A Guidebook to Urban Design

By Deer Park Alpha

This guidebook is an introduction to

some of the key concepts of urban design.
It is a beginners guide aimed at anyone
who wants to grasp the basics.
It will be a useful resource for people
whose city, town, village or estate is about
to undergo change through urban regeneration. The guidebook is designed
to enable you to understand some of the
issues presented by urban designers and
planners and to give you the confidence
to talk their language and appreciate what
good urban design can be. This will help
you influence the design so that it
changes your communitys day-to-day life
for the better.

Introduction

i. What is Urban Design? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

ii. Why Should I Care About Urban Design? . . . . . . . . . . . .

iii. What is in this Guidebook? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Dictionary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Place

10

i. Local Character & Pattern . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

ii. Orientation, Landscape & Weather . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

iii. Routes, Views & Vistas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

iv. Enclosure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Dictionary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Case Study Blandford Forum, Dorset . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Making Good Spaces

24

i. How High, Wide & Far Apart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

ii. Building Lines & Corners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

iii. No Blank Walls Please . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Dictionary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Case Study Silver Hill Development, Winchester . . . . . . . . 35

Bringing it to Life

36

i. Connecting Buildings to the Street . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

ii. Urban Clutter & Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

iii. Public & Community Art . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Dictionary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Case Study Weston Shore, Southampton . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

An Invitation to Get Involved

46

Further Reading

47

Acknowledgements

48

What is Urban Design?

Urban design means shaping villages, towns
and cities in ways that make them inspiring
and functional places to live. Urban design
applies equally to single buildings, streets
or entire neighbourhoods. It recognises that
any urban area is a complicated network of
building types, transport systems, people,
landscapes and spaces.
Urban design involves making decisions
to promote community spirit. A successful
place, whether developed over time or
through urban regeneration, allows people to
move freely through interesting surroundings.
It is these characteristics that inform this
guidebook which has people and places,
not buildings, at its heart.

Why Should I Care About Urban Design?

Good urban design changes peoples

tried and trusted ideas, and community

lives for the better. It can make a journey

participation. These new principles of

to school easier or a walk to the shops

urban design learn from the great towns

safer and more enjoyable. Urban design is

and cities of civilisation, but do not seek

relevant to large and small developments:

to copy or hark back to the past as a

Whether it is a shopfront or an office

better time.

building, it affects the suburbs as much

as our historic city centres. Through

Planners and urban designers have realised

regeneration, urban design can help

that residents know their area better than

communities that have spent years in

anyone else: they know the problems, have

decline because of under-investment

dreams for the future and even have some

and earlier unsuccessful design decisions.

of the solutions. It is now common for

communities to be asked for their views

The twentieth-century saw the adoption

and experiences before any designs have

of planning ideas that gave the car centre

been drawn.

stage. These ideas were often poorly

implemented; they favoured large roads

So why should you care about urban design?

and high-rise buildings over historic

Because through events like community

street patterns and buildings that related

planning workshops, you can put forward

to people. A look at before and after

your ideas, make your communities better

photos demonstrates these changes.

and ensure that the professionals have your

desires at the top of their list.

Fortunately, we are learning from our

mistakes and things are changing. At
the centre of this change are two agendas:

We hope that this book will help you

New urban design principles, based on

have your say.

What is in this Guidebook

This guidebook to urban design covers

high quality public spaces and have clear

some key aspects of urban development:

routes and landmarks. Great places are

layout, landscape, scale and appearance.

sustainable, adaptable to change and have

a diverse mix of facilities that respond to

Layout deals with the overall plan of

local needs.

a place including routes, spaces and

urban blocks. Scale is the height, width

Remember: This guidebook is only the tip

and shape of buildings in relation to their

of the iceberg! It does not cover every area

surroundings. Appearance is how a place

of urban design. However, it will hopefully

looks and feels through materials and

lead you to wanting to explore the subject

architectural features.

further. To this end, there is a list of further

reading material at the back of the book.

