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At kinetica, we provide independent urban design advice about development proposals. Advice is given to developers, landowners and their consultant teams, planning authorities and community members affected by development. The advice aims to ensure that development improves the lived experience by responding appropriately to its context.
We are typically engaged prior to the lodgement of a permit application or as part of its review. We also identify appropriate built form and detailed design parameters for development sites to guide the preparation of development proposals, including feasibility concepts.
Our assessments are rigorous and based firmly on the planning framework. When we identify issues with a proposal, our urban design team draws on its experience and architectural expertise to provide constructive suggestions.
At kinetica, our urban design team boasts qualified urban designers, supplemented by expertise in architecture, landscape architecture and planning. As a result, our advice benefits from a strategic perspective as well as design nous and creativity.
Our experts are often called as witnesses to give their opinion as evidence. Expert witnesses furnishing their opinion in a court or tribunal are required to be independent. We regard this requirement as fundamental to the services that we provide, and resolutely maintain our independence.
kinetica was formerly known as David Lock Associates (DLA).
David Lock Associates (Australia) Pty Ltd changed its name to Kinetica Studio Pty Ltd on 21 February 2020 to reflect the significant reinvention of the business.
Starting with the crystallisation of our vision and values, continuing with a transformation of our planning offer, and culminating in our move to a ‘grown up’ office in the CBD, we are no longer the business we were.
Paralleling these changes, we agreed with David Lock Associates Limited (the English business which gave birth to DLA Australia) that it is time to undo our formal corporate ties, while retaining a strong informal relationship.
This reinvention of the business needed to be expressed outwardly and we began the process of refreshing our graphic identity. DLA has been predominantly known for urban design expertise, and the name reflects our history as a satellite of an English business. A new name offered the opportunity to establish a refined brand, based on a home-grown organisation featuring planners and urban designers trusted for their expertise and independence.
Our new company name, kinetica, reflects our passion for change. We facilitate and shape changes in the use, ownership and development of land to create a better lived experience.
kinetica retains the best of DLA—highly regarded independent urban design expertise—and combines it with highly regarded independent planning expertise.