NewsUDG Update Contents
when we planned it, we had not quite real- more general discussions, and making good View from the ised how well this would relate to a range of contacts. We hope that the new website will Contents initiatives we have underway, as well as the make all these activities easier to carry out. Chair…. political climate and overall field of urbanism Communication is the key, extending – reflecting the fact that change is the only both the medium and the message. Another This issue has been generously sponsored News and Events Francis Tibbalds Award constant at the moment. Change can be a way of expanding our communication base by Atkins plc Trees and Climate Change 3 ShortListed Projects good thing, and I think the UDG is well-placed is to increase our connections with related Suburbs 3 Main Town Square Caernarfon, to respond positively to this pressure – to be organisations in the fields of landscape, plan- Cover UDG in the North-East 4 Taylor Young Ltd. 32 the leading edge rather than over the edge. ning and the built environment in general. We Beijing fireworks over Bird’s Nest Stadium StreetLondon Walk 4 Oxford Circus improvements, Atkins 34 My intention for the period that I occupy have started talking to the related profes- Courtesy S Vision Urban Design Group’s AGM 5 Firepool, Taunton, NEW Masterplanning 36 this chair is to reinforce the UDG’s leading sional bodies to discuss how we could jointly UDG Study Tour 6 edge qualities. As well as supporting the broaden our impacts, for instance by holding Future Issues CABE page 8 Publishers award current excellent activities of the Group joint events and better connecting our com- Issue 117 – Eco-Urban Design The Urban Design Interview: Rochelle Book Reviews (monthly events, tours, awards and the mag- munication systems in order to reach more Issue 118 – London Public Spaces Friend 9 Urban Design: Health and the Therapeutic azine, among others), I am keen to increase interested people. Environment, Cliff Moughtin, Kate McMahon the profile of the Group and of urban design The UDG’s awards have been a great Viewpoints Moughtin and Paola Signoretta 38 in a more general sense. We have started a success and this year we aim to extend the Segregated suburban Post-War estates, Smartcities + Eco-warriors,
number of different initiatives with this goal programme and add several more categories 6jijbc'%&% Jasdeep Bhalla 10 CJ Lim and Ed Lui 38 JgWVc9Zh^\c
We often forget that the 20th century wit- nessed the eradication by disease of the elm from the European landscape. Perhaps more devastating than disease is the disregard of ‘Legacy is our raison d’être. It ensures that This issue also includes the first Publishers the value of trees and the design of develop- ments devoid of long term arboreal ambi- the Olympic Games are more than metres and Award, book reviews considered by a panel of tion. However in Jeremy Barrell and David medals… Wherever the Games have appeared, four members. This initiative has prompted the Cashman of Barrell Tree Consultancy the UDG found two individuals with huge enthusi- cities are changed forever.’ editorial team to reflect on our long-running asm for ensuring future generations live in a green environment. During their evening Jacques Rogge, IOC Chairman, 2007 side was a view of buildings cradled by years many have been forecasting that the book review section, and we would welcome talk they set out a compelling case for trees, large majestic trees; on the other, nothing days of the horse chestnut are numbered your views to ensure that it is still relevant. with benefits including pollution reduction but stark, unrelieved roof lines and the odd as disease, drought, and a leaf mining moth This issue examines the controversial topic by absorption of particulates onto leaves, dwarf conifer. The difference was profound. take their toll; we have been accustomed Please contact Richard Cole, our Book Review shade and shelter in summer, and intercep- One begins to realise that the legacy of trees to seeing the leaves turn brown in June as of Olympic legacies, through critiques and Editor, via the UDG’s office either by post or tion of runoff; not to mention the benefit in most urban areas is a living fossil: they are the moths make their homes. This year the to wellbeing, which is massive and can be the inherited hedgerows and mature trees leaves are still green, and it seems that the reflections on London 2012 and other Olympic e-mail with your views on the following points, monetised. They showed how easy it is to kill of the pre-existing rural landscape. Where severe winter has killed off many moths but bids and events, from an urban design by the end of November 2010: mature trees during the construction proc- the Victorians boldly planted plane trees no doubt not all. Some will have survived and ess, by cutting through roots or compacting and other forest species that could achieve their descendents will continue the job. So let perspective. soil. Building too close to trees could create a height of 100ft or more, the modern urban us enjoy this year’s unblemished horse chest- As the normal political context for urban Do the books reviewed cover topics which conflicts for future occupants, leading to the planting list is too often limited to flowering nuts, and reflect on the impact of climate and trees being felled, and never replaced. The cherries. invasive species. But of course the biggest design interventions continues to change and interest you as an urban designer? right tree in the right place is the mantra, and We need to dispense with the unambi- threat to trees is our own inaction, and the become less clear with each new government plant big trees. tious post-war approach to tree planting failure to plant anew - it is time perhaps for a 1. Are the reviews too short or too long? One of their illustrations was a photo- and look towards creating a living urban ‘treenaissance’. pronouncement, the UDG is also changing. 2. Are there certain books that you would like graph of a housing estate street. On one landscape for future generations. For several • Robert Huxford In this issue, we welcome Amanda Reynolds, to see reviewed? the UDG’s first chairwoman, who will lead the 3. Are there other points that should be Group and speak out on important issues. We considered in this review? Suburbs therefore thank outgoing chairman Duncan The Gallery, London 16 June 2010 Ecob for his excellent leadership over the last The feedback from this will be reported in a two years. His democratic approach has led to future issue of Urban Design. Coinciding with UD issue 115 on Suburbs many initiatives becoming UDG policy, and the assembled by Jon Rowland, this seminal sub- Louise Thomas and Sebastian Loew ject had until now avoided discussion at UDG 2009-10 AGM reflects this year’s successes. • perhaps as it seems to hover between being both too important and too banal to warrant a whole evening to itself. Bob White of the Kent Design Initiative started by claiming to be a child of suburbia; a sustainable suburb with local industry, a nearby tube station and 30 dwellings to the hectare, laid out in an or- the new name for suburbs, but lacking or express an opinion, or both (always a good derly hierarchy of streets with front and back philosophies of what these places are meant sign). Are suburbs an end in themselves or gardens. Bob illustrated his well-researched to be. Rather than sprawling places to flee just a stage in development along the urban Urban Design Group Editorial Board Design talk with tales from Herne Bay, Ashford and from, suburbs were once aspirational healthy transect? Can they be sustainable? Will an Chairman Amanda Reynolds John Billingham, Matthew Carmona, trockenbrot (Claudia Schenk and Anja Sicka) Dartford, with a passing reference to award- places like garden suburbs ‘that take account end to garden-grabbing result in sterility? Patrons Alan Baxter, Tom Bloxham, Sir Terry Tim Catchpole, Richard Cole, Alastair Donald, www.trockenbrot.com winning Lacuna at Kings Hill. He told of how of everything that makes life worth living’. Although we live, breathe and dress urban, Farrell, Colin Fudge, Nicky Gavron, Dickon Neil Double, Tim Hagyard, Liezel Kruger, residents preferred old fashioned streets to Jon showed how great architects had an many of us design housing at densities that Robinson, Les Sparks, John Worthington Sebastian Loew, Malcolm Moor, Judith Ryser, Printing Nuffield Press home zones in one area, while others had influence; an original model for the suburban are actually suburban-ish. After all family Director Robert Huxford Louise Thomas © Urban Design Group ISSN 1750 712X their front gardens replaced with acres of semi detached house was Pugin’s design for a housing with gardens is what people want block paving without raising any concerns. rectory, and the Letchworth plan was copied and it is difficult to achieve at densities Office Editors Advertising enquiries He also shocked the audience with images of from Wren. Suburbs also drive the economy much above 37 to the hectare, so what is the Urban Design Group Sebastian Loew and Please contact UDG office stone kerbs replaced with plastic – for health containing many start-ups and allowing the alternative? The conclusions were that more 70 Cowcross Street Louise Thomas Material for publication and safety reasons. hybrid lifestyle for today’s three million peo- thought is needed, more design awareness, a London EC1M 6EJ [email protected] Please send text by email to the Jon Rowland followed with the 21st ple who work from home. Perhaps they are new philosophy, and a Suburban Task Force Tel 020 7250 0872/0892 [email protected] editors, images to be supplied at a century suburb - the forgotten bit of urban models for the new localism, co-ops and con- was called for. Now who should be on the Email [email protected] Book Review Editor high-resolution (180mm width @300dpi) design. He reported that CABE Design Re- dominiums, and self-build? After the talks, panel of experts? Website www.udg.org.uk Richard Cole preferably as jpeg views are inundated with urban extensions, the eager audience wanted to ask questions • Malcolm Moor 2 — Urban Design – Autumn 2010 – Issue 116 Issue 116 – Autumn 2010 – Urban Design — 3 News News UDG in the Urban Design Group’s The following were elected to the Executive INCOME North-East Committee: Amanda Reynolds who is also the Annual General incoming UDG Chair, Hugo Frieszo (Treas- Subscriptions £ 82,464 June 2010 Meeting urer), Ben van Bruggen, Philip Cave, Andrew Publications and Awards £ 13,875 Dakin, Duncan Ecob, Sebastian Loew, Colin Donation from Urban De- £ 5,974 The Gallery, London 16 June 2010 Munsie, Katy Neaves, Paul Reynolds, Barry sign Services Ltd Sellers and Alan Stones. UDSL Contribution to Office £ 5,000 The first regional Urban Design Group event Costs in the North East was held on 20th June Director’s Report Interest Received £ 1,282 in the bright new Clore Suite in the newly Chairman’s Report Despite the impacts of the global financial Inland Revenue: Gift Aid £ 7,749 refurbished and rebranded Great North Mu- The year for urban designers has continued crisis, individual membership of the UDG has Miscellaneous Income £ 44 seum. The event was organised by regional to be dominated by the global financial crisis. remained fairly constant throughout the year. TOTAL INCOME £116,388 convenor and Urban Design Lecturer at Periodic recessions are an unfortunate aspect A research initiative was launched with results Newcastle University, Georgia Giannopoulou of the life-long career of an urban design due later in 2010, and all back copies of our and sponsored jointly by the UDG and De- practitioner. However they are part of a cycle journal Urban Design will be digitised so that EXPENDITURE vereux Architects who have a regional office that we have seen before, and little over two they are publicly available on-line from the Publications & Awards £ 38,671 Management & in Newcastle. years ago tremendous activity in the finan- very first editions. Press coverage for the UDG £ 72,749 The event was held in the context of the cial sector was driving urban development. has included letters published in the national Administration annual North East Festival of Architecture, I trust that just as the recession came upon media and the London Evening Standard. Development Expenditure £ 1,200 and the subject fitted in with this year’s us quickly, so too will the recovery. The email newsletter service has main- Governance costs £ 940 overall theme of Reducing CO2 as well as planning and urban design, as well as case from a great breadth of disciplines and roles, Recessions can also be times to think tained a direct circulation to around 1,200 TOTAL EXPENDITURE £113,560 Newcastle University’s second Societal Chal- studies from local places that have acquired including community members; the atmos- hard about what we do and to sharpen our individuals. It provides a concise monitoring lenge theme of Climate Change, aiming to transition status and are in various stages in phere was very positive and the event man- skills, systems and policies in prepara- service of government websites across the UK, NET INCOME £ 2,828 engage a range of professional and communi- their development: Hexham (Roger Higgins, aged to raise the profile of the UDG, resulting tion for the next economic cycle. Whilst as well as news of research in areas that add ty members. A number of speakers, including Urban Designer, Carlisle) and Newcastle in the recruitment of a number of new mem- the past decade may have seen a growth richness to urban design including psychology, BALANCES BROUGHT £125,973 academics, architects, urbanists and commu- (Chris Benson, Transition Towns-Newcastle). bers. The talks and Q&A were followed by a in bureaucracy, the work of designers is sociology, public health, technology and eco- FORWARD nity members involved in Transition Towns, The talks were wrapped up by newly-appoint- reception in the venue’s garden. This was the directly productive, ending not merely in nomics. There have also been improvements FUND BALANCES CARRIED £128,801 introduced the concept with short and pithy ed UDG chair Amanda Reynolds who also pilot in a series of local events unpicking the reports but in better places and ultimately to the UDG website www.udg.org.uk, including FORWARD 10 minute consecutive taster presentations chaired the discussion afterwards. Questions various aspects of transition in more detail, better lives. an improved display for directory listings, and TOTAL ASSETS £129,740 on various aspects of transition, accepting included issues on the challenges faced by with the first one planned for this autumn. There are a number of areas which give the parallel website www.urban-design-group. TOTAL LIABILITIES £ 940 that this was by no means an exhaustive list. communities trying to transition into a more Georgia Giannopoulou grounds for some optimism. The 2012 Olym- org.uk has helped to provide additional flex- Talks were also included on retrofitting sustainable and resilient lifestyle, issues of • pics will bring a focus for regeneration and ibility and enhance the resources. NET ASSETS £128,801 buildings, permaculture, sustainable trans- funding, and conflicts in implementation. ↑ LeeRushworth.com, courtesy of help in changing the mood. Scotland has The 2009 Annual Conference held at port and health, transition and its relation to The event was oversubscribed with delegates Northern Architecture seen the publication of Designing Streets, Peterhouse in Cambridge under the title of ‘Is with its foundation on balanced decision- big still beautiful?’ was supported by Cam- UDG Treasurer’s Report 2010 making - where urban design practitioners bridge City and South Cambridgeshire Joint The Independent Auditors Report for the year excel. Ireland has been exceptionally hard Urban Design Team, led by Glen Richardson. ending 28 February 2010 was provided for the hit by the economic crisis as part of the The opening event on ‘Is Tall Beautiful?’ was UDG and Urban Design Services Ltd (UDSL). StreetLondon Walk: European economy, but, as international well attended and generated a lively and On Income: for the UDG and UDSL, The Bankside to markets revive, we can expect that money interesting discussion. The UDG annual din- the combined net surplus is £2,828, which will move into the Irish economy to stimu- ner, held in the college’s medieval dining hall, compares with a surplus of £47,672 in 2009 – Cityside late a revival. There continue to be major was an atmospheric and memorable evening when the Urban Design Directory and Design opportunities globally - in China, India, and two of our patrons, Alan Baxter and John & Access Statements were published, attract- July 2010 the Middle East and an emerging Africa; Worthington, attended. ing high levels of sponsorship. Subscriptions wherever there are people there is a need STREET London has gained in strength, income has fallen by 8 per cent, as a number for urban design. led by a team including Katy Neaves, Louise of practices have discontinued their member- Under the umbrella of the UDG and the The Urban Design Group continues to be Duggan and Steve Lorimer, with popular ship. UDG subscription rates have been the London Festival of Architecture 2010, Louise a focus for discussion on urban development walking tours around London and a study day same for the last five years and a review is Duggan led the recent StreetLondon walk that meets the wider aspirations of soci- in Margate. The UDG events programme in due. UDSL contributed £5,974 to the opera- around the northern part of the London ety and communities. As purse strings are London continues to include a diverse range tion of the UDG, as the result of two success- Borough of Southwark. We walked away from drawn tighter by central government, urban of speakers, including the annual Kevin Lynch ful international tours led by Alan Stones, the known areas and witnessed the changes answer to the last downturn in property mar- medieval history, and was rediscovered designers must be brave in putting their Memorial Lecture which in 2009 was given by and the annual conference in Cambridge. within the neighbourhood. ket: a disused, small post-industrial complex during the excavations for the Jubilee Line design, negotiation and inclusive dialogue Leeds Civic Architect John Thorp. Planning On Expenditure: general costs have risen The meeting point, just outside Bernie used by upcoming artists as studio space and extension. Since then the Friends of Cross skills forward to deliver best value, thinking and co-ordination of the events has been led by 4.3%, reflecting inflation and additional Spain Garden, provided us with a first glance gallery. Bones Graveyard have been campaign- laterally about problems of cost, design and by Alan Stones, who has also run two highly development expenditure. at the area’s multiple characteristics. This Discussing the social and economi- ing for the establishment of a Garden of implementation. successful international study tours to Berlin The Forecast Opportunities and Require- ranged from the garden’s lush vegeta- cal changes taking place in Southwark, we Remembrance. The UDG itself continues to grow in and Croatia during 2010. The UDG continues to ments for 2010-11 are that a baseline budget tion, through to the housing developments walked to the Better Bankside headquarters. Our last stop was the Red Cross Garden, strength with more applications for the Reg- support the Urban Design Alliance through the for the operation of the UDG was approved by near Coin Street and the banks of the river There, we were greeted by Valerie Beirne, originally established by Octavia Hill, the istered Practitioner in Urban Design. We have dedicated efforts of Barry Sellers; Urban De- the Trustees, with development expenditure Thames, to the commercial buildings that Bankside Urban Forest manager. She spoke founder of the National Trust, at the end of already had a successful inaugural Student sign Week 2009 was successfully staged with allocated to the suggested projects of digitis- include the Oxo Tower. Next, thanks to the about up and coming initiatives within the 19th century. The space has recently been Award scheme and an extremely enthusiastic much valued support from RUDI and the IHBC. ing back copies of Urban Design, further hospitality of Coin Street Community Build- the Bankside fringe area. From Southwark regenerated by the Bankside Open Spaces response to the first Public Sector Urban De- Finally the UDG has greatly valued the development of the Urban Design Awards, ers, we gained a comprehensive view of the Street, taking a minute to peek at yet an- Trust. Tim Wood explained how collaboration sign Award. We look forward to celebrating contribution of Louise Ingledow to whom we research initiatives, and support for UDG whole of the South Bank area from the model other project for the LFA 2010 - the Union with the St Mungo’s Association has gener- this great work at our special award presen- owe the smooth running of the organisation; regional activity. As in last year’s report, the kept at their community centre. Street Urban Orchard - we went to Cross ated some well loved spaces in Mint St. We tation event on 2 February 2011. her support, co-ordination and encourage- UDG Trustees, Executive and members wish Walking through The Cut and familiarising Bones Graveyard. Here Andy Lockwood ended our walk at The Lord Clyde on Clennam I wish all our members well for the com- ment were reflected during the course of the the Group’s assets to be put to profitable and ourselves with the rich and long history of the gave us a talk about the history of the last Street, which is London’s shortest street, with ing year and I hope to see you in Leeds on 22 year by her promotion to UDG Development promotional use, and would welcome a wide place, we found our way to Glasshill Street, undeveloped plot in Bankside. The site was a cooling glass of cider. October for our 2010 annual conference. Manager. range of proposals. where Richard Galpin showed us a creative used as unconsecrated graveyard in post • Anna Nasalska • Duncan Ecob • Robert Huxford • Hugo Frieszo 4 — Urban Design – Autumn 2010 – Issue 116 Issue 116 – Autumn 2010 – Urban Design — 5 News News
by merchants’ houses, each separated by UDG Study Tour of secondary streets. Prosperity during the 15th and 16th centuries brought the splendid Rec- Venetian Towns on tor’s Palace and custom house, fountains, monuments and squares, and walls - still the Dalmatian Coast intact and with superb views into the town 15–23 May 2010 centre. However, an earthquake in 1667 left the city in ruins, and although rebuilt with elegant baroque town houses, the economy never recovered and the city passed under Thirty seven UDG members and friends Austro-Hungarian control in 1815. The 1992 spent a week looking at the best examples siege by the Serbs seems to have had no of mediaeval Venetian colonial towns on the lasting impact, and the city thrives today Dalmatian coast, to assess whether they from cruise passengers and tourists. were generic in design or diverse responses Split (formerly Spalato) is unique, being to topography. founded within a Roman emperor’s palace. The Dalmatian coast is arid, backed by The emperor Diocletian had planned a pal- mountainous terrain, and protected by many ace for his retirement in his native Illyria - a islands with good harbours and anchorages. big complex measuring 200m x 240m, with From the 11th century the Venetians, Croats a cardo, decumanus and perimeter wall. Dis- and Byzantines were already competing used by the 7th century, it was turned into a here, with the Venetians seeking to estab- town by squatters, and by the 14th century lish ports for trading and tapping into the had doubled in size with defensive walls. resources of the Balkan interior. They were Venetian rule, from 1420, brought an up- ejected from the region by the Hungarian surge in trade with the Turks, and the port’s monarchy in 1358, but a dynastic crisis in location led to further expansion under 1409 resulted in the Kingdom of Hungary- the Austro-Hungarians and the Yugoslavs. Croatia selling its rights in Dalmatia to Visiting today, it is remarkable how much of Venice. For four centuries the Dalmatian Diocletian’s palace is intact after 1,700 years. coast was ruled from Venice, with each town Peristyles at the carfax are still in place, presided over by a Rector answerable to the the emperor’s octagonal mausoleum is the Doge. The towns prospered thanks to trade cathedral, and the temple of Jupiter the with the eastern Mediterranean, particularly baptistery. The visitors’ vestibule, with its the Turks, and the population was swollen by huge brick dome reminiscent of the Pan- Croatian immigrants fleeing Balkan conflicts theon in Rome, sits over a street, whilst the during the 15th and 17th centuries. However, emperor’s private apartments have become Mediterranean trade declined following a slum (until recently the red-light district). the discovery of America, and the Venetian The Riva (waterfront) in front of the palace Republic finally fell to Napoleon in 1797, but has recently been repaved and fronted by Italian culture continued to dominate. Dal- stylish cafés. This impressive new place is matia became an Italian speaking province an antidote to the industrial decline of other of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until joining parts of the city, yet the sweeping view from the new state of Yugoslavia in 1918. the nearby Marjan Hill of the city and port in its bay made a memorable end of our tour. The Towns There is a square fronted by a Romanesque Šibenik (formerly Sebenico) straggles Alan Stones Korčula (formerly Curzola), the first town cathedral, a 15th century town loggia with along a hillside above the present-day port, • visited, is walled and sits on a promontory clock tower, Venetian gothic mansion and a and focuses on a 15th century cathedral and facing the straits between Korčula island and bishop’s palace. A grid of narrow streets fills the town loggia. A strongpoint in Venetian the Pelješac peninsula. Its main street, about the rest of the walled town. struggles with the Turks, Šibenik was more 3m wide, runs along its spine with narrow Zadar (formerly Zara) also enjoys the recently an industrial port. side streets. The central cathedral faces security of being on a promontory. It did not a diminutive square opposite the Rector’s join Yugoslavia until 1947, having seen heavy Form or topography? palace. Throughout there are Venetian gothic Allied bombing during the Second World These Venetian towns did not seem to follow windows and door cases on substantial grey War. As a result only part of the original a generic plan, but respond to defensible stone houses : most buildings date from walls and network of narrow streets survive. topography. This is not surprising, as they the 13th to 15th centuries and some are now The huge 9th century St. Donat’s Church was were thriving, self-governing towns, with a derelict. reduced to a shell by Napoleon, but there Venetian cultural influence and buildings Hvar (formerly Lesina), is also protected is a Romanesque cathedral, 16th century erected when the Venetians were in control. from the sea by islands. The Venetians built Venetian guard house with clocktower, and From the 18th century, the obscurity of these the Romanesque cathedral, which is linked town loggia. The seafront repaved in 2005 towns fortunately secured their preservation, to the harbour by a generous square fronted incorporates a musical sea organ which and the Yugoslav state located hotels and by aristocratic mansions and a 17th century is powered by wave action and is a great tourist facilities outside the historic cores. arsenal. A grid of narrow streets ascends the attraction. We also visited two important cities slopes on either side, and the town has both Rab (formerly Arbe) is the most atmos- which although under Venetian control ↖↖ Split - view from Marjan Hill a Dominican and a Franciscan monastery, pheric of the towns, perched on a promon- did not fit the Venetian colonial category: ↖ Dubrovnik - before the but is not fortified. tory and walled. It has three parallel streets Dubrovnik populated by Slavs, came under earthquake Trogir - town walls on waterfront Trogir (formerly Trago) retains its walls, on ascending contours, with the lower two Venetian control in 1204-1358 and later ↑ ↑↑ Rab - from waterfront even along the waterfront, although its posi- fronted by the Rector’s Palace and patrician becoming an independent republic with → Dubrovnik - Stradun from the tion as an island between the mainland and houses, and the top one linking four Roman- favoured Balkan trading status. It has a town walls a larger island makes it seem impregnable. esque campaniles. main street along the watercourse, fronted →→ Hvar - aristocratic mansion
6 — Urban Design – Autumn 2010 – Issue 116 Issue 116 – Autumn 2010 – Urban Design — 7 CABE News
What do you think are the most important theatres such as the British Museum, Tate Getting the big The Urban Design skills of an urban designer? Gallery and Shakespeare’s Globe, wonder- picture right Interview: Understanding the complex interrelationship ful markets like Borough and Spitalfields; so between physical, environmental, social, many wonderful places to enjoy, such as the Rochelle Friend cultural and economic factors, which is often South Bank, Brick Lane, great cafes in Soho referred to as considering things holistically. like the Milk Bar and afternoon tea at places The skills to empathetically analyse, evalu- such as the Wolseley; shopping in Covent The Government intends to create a bottom- ate, visualise and respond sympathetically Garden, Seven Dials, Oxford St depart- up, neighbourhood level planning system. with a creative approach. Then to communi- ments stores and Regent St; and of course But some development cannot be tackled cate ideas with people at all levels. The skill many fabulous pubs/ bars, my favourite is at the neighbourhood, or even local author- to engage local people and key stakeholders Gordon’s wine bar. Also, London is surpris- ity, level alone. Large infrastructure projects to encourage ownership of schemes is also ingly green with many fabulous parks like often straddle local boundaries. Their impact very important. Having the creative ability to Hampstead Heath and Regent’s Park, not stretches beyond a town or a city. Some- inspire and surprise helps too! to mention Hyde Park, St James Park and times, it is beyond the ability of any single Green Park. authority to address the challenge of climate What would you like to be doing in ten change or make a place competitive. How we years’ time? Where is your most hated place and why? deal with these kinds of issues that affect the I hope I will continue to be excited and Suburbia…I dislike the remoteness, the lack lives of people over large areas is the focus inspired by new people and places and of connectivity and convenience to services of a new guide from CABE, Getting the big production or a network of green spaces directs development activity and, in areas continue to be passionate about what I do. I and facilities, the reliance on cars and the picture right. • are planning new facilities such as hospi- with low values and little (or no) developer think I will have returned to New Zealand for sameness. I guess that’s why I’ve always lived Over recent years local authorities have tals or large leisure and shopping centres interest, creates more attractive conditions the lifestyle and opportunities to advance my centrally, with everything in walking distance started to tackle cross-boundary issues • want to improve coordination between for developers and investors. career in a different direction. from home: school/ work/ shops/ parks. through the planning system. In some areas sector-specific or local strategies, initia- • flexible, so that changes can be reflected sub-regional strategies were produced as tives and projects upon and proposals amended as neces- As an urban designer, do you have a role What advice would you give UD readers? part of regional strategies, to sit above and • want to protect or enhance important sary. While being capable of providing model? Travel and experience places, watch the inform local development frameworks. natural, cultural or heritage assets. flexibility and change, the process and its Jane Jacobs and Jan Gehl. Their work is so world go by in various locations, enjoy new Elsewhere groups of local authorities decided outputs provide nonetheless enough guid- well considered, insightful, and practical yet and different cities/places, learn from what instead to produce joint core strategies, to The new approach can be described by the ance and detail to ensure the quality of the inspiring. Jan Gehl’s books are well worth works. Realise that there is no one-size-fits- replace individual plans. At the same time, distinctive features which set it apart from final projects. sourcing. I believe Jane Jacob’s work is nec- all and no matter how many text books you many sub-regional or city-regional partner- recent practice and that chime well with the essary background knowledge for any good read nothing can make up for life experience. ships emerged in England that developed new planning agenda. It is: There are many good examples of success- What is your current job and how long have urban designer. non-statutory strategies to outline priorities • selective in its interests, addressing is- ful spatial strategies, which provided the you been there? What should the Urban Design Group be and actions related to the physical fabric of sues that are of genuine cross-boundary basis for this new approach, including the I’m a Principal Planner in the planning policy If you were to recommend an urban design doing now or in the future? their areas. importance, and cannot be tackled at any joint effort of twenty local authorities in the team at Islington Council. I’ve been working scheme or study (past or present) for an UDG should be encouraging discussion and CABE has been working with many of other spatial level. These are often the Ruhr area in Germany to reverse the decline there since September 2009. Prior to this I award, what would you chose? perhaps more peer review of work. There is these partnerships and experience suggests most difficult and complex issues that will caused by the closure