Global City Futures and Global Consciousness

This paper discusses global/local city futures and proposes the planetary transformation towards an urban global consciousness. The paper is posited within strand three of the conference dialogue: focussing on the global city as the site for collective problem solving and the possible emergence of a Gaian city future. Wilber's integral epistemology is applied to explain what an integral city model might be like. The paper combines macrohistory and cultural change theory to demonstrate how humanity's objective/collective historical evolution or construction of the city correlates with a subjective/collective memetic evolutionary journey at a deeper level. The conclusion is that civilisations' construction of the city is their manifestation of a deeper construction of collective consciousness and spirit. The application of this knowledge may be used for the design of a global/local project - to transform the city as a catalyst for the development of a planetary human civilisation – integrating matter, body, mind and spirit.

Bio: 15 years experience in urban design policy; community consultation; master planning; design, project and contract management of buildings, landscapes and urban improvements. Creation of quality built environments for public benefit and the community's cultural aspirations. Currently undertaking a PhD (Arts and Social Sciences) at the University of the Sunshine Coast researching: “Global & Local (GLO-CAL) Visions of human habitation for 2100 and their defining cultural paradigms”.