End of Part 1

Part 2
Urban Form and the
Urban Design Toolkit
Defining urban design
Everything you see out of the window?
The space between buildings?
Not architecture, highway engineering or town
planning but somewhere in between?
The design of built form from small squares to
major settlements?
Complex relationships between all the elements
of built and unbuilt space?
The art of making places?
Defining urban design
Everything you see out of the window?
The space between buildings?
Not architecture, highway engineering or town
planning but somewhere in between?
The design of built form from small squares to
major settlements?
Complex relationships between all the elements
of built and unbuilt space?
The art of making places?
What is
form?
Urban form
gives shape to
places
….it is the
physical
expression of
the qualities
 COMMON USE ASPECTS OF
FORM
Urban structure
Layout Urban grain
Density + Mix
Height + Massing
Scale
Building type

Appearance Façade + Interface

Public Realm Details + Materials

Streetscape + Landscape
 ASPECT OF FORM
Urban
structure

[THE ESSENTIAL
DIAGRAM OF A
PLACE]

land form and ecology, hierarchy of routes and

spaces, axes and nodes, gateways, precincts and
networks
Masterplan Brief
•1500 - 1600 units for masterplan
• 50 to 70 DPH - town houses, family units
• Neighbourhood facilities
• Higher Density towards High Street
• Sustainability ‘Best Practice’
• Expo in Summer 2010 (+/- 250,000 visitors)
• +/- 450 units for phase 1 - Expo
• Integrated landscape concepts
Strategic Infrastructure
 Civic cluster
Primary school
Failing local centre
Educational quarter

Existing Facilities
Armstrong Rd
Proposed Academy & Park
Whitehouse Rd
Strengthened Heart
Re-instate Armstrong Rd as High St
Arrival point
Employment Node
Expo link
‘Stage’
Connections
 ASPECT OF FORM
Urban
grain

[THE TEXTURE AND

PATTERN OF A
PLACE]
hierarchy of streets, pattern of urban blocks,
subdivision of plots, rhythm of buildings and facades
PLAN
Connections
Existing infrastructure
Existing terraces
Extension of terraces
Extension of terraces
Extension of terraces
Extension of terraces
Eastern grid
Eastern Plate
Expo link
Fracture relating to Whitehouse Rd
Fracture relating to Whitehouse Rd
Block structure
Integrating Whitehouse centre with park
Strengthening connections
Fluid park edge
Resulting block structure
Primary routes
Secondary routes
Tertiary routes
Park Road
 ASPECT OF
FORM
Density
+ Mix

[THE QUANTUM, TYPE

+ INTER-
RELATIONSHIP OF
LAND USES]
location and proximity, plot ratio, accessibility levels,
walkbands or PTAL’s, vertical or horizontal layering
75dph
 ASPECT OF FORM
Height +
Massing

[THE SIZE AND SHAPE OF BUILDINGS IN

RELATION TO OTHER DEVELOPMENT]
landmarks, vistas and views, building shoulder height,
setbacks, shadow projections, blanket height
Explanation of heights and setback
 ASPECT OF FORM
Building
type

[THE PLAN AND SECTION OF THE

BUILDING IN RELATION TO THE PLOT]
floorplates, floor heights, ground floor condition,
access and circulation, boundaries, setbacks
 ASPECT OF FORM
Façade +
interface

[THE ARTICULATION OF THE FRONT OF

THE BUILDING IN RELATION TO THE
STREET]
rhythm, harmony, solid-to-void ratios, setbacks,
entrances, projections, canopies, shopfronts
 ASPECT OF FORM
Details +
Materials

[THE APPEARANCE,
ART AND CARE IN
MAKING BUILDINGS
AND SPACES]
Colour, texture, pattern, craftsmanship, finish,
tradition, vernacular, public art, lighting
 ASPECT OF FORM
Streetscape
+ Landscape

[THE DESIGN AN D
M AN AGEM EN T OF THE
PUBLIC REALM ]

Paving,signing,lighting,planting,integration of
public art,play area,parks,parking,streetfurniture
Strategic green network
Pocket parks & green routes
Contours
Natural SUDS
Urban SUDS
Overall structure
 rp l a n d e s i g n c
m a s t e development o de
brief

p l a n n in g b r i e f
d e s ign
brief design g u i d e
a m e w o rk
p m e n t f r
develo area action plan
o d e
a n c e lo p m e n t b rie f
urb urba d e v
n design
framewo
rk
 Policy

Design

Feasibility Context

Creativity
Urban design
fram ew orks

Developm entbriefs

Design guides

M aster plans
Colin was shocked to
find how little masterplan
you get for your money
these days
D ES
IGN
COD
ES
Design statements
I’m really committed to
community participation.
With the right facilitator…
I’m really committed to
community participation.
With the right facilitator…

…I can get the community

to agree to practically
anything!
B
ui
ld
in
g
fo
rL
ife
cr
ite
ria
fo
rn
ew
ho
us
in
g
Character
1. Does the scheme feel like a place with a
distinctive character?

2. Do buildings exhibit architectural quality?

3. Are streets defined by a coherent and well

structured layout?

4. Do buildings and layout make it easy to find

your way around?

5. Does the scheme exploit existing buildings,

landscape or topography?
Roads, parking and pedestrianisation
6. Does the building layout take priority over
the roads and car parking, so that
highways do not dominate?

7. Are the streets pedestrian, cycle and

vehicle friendly?

8. Is car parking well integrated so it supports

the street scene?

9. Does the scheme integrate with existing

roads, paths and surrounding
development?

10. Are public spaces and pedestrian routes

overlooked and do they feel safe?
Design and construction
11. Is the design specific to the scheme?

12. Is public space well designed and does it

have suitable management arrangements
in place?

13. Do buildings or spaces outperform statutory

minima, such as Building Regulations?

14. Has the scheme made use of advances in

construction or technology that enhance its
performance, quality and attractiveness?

15. Do internal spaces and a layout allow for

adaptation, conversion or extension?
Environment and community
16. Does the development have easy access
to public transport?

17. Does the development have any features

that reduce its environmental impact?

18. Is there a tenure mix that reflects the needs

of the local community?

19. Is there a mix of accommodation that

reflects the needs and aspirations of the
local community?

20. Does the development provide (or is it

close to) community facilities, such as a
school, park, play areas, shops, pubs or
cafes?
Proposal for an Poole Harbour
Asda superstore
at Poole Harbour

Superstore

RNLI depot