of steelworks and worked in the former planning project’s team A controversial scheme I worked on in a wealth of knowledge out there which could that they should adopt a more creative and test the strength of the partnership. The mines. They produced a flexible, shared for four years on a variety of projects, includ- 2005/06 – the St. Luke’s Framework. In my be shared more effectively. collaborative approach to planning for the selectiveness of the approach applies not strategy to guide the work at local level. In ing the EC1 Public Space Strategy. opinion it was a visionary piece of work. It future of their area, that goes beyond generic only to the scope of the project but also the UK, the Cambridge Futures project is an stirred up a lot of interest in the community, Finally, who would you like to see inter- visions. Their approach should focus instead to its outcomes - a limited set of strategic example of bottom-up working between local Can you describe the path that you fol- and I think this was because it was beyond viewed by UD? on improving the quality and distinctiveness themes and projects. businesses, authorities and the university to lowed to become an urban designer and the scope of the EC1 Public Space Strategy A member of the public, asking them how of a place, considering social, economic and • a spatially led, three-dimensional and address growth pressure. More recently the what motivated you? that it emerged from. There was always a recent projects have influenced their lives, so environmental performance at the same time visually rich approach, that deals with the Hertfordshire charrette developed a number I was inspired to be an urban designer when risk it would fail; however most of the public we can learn from that. as its physical characteristics. physical characteristics of a place in all of spatial options for long-term growth in the Jan Gehl came to speak at a planning con- realm projects associated with the frame- • This prompted CABE to explore new ways its complexity. It results in proposals for county through a seven-day workshop involv- ference I attended after graduating. I was work have been implemented and improved of tackling cross-boundary issues though specific projects and sites, grounded in the ing local interest groups. convinced that urban design was the way the neighbourhood for the better, so all in urban design. It took two years to develop a physical context of a place. There is no one model that fits all. Part- forward. As a planner I always thought urban all, a success. Quite a few of the projects methodology, based on successful cross- • an integrated approach to planning for nerships need to focus on the qualities and design was an essential specialism to have. I’ve been involved with in the EC1 area have boundary strategies in the UK and abroad, as the future of a place, considering how its opportunities of their place and come up with My understanding then was making places received awards or have been shortlisted. I’m well as direct project experience. The meth- physical, economic, environmental, social their own version of the design process that work for people, and that’s exactly what it’s really proud of what we’ve achieved. odology now provides an ideal framework for and cultural aspects all contribute to its will allow them to address these qualities all about and what motivates me. the proposed Local Enterprise Partnerships success. It brings together analysis and de- and opportunities in a spatial, creative and I completed my Masters at Westminster Where is your favourite town or city and and other types of cross-boundary partner- sign, work across spatial scales, disciplines collaborative way. This publication and web University, graduating in 2005 (Terry Far- why? ship that: and sectors and considers the existing and resource provide enough useful guidance and rell bestowed my Masters upon me as he It’s very difficult to pick just one favourite • want to improve the quality and distinc- new urban fabric of a place alongside its case study material to encourage them to received an honorary degree the same town or city… I guess I would pick London. tiveness of what gets built in their area natural characteristics and assets. do this. See www.cabe.org.uk/publications/ day!). Since graduating I’ve worked on a The reasons are: it really is a world in one • have a concentration of social, environ- • based on an engaging and inclusive proc- getting-the-big-picture-right and www.cabe. number of master plans, planning briefs city; with the fascinating history, from mental or economic problems in the area ess, centred on a number of workshops org.uk/strud and numerous public realm projects, from Victorian architecture to the great churches and need to have a thorough approach to where key players come together, assisted Biljana Savic, senior advisor at CABE developing the vision to seeing schemes of Christopher Wren, monuments from the dealing with them constructively by an expert team, to scope the work, in- • built on site. I find it very rewarding work past at every turn; the special character, • are performing well and growing, and wish put data, prioritise areas or themes, draw as it often makes a big difference to peo- from the quiet Georgian squares, medieval to either accommodate this growth or up preferred proposals and projects and ple’s everyday life. streets and alleyways of the City to the spread its benefits across the wider area, finalise plans for implementation. boldness of the modern Canary Wharf; the particularly significant housing growth • focused on delivering change on the What do you find exciting about your work? diversity of people; the ease to get around • need to strengthen the links between town ground, through the development of an Knowing that the planning policies I formu- without a car (whether you loathe or love it, and city centres or within a natural eco- implementation plan that sets out who the late will be in place for the next 15 years and public transport is a very convenient way to nomic area key partners are and what their contribu- therefore shape design in Islington for some discover the city); great work opportunities; • need to plan strategic infrastructure such tion is. By providing a clear implementation ↑ Emscher Park 2010 master time to come! Influencing the shape of places there’s a fabulous range of things to do, as water or waste management, energy framework, it stabilises, coordinates and plan is a real privilege. with world class museums, galleries and
8 — Urban Design – Autumn 2010 – Issue 116 Issue 116 – Autumn 2010 – Urban Design — 9 Viewpoints Viewpoints Segregated suburban Post-War estates Jasdeep Bhalla considers how to re-integrate some of Britain’s most segregated areas ← The Cole Valley has the potential to provide a unique identity for Chelmsley Wood → Convoluted and over- permeable pedestrian network in Harpurhey, Manchester
in gross density and consequently have stigmatisation, as outsiders often perceive limited access to rail services. Complex many such neighbourhoods as no-go residential spatial arrangements also areas. The concentration of employment, impede the integration of bus routes. retail, and leisure facilities in appropriate Designers should consider appropriate locations can entice visitors to enter the intensification to generate the critical estate, and in doing so increase vitality mass required for such services. within the public realm. Furthermore, the Historically such programmes have Increasing access to public transport acts combination of non-residential land uses often been preoccupied with isolated as a dual economic and social stimulus, also creates a greater sense of hierarchy aspects of the built environment, typically as individuals and businesses often and legibility. through small scale redevelopment, choose to reside within well connected or initiatives primarily concerned neighbourhoods. BLOCK with the aesthetic value of the public Built frontage realm. Although such features do NEIGHBOURHOOD Inspired by the quest for light and have a role to play in the regeneration Identity air, many blocks are surrounded by process, it is imperative to first Characterised by monolithic repetitive unadorned open space and dwellings have consider the relationship between the buildings without decoration or variety, little relationship with the public realm. neighbourhood and its wider context. Introduction have since been linked to declining social can potentially deliver lasting renewal. post-war estates often lack distinction. This lack of frontage has been correlated Large concentrations of isolated social The post-war council estate remains one of conditions. Such schemes can be implemented Despite their physical austerity, they to high crime rates and declining social housing require a more comprehensive, the defining features of the contemporary It would be unjust to suggest that with greater sensitivity than the crude remain rich in social capital and often conditions, as residents are unable holistic, and perhaps radical, approach to British city. Much of this development was all such forms of development have alternative of total demolition, and are house well established communities. to observe activity on the street. New regeneration in order to sustain lasting constructed in response to the enduring fallen into disrepair. However there is a more progressive than low-level public It is critical that this social legacy and frontage that shares a close relationship change. dearth of affordable residential stock. clear correlation between deprivation realm enhancement schemes. other distinguishing features of heritage, with the public realm can be realised The need to salvage existing social 19th Century working class housing was and concentrated areas of post-war Fundamental to this process, is the are harnessed during the regeneration through the partial demolition and housing stock has been intensified by characterised by overpopulation, pollution social housing needing regeneration. identification of physical and social process and used to convey a sense of strategic construction of new dwellings to the compounded effects of the Right to and disease, and consequently deemed Despite various forms of intervention, components within the estate that unique identity. ensure public space is well overlooked and Buy policy and the inadequate rate of unacceptable. Bomb damage sustained professionals have seemingly struggled continue to cultivate segregation and enclosed. production of new affordable homes. during the Second World War further to devise a comprehensive and long term disadvantage. Despite variations in size, Socio-economic diversity Given the dual political emphasis on exacerbated shortages, following which remedy to the complex array of problems location and demographic composition, Many commentators have condemned the Access to space both housing growth and social justice, the nation witnessed unprecedented presented. many large British post-war suburban political decisions that unintentionally The weak relationship between residential it is perhaps alarming that the renewal levels of publicly subsidised residential estates share common characteristics. concentrated the least upwardly mobile buildings and the public realm also of post-war estates remains somewhat development. Regeneration In order to deliver comprehensive sectors of society within the confines of undermines the distinction between marginalised on current planning and Inspired by modern planning The scale and nature of improvement renewal, it is necessary to develop a single type of neighbourhood. It is now public and private areas. The typical regeneration agendas. The reconciliation philosophy, successive post-war mechanisms employed to date can be mechanisms of intervention across this widely acknowledged that the creation of housing estate comprises a complex series and partial densification of such areas has governments embarked upon accelerated broadly categorised in two types. Within urban spectrum. The following comprise a demographically balanced community is of ill-defined courtyards, verges and the potential to gain greater recognition suburban development programmes. The the first are public realm schemes that proposals at various levels, identified vital to ensure the long term success of all alleyways. These spaces are frequently within planning policy to promote this new approach to residential planning seek simply to redecorate elements of the by examining a number of estates on a residential communities. accessible to the public, and attract anti- form of community led regeneration on a sought to establish a connection with environment, including open spaces and national basis. social behaviour. Limiting inappropriate national basis. nature, light and air, and in doing so building façades. These are typically low in Hierarchy of movement access would help to distinguish public Finally, although physical modifications provide inhabitants with a higher quality cost and unobtrusive. The second is total STRATEGIC In an effort to embrace modernity and and private areas, allowing residents undoubtedly are integral to such schemes, of life. It is therefore a cruel irony, that demolition, as many authorities opted to Access to employment accommodate the automobile, vehicular to execute territorial control over their design alone does not present an all despite such altruistic and philanthropic simply dispose of their problems. More Often located on the periphery of and pedestrian movement in estates was personal space. Pedestrian activity embracing panacea. Estate modernisation origins, the product of these endeavours recently we have seen the emergence of a settlements, many estates are isolated segregated. Despite ambitious initial would be concentrated on the street, has proved most effective when physical now embodies the very legacy it once third approach that seeks to rehabilitate from the majority of employment visions, areas built in this manner are consequently increasing vitality within the improvements have been accompanied by sought to eradicate. existing housing stock and its wider opportunities concentrated in urban frequently illegible. Pedestrian movement pubic realm. The demarcation of space can changes in social policy and management. Industrialised construction techniques environment. Established in connection centres. This separation has frequently is often relegated to a particularly also be achieved through the considered This integrated approach has the potential were employed as house-builders with the renaissance of traditional been aggravated by the decline of convoluted network, as residents are demolition and construction of new to foster both material improvement and sought to meet the targets set by central urbanism and renewed emphasis on manufacturing industries, a sector many forced to negotiate a complicated dwellings. wider social reform. Furthermore, by government. Economies of scale were community participation, this form of deprived communities were once heavily series of poorly overlooked pathways. working within the remits of the existing relentlessly pursued, as large expanses of intervention aspires to preserve existing reliant upon. When accompanied by The introduction of an integrated and Conclusions fabric, such schemes can ensure the social housing were built in concentrated social ties. This type of regeneration is the appropriate social policy, increasing hierarchical network would provide a It is clear that the post-war suburban network of social ties built up often over localities. The reduction of cost, and focus of this article. physical access can potentially remove more structured and less intimidating estate presents a challenging context the last half-century remain intact. Council consequently quality in construction Notwithstanding the poor structural perceptual barriers to employment, environment. with a complexity of several interrelated estates have not yet run their course as frequently led to building failures. quality of earlier blocks, local councils reduce benefit dependency and raise physical, social and economic issues. part of the built environment, and remain Residential dwellings and their wider have consistently demonstrated that it is communal aspiration levels. Variety of use Although the scale and significance of the fundamental in the quest to maintain environment quickly began to deteriorate. economically viable to refurbish various Built under the principles of zoning, characteristics outlined will undoubtedly national social sustainability. Furthermore the experimental nature dwelling typologies. When combined with Public transport infrastructure estates are commonly dominated by vary with location, regeneration schemes Jasdeep Bhalla, Urban Design Professional, of modern residential layouts further other design mechanisms at appropriate Despite their affiliation with the high rise residential land use, giving non-residents must be developed in relation to the urban •Alan Baxter and Associates compounded structural problems, and scales, this form of holistic intervention block, post-war suburbs are frequently low little reason to enter. This reinforces condition at varied scales.
