansen said.

"You also see that private developers are willing to make major investments near the tramline."

Mr Yarwood said the report offered a raft of ideas and the council would consider how to proceed with them in coming weeks.

"The key theme is that there are lots of opportunities to improve the city and, while we have done some things, there is still a huge number of things we can still do to make the city a more pleasant place for people," he said.

Deputy Premier John Rau said the report's recommendations would be considered as part of the Integrated Design Strategy for inner Adelaide.

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