Distinctive design

What do we mean when we say distinctive design?

Our homes and neighbourhoods should be designed with care and attention to not only be useful and long lasting but also to inspire and delight. This means buildings that are beautiful and streets and parks that are human-scaled, visually varied and loved by residents for their character and design. Neighbourhoods can often have historical or heritage sites that are culturally significant, which may include landmarks, museums and buildings that contribute to the story about the community’s past and present.

Distinctive design refers to human-scale environments that are varied, diverse and full of character. Conversations around aesthetics and distinctive design need to consider cultural, political and historical contexts that may have informed existing styles and aesthetic tendencies in an area. They should also hold space for more nuanced and varied designs, aesthetics and ways of living to come forward.

How does this affect health and wellbeing?

A recent review of the literature determined that well designed places have a memorable sense of place characterised by design features that go well beyond appearance. [67] Research in the field of neuroaesthetics has shown that peoples’ emotions are directly affected by qualities of architectural interiors that relate to judgements about issues such as coherence, informational richness and homeliness. [68] Other research points to the positive benefits of living in scenic environments, even in areas of relative deprivation. [69] However, there is no robust evidence linking any specific architectural style to better or worse health outcomes. [70]

Case study

A sense of wonder: Great Kneighton, Cambridge

Great Kneighton is a housing development in the south of Cambridge. It is characterised by a varied and diverse visual identity, using different treatments and layouts throughout to allow for a mix of different densities, typologies and uses. The site was designed with a mix of spaces and housing types that gradually change from more urban areas to a more rural feel, creating a smooth transition between the countryside and the built-up areas around the edges.

Key buildings, courtyards, and landscaping were designed with inspiration from Cambridge colleges to reduce the visual and aural impact of nearby roads and infrastructure, while creating a unified but diverse look across the site.