Each of these aspects is loosely given its

The books and publications listed are

own chapter where it is broken down into

appropriate to developing a more advanced

easily understandable parts and explained

understanding of where we live.

with the help of illustrations and a case

study. In addition, each chapter features
a dictionary that explains the highlighted
words and phrases.
Integral to each of these aspects of urban
development are a number of urban design
principles that successful places generally
have in common. Successful places tend to
have a character all of their own and have
streets and buildings that have defined
public and private spaces. In addition,
they are easy to move around in, feature

Introduction Dictionary
Built environment

Regeneration

Urban design

Aspects of Development Form

All the man-made spaces, buildings and

Renewing and revitalising an area.

Making a place. Urban design involves

By Design refers to eight Aspects of

infrastructure in towns and cities.

Urban Regeneration was defined by

the design and planning of spaces, routes

Development Form. Urban design objectives

English Partnerships in 2003 as the

and groups of buildings in villages, towns

are, by themselves, abstract. They have an

Functional

holistic process of reversing economic,

and cities. Good urban design makes

impact on peoples lives only by being

A building or space that is usable,

social and physical decay in areas where

successful developments.

translated into development. The form

sometimes at the expense of decoration

it has reached a stage when market forces

or other aesthetic considerations.

alone will not suffice.

of buildings, structures and spaces is the

Urban designer

physical expression of urban design.

A professional person who specialises

Landscape

Scale

in shaping urban environments. They may

The most important characteristics of

The form and character of land and

The impression of a buildings size and

come from a background in architecture,

the physical form of development are:

external space.

shape compared to its surroundings,

landscape architecture or planning.

especially in relation to the size of a person.

Layout

Layout: urban structure;

Urban Design Principles

Layout: urban grain;

How buildings, streets and open spaces

Space

Guiding rules for making the best spaces

Landscape;

are placed in relation to each other.

An area set aside for a particular purpose.

in a town or city. By Design (See further

Density and mix;

It is often enclosed by physical things such

reading) suggests seven objectives of

Scale: height;

as walls and buildings.

Urban Design:

Scale: massing;

Neighbourhood
An area within a city or town that has

Appearance: details;

some distinctive features (especially one

Suburbs

1. Character

forming a community).

The blocks and neighbourhoods at the

2. Continuity and enclosure

edge of a town or city. There is less of a

3. Quality of the public realm

The structure of this guidebook uses

Planner

concentration of buildings and people

4. Ease of movement

these eight aspects of development form to

A professional person who implements or

than in towns.

5. Legibility

demonstrate the objectives of urban design.

Appearance: materials.

6. Adaptability

advises on strategic changes in the built

environment. This includes engaging

Sustainability

communities to have a say in how their

Meeting the needs of the present without

An island of buildings surrounded by

local area is developed and making towns

compromising the ability of future generations

intersecting streets. Many blocks make

and cities that include attractive buildings.

to meet their own needs. Bruntland, 1987

up a town or city.

7. Diversity.

Urban block

Introduction
It is often said that urban design is about
the space between buildings and not
about the buildings themselves. Buildings
can be seen as a backdrop to the drama of
public life which plays out in the squares
and streets of our towns and cities.
Good urban design interprets and builds
upon the historic character, the existing
landscape and the aspirations of the local
communities, and arrives at a vision of
what a place might become.
Often, it is the quality and layout of public
spaces, such as squares, parks and streets
that give a place its identity. Think of your
local area. What are the places that come
to mind? They may have a variety of spaces
that are clearly defined and enclosed
by carefully positioned buildings or trees.
They may present views of local landmarks
and destinations, which helps you to
orientate yourself and makes a place
easy to understand.

Local Character & Patterns

Character is the combination of qualities and features that distinguish

one place from another. We all love places that have character. If we think
of our favourite place, it will have a distinctive flavour all of its own that is
easily recognisable and describable.
People describe places they enjoy with words like fun, safe, charming,
pretty, friendly and welcoming. These words and phrases describe the
intangible qualities of a place. They describe the whole of that place rather
than any specific buildings or other physical things.
We can design and build new developments that allow people to talk
about their place with pride. This can be achieved by understanding what
makes or has made a place unique and then enhancing these to make the
most of them. Urban designers need to listen to the local community to
gain this understanding; it is hard to make a successful place without
this help.
Existing and historic patterns of streets and squares, along with the buildings,
form what is called the urban structure. Picking up on these existing
patterns and connecting new development to it, will make a place
interesting and rich with atmospheric qualities. It will also make a place
easy to move around, as new streets run into existing streets rather than
dead ends. Destroying the established urban grain with a new building
or development is rarely successful.