10 — Urban Design – Autumn 2010 – Issue 116 Issue 116 – Autumn 2010 – Urban Design — 11 Topic Leader Topic Olympic Legacies Olympic Games Timeline
Over the years the Olympic Games have grown to do this Impact Study and we look forward to the 1896 Athens Start of the Games where sport dominated in scale to the point that almost every nation is feedback from this. 1900 Paris Development of specific built form for the Games not seen as priority represented, but such growth has created numerous The Games also constitute a major opportunity for 1904 St Louis Poor organisation of event 1908 London Sports venue created specifically for Olympics at White City challenges; the International Olympic Committee (IOC) the host city and country to promote and showcase 1912 Stockholm Technology taking Games one step further - photo finishes, speaker systems, timing devices has had to adapt the Games to the world's changing themselves to the world. It offers a step change 1916 Olympics awarded to Berlin but not held 1920 Antwerp Olympic flag developed that signifies 5 Continents at peace social circumstances, including the creation of the in the development and regeneration of the city 1924 Paris Winter Games, the Paralympics Games and the Youth and even more so of those areas that are in dire Chamonix First Winter Olympics at Chamonix, previously figure skating and ice hockey were part of Summer Olympics Olympic Games. The Games also had to adapt to need of transformation (environmentally, socially 1928 Amsterdam St Moritz Known as II Olympic Winter Games. The first to be held on its own and separate from the Summer Olympics the varying economical, political and technological and economically). It offers a holistic approach to 1932 Los Angeles realities of the 20th and now 21st centuries. Mass regeneration that neither the state nor the market Lake Placid Expansion of facilities with 105,000 seat stadium and Olympic village community park for athletes 1936 Berlin TV Broadcasting, Political Propaganda, torch relay, large scale media and corporate sponsorship have brought the could achieve on its own, with the risk and financial Garmisch-P. Last year when both summer and winter Olympics hosted in the same country Games to a much wider audience and it is only natural burden of the Games becoming a national challenge. 1948 London Post War impact on financial and human resources, rapid organisation of Games in just 18 months St Moritz Venue chosen based on experience in hosting (London) and neutrality in War (Switzerland) that one acknowledges the legacy that this event can Change is most radically felt in mainly one city - 1952 Helsinki First Olympic Park themed to attract tourists leave for the host nation, city and its community. improved infrastructure is usually the most tangible Oslo First and only Capital City to host Winter Olympics It is difficult to clearly measure the impact of such legacy and proof of success of these mega-events. 1956 Melbourne First time Games are held in Southern Hemisphere - remote location proved problematic. World conflicts also halved participants mega-events, especially their legacy. The various Winning cities use these events to rejuvenate, Cortina d’Ampezzo USSR’s first winter Olympics - acceptance as legacy host cities differ in context, culture, approach, accelerate and expand their infrastructural 1960 Rome Growth in World economy and technology (television rights sold for first time) Major upgrading of public transport and other infrastructure technique and ability. Sometimes the legacy can be investment that might have been shelved or seen as Squaw Valley Influence of climate realised with lack of snow nearly cancelling event a major regeneration project, infrastructure upgrade less critical or not feasible within the status quo. For 1964 Tokyo World wide satellite broadcast of Games. The recently invented computer used at Games for first time Innsbruck Influence of climate realised with lack of snow but snow brought in this time and major sporting venues, or even the growth of some, London 2012 is ‘unfinished business’ from the 1968 Mexico City More focused on comprehensive urban improvement schemes media exposure, technological advancement and Development Corporation days, in terms of the wider Grenoble Technology used for sport - frozen demineralised water produced a faster track, TV broadcast in colour 1972 Munich More focused on comprehensive urban improvement schemes. Terrorist attack social integration, as the adjacent table indicates. Docklands and east London regeneration initiatives. Sapporo First Games in Asia An Olympic history marked by major cost overruns If this is the case, then it offers a ‘refocused’ focused 1976 Montreal Long term debt and bad planning led to economic reforms and the introduction of and unrealistic budgets suggests that learning from approach! Innsbruck global sponsors and public/private partnerships 1980 Moscow International boycotts the past is not high on the agenda. The modern So how can we relay the valuable lessons learned? Lake Placid First use of artificial snow Games seem to have had credibility issues and Which cities should get a Gold, Silver or Bronze medal 1984 Los Angeles The use of existing facilities and volunteer system reduced costs. Olympic programme established and more profit made than all previous Olympics combined, international boycotts certain questions keep coming up: white elephants and are there any prizes for coming last in legacy Sarajevo TV revenues increased 5 times (big event stadiums); spiraling costs; budgets terms? Did anyone drop the baton or are we handing 1988 Seoul Urban transformation and upgrading neglected areas high on agenda. Games used as showcase of country’s culture underestimated; forceful displacement of existing down knowledge to those who will live with the Calgary This first No smoking Games took place on artificial snow. communities, with minimal monitoring of the impact legacy of the event? What happens after the events 1992 Barcelona Urban transformation upgrading neglected areas, showcase of country culture Albertville Last winter games to be staged in the same year as the summer games are over and the facilities are deserted by visitors not only on relocated business, but also the changed 1994 Lillehammer Called the White-Green Games in response to its environmental respect. Bosnian War but team made up of character of part of the city in terms of affordability, and the sporting elite? This issue offers some critical Croatians, Bosnians & Serbians vibrancy, diversity and cultural assets; the effect of viewpoints as to how London 2012 is preparing and 1996 Atlanta Tried to follow LA’s example but lacked adequate/existing facilities - lack of major investment 1998 Nagano Ecological clothing - staff uniforms recyclable a large construction site on communities; the effect moving towards delivering a legacy and the leverage 2000 Sydney Environment issues came to forefront: sustainability, green guidance, eco sensitive design of post-event gentrification, post-event clean-up, this gives to regeneration. We look at some world- 2002 Salt Lake City Funding for Games shared by City, state and entrepreneur 2004 Athens Major change in size approach. Plagued by corruption and strong request for change following the Games change-over costs and efforts; the impact on the local wide case studies, as well as an unsuccessful bid 2006 Turin Largest city ever to host Winter Games, First with mobile phone broadcasts economy of job creation; and now the effect of the to see what lessons, if any, cities can learn. We also 2008 Beijing Magnitude and scale was massive 2010 Vancouver Legacy of cumulative economic, social and environmental sustainability global downturn. look at two key elements of the modern day events: More recently the IOC has introduced the Olympic communities and parks, and touch on a recent Summer Olympics Winter Olympics Games Impact (OGI) Study to try to quantify the legacy conference that explored how to measure the legacy. of future Olympic Games. This is now a requirement for We should not be scared to learn from past. all host cities. Vancouver was the first Games Liezel Kruger, Principal Professional Officer for Urban Design at the •Cape Town Metropolitan Council
12 — Urban Design – Autumn 2010 – Issue 116 Issue 116 – Autumn 2010 – Urban Design — 13 Topic Topic
The LMF describes its proposals to create six new neighbourhoods: Placemaking and Legacy in • Stratford Waterfront – a distinctive waterfront location adjacent to the Waterworks River and Stratford City the 2012 Olympic Park • Olympic Quarter – a focus for sport, education Pat Willoughby explains the London 2012 proposals and housing around the Main Stadium • Old Ford – a family housing area focused on the waterways of the Hackney Cut • Hackney Wick East – a learning, living and working neighbourhood effect significant and long-lasting change: as an • Stratford Village – a family neighbourhood area event of global proportions, it had the potential to the north of Stratford City to leverage public and private sector investment • Pudding Mill Lane – a mixed employment and on an unprecedented scale. Long term plans housing areas in a unique waterfront setting could be prepared to tackle social, economic and environmental deprivation and funding could The Venues be assigned on a scale previously unimaginable. Distributed across these areas are the main Olympic Legacy lay at the heart of the Olympic Bid and, and Paralympic venues that will be retained in the indeed, the Games are sometimes portrayed as a legacy phase of development; some will be down- mildly interesting, but temporary, event that will sized and altered to suit their post-Games function. take place as part of a 25-30 year programme to • Stratford Urban Design and Public Realm create a new and vibrant heart for east London. Strategy This article considers the provisions being made Venue Games Legacy • Northern Olympic Fringe Masterplan for legacy in the Olympic Park and the extent to Olympic Centre piece of the Retaining athletics • Stratford Town Centre Urban Design Strategy which placemaking is at the heart of this agenda. It Stadium 2012 Games at its core; seating • Stratford Town Centre Supplementary Planning identifies the plans and strategies being put in place capacity reduced Guidance to guide and control change, and considers how to 20,000 good connectivity across the area will enhance the Aquatics Iconic building at Centre for swim- The importance of connectivity prospects for successful placemaking. New facilities Centre the main entrance ming at all levels This range of planning policy documents to the Olympic Park need to come together in a way that creates a place emphasises the extent to which connectivity will be with heart and soul, a beautiful and distinctive place VeloPark 6,000-seater A centre for world- a vitally important part of the process, essential to that people can call home, a good place to work cycling facility class cycling placemaking and the success of legacy. Plan-making and a place in which to enjoy their leisure time. The Multi- Centre for handball Venue for indoor has to recognise that connectivity will change plans that shape these areas need to have both a use and goalball sports, cultural and over time. Connections that are important to local long-term vision and inherent flexibility to let the Arena business events people today are between: detail of the development change over time. Above Press Home to the Major employment • key areas of housing and community focus all the communities around the Park need to buy and world’s media with site offering 91,000 • places which are centres of employment activity into the vision and adopt the strategy as their own. Broad- office and studio sq. m. in an excel- • mixed use high streets, shopping centres and cast space for 20,000 lent location town centres including the Leyton Centre and The opportunity The vision Centres journalists and Stratford The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic The vision for the Olympic Park after the Games is broadcasters • park and green spaces including Hackney Games present a once in a lifetime opportunity set out in the Legacy Masterplan Framework (LMF) Eton Hockey and tennis Hockey and tennis Marshes and Victoria Park to create deep-rooted and lasting change in some published in May 2009 following collaboration with Manor centre centre • waterside paths and leisure routes of the most deprived communities in the United stakeholders, and public consultation. This process • public transport stations and interchanges Kingdom. Sitting cheek-by-jowl with the world’s continues, and recently, the Legacy Youth Panel, including Leyton, Stratford, Maryland, Pudding financial institutions, the area displays the classic made up of 13-21 year olds, has been created to The intention is that these new neighbourhoods Mill Lane, Bow Road and Hackney Wick symptoms of failure: vacant and derelict land, engage young people in the long term planning and will expand to meet the existing, surrounding crumbling buildings, inadequate social, economic urban design of their area. The LMF describes how neighbourhoods, each growing into the other, But as the Olympic Legacy unfolds, these places will and environmental infrastructure, a fragmented the site will be transformed from an international reflecting the character of existing places, and not only need to be linked to each other but also landownership pattern, declining industries and visitor destination to the city’s major growth area helping to fulfil needs for new homes, jobs and local with the new developments including: a poorly skilled population. It has long been the in the 21st century. As a framework rather than services. The extent to which these neighbourhoods • Stratford City mixed use centre, complemented focus of regeneration activity but this has been a blueprint, the strategy allows for flexibility in are shaped and owned by the surrounding by Stratford International Station piecemeal, under-funded and short-term: the sheer relation to the detailed form, scale and amount of communities is vitally important. Lessons have • retained Olympic venues including those at scale of the problem has overwhelmed the many development in each part of the site. It very much been learned from the 1980s development Greenwich across the River Thames fragmented and disjointed initiatives. emphasises the need for a long term strategy, corporations where gated communities were • development platforms – the areas of mixed use Historically, a location for heavy industries and looking at development of the Olympic Park over juxtaposed with seriously deprived communities, development that will be subject to considerable special industrial processes, the site of the Olympic the next 20-30 years. resulting in social tension and friction. change over time Park has turned its back on the River Lea as it Perhaps the single most significant placemaking • the Fringe master plan areas meanders towards the Thames. For decades, the issue is the focus that the strategy gives to the Lower The Fringe master plans • extensive new parkland running through the four London boroughs that each control a part of Lea Valley. Lying at the heart of this regeneration To ensure that the Olympic Park, permanent heart of the Olympic Park the area, had other pressing problems to deal with, area, the Olympic Park becomes a focal point for venues, new homes and buildings connect well with somehow demanding more attention and resources interest and activity, unifying the forgotten edges of the surrounding areas, master plans have also been As the detail of the LMF and the Fringe master than this huge and complicated location could the four separate London Boroughs. The River Lea prepared for areas known as the Olympic Arc plans plans is worked up, and projects are identified for command. And then came the aspiration to host the is similarly transformed into a unifying element, or Fringe master plans, and have been developed by implementation, the authorities will need to ensure 2012 Olympic Games. contrasting with its historic function of separation. the London Boroughs in conjunction with the LMF. that the plans: The Borough boundaries have tended to reinforce These are: • reflect a broad understanding of the street network The importance of Legacy divisions and barriers. The focus on the Olympic • Hackney Wick and Fish Island Masterplan that surrounds and crosses the Olympic Park ↑ Olympic site: the six new From an early stage, the Olympic and Paralympic Park encourages stakeholders to work with each • Bromley by Bow Planning and Design Brief • focus on points of entry to, and around, the ↑ Opportunities to maximise neighbourhoods Games were recognised as having the potential to other and to cast aside traditional barriers. • Sugarhouse Lane and Three Mills Masterplan Olympic Park including existing gateways, public connectivity
14 — Urban Design – Autumn 2010 – Issue 116 Issue 116 – Autumn 2010 – Urban Design — 15 Topic Topic
established such an organisation at this early stage. In June 2010, following the change of Olympic Gardens: A Green government, the Mayor of London announced that he would like to control the legacy process. If this comes to fruition, the OPLC would be legacy of the Games reformed as a Mayoral Development Corporation, Hanwen Liao describes the landscape aspects of directly responsible to the Mayor and accountable to Londoners. This idea, however, has met with London’s plans resistance from the five London Boroughs and a final decision has yet to be taken. The private sector, however, is vitally important to the process, taking the lead on the housing-led, mixed use development opportunities over the next 25-30 years.
