Distinctiveness
Many of our places are, quite frankly, ugly. New housing estates, out-of-town shops, road junctions and business parks are not designed to lift the soul or to enhance our quality of life. There is no reason why this should be. There are lots of places that we find attractive; the places we visit or go on holiday to. Good design need not cost more so there is no reason we can’t improve our quality of life by designing better places.
Many of our places are, quite frankly, ugly. New housing estates, out-of-town shops, road junctions and business parks are not designed to lift the soul or to enhance our quality of life. There is no reason why this should be. There are lots of places that we find attractive; the places we visit or go on holiday to. Good design need not cost more so there is no reason we can’t improve our quality of life by designing better places.
People tend to like old places, be they historic cities or winding village streets, with their human scale, variety, activity and distinctiveness. Some might conclude that this means that all new development should be designed to look like an old place, with traditional architecture. But this is not necessarily true. Modern buildings and contemporary architecture can create places that are loved. The trick is to distinguish between the urban form of a place and the way its buildings are designed.
Urban form
Urban form means creating human- scaled, walkable neighbourhoods based on streets that link to other streets and are fronted by buildings. These urban design principles apply to villages, suburbs, urban neighbourhoods and cities. As places become more urban, their densities rise, as does the height of their buildings, the mix of uses and activity on the streets. However, all places should be able to support local shops and facilities. These principles of urban design create the shape of neighbourhoods and the character of public spaces where we feel comfortable.
Background buildings
The design of the buildings adds another layer of richness. While many great places are made up of fairly plain buildings, these background buildings follow basic principles of scale and proportion, often using local materials and detailing. They can do this whether they are traditional or contemporary in design.
Star buildings
Then there are the special buildings. In the past they would have been churches and town halls but today might be an arts or leisure centre, a school or even a quite modest public building like a pavilion or a shelter. These are the buildings that we photograph as visitors, that appear on postcards and make a place feel different to everywhere else.
What you can do
Communities
Get involved in the planning of your area. Engage with the planning department and ask to be a consultee on local planning applications. Undertake a survey of your area, explore places that people feel positively about and those that they don’t like and ask why. Consider undertaking a Neighbourhood Plan using powers under the 2011 Localism Act. It may also be possible to apply for funding to resource the process and to engage external consultants. If the community is involved in commissioning a building, directly or in partnership with the council, suggest an architectural competition, perhaps specifying that it is only open to smaller architectural practices. Put the entries on display and ask people what they think but make a decision based on the practice that you think you will best be able to work with.
Developers and designers
Use good architects and urban designers on larger sites. Write a brief that responds to the character of the local area but seek to create distinctive, sustainable buildings. If you need to use standard house types, adjust them to the local area and use a variety. On larger sites, produce design codes that fix the parameters of the scheme and use a range of architects or even different developers to create local distinctiveness.
Councils
Employ at least one urban design officer or buy in/share expertise with other councils and make sure that design advice is provided on all significant developments. Set up a Design Panel or use one of the existing regional design panels and make it a requirement that all larger schemes are put to the panel. Prepare a Local Design Code using the guidance in the National Model Design Code in consultation with local communities. For council-commissioned buildings, consider using architectural competitions.
Case study
Wonder: Kelham Island, Sheffield
Kelham Island, a manmade landmass in the River Don, is one of Sheffield’s oldest manufacturing sites. Following industrial decline in the latter half of the 20th-century, the area became neglected, before its recent revival as a vibrant cultural hub and popular new urban neighbourhood.
The historic remains of numerous red brick cutlery and steelworks give the area a distinct character, enhanced by a number of old and new murals and graffiti art.
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