Orientation, Landscape & Weather

The wind can work for and against us. Cool breezes in summer provide
natural air conditioning, but turbulence and the significant cooling effect

Good urban design exploits the natural elements such as the sun, wind,

of wind on buildings and spaces is not so welcome in winter. The human

water and the natural dips and rises of the land to enhance the quality

desire to huddle together applies to the layout of buildings, and by placing

and uniqueness of a place.

low buildings close together the wind can be deflected over the urban area.

Understanding how a development can work with the natural world is at

There are a number of ways that design can be used to make the most of

the heart of sustainability. The sun always rises in the east, always sets in

the fundamental characteristics of any site. These include using slopes to

the west and is at its highest in the sky at midday. In the winter when the

provide views and ponds to cool the summer air which blows across them.

days are short, the sun is low and penetrates further into buildings, casting

Additionally, the positioning of deciduous trees in front of buildings

long shadows. Come the summer, the sun is high in the sky and the long

blocks the sun in summer, whilst allowing it through in the winter. Not

days allow us to spend more time outside.

only do these principles help make a unique and interesting place, but
they are sustainable and at the root of good simple green design.

The landscape and its topography shape the way we inhabit a place. When
the shape of the land is used, it can provide shelter, create viewing points

It is no coincidence that 250-year old cottages often face south, have few

and locations for prominent buildings. Trees and other vegetation not only

windows facing north, are built in hollows, sheltered from the wind,

make a pleasant place, but also provide shelter and natural privacy.

and are made from local materials. We can learn much from history
and nature. The trick is not simply to copy them, but to apply what
is learnt from them appropriately.

Routes, Landmarks, Views & Vistas

A simple but interesting layout of streets enables people to easily orientate
themselves and navigate to their destination. Clearly defined and accessible
routes that connect with each other are therefore important to the success
of a place.
A mixture of large and small streets forming a network of routes gives
choice and priority to pedestrians and cyclists. However, a balance needs to
be found between pedestrians and vehicles, as they are both critical to the
day-to-day business of any successful town or city. The best parts of most
towns and cities are where pedestrians and cars are given equal priority.
A network of routes works best when the main streets are full of shops,
offices, public buildings and housing. Routes are also successful when
they are connected with each other to provide alternative ways of getting
around. Smaller, less important routes form a fine grain of walkable streets
that divide the city up into interesting and revealing public and private
spaces.
Creating vistas rather than blocked views allows people to move around
easily by visually linking their current location to a destination. Vistas
that end in or give prominence to landmarks are most successful. This is
because people use landmarks to find their way around a place whether it
is familiar or not. This is often referred to as legibility.
From the town, distant views of the wider landscape remind you of where
you are in relation to the countryside or other towns. Also, strong landmarks
such as a church spire can enhance distant views towards a town or city.

Enclosure
The need to protect ourselves from wind, rain, cold and heat is a basic
human instinct and enclosure in urban design is of great importance.
Enclosed spaces shelter us from the sun, wind and rain.
Enclosure occurs when streets and squares are contained by buildings and
to a lesser extent by walls, fences and planting. There are varying degrees
of enclosure, and this variety makes a place interesting and pleasant.
Stand-alone buildings such as large blocks of flats rarely create a sense of
enclosure and often fail to create pleasant places to live. They are usually
positioned in the middle of a site surrounded by car parking, perhaps
a playground and other grass or tarmac areas that nobody uses
or cares about.

To create enclosure, buildings should be placed around the edges of

the site to create public and private areas between them that are
enclosed, sunny and secure.
However, enclosed space should not be confused with a closed space.
Closed spaces do not offer easy routes out, whereas enclosed spaces
lead you along well-defined streets and paths. Successful urban design
is a series of interlinked enclosed spaces that are easy and safe to find
your way around.
Enclosure is most successful when buildings are organised together to
create positive space rather than positioned randomly without regard for
one another, resulting in areas that are uninhabited, sometimes unsafe
and generally unpleasant.