Conclusions The Olympic Games have rightly been seen as a unique opportunity to deliver unparalleled social, economic and environmental regeneration, in a world class location. The pressure of operating on a world stage encouraged the UK government to put in place a delivery vehicle for the Olympic Park and the Games venues: the ODA’s privileged position of having money, land and power, place it in an enviable position, but this should not detract from their success to date; work is generally ahead of schedule and within budget. Legacy has always been at the heart of the Olympic Bid and the importance of this has been consistently emphasised by the host boroughs and other stakeholders. Negotiations have been tense at times, but there is a shared sense of purpose and a willingness to work through the inevitable obstacles that will emerge. The planning policy context is well-formed and New Image of the Games gathering places for local citizens and visitors there is a continuing commitment to ensuring that The Olympic Games are not only great sporting to experience the festival atmosphere. After the the voices of existing local people are taken on contests; they are also about the grand design Games, they become a lasting legacy for the city and board, and to supporting the new communities as of competition venues and public spaces in host often act as tourist attractions. It is estimated that they become established in the new developments. cities. Each fresh celebration of the summer nearly four million visitors frequented the Munich The programme of temporary activities planned Games offers the opportunity for an important Olympic Park between 1972 and 1988. In Seoul and for the period immediately after the Games urban transformation and provides a unique more recently in Beijing, the Olympic Parks attract acknowledges the need for this area to become stage upon which a host city can present over six million visitors annually, even with an an accessible and welcoming part of the city, the elements of its culture and aspiration to a world entrance fee. antidote to the anticlimax of the post-Games period. audience. Compared to the colossal scale of The origin of the Olympic park can be traced As the plans move towards implementation, construction work in Beijing, London 2012 will back to Pierre de Coubertin (1863-1937), the the role of urban design will become increasingly be remembered as an unpretentious event from founder of the modern Olympic Movement’s important, as the placemaking agenda takes an urban perspective, with greater emphases concept of creating a modern Olympia in ‘which ↑ ↑ Olympic connectivity: transport stations and interchanges, bridges and shape. There is a clear recognition, however, that on the use of existing facilities, temporary sites buildings and landscape are perfectly harmonized where people want to be at water crossings - these will be places of arrival placemaking is more than planning and urban and low footprint venues. However, London’s in an expression of dignified and lofty purpose’. present and transition that should be celebrated through design, and that a wide range of interests needs to setting will be no less voluptuous than any of its However such an idyllic pastoral setting did not ↑ Olympic connectivity: where people will want to be the design and layout of the public realm and be satisfied; importantly, the dialogue with existing predecessors. In particular a single dominating fully emerge until the 1952 Helsinki Games. Since in the future positively fronted by development communities needs to continue to ensure that their feature could eclipse all other Olympic cities and then, the importance of Olympic parks as a tangible • reinforce all existing routes and connections that interests are taken on board. leave the most vivid memory of those Games: the green legacy of the Games and a beneficial inner- approach and link together the places of arrival With much of this in place, the greatest risk is handsomely designed Olympic parks and gardens city natural reserve, has been recognised by all host and transition undoubtedly that public sector funding streams will provide an innovative texture to the modern cities. Even Atlanta with a comparatively modest • firmly establish the Park in legacy with enhanced will dry up and that the private sector will be unable Olympic experience: green, vibrant, cheerful and venue, set up a small memorial park (21 acres) to patterns of connectivity between new and to access investment capital on the scale required. ecologically arresting. commemorate the 1996 Centennial Games. existing communities Recognition that this is a 25-30 year strategy Not all of the Olympic parks were conceived to • identify missing links in the network and ensure provides a sense of perspective and emphasises A short review of Olympic parks in embrace the beauties of horticultural landscape: that a permeable grid of streets is established the need to have sustained commitment. What history some, such as in Montreal 1976 and Athens east-west and north-south must also be remembered, however, is the scale Historically Olympic Games promote green spaces 2004 Games, are close to being urban settings of investment that has already taken place, and in two ways. One is through urban beautification with large paved urban squares and mighty Who will deliver this legacy? the obligation that this places upon government campaigns to introduce boulevards, cultivating architectural ensembles deliberately subjugating Originally, the organisation responsible for to keep the momentum going and to capitalise on green verges besides roads and buildings, and the surroundings. Some Olympic parks have planning, promoting and delivering the legacy this. Worldwide, the most successful regeneration creating small plazas or gardens for community established a rather rigid geometric axis in was the London Development Agency. In May schemes recognise that change takes a generation use. A more attractive option is to introduce assembling stadia and sports halls to state an 2009, these powers were transferred to the to work its way through the system; small, centralised Olympic parkland normally combining expression of order and monumentality (Berlin Pat Willoughby, •chartered town planner Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC), formed incremental steps that lead to the end goal and a range of urban amenities, open spaces and 1936 and Beijing 2008) whilst others are designed and Director, David Lock by the government and the Mayor of London. commitment to the overarching vision will greenery. During the Games, the Olympic Park is to give a sense of freedom and motion (Munich 1972 ↑ Panoramic view of the Associates Significantly, no other Olympic host city has ultimately lead to success. • undoubtedly the focus and provides celebratory and London 2012). Apparently the planning and Olympic Park, courtesy LDA 16 — Urban Design – Autumn 2010 – Issue 116 Issue 116 – Autumn 2010 – Urban Design — 17 Topic Topic
grounds, featuring picnic lawns, markets, and open air cafes. A 2,200 m2 Great British garden will also be created on the riverside to overlook the Olympic Learning from stadium. Inspired by a century’s endeavour of Olympians and Paralympians, the garden is planned Vancouver as a sequence of themed zones based on the colours of the Olympic medals: the bronze garden includes Anne Stevenson praises the city’s successful events a bronze water feature, rockery, sandpit and swing and legacy seat; the silver garden involves a spinney of silver birch trees and a large sundial set within silver- coloured paving as the centrepiece; and the gold garden includes a monumental oak tree with golden acorns engraved with the names of outstanding athletes. There is also a Poppy Day garden lined with sweet gum trees which will turn red close to Remembrance Day; two feature gardens to represent the industrial heritage of the host boroughs; and numerous grass covered playgrounds, public arts and unnamed allotment gardens, all linked by tree-lined park roads with specially designed surfacing, lighting and bollards. It has been estimated that more than 4,000 semi-mature trees, 300,000 wetlands plants and hundreds of thousands of plants and bulbs in various species will be planted across the park to create both vigorous and tranquil public spaces and habitats for hundreds of existing and rare wildlife.
Conclusions Just as Vancouver’s seventeen days of Winter also ensured that spending was directed towards Comparisons between the London Olympic Park Olympics began years before the lighting of the facilities with a known user demand. This helped to and its nearest predecessors are not without torch on February 13th 2010, the legacy of the safeguard against building new facilities that would interest. The 300 metre span trussed arches of Games will last for decades to come. The long-term be poorly used and become maintenance burdens. the Stadium Australia for the Sydney Games in impacts will be felt across a wide range of sectors The diffuse location of the venues also guarded 2000 (the largest stadium ever created); Santiago and not least in the fabric of the city itself. It is against a large area of single-use buildings that Calatrava’s £250m futuristic roof for the Athens already possible to see some significant successes, could become an urban wasteland after the Games. Olympic complex and Beijing’s steel-consuming as well as shortcomings, in the urban design Two major Olympic venues were newly built for Bird’s Nest, all deliver the same message: with the legacies of Vancouver’s Olympics, and both hold the Games and both represent an excellent approach latest technologies man can harness the nature important lessons for London 2012 and beyond. to ensuring that buildings are well used in future. and tame the environment. The London Olympic The Richmond Oval played host to the speed skating Park will depict something different: that the Background during the Olympics but now serves as a world-class natural environment rather than buildings should The International Organisation Committee of the centre for sports medicine, sports science, healthy ↑ Master plan of the London design of Olympic parklands reflect the economic dominate; and with this premise, man and nature Olympics (IOC) awarded Vancouver the 21st Winter living promotion and injury rehabilitation services. Olympic Park by the Olympic and socio-cultural interest of a nation and an era, should live side by side. Olympics on July 2nd 2003. The municipality Removable floor panels will allow the speed skating Delivery Authority as well as the collective hopes of the citizens for a Here, there is no attempt at either grandeur or is home to 600,000 people and the Greater ring to be used again for national and international looking from the north ↑↑ An illustration of Kapoor’s different future. the immortal, but only the light-hearted and Vancouver area contains over two million residents; events, and the community also now has access to a ArcelorMittal Orbit human dimension. Whereas Sydney, Athens and it is therefore the largest city to host the Winter wide range of facilities within the building including The new London Olympic Park Beijing’s settings bore the thumbprint of human Games, and one of the most densely populated two ice rinks, eight ball-sport courts, a gymnasium, Improving the green spaces in Stratford was one of accomplishment throughout, London’s planning areas, matching Greater London density levels. 200m running track and rubberised turf area. The the selling points of London’s bid. The development and design looks ahead to a new decade of eco- Although officially hosted by the City of Vancouver, success of the Richmond Oval is already evident. of the London Olympic Park will transform over living reflecting the long-standing British passion the surrounding suburbs of Richmond and West Opened 14 months before the Olympic Games, it has 200 ha of degraded brownfield land into a new for horticulture and country life. However there Vancouver also held some of the events - these cities already reported a $1.1million (£730,000) profit urban oasis with a rich collection of sports facilities will also be grand structures to ‘arouse the curiosity will be referred to here collectively as Vancouver. in 2009, despite predictions of an operating loss of surrounded by large grasslands, waters and groves. and wonder of Londoners and visitors’ – the The organising body for the Winter Games was $300,000 (£200,000) in its first year. The facility Masterplanned by the EDAW Consortium with Arup Olympic Park will be home to Anish Kapoor’s known as VANOC, the Vancouver Organising is run by the Richmond Olympic Oval Corporation and Atkins, the new park will cover four miles along ArcelorMittal Orbit, a 377 ft high sculptural steel Committee, which worked closely with the City whose sole shareholder is the City of Richmond. This the leafy Lower Lee Valley from Hackney Marshes tower, the largest public work of art in the UK. of Vancouver, the other municipalities involved, project therefore provides a lasting legacy of sports in the north to the River Thames. Built around a A new icon for east London, Orbit will be used provincial and federal governments. provision, but also a long-term source of income. network of rejuvenated rivers and canals, UK’s as an observation tower with unparalleled views The Vancouver Olympics and Paralympics largest new urban park will not be just a vast open of the park and London’s stunning skyline. The Venues Centre was also newly built for the Games and space, but will be divided into a series of smaller daring design of Orbit and the gentle scenery of Aside from alpine events held in Whistler, the hosted curling events. It is currently being refitted themed gardens with distinctive characters and Olympic gardens can perhaps be seen in stark majority of Olympic venues were accommodated and expanded to provide an upgraded community design. contrast; but each of them is distinctly British in within the urban fabric of Vancouver itself. An centre, to house the existing local curling club, Hanwen Liao, There will be a hanging garden set 30ft above origin and demonstrates exquisite craftsmanship admirably minimalist approach was taken to venues indoor and outdoor pools, a library, preschool, •Researcher, School ground on the pedestrian footbridge dangling from and creativity. The buildings, sculpture works and with many existing facilities upgraded to meet full-sized gym, multi-purpose rooms, aerobics of Architecture and Stratford City, with meadows, lawns, shrubs and enchanting landscape will all be indispensible Olympic requirements. Of the six major venues and games rooms, and fitness centre. The full Construction, University of rows of trees welcoming visitors over the main contributions to the success of the Games. within the city, four were existing buildings that legacy community complex will open in 2011, and ↑ Legacy is a sustainable, Greenwich, and author with mixed-use neighbourhood Adrian Pitts of Sustainable gateway into the park. A London 2012 garden will Together, they will provide a rich legacy for London underwent refurbishment for the Games. demonstrates how the Olympics can be a catalyst that makes the most of its Olympic Design and Urban be laid for half a mile between the Aquatics Centre and for the modern Olympic Movement, and should Reusing existing buildings significantly reduced for lasting community benefits. waterfront location and Development (2009) and the Olympic Stadium as the Games memorial be cherished by many for years to come. • the capital investment needed for the Games, and The Olympics were also seen as an opportunity proximity to downtown 18 — Urban Design – Autumn 2010 – Issue 116 Issue 116 – Autumn 2010 – Urban Design — 19 Topic Topic
street design is flexible enough to allow temporary established a document of design considerations. closures in the future. Broad principles were established, including the Careful monitoring of movement patterns need for distinct neighbourhood precincts, clear before and during the Games also provided a strong street hierarchies, connected public open spaces evidence base for the city’s future transport plans. and parks, heritage recognition and waterfront The tracking showed a 30% increase in use and animation. An example of this is the colour palette that the model split could be shifted towards more for the Olympic Village, where city officers asked the sustainable forms of transport. In a place where design team to undertake a colour study of the area. people appear wedded to their cars, the Olympics Though a derelict industrial site may seem to hold evidence provided solid support for the city’s vision little promise, the study uncovered a rich diversity for 50% of journeys to be made by public transport, of colours that provided the Village with a unique walking or cycling by 2020. palette that also reflected the history of the site.
