Barrie Barton

Biography: Barrie Barton is a lawyer by qualification, an entrepreneur by nature and an urbanist by profession. He has spent most of his adult life thinking about the relationship between the places where we live and the sorts of people we become as a result. In late 2019 he was named one of Harper’s Bazaar’s Visionary Men for his contribution to city life. Barrie relentlessly works to change our cities for the better and believes that citizens bear as much responsibility for creating places as the property industry or government. Founded in 2005, his consultancy Right Angle Studio is engaged by developers and government around the globe, providing unique forecasts on how their cities are evolving and how to make the most of that change through creative development concepts. From build-to-rent models in London, uplifting slums in Johannesburg, city-crowning mixed-use in Bangkok and a host of projects right across Australia, Right Angle advocate for places that are more enriching and communities that are more caring. Apart from work helping clients with their land and development concepts, Barrie has also founded a number of highly successful start-ups including Melbourne’s Rooftop Cinema, Paramount Recreation Club and Sydney’s Golden Age Cinema & Bar – all businesses that have filled a special gap in the life of their cities and have become much-loved places.