Place Dictionary
Architecture

Deciduous trees

The art and science of design and

Trees that shed all their leaves annually

construction of buildings. It can also

at the end of the growing season. Trees

refer to the style of a building e.g.

species such as oak, maple and beech are

Victorian Architecture.

deciduous. Evergreen trees such a pine

retain their leaves all year round.

Character
The combination of traits and qualities

Interlinked

distinguishing the individual nature of

Connected. Interlinked spaces form

a person or thing.

an interesting progression of streets

and squares.

Enclosure
To create defined urban spaces by the

Landmarks

position of builidngs, structures,

A building, structure or natural feature that

vegetation or landform.

stands out from its background by virtue of

height, size or some other aspect of design.

Intangible
Incapable of being perceived by touch,

Legibility

sight or smell. An intangible quality of

The degree to which a place can be easily

a space is what it feels like emotionally

understood and interpreted.

e.g. welcoming.
Massing
Landscape Architecture

Shape, height and volume of a building

The art and science of designing spaces

or group of buildings.

using natural and built materials in the

urban and rural environment.

Orientate
To find ones way around, or to refer to
the direction a building faces in relation
to the points of a compass.

Place Dictionary
Place

Secure

A particular point or part of a space

A place that is safe. Secured by Design

that is occupied by a person or thing.

is a police supported initiative that gives

Norwegian architect Christian

a design a stamp of approval if it has

Norberg-Schulz has said that A place

considered safety.

is a space that has a distinct character.

Topography
Positive Space

The shape and study of the land and

Considered and well designed urban

its man-made or natural features.

space: somewhere that is pleasant to be.

Urban structure
Square

The framework of routes and spaces that

An urban space that is enclosed by

connect locally and more widely, and the

buildings. A square in this sense can

way developments, routes and open spaces

be an irregular shape such as a triangle!

relate to one another.

Squares are important breathing spaces

in cities and provide areas for sitting,

View

socialising, playing, eating and

What is seen from a certain place.

admiring buildings.
Vista
Street

An enclosed view, usually long and narrow

A public space usually lined with

framed on a landmark or along a street.

buildings that is used by vehicles or

pedestrians or a mixture of both.

Walkable

It differs from a road which is more

A term that describes a place that is easy

vehicle-focused and is less likely to be

and safe to walk around. A walkable city

lined with buildings.

is one where homes, workplaces and shops

are close together and connected so that
the need to use a car is reduced.

Case Study ::

Blandford Forum, Dorset

At the centre of the town is the Market Place that is wide
and enclosed by tall important buildings. This contrasts
with the narrow streets with low buildings that link into
the Market Place. A journey through the town is a good
example of different degrees of enclosure and interlinked
spaces.
Public buildings such as a hotel, town hall and church
are used as landmarks within an otherwise consistent and
nearly continuous line of local brick and stone buildings.
The church is a key landmark within the central Market
Blandford Forum is one of the finest Georgian towns in

Place. It is the only tall building in the town, is therefore

England. It was rebuilt following its near destruction by a

visible from a distance and provides an identity for the

great fire in 1731. The town is next to the River Stour and

town. The town sits on a slight hill and with its curving

was recorded in the Doomsday Book.

streets creates vistas of the carefully positioned landmark

buildings and of the countryside beyond.

Even though it was regenerated 270 years ago, important

lessons can be learnt about successfully redeveloping a

Blandford Forum was rebuilt using historic patterns

place to enhance what already exists.

using tried and tested urban design principles, but in the

contemporary architecture of the day. It is important that

Blandford Forum was rebuilt using the street layout

our towns and cities learn from the past, represent the

that existed before the fire. This pattern of streets had

present and look to the future.

developed over centuries because it was at the crossroads

of established trading routes from other significant towns
including Salisbury and Dorchester. By using the historic
pattern of the streets and squares, its local identity was
retained and enhanced.

Introduction
Buildings are defining pieces of the built environment.
Their size, shape and position in relation to one another
have a big impact on us.
This chapter explains how the space between buildings
is important and how buildings meet the street and their
surroundings. The best places have a variety of different
spaces: wide or narrow, sunny or shaded and open or
enclosed. Public spaces need to be positively designed,
they are places where the city comes to life and where
local culture can be expressed.
Buildings have an effect on the street or square that they
face. This can be both positive and negative. A long blank
wall facing a busy street can create an unattractive place.
On the other hand a street with shops on both sides
creates a lively environment. Corner buildings should be
seen as key features in our towns and cities because they
can act as landmarks to help us orientate ourselves.
The number and type of buildings affects the economic
viability of a place and is referred to as density. Higher
density developments enable more people to live in one
location and provide more customers to sustain local
shops and businesses. In addition, higher densities
help to support public transport and create vitality.
To achieve higher densities, care needs to be taken to
position buildings to create spaces around them that
are pleasant and can allow for change.

How High, Wide & Far Apart

The height of buildings surrounding streets

Urban designers use a street-to-building

enclosed. It is interesting to note that many

or squares affects the experience a person

height ratio to express different types of

of the much loved medieval cities have

has of that place. Think of the extremes:

enclosure. A one to one ratio means the

ratios of three to one, i.e. the buildings are

tall buildings along narrow streets and low

street is as wide as the buildings are tall.

three times as tall as the width of the street.

buildings along wide streets. Both can have

A common ratio is one to three, where the

a sense of enclosure but the amount of

street is three-times as wide as the height

In urban locations, buildings that are four

light, the sound of traffic and the different

of the typical buildings along it. This width

to eight-storeys (medium-rise) can provide a

kinds of views and vistas will be very

of street can incorporate wide pavements,

good mix of density, flexibility, building

different. A well thought-out mixture of

parking on both sides and two lanes of

cost and energy use. In addition, streets

wide and narrow streets with tall and low

traffic. Squares and boulevards can have

and squares with continuous medium-rise

buildings will make a place interesting.

a ratio of up to one to six and still feel

buildings along their edges will highlight

and enhance public buildings, which can
be taller, wider and made from contrasting
materials. Of course, suburban areas and
villages (which are lower-rise and less
dense) have different requirements in
terms of building height and shape, where
single-storey, detached buildings might
be appropriate. It is therefore important
that the design of new buildings and
developments considers carefully the
existing context.

Building Lines & Corners

The building line is the boundary of the building with the streets and
squares. Dependent on location and building use, there are several ways
a building can be positioned in relation to the building line.
In the centre of towns and cities, the main buildings are best built right
up to the building line. This gives a clear definition of private and public
space and ensures that there are no left-over areas or recesses.
Set-backs of two or three metres can work well as areas for shops and cafs
to have seating or for houses to have a buffer to the pavement and to store
bikes and bins. Smaller set-backs of around half a metre rarely work as
the space is too small to use successfully. These smaller dead spaces often
become places for litter to gather.
In suburban areas where there might be more detached properties, the
building line can move much further back from the street. However, it
still needs to be consistent. Garages should not be positioned between
the boundary and the building line as they degrade the importance of
the buildings entrance and relationship to the street.

Corner buildings are special. They have two fronts and are often important
landmarks at the junction of streets. They can be taller than the buildings
that adjoin them and sit forward of the building line. Corner buildings
are an opportunity to give distinctive character to a place and should be
specifically designed for a corner site. It is a shame that in many residential
areas, house builders use a standard design regardless of whether it is a
corner or not.

No Blank Walls Please

A street with a continuous blank faade

Views into buildings provide interest,

entrances of a street of small shops

This creates dead frontage. Garages

offers little idea of what is behind it.

whilst views out contribute to safety

or houses. This can have the effect of

and parking can be placed to the rear,

Consequently, the street may feel unsafe

by making a place feel overlooked.

creating blank faades and deaden a

leaving the front of the house for the front

and give the passer-by little to look at.

The number of doors and entrances

street. The rhythm of the narrow buildings

door, porch and windows which can look

By contrast, a street with lots of windows

generating activity on a street is a good

that form a traditional terrace provides

directly onto the street.

and doors opening onto it, will encourage

indicator of the likelihood for street life:

a good example of how a successful

street life, feel safe and draw attention

the more, the better.

street can work.

active frontage and adds interest and

Large buildings tend to have one main

Within some residential developments,

vitality to a place.

entrance rather than the multiple

garages dominate the front of houses.

to the activity within. This is called an

Making Good Space Dictionary

Active frontage

Density

A building whose use is directly accessible

The number of buildings or people in

from the street or space which it faces.

a certain area. Similar densities can be

The opposite effect to a blank wall.

achieved with different building types

e.g. a terrace of houses can have the same

Boulevards

density as a block of flats but have a

A wide street lined with trees.

different atmosphere.

Building use

Faade

What goes on in a building e.g. retail

The face or front of a building.

(selling), residential (living), office

(working), museum etc. Planning

Flexibility

permission is normally required to

The ability of a building or space to be

change a building from one use

changed to suit various needs. For example,

to another.

a building could be designed to have many

internal walls which do not support the

Context

floor above and can therefore be rearranged

The setting of a site or area, including

relatively easily to allow a different use.

factors such as traffic, activities and land

uses as well as the physical landscape.

Medium-rise
Generally refers to buildings that are

Dead frontage

between four and eight-storeys in height.

A faade that is blank and offers no life

However, this can vary depending on

or activity to the street. The opposite of

the surrounding context. For example,

active frontage.

amongst the tall buildings of New York

City medium-rise would have a
different meaning than in a British
market town.

Making Good Space Dictionary

Public buildings
Buildings that are open to the public.
They can be municipal buildings such as
libraries, galleries, museums, community
and civic centres, or pubs and shops.
Ratio
A measure of the relative size of two
numbers which is expressible as a
proportion, i.e. the ratio of boys to
girls is two to one.
Set-backs
When a building is not built right up
to the building line, it creates a space
between it and the street edge. Set-back
can also refer to the upper storeys of
a building, where stepping back the
external walls can reduce the impact
of taller buildings.
Viability
Whether a place has the right mix of
buildings and population to attract
and sustain financial investment.
Vitality
How busy a place is at different times.

Case Study ::

Silver Hill Development, Winchester

Appropriately scaled buildings on either side of the street
will frame the view of the cathedral tower.
A new Square will be created beside the refurbished and
restored Woolstaplers warehouse surrounded by shops
restaurants and cafs, with apartments above.
The proposed architecture respects the familiar pattern of
streets and buildings and adopts the range of local facing
materials: brick, timber, stucco, flint, clay tiles, slate, lead.
The Silver Hill site is an area of historic Winchester
bounded by Friarsgate, Eastgate Street and the Broadway.
It has over a period of time become disconnected from the
historic City Centre and sits in the only part of the historic
city which does not respect the medieval street pattern
of building.
A proposed development by Thornfield Properties with
Allies and Morrison Architects plans to inject new life
and stimulate economic activity by integrating a mixed
use development carefully into the existing heritage
of Winchester.
A traditional pattern of streets, a public square and
opened up waterways will be created. Through the
centuries, Winchester has developed a particular pattern
of building. Each period has its own preoccupations, but
is influenced and guided by what exists around it.

Introduction
Pretty and beautifully positioned parks
will never make up for poor quality and
badly chosen or positioned materials
and street furniture. Streets cluttered
with signs and lighting undermine the
quality of a space.
This chapter shows how the small things
in urban areas have a big impact on how
places look and function. It looks at how
the design of buildings and their relationship
to the street can influence the quality of
a place. It also explains that distinctive
public art is a great opportunity to involve
the community. When residents participate
in a public art project, the art can become
a focal point for the area and is often safe
from vandalism.

Connecting Buildings to the Street

The entrance to a building is an important aspect of both

architecture and urban design. Clearly defined entrances
can show whether a building is public or private. Elements
such as porches and canopies provide interest to a street
and offer shelter to passers-by. The covered colonnade
or arcade brings the building out over the pavement.
It provides shelter and shade from the weather and can
offer spaces for seating, market stalls and other activities.
An awning can have a similar effect.
Balconies provide a means of seeing and being seen which
can make a place feel safer and more vibrant. They also
give the occupants outside space, views, light and air.
Balconies can enliven a buildings faade and encourage
life to spill out, bringing vitality to a street.
A very useful way of solving a number of issues is to step
up to a buildings ground floor level. A step up of half
a metre raises the window sills of the building above eye

How buildings meet the street is an important part of urban design.

level and promotes a feeling of being overlooked, making a

The quality, feel and safety of streets and other public places is

place feel safer. Raised or distinctive terraces for cafs, bars,

influenced by the appearance of buildings. The design of porches,

pubs and restaurants create a better experience for those

balconies, colonnades and bay windows can make a place distinctive.

sitting, as people can look down on the street or park.

All of these architectural details help to create street activity that enable

Care needs to be taken when using steps and raised areas

people to meet and interact.

to ensure that access is inclusive to all.

People like to personalise the places they inhabit by painting their door
or planting a window box. It communicates their tastes to the wider
community and contributes towards making a varied and more pleasant
place to live. It is important that buildings can be adaptable to allow
personalisation whilst maintaining a consistent look and feel.

Urban Clutter & Materials

Soft landscape can provide a contrast to the stone, metal

and glass building materials found in towns and cities.

Our towns and cities can be overwhelmed by clutter:

Trees and other plants express the changing season and can

traffic lights, endless signs, railings and benches in the

screen and shelter buildings and public spaces. Planting

wrong place. The reason behind much of this clutter is

can also provide natural habitats for wildlife to develop

the motor vehicle, which has been allowed to determine

within urban areas.

how our towns look and feel, in the name of safety

and traffic flow.
Other than the buildings, the ground is the most visible
area of public space and the material that it is made
from has a big effect on a place. Hard landscape materials
such as cobbles, brick and stone link to local traditions
and tend to be long lasting. Making patterns on the floor,
or using texture, can break down large spaces into smaller
more people-friendly areas.
Signs, benches, bus stops and other street furniture
should be designed and accessible to all members of
the community. When linked together by a common
style, colour or material, they can help to make a place
distinctive and attractive.
Our towns and cities change at night. Lighting can be
used creatively to make spaces that are functional and
interesting. There is a balance to be struck between
providing enough lighting for safety reasons and having
too much light: more light than necessary can annoy
residents and pollute the night sky.

Public & Community Art

Art is one of the very few parts of a

development that the community can
actually be involved in making. With

Public art is most successful when it is considered

the community taking ownership, the

from the very beginning of a development. This enables

art becomes a source of pride and is

it to become an integral part of towns and cities. For

respected and consequently looked after.

a relatively small investment, good quality public art

can have an enormous effect. It can help to give a

Using an internationally acclaimed

place identity and character.

artist can put a place on the map.

This kind of art is best suited to city or
town centre locations rather than within
residential areas. It is art that is designed
to attract people to a place, as much as
for the residents.
Public art does not have to be a bronze
statue in the centre of a square. There are
opportunities to use technology such as
texting to make it interactive and fun.
Alternative energy such as wind and solar
can be also promoted through public art.
Art should be a focal point of urban
design, not a stick-on-goodie provided by
a developer at the end of a project because
the planners require it.

Finishing Touches Dictionary

Access is inclusive

Hard landscape

English Partnerships define Inclusive Design

The materials used when making outdoor

as ...a way of designing environments so that

space such as brick, stone, paving, street

they are usable and appealing to everyone

furniture and artistic features.

regardless of age, ability or circumstance.

Public art
Alternative energy

A work of art on view to the general

Covers methods of creating energy

public. It can be part of a building or

such as electricity without using fossil

stand on its own. Examples include

fuels. Common methods include using

sculpture, murals, lighting effects, street

the sun (i.e with solar panels), wind

furniture, paving, railings and signs.

(i.e with wind turbines), and waves

(i.e with wave turbines).

Soft landscape
Grass, plants, flowerbeds, trees, hedges

Balcony

that have been designed into a place.

A projection from a building that

provides external space.

Street furniture
Structures which contribute to the street

Colonnade

scene, such as bus shelters, litter bins,

An area covered by the floor above

seating, lighting, railings and signs.

projecting over the pavement and

supported on columns.
Clutter
The uncoordinated arrangement of street
furniture, signs and other features.
Clutter can make a place feel untidy
and unwelcome.

Case Study ::

Weston Shorescapes, Southampton

and explore the diversity of the wildlife habitats. The Big
Land Draw involved ninety people working together to
create a huge drawing of a diatom a single cell organism
found in the mudflats which is a source of food for wading
birds. The diatom has become the symbol of Weston
Shorescapes.
Walking along the shore you discover five large, white
stone seats embedded into the landscape. Each one is
handmade to an original pattern using traditional artisan
skills. Words, personal memories or community histories
Weston Shore is a 2.2km stretch of shoreline and is one of

are inscribed into the smooth surface.

the most beautiful places in Southampton: a Site of Special

Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a place of community, history,

The project includes new soft landscaping that creates a

nature, work and leisure. Artist Abigail Downer has drawn

unifying pattern of high points or platforms from which

inspiration from the people and place and from the way

to enjoy the views. On a smaller scale, they act as informal

residents, young and old, continue to shape the character

seating and way markers in the landscape. The landforms

of the landscape.

are planted with wild flower mix and marine grass to

enhance insect habitats.

The project has restored four 1930s beach shelters,

enhanced wildlife habitats, provided new seating, path
and terraces, and created a unique interpretation trail
that explores the shores hidden histories. Local residents,
children, young people and schools took part in a year long
programme of activities and events.
The artist worked with the community and led people
to discover and recreate the microscopic world of the
mudflats, unearth some exciting treasures from the past

An Invitation to Get Involved

Further Reading

We hope that you understand why good

English Partnerships and the Housing

urban design is important. Your input is

Corporation (2000) Urban Design

vital to changing your towns and cities for

Compendium 1.

the better. You know your area, what works

and what does not and it is important that

English Partnerships and the Housing

you and your community have your say.

Corporation (2007) Urban Design

Compendium 2.

We hope that having read this book, you

understand more about urban design

By Design (2000) DETR and CABE.

and can use your knowledge to improve

where you live.

Cowan, R (2005) The Dictionary of Urbanism.

The Princes Foundation (2000)
Planning by Design not Default.
Urban Task Force (1999)
Towards an Urban Renaissance, DETR.
Lynch, K. (1990) The Image of the City,
Massachusetts, MIT Press.
Secured by Design
www.securedbydesign.com
Carmona, M; Heath, T; Oc, T; Tiesdell, S
(2003) Public Places, Urban Spaces
The Dimensions of Urban Design.
Cullen, G. (1961) The Concise Townscape.

Acknowledgements
We would like to thank the following people for their input and support
in the production of this book: Paul Bulkeley for his expert advice during
the project and the referral at the beginning. Mark Drury at the Solent
Centre for Architecture + Design for having the idea of such a book in the
first place and for making sure it all happened. The South East England
Development Agency (Miranda and Alex) for supporting and funding
the project. Sifer! Jon Skipper for feedback on the early draft and his
quality photography. Elizabeth Smith at Southampton City Council for
allowing us to use her Weston Shorescape text. Allies and Morrison for
giving us permission to use the Silver Hill masterplan. Peter Wainwright
for his positive and constructive feedback. Oliver Merkin for editing and
smoothing it out! And to Nathalie and Capucine for putting up with six
months of urban design.

Picture Credits
p. 4-5 Neil Marshall, Portsmouth City Council; p. 18 Jon Skipper; p.20 Monika Kostera, Toby Forage; p.21
Monika Kostera, Kevin Ritchie, Michael Thompson; p.23 John Lamper; p.26 Deer Park Alpha; p.28 Deer Park
Alpha; p.29 Wendy Fuller; p.30 Alan Stanton; p.31 Dahon; p.32 Alan Stanton; Alan Light; p.33 Monika Kostera;
p.34 Monika Kostera, Alan Stanton; p.35 Allies and Morrisons; p.38 Christine Olson; p.40 Dewet Diener, Angela
Sevin, Josh Swannack, Tanakawho; p.42 Jo DeSyllas; p.43 Jon Skipper, Alison Jackson-Bass; p.44 Hans Kylberg,
Stuart Murdoch. p.45 Solent Centre for Architecture + Design, Matthew Dunkinson.

Published by Solent Centre for Architecture + Design

This project received funding from SEEDA

30A High Street, Lyndhurst, Hampshire SO43 7BG UK

through South East Excellence.

Copyright Solent Centre for Architecture + Design

and South East England Development Agency