Housing Key lessons Social sustainability and inclusion were also heavily The Vancouver Olympics set a high standard of emphasised in Vancouver’s Olympic bid, with the urban design for host cities. A clear imperative to Olympic Village built in the most deprived area of build venues for the legacy, rather than the Games, the city, becoming one of the most controversial has led to a lasting investment in community aspects of the Games. Before the bid was declared, facilities. Vancouver’s transportation experience local interest groups raised concerns that the shows that high quality public transport can to improve the environmental performance of requirements of the Olympic Village would outweigh convince people to give up their cars and that buildings. All facilities used in the Games were the needs of the local population and provide little demonstration projects can raise aspirations. The expected to meet at least a LEED Silver rating local benefit. An Inner City Inclusive (ICI) Statement Olympic Village equally shows the importance of (roughly equivalent to BREEAM Good or Very was therefore developed and submitted as part of independent monitoring for development gains as Good), leading to improved energy performance Vancouver’s bid, with input from local residents well as how positive working relationships between but also raising awareness of sustainable design. and community groups. Similar to a Section 106 developers and the city can lead to world-class Anne Stevenson, urban ↑ Canada Line trains •designer, worked in London take passengers from agreement, it outlined core principles, including the places. Though not without its shortcomings, the for the past 4 years and has international Airport local employment opportunities, affordable housing urban design for Vancouver’s Olympic Games has recently returned to Canada to to downtown in less The study uncovered a rich diversity and community facilities to be delivered. certainly earned itself a place on the podium. continue her planning career than 30 minutes After the Olympic bid was won, the ICI Statement • of colours that provided the Village became a legally binding agreement, but with only with a unique palette that also VANOC and the IOC as signatories. However, the community groups involved in drafting the ICI reflected the history of the site Statement had no means of enforcing it, which led to considerable ill-will; many of the ICI commitments were ultimately delivered, but there has been little Beijing Olympics recognition of this due to the poor relationships that Jun Huang describes how a new era has started Transportation were created between VANOC and the community. Sustainable transport is one of the most successful Financing was another major challenge in the legacies of Vancouver’s Olympic Games. The need delivery of the Village, as the project fell victim to for a new SkyTrain line had been identified twenty both the boom and the bust of the global economy. Beijing’s Olympics has been regarded as one of years ago, yet plans were shelved due to constraints Work on the Olympic Village began at the peak of the the most successful in history, not only for its and lack of a political will. The Olympics provided a global construction boom, which led to skyrocketing iconic stadiums, spectacular ceremony shows motivation for its construction and the Canada Line costs. The Olympics also created a local, secondary and outstanding game performances, but more has continued to be used since, with usership just boom so that labour and materials became importantly, for its high spirit. Two years on, when short of the break-even point for operating costs, expensive. The credit crunch also did Vancouver’s the west struggles in the recession, the Games’ and three years ahead of schedule. Olympic Village no favours - the financial group legacy continues to inspire not only the nation, but Other successful aspects of legacy transport backing the Village’s developers pulled out, leaving the whole world. planning include recognising the City’s a massive funding gap which the City of Vancouver For Beijing the Olympics offered the rebirth of Transportation Department approaching filled, to much public outcry. China. As a vast country with 56 ethnic groups, streetcar manufacturers to become partners in a Even though these issues provoked strong China has always been a place where an individual’s demonstration transport project. In return for the public debate, from an urban design perspective, interest contributes toward the national interest. City refurbishing existing tracks between Granville the City of Vancouver has maintained a strong This sense of individual purpose and importance Island and the Olympic Village, Bombardier commitment to the quality of development. There has helped the nation to succeed and enabled her provided two free streetcars for use during the was considerable public pressure to eliminate people to accomplish many seemingly impossible Games. Bombardier benefited from extensive brand affordable housing given the significant rise in costs, missions. It also demonstrates how a country, by exposure and the Transportation Department and from developers to convert family housing into having a common goal or purpose, can harness its was able to showcase new public transit. During more smaller units to increase returns on final sales. skills, ambition and determination to achieve much the 60 days, over 550,000 journeys were made Although half were switched from social rented to more. on the streetcar, including over 10,000 families key worker and shared ownership tenure units, the with strollers. While the City has not been able to full amount of affordable housing was delivered Urban Development and Policies continue to finance the service, it demonstrated its onsite. The number of family units was also A new generation of decision-makers has emerged, feasibility and made residents aware and supportive maintained, ensuring a more sustainable community with multiple skills including exposure to of this mode of public transportation. in the long run. international procedures, education and the ability dealing with a problem. Their sense of national The Olympics also allowed for experiments; The quality of the urban design can be credited to translate it to fit with Chinese culture. It was pride inspired outlandish plans demonstrating several downtown streets were pedestrianised to a strong and collaborative working relationship recognised that the ongoing development of Beijing the vision, passion and determination of China during the Games, and residents and city officials between the City of Vancouver’s urban design team as an international city was a critical part of the and its people, coupled with great co-operation. ↑ The Richmond Oval retrofitted for community have commended the lively atmosphere lent to and project architects. Keen not to impose onerous Olympic agenda. It prompted Beijing’s authorities In addition, the Beijing General Urban Plan (2004- use, promotes healthy living Vancouver as a result. While the decision was restrictions on development but rather a consistent to re-evaluate the city’s structure. The Beijing 2020) provides for new areas of development ↑ Beijing - Media Village 2 - in the area made to reintroduce buses to these routes, the level of quality across the site, city officers Olympics show how the Chinese think big when around the Olympics site, which alleviate pressure Courtesy UA Design in Beijing
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in bringing the Chinese people together? Society ←← Beijing - Media Village did not disappoint itself - 1.7 million volunteers ← Beijing - Street Scene - were involved including pensioners, students and Courtesy S Vision professionals of all ages, and such a number is unlikely to be surpassed by any future Games. The impact it had on China as a nation was phenomenal with most people believing it to be the greatest reunion in many years. The Olympics proved to be the catalyst in bonding the nation and reinforcing key values of Chinese culture.
A new generation of Chinese designers and engineers are now in China. This offers a great opportunity for both afterlife, but it has only been two years since the recognised as inquisitive and decision-makers and the public to review the city’s event and in the middle of a global recession, economic structure and work together in defining so time will tell. All of the buildings have been pushing on the international stage and shaping its future. On the Olympics site, designed to adapt to future uses and The Bird’s Nest sustainable technologies were applied wherever has already attracted millions of visitors to a series possible, with a wide range of solar-powered of profitable events. It will take time to recover all products making significant energy savings and of its development and maintenance costs, but this International Relationship encouraging Chinese manufacturers to develop does not concern China, as the nation is proud to China’s rapid urbanisation and modernisation affordable cutting-edge products for the Olympics. have hosted such dramatic and impressive Olympic has impacted profoundly on its relationship with Games. Indeed one needs to look at the massive the outside world. Two centuries of scepticism by Experience impact it has had on the city and the nation, its the west towards China appears to be declining as The scale of the Beijing Olympics was commercial value, sense of pride and especially its China continues to be the global leader in industrial unprecedented so the experience gained was vision – this bigger picture is invaluable for China. and economic growth. But is that enough? The immensely invaluable for China as a whole. It has Beijing Olympics was China’s first opportunity to contributed to the Shanghai Expo and Asian Games MEDIA VILLAGE AND ATHLETES VILLAGE show the world what it is about. China sees this in Guangzhou 2010, and no doubt to other similar The case of the Media and Athletes Villages as being crucial to developing positive, long-term events around the world. offer a very successful story in Olympics legacy international relations. terms. They were both pre-sold before the Games Limits and were altered into commercial flats straight Creativity and Technology Limits, like fears, are always just illusions. For afterwards. Bing Zhang, director of UA Design The Olympics and its massive construction projects China this means that their nation is held together which designed the Media Village, explains: ‘The prompted change for China with new building by the pursuit of targets and its willingness to state got the best media village in the history of typologies and innovative ideas. The success push limits and achieve immovable deadlines, as the Games with very limited investment. The was attributed greatly to the close collaboration demonstrated in the construction of the Olympic developers sold all properties at a higher price between domestic and foreign designers, as well as buildings. prior to the Games and the procedure and risks manufacturers and contractors. Ground-breaking were normal. The residents and investors benefited to develop land within the city – something which is concepts would not have been realised without Legacy most with 1.5 fold property value gains in less different to current western thinking. people pushing themselves beyond their comfort The Olympics is always a huge opportunity for than two years. This demonstrates how China’s zones, creating a strong intellectual base in China. the host nation, not just as a tourism marketing top-down policy effectively works and how events Site location China had been one of the most advanced tool or as a catalyst for a programme of urban like the Olympics should be operated.’ Thanks to The Olympics site is located between the 4th and countries for much of global history, but was left improvement, but also to instil national pride to the Games’ high specification, these developments 5th ring roads in north Beijing, equidistant to the behind in recent centuries due to foreign invasion encourage generations to come. Because of this, enjoyed top quality infrastructure and facilities, airport, Forbidden City, and Summer Palace. One and political upheaval. The last three decades of Beijing’s legacy is difficult to quantify in numbers, and much more advanced technologies than other may ask why it was not chosen to be in a deprived rapid economic reform has changed China’s image but there are some tangible legacies. similar schemes. Both villages have now become area as London 2012 is; firstly, Beijing’s ongoing on the world stage. However being referred to as exemplary communities that set the benchmark for boom means there are no such deprived areas, and the world’s factory sounds more like an insult than a The Bird’s Nest a sustainable future development. this location meets Beijing’s urban development compliment. Because of this, China is determined to The Bird’s Nest has been praised as a most iconic strategy; secondly, it can benefit from the upgraded become a creative hub again and has set ‘Designed stadium; it is the product of a unique historic Conclusion training and hotels facilities on the 1990 Asian in China’ as one of the key aims in the 12th Five-Year moment and could not have been built at any other Looking back, there seems to have been no better Games site nearby; and thirdly, its infrastructure plan (2011 to 2015). Therefore China’s effort in the time or anywhere else. Despite being perceived time than the 8th August 2008 (08-08-08) for development will stimulate the city’s economy Olympics was much more sophisticated than just as a very expensive showpiece, the Bird’s Nest China to host the Olympics. When China lost and its close-to-city location will contribute to a showing off what can be achieved, but to inspire actually cost a modest £190m, less than a quarter her first bid for the 2000 Olympics in 1993, the sustainable tourism strategy. It will be interesting people to push the boundary and re-establish their of Wembley’s £798m, and few would know that country was perhaps not ready financially nor to see how out-of-town Stratford fares. confidence and pride. A new generation of Chinese it underwent a massive value re-engineering psychologically. But by 2008 China grew to a stage designers and engineers are now recognised as with a 20% cost saving, including 10% saving where she was capable of helping the Games and Social Engagement inquisitive and pushing on the international stage. on steel, and was still completed on time. There herself to enter a new phase. The Olympics is The essence of Chinese culture has been that the is criticism about its excessive use of steel but it much more than just the Games showing off a host whole is greater than the individual, which means Environmental Awareness was never intended to be purely a stadium – it is city or presenting a country, it is evidence that people are always willing to sacrifice personal China’s 11th Five-Year Plan (2006 to 2010) was an icon for the event and the new era for China - a a world can live in harmony and all the nations interest for the benefit of the national gain. the first to put ideas of environmental quality place that people will want to visit long after the can engage and inspire each other to strive for a However, the drastic economic reform over the before economic growth. A series of decisive Games, together with other attractions such as the sustainable success. This is now also evident in last three decades has had a negative impact on measures were taken by the authorities to improve Forbidden City and Tian’an Men square. That is its the successful outcome of the South Africa World Chinese society with communities being divided environmental quality, not only for the Olympics, legacy and it is akin to the Paris Eiffel Tower and Cup. The question of legacy can be answered by the by materialism and self interest. This meant that but for the future of the city. Immediate effects and London’s Millennium Wheel, as exhibition pieces importance of vision. The essence of the Olympics the Olympics also had the purpose to reunite significant improvements have convinced those developing into national treasures. is about engaging and inspiring the nations to • Jun Huang is Benoy’s ↑ Beijing Olympic Site Plan Chinese society. How successful was the Olympics who doubted and set an example for other cities Generally Olympic venues struggle to find an thrive, rather than providing a circus just for fun. • Director for China 22 — Urban Design – Autumn 2010 – Issue 116 Issue 116 – Autumn 2010 – Urban Design — 23 Topic Topic
IMPLEMENTATION It is widely accepted that the National Socialists THE LEGACY OF THE BERLIN 1936 were heavily involved in the implementation of the infrastructure and the staging of the Games. OLYMPICS The extent of the direct involvement of Hitler and his architectural advisor Speer are disputed. Costs Neil Corteen explains what has happened to the facilities were poorly documented and unreliable, equally disputed was the price paid for land as it was used for the Games compulsory purchased. The immense costs for the ever grander Games were mostly paid for by the state, as the citizens of the world were to be the improved city infrastructure. This article reviews guests of Germany; the approach routes were paid the extraordinary circumstances behind these for by the City of Berlin. New orders were given for Olympics, the years that followed and what the the existing stadium to be demolished and a new legacy means today. 100,000 capacity stadium to be built, along with a major sports area for specific competitions, an PRE OLYMPICS SITE outdoor stage, an area to accommodate 250,000 The city experienced massive development after participants (Maifeld) and an Athletes Village. 1871 as it took on the role as the new republic’s There was no clear conception until 14th capital. The wooded area that would become December 1933 when Hitler was presented with the site of the main Olympic complex was three prototypes to choose from, and the final developed into a horse racing venue and sports approval was given on the same day without any academy in 1909, to serve the expanding clear information of costs and details. Much of the population; it was made possible by the building labour was provided via a work creation programme of new roads and an overland rail route. Shortly to engage the unemployed masses; this is also a after completion, a 30,000 capacity stadium and reason while so much stone was used as it required Olympic sized pool was built in the centre of the a large low skilled labour force. horse track to accommodate the 1916 Summer Olympics, which was eclipsed by WWI and so REICHSSPORTFELD never took place. The design and building of the stadium, the ensemble surrounding it known as das Reichssportfeld (the THE SUMMER OLYMPICS Empires sports ground) and the athletes village The Games were again awarded to Berlin in 1931, was mainly credited to Werner March, the son of a gesture to normalise relations between Germany the architect of the original stadium. He adopted and the international community. At that time, a popular stylistic manner known as der neuen Berlin was the third largest city in the world with a Sachlichkeit (the new objectivity). As this style was recreational facilities as well as its own heating population of 4.5 million people. The Games were also later adopted by the National Socialists for and water processing plants. The application of the to focus on the existing enlarged and upgraded increasingly monumental developments, it was venues post-Olympics quickly became apparent stadium. Funding was envisaged via the sale of branded as Nazi architecture. as the stadium and the Maifeld were used for mass 900,000 tickets to raise 4 million of the estimated The majority of events were concentrated on a public addresses and military parades, the sports cost of 5.5 million Reichmarks. The balance would 132ha site on the south west boundary of the city, facilities used for youth and military training and come from donations and a lottery, and the state bordered by forest and the borough of Spandau the Athletes Village became a military barracks. was to provide advanced finance and a guarantee of beyond. Facilities included a sports academy, 6 million Reichmarks. several swimming pools, training facilities as THE COLD WAR YEARS However, the National Socialists with Adolf well as a hospital and accommodation for female The main Olympic facilities survived WWII with Hitler as their leader came to power in 1933 participants. The 96,200 capacity stadium was minimal structural damage. As the city was divided, and quickly turned the fragile democracy into a incorporated into the city structure via an east-west the Olympic stadium complex lay in the Western dictatorship. The National Socialist movement axis stretching from the West End, to the 500 metre Allies sector and was commandeered by the British was unsurpassed at staging public spectacles long Olympisher Platz, the stadium, then army. The Stadium, Waldbühne and main swimming and quickly realised the potential of the Games culminated with a 76m bell and viewing tower pool were quickly returned to state control and as a means to expand their influence and spread (Glockenturm), which rose above the Maifeld, a used by the public. Their use and maintenance were propaganda. The change of leadership with its 250,000 capacity parade ground. A lesser north- determined by the City of Berlin administration. absolute power base essentially hijacked the Games, south axis led from an artillery road to Courbertin The stadium was renovated for the 1974 World and the dimensions of the event and facilities took Platz, the stadium and the swimming pool. The Football Championships. The Maifeld and the on new proportions. existing over and underground stations were Reichssportfeld were used by the British army until The 1936 Games became infamous for many expanded and remodelled as were roads serving their withdrawal in 1994. The complex was quickly The fortunes of the venues and infrastructure reasons. The doctrine of the ruling party was at links to the city and motorway. repaired and incrementally modernised, thought developed for the 1936 Berlin Games reflect odds with most participating nations and was The stadium was conceived so that the sports the physical appearance hardly changed over the much of the city’s chequered history. Despite almost fully boycotted; Jesse Owens famously field and half of the seating were below ground following decades. During this time the site was its age and the tainted circumstances of its disposed theories of Aryan race superiority as he level, making the scale more impressive once not accessible to the public and the British army development, its relevance remains valid to the claimed four gold medals. The event was stage- inside. Structure and continuity are evident across enjoyed the exclusive use of the sports facilities. It planning of large sporting events. The lessons managed for drama and was amongst the first the complex. The grounds were landscaped so was well maintained thanks to generous German are less of its inception, but more of a bold major sporting events to be captured on film and that parking spaces were screened by trees; sports tax payers’ funds. The Athletes Village lay in the vision which has survived the test of time in a artistically directed. It was also the first Games to venues were sunken into the ground so that views of sector controlled by the USSR, and was reused as a traumatised city. be televised live, 25 public viewing rooms were set the main stadium would not be obscured. barracks for 20,000 Red Army soldiers until their ↑ The main entrance to the Major physical legacies and infrastructure up across the city so that residents could enjoy the Less known is an Athletes Village developed to withdrawal in 1992. The complex was adapted and Olympic Stadium remain today; of particular significance are the spectacle. In contrast to modern Olympics, winners house male athletes and delegates during the Games new system built housing blocks were erected. ↑ Looking east from the ↑↑ The Maifeld during spring Bell Tower over the Olympic re-turfing work, overlooked Olympic Stadium, the Waldbühne (an open air were modestly rewarded with crowns of leaves and which was built in Döberitz, 14 km to the west, Finances diminished and the soldiers lived in Stadium with Berlin beyond by Josef Wackerles ‘Der theatre in the forest), an adaptable multi-sports oak trees in pots. outside the city limits. The village incorporated deteriorating conditions, isolated from the local ↑↑ The Waldbühne, the Rosseführer’ complex, a public open-air swimming pool and 140 residential blocks, a hospital, training and population. stage in the forest
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and is occasionally used for large spectator events. The Waldbühne remains a major summer venue with open air concerts and cinema filling the CAPE TOWN 2004 programme. The Olympic pool remains one of the Peter de Tolly reflects on the urban design legacy of city’s most popular open air pools. Beyond the best known venues are the sports facilities built this unsuccessful bid for the Olympics and now used by registered sport and school groups and as the training ground for Berlin’s recently relegated football team Hertha BSC. The facility is of particular use for competition level athletes. The Athlete Village’s fortunes have been less certain. Due to the basic standard of much of the initial development and the poor maintenance during military use by the USSR, many of the buildings decayed. Since the early 1990s parts of the site have been renovated and the remaining buildings given listed status, but they continue to deteriorate. It is open for seasonal public viewing and information is provided in displays and on large hoardings, but commercial interest in the site remains muted; the location is poorly connected to the city by public transport though road access is good. There appears to be a lack of demand or a vision for its future use.
The overland and underground trains cope with large crowds with ease as extra capacity can be accommodated at peak On 5 September 1997, President Nelson Mandela, pasts, Cape Town faces problems rooted in the volumes Deputy President Thabo Mbeki, government and distribution of assets, income, rights and power sporting dignitaries, and the Cape Town 2004 over the use of resources. The challenge in creating Olympic Bid Company gathered to present Cape a sustainable future for the city was to bring a Town’s Bid to host the 2004 Olympic Games. It positive relationship to three key elements: the was Africa’s and South Africa’s first city to bid to environment, poverty and development. The ↑ The Sports Academy at TODAY’S LEGACY SUMMARY host the Games; a developing city in a developing Olympic Plan would be the start of this as it Reichssportfeld It could be hard to befriend the Reichssportfeld Many of the venues have been in use for over sixty country, in a predominantly third world continent. organised the location of facilities and connecting ↑↑ Outdoor training facilities complex due to its conception and aesthetic as Nazi years. There have been periods of uncertainty, It was one of the last shortlisted cities, with Athens, infrastructure, while hosting the Games would at Reichssportfeld architecture. However the Stadium and Waldbühne requiring public intervention to set up organisational Rome, Stockholm, and Buenos Aires. That Cape continue this process. are particularly embedded in the collective memory structures and funding for renovation. But despite Town had made it this far was recognised as an of West Berliners as major entertainment venues any initial ideas of future sustainability, the facilities outstanding achievement, as seven other cities had Spatial and Transport Plans from the time when the city was divided. The and infrastructure have proved to be robust enough not made the second round. When IOC President The Olympic Plan and Olympic Transport Plan were complex belongs to the city but is run as a private to allow for adaptation for modern needs. Some Samaranch announced the winner as Athens, that underpinned by the Metro and City spatial planning venture, allowing many profit-making events facilities have fallen into disrepair and still face an was the end of the city’s dreams. Yet the Olympic frameworks and an integrated metro transport to continue to attract hundreds of thousands of unknown future but this is mainly due to neglect Bid’s stated developmental philosophy was unique plan. They: visitors to the city each year. during the city’s division. in Olympic history and drew attention to third- • provided planning frameworks and site The infrastructure serving the venues has been Today the stadium, Waldbühne and world issues, challenging 100 years of first-world information for twenty existing and new metro upgraded but remain much as it was. In particular Reichssportfeld in particular provide a framework cities. sub-centres the overland and underground trains cope with in which to juggle diverse and conflicting uses. • developed the framework for a hierarchy of large crowds with ease as extra capacity can Usage is monitored and future potential is The City sports and recreation facilities well into the 21st be accommodated at peak volumes, and serve reviewed so that demands can be accommodated The Cape Town Bid was recognised by its century extensive exhibition and conference facilities and facilities adapted. Importantly, they are now competitors as being technically very strong, • developed an integrated approach to the several kilometres west. successfully managed at arm’s length to balance the including a Transport Plan to 2010, but also by provision of sports and recreation facilities, as The stadium remains the most iconic venue. The need to raise private capital, as well as serve public being developmental and urban design driven, so multipurpose community centres most recent adaption was in 2004 in time for the use and national interest. Many other benefits are that people development was added to the IOC’s • defined a transport system to take Cape Town 2006 World Cup Final. Its conversion into a multi long forgotten or simply not known by the public, traditional Sport, Culture and the Environment. The through to 2010, with the provision of efficient, functional venue with vastly improved facilities and such as the improved transport links, or the range Olympic Plan not only met the IOC’s and Sporting safe, co-ordinated public transport for all spectator roof coverage enables it to meet modern of training facilities for top athletes. It would be Federations’ requirements, but assisted the post- • provided the impetus for accelerated longer- expectations and makes it more flexible to extend difficult to imagine the city without these Olympic apartheid city, as an ethical stance pursued by term plans for Cape Town Airport and associated usage. Expanded facilities including additional venues and the events that have taken place the Olympic Bid Company, the City of Cape Town, capital improvements. parking, with conference and training facilities there. the national Olympic Committee and national developed underground to retain the stadium’s • government. While the Games are for athletes, the The Olympic Plan’s spatial proposals were designed character. In 2009 alone, the stadium hosted three legacy must focus on the city’s and nation’s people, to leave a functional and qualitative city-wide legacy major sporting events as well as major concerts. so urban design, with its concern for the structure by: Neil Corteen is The main entrance building of the Maifeld and form of the city, was the foundation of the concentrating large facilities within the Olympic •a town planner and • researcher based in has been refurbished to house an exhibition, the legacy of the Olympic Plan. Corridor encompassing the City Centre and Cape Germany parade ground is usually marked as sports pitches As a result of its colonial and apartheid Town Olympic Park ↑ The Olympic master plan
26 — Urban Design – Autumn 2010 – Issue 116 Issue 116 – Autumn 2010 – Urban Design — 27 Topic Topic
Centres were semi-dispersed in nearby towns, and responding to the developmental needs of the metropolitan population, the eighty-five training Anatomy of Mega-Projects venues were dispersed according to highest social Judith Ryser gathers critiques of the legacy planning need. Sports halls were designed as multi-purpose centres to provide the focus for community life, and its opportunities opportunities for small business development, information resource centres, vocational training centres, and cultural activity.
Funding Central government was to fund Priority Projects to R350m ($79m) in total, with R86m ($20m) on sports facilities and R250m ($59m) on transport planning and improvements. Projects were chosen where they would act as catalysts for other employment-creating developments, government public facilities, and much-needed facilities. Transport funds were spent in the metro south-east - the area in greatest need. The creation of housing needed for the athletes and media posed major challenges but the scale and impetus of hosting the Games was a much needed catalyst to action. Affordable housing was then and still is a major need, together with after-use sustainability.
The Olympic Plan provided for affordable, sustainable housing developments by: • aiming to leave a legacy of housing for the middle income among the subsidised poor • allowing for future demand for affordable housing on well-located city sites - the plans included relocatable structures to release inner city land afterwards, for more permanent denser rental housing stock, or other scenarios • allowing opportunities for an increase in tenure ↑ Map showing the impact of • locating other new venues in a semi-dispersed options, potentially fast-tracking new joint Mega projects like the Olympic Games are in a development strategies. Ultimately Stratford the Games on Metropolitan distribution within highly accessible existing and ventures for housing between local government league of their own in the urban development City will see the international Eurostar station, Cape Town future growth centres and the private sector process. Their sheer scale and timeframes put Crossrail, an improved overground rail network, • providing mixed-use development for • remediating land and high-quality public spaces; them outside normal practice. What has been and new interchanges, turning it into the most commercial opportunities and transforming their rules of engagement is important multi-modal node in East London, and • making the best possible use of existing • designing housing in mixed-use centres. securitisation, the brainchild of the liberalised lending itself to high-density mixed-development. infrastructure financial sector, attributing a financial and Public money raised for the Olympics has freed • dispersing training venues and facilities in Conclusions fiscal role to real estate by converting it into a more land for development and the legacy will relation to local community needs. In conclusion, Cape Town’s Olympic Plan had commodity, and effectively dislocating the built accelerate housing provision. But how much will two aims: to help the City of Cape Town to realise environment from its use value. Mega projects have benefit local communities? At the heart of the Plan was a 10 km Olympic its vision for the future, and to host a Games of therefore become the Mecca of the development One way of exploring the future of the Lea Valley Corridor, within which five Olympic centres the highest quality for the athletes, IOC Family industry, yielding extraordinary profits, and the East End is to obtain views from diverse contained five villages and 21 sports. The Victoria and media, and spectators. The Cape Town Bid benefiting from overt or indirect public subsidies, parties. Institutions claiming a stake in this process and Alfred Waterfront would be home to the IOC sought to make people development central to the externalising risks, and sheltered from ultimate have mushroomed; the Olympic Park Legacy Family; the harbour would provide the Centre traditional Olympic Vision - an emphasis wholly failure, commanding state bail-outs and tax payers’ Company (OPLC) set up in 2009, and a panoply of for the Sponsors; part of a rehabilitated railway appropriate for a developing city in a developing rescue packages. partners give a panorama of official positions. yards (Culemborg) would be the Media Centre and country. It also took the environmental challenge It is this chain of interdependence which Village; and connected by freeway and two rail lines seriously, and urban design played a central role mediates initial disruption and creates institutional Social Dimension and Critical was the main Olympic Centre – Cape Town Olympic in the preparation of the Olympic Plan. The Bid instruments, combining land ownership, regulatory Perspective Park at Wingfield. Company’s in-house team was complemented powers, the public purse, development know-how The City Centre in Queen Mary University’s The Park was a 330 ha site for athletes and by volunteer urban designers, architects, urban and marketing, assisted by inescapable Olympic Department of Geography preserves a keen interest officials. From this, six sports in eight disciplines planners and other professionals to ensure that its Games deadlines. A crucial part of this process is in the legacy of the Games, especially for the local were within easy walking distance, as well as being spatial design would be appropriate to purpose and the narrative devised to win establishment support population: a symposium in 2009 highlighted the linked by electric shuttle. The Village bordered the place. The detailed designs for the Olympic Centre and appease the local population. Central to the local expectations. Is the People’s Legacy of the rowing and sprint canoeing course and north of at Wingfield and the Media Centre at Culemborg case of the 2012 Olympics is the legacy promise - yet London Olympic Games 2012 going to set new the Main Stadium would be the Village for judges show the spatial environment that would have been another attempt to lift London’s East End out of its standards for the social, economic and political and referees - normally housing parliamentarians created. The Priority Projects that were constructed predicament. There is no space here to go into lack legacy compared to previous initiatives in London? when Parliament is in session. Both Culemborg give a snapshot view of what would have been had of transparency, changes of direction, throughput The Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) is and Wingfield are government-owned sites – a Cape Town been successful. of actors, budgetary acrobatics, and lottery of in charge of developing, managing, operating and WW2 airfield and an operational railway yard • winners and losers. What matters is what happens marketing community participation. But it has respectively. Both would require remediation when the show is over. institutionalised a consultation process exposed ↑ The Fletcher Priest/ Peter De Tolly, Former ARUP and West 8 master •Director of Planning and and new infrastructure; only the magnitude of The 2012 Olympic Games have merely to scrutiny by local pressure groups. Among them, plan for Stratford City which Environment, Cape Town investment to host the Olympic Games could make accelerated regeneration already planned by the Legacy Now Youth Panel is keen to see concrete accommodates the Athletes 2004 Olympic Bid Company this affordable. The remainder of the Olympic the private sector, as part of Thames Gateway projects for its own use, but frustratingly these are Village
28 — Urban Design – Autumn 2010 – Issue 116 Issue 116 – Autumn 2010 – Urban Design — 29 Topic Topic
stretched out to 2035 by the OPLC implementation Olympic Legacy Masterplanning timetable. The Architecture Centre ‘Fundamental’ Meanwhile, master plans are being prepared and is designing infill projects for affordable housing revealed to the public with great reluctance. The on scattered brownfield sites, and London Citizens transformation of the installations specifically built intend to found a Community Land Trust to carry for the Olympic Games (Olympic Stadium, Aquatics out self-development. Yet, when these groups of Centre, Velopark, Eton Manor, Arena 3, and Press young local people try to obtain sites, such as the Centre) aims at high performance sports activities publicly owned St Stephens mental health hospital as well as at local people - suddenly expected to in Whitechapel, they quickly find their way into the become aficionados of sport. Owned in part by the hands of private developers. Lea Valley Regional Park Authority these scaled- Lord Mawson, a veteran social entrepreneur down venues are assumed to serve all Londoners of the East End, is adamant that empowering and beyond. The Media Centre will accommodate local communities requires perseverance and businesses and the Olympic Village will be turned pragmatism, radical thinking, high aspirations, into some 2,800 dwellings with a large educational self-reliance and a strong support network: a complex and healthcare facilities. Bromley-by-Bow project aided by an innovative, The official plans (Legacy Masterplanning self-managed and self-generated alternative Framework or LMF) for six neighbourhoods community, has generated higher living standards are encroaching the Olympic Park boundary, and nurtures ambitions for betterment. How albeit lacking easy connections with the existing successful will the legacy of the global event next urban fabric around; areas surrounding the developers to achieve alternative agendas. Even if ↑ The future of the Olympic door be, and will it be capable of enhancing London park are developing their own fringe plans or spectacular designs have intrinsic quality, secured site (EDAW/AECOM and Allies as a world city as promised? design strategies, but the approach is traditional, by design review panels, their chances of getting Morrison) Mark Saunders, a documentary maker, is laying down schedules of collective facilities and implemented are contradicted by the way that following the trajectory of the local inhabitants connecting infrastructure. Judging from the list financial capital is using the property sector. and businesses that have been displaced from of current plans and frameworks, the Olympic All these perspectives are just that: vision, the Olympic site. He is interested in how mega Games offered rich pickings for masterplanners, prediction or fear of the future. None of them projects override democratic accountable practices notwithstanding work undertaken and can confirm or refute whether urban change and grab land to restructure cities according commissioned by the five statutory planning implies destruction, invasion, segregation or to market requirements. Part of what has been authorities, the GLA and the Mayor of London. polarisation and whether, at a finer urban grain, incorporated into the Olympic site belonged to What will be implemented is another matter… there exists a connection between creative urban indeterminacy. Abandoned marshal yards Everything is conditional, without a colonisation of abandoned sites and gentrification. and neglected open land, some under pylons, was development timetable or priorities. After the Is site dereliction a prerequisite of impromptu taken over by local businesses for scrap metal, 2012 Games, parts of the Olympic Park may be occupation, are creative activities a prerequisite of car repairs and many other activities. Lammas completed and reopened to the public after a short luring in speculators, is post hoc claim of ex ante land, a commons since medieval times, was time. The official line is that most development ownership a prerequisite of repossession, or gating turned into allotments by people including those on the surrounding area will occur over a longer a prerequisite of land grabbing? Is privileged land from surrounding boroughs. This was resented period, ensuring a responsive and lasting legacy. acquisition a prerequisite of urban regeneration as a take-over of communal land, while Hackney Over £9.3 bn will have been spent on this short- mega projects, ejection inherent in gentrification, Marshes, the biggest open space in the area and lived venture, but the costs of legacy development displacement a precondition of spatial social the tidal flood banks along the Lea remained are not specified. The overview is therefore missing, segregation? Mega projects like the Olympic Games untouched. Not surprisingly their incorporation together with quantitative data about the numerous should lend themselves to explore these questions. into the Olympic site displacing 350 businesses with developments, their function, density, accessibility In the meantime the show must go on. The 15,000 workplaces and 450 dwellings provoked and whether the market can absorb them. Olympic Games process fits neatly into the concept fierce resistance. No promises or symbolic plans It is clear that spectacular projects are not the of securitised real estate, generating fictitious would persuade the locals that the legacy Park best way to regenerate a city. The last International money in a cycle of permanent destruction, would compensate for the 10,000 felled trees and Architecture Biennale held in Rotterdam (IABR) rebuilding, selling at a profit, frequent changes unrestrained access to this area. in 2009 explored the role of design visionaries in of hands, and subsequent decline or blight, Judith Ryser, •researcher, journalist, writer the service of recycling financial capital, aided by starting yet another cycle, regardless of resource and urban affairs consultant Design quality planning deregulation. Spectacular large scale designs management, sustainability principles, let alone to Fundacion Metropoli, Due to the configuration of the existing site, master are key to attracting the political capital required by quality of life … Madrid plans contain divides which will remain barriers • within the park as well as around it. The new fences, around paying event venues, will leave further marks on the site already cut up by waterways and rail tracks. Mass public transport access exists only at the southern fringe of a very large site, and Measuring the Legacies design efforts are being made to overcome some of these barriers. Francis Duffy has been co-opted onto the Newham On 3-4 June 2010, the University of Greenwich on a local theatre company's verbatim interviews Design Review Panel, which aims to assure high Business School hosted its third annual conference with local residents exploring their views on the design quality for the Olympic legacy. While attention on the legacies of the Olympic Games. Presenters Games and the impact on local lives. Participants to design quality is a laudable pursuit, the already were invited to share their thoughts and research were able to visit numerous 2012 Olympic sites such long institutionalised leeway and the imponderables on measuring the legacies. Topics included: the use as Stratford, ExCeL, the O2 Arena, Woolwich and of volatile markets may jeopardise these efforts, of technology for archiving the Games for future Greenwich Park. Academics from the neighbouring especially as no institutions can guarantee long-term research and measuring levels of social interest; the University of East London, local business people and design quality, let alone equitable access. Paul Finch, transport and wider legacies of the Beijing Games; government agency representatives also took part. ↑ ↑ ↑ Olympic Park chairman of CABE and the London 2012 Design the impact of volunteering on employability; plus, a Following this event, a series of coaching seminars to under construction Peter Vlachos, Principal ↑ ↑ Saunders Waterway Review Panel has been instrumental in supporting number of conceptual papers on the idea of legacy help local businesses make the most of the London •Lecturer and Enterprise ↑ The Bromley-by-Bow design reviews for the whole area up to 2012, but what and its rhetoric. 2012 opportunities will be delivered in the coming Leader, Business School, Centre will happen when the momentum slackens? The conference also included a play-reading based months. • University of Greenwich 30 — Urban Design – Autumn 2010 – Issue 116 Issue 116 – Autumn 2010 – Urban Design — 31 Francis Tibbalds Award Shortlisted Projects Francis Tibbalds Award Shortlisted Projects Main Town Square Caernarfon ↘ Children now enjoy coming Taylor Young showcases a public realm scheme for this historic town to the town centre ↓ Before: Y Maes in 2004 ↓↓ After: Y Maes in 2009
1 War memorial and water feature 2 Stepped edge and seating (existing tree retained) 3 Shared surface plaza 4 Pedestrain crossing point 5 Taxi rank 6 Parking for disabled people 7 Market space 8 Steps to link the square with the quayside (to be implemented as part of a future phase) 9 New tree planting/seating to define edge of square 10 Relocated monument
their surroundings and they automatically the prominent Presbyterian church elements of highway infrastructure being drive very slowly (generally under 15mph). adjacent to the sandstone war memorial. introduced at a late stage. Pedestrians treat the whole space as their A new fountain here adds to this group There are ongoing management own and will happily stand chatting in to create a counterpoint to the dominant issues with regard to proliferation of the middle of the square letting drivers castle and an alternative focus to the street furniture in the form of sign posts ← Illustrative masterplan showing the integration of navigate their way around them. square. It celebrates an historic fountain and guard rails. The local authority is landscape, existing village and which was the first safe communal water going through a learning process trying proposed development Management issues supply in Caernarfon and helped stem a to understand how best to manage this The scheme has resulted in a lot of cholera epidemic. The new fountain has exciting space, but must be congratulated discussion in the local press with been a great success and is loved by local for making some bold decisions. The project’s aim was to aid the vehicular access to the square and By removing rights of way, highway pedestrian safety a major concern. Six children. Extensive public consultation took regeneration of Caernarfon through pedestrian access to the shops and drivers and pedestrians are forced to months after the scheme was completed An impressive flight of steps is place in the design stages of the projects improving the character of the town’s main services around the square with the last interact with one another and they almost the safety discussion is less prominent in proposed to link the square with Slate starting with themed stakeholder square. The scope included considering phase of the project completed at the end universally display a courteous nature in the newspaper and parking is seen as a big Quay, at a later stage. The steps would workshops: the traffic management regime of of 2008. The contract was administered by the interactions both between drivers and issue. The area is defined as a restricted make the river visible from the square and • Heritage and Culture the square. The aim of the design for the Gwynedd Consultancy team. between different modes of transport. zone with no parking apart from disabled create a dramatic gateway to the square • Commercial and Tourism Caernarfon’s Castle Square was to create The project has resulted in a It’s fascinating sitting at one of the new spaces. The openness of the design leaves from the tourist parking areas on the • Movement and Transport a space for life in an area whose life had transformational change in the character pavement cafes watching how people lots of space for parking and a reasonable quay, where currently the first view of the been ebbing away. The design wanted of Caernarfon. The town did not live up behave in the space; traffic speeds are number of cars stopping for short periods square is the public toilets and David Lloyd At these workshops and meetings with to restore the dignity of the buildings in to its potential and exhibited a very tired dramatically reduced and the square now can positively activate the space, but for a George with his back to them. New public local councilors, consensus was obtained Caernarfon so that local people would character exacerbated by the A55 which feels like a place for people within which few times each day the parking numbers toilets would also be constructed as part of on the general approach to the design remember that they were living in a was constructed to bypass the town centre vehicles are tolerated. get excessive and the square becomes this phase. as a simple shared space. A three day unique place with fantastic quality and which it achieved both physically and The square had a reasonable traffic cluttered. This is an ongoing management A number of trees were lost to open up public consultation event was then held history. The approach taken was to create psychologically. flow and pedestrian footfall which had to issue which the local authority is keeping a views within the space. The lost trees were at the Presbyterian church on the square as simple a space as possible to exhibit the be accommodated including servicing of close eye on with proposals for automated of poor quality due to the low specification and responses were recorded through amazing buildings surrounding the space. Shared Space shops and coaches dropping off tourists. CCTV ticketing a possibility. The design of tree pits in which they were planted. questionnaires resulting in a very high Foremost is King Edward I’s castle which The new shared space scheme is arguably The simplicity of the concept led to always allowed for an option for retro- New tree planting is in high specification level of approval in a town that has a is a World Heritage Site and dominates the largest and most ambitious shared proposals for a shared space which, thanks fitting strategically placed street furniture pits and in time will help to soften the reputation of being resistant to change. the eastern end of the square but the space scheme completed in the UK and to bold decisions from the local authority, to restrict vehicle movement if required. space. • square is also surrounded by excellent but it can be a model for future schemes. It were pursued. There are no road markings The overall cost of the scheme was unappreciated Georgian buildings. proves that through environmental design in the new square and drivers often appear Additional proposals £3.25m and it was delivered by the The contract was phased over an you can fundamentally affect the way confused when they arrive. This level of The western end of the square has an council’s in-house engineering consultancy 18 month period to enable continued people drive. confusion makes the drivers more aware of impressive group of bank buildings and team, which resulted in a number of
32 — Urban Design – Autumn 2010 – Issue 116 Issue 116 – Autumn 2010 – Urban Design — 33 Francis Tibbalds Award Shortlisted Projects Francis Tibbalds Award Shortlisted Projects Oxford Circus improvements Atkins public realm team describe innovations and early results in the Circus
← Regent Street: John Nash’s grand axial route then and now (from The Crown Estate archive plan) → Ground level view on opening day ↘ Oxford Circus before improvements. ↘ ↘ Final stages of construction showing the new arrangement of crossings
The optimum use of pockets of Crown The Project Process Estate land meant that the New Street had The proposals for Oxford Circus were to contain a number of twists, which Nash commenced by Atkins public realm team, designed so as to create great townscape with a street furniture audit, pedestrian set pieces : at Langham Place, and where movement analysis and highway capacity the street enters Piccadilly Circus via assessments. Working with WCC, the The Quadrant as well as the original two concept of improving effective footway Regent Circuses. space by clearing clutter, and widening by Completed in 1825, Nash’s refined reducing central road island widths and stucco buildings needed renewal at the crossing arrangements, was developed end of the 19th century with changes in to enable increased pedestrian capacity, the building construction and in retail with maintained bus and essential vehicle space requirements. Completed in 1927, access and movements. Pedestrian signal the elegant, building lines and broad controlled crossings which were realigned footways and carriageways remained and shortened (to between 11.5 – 13.8 m constant, in spite of the increased height long) to restore the desire line movements and bulk of most redeveloped buildings of pedestrians wishing to go east-west and some spaces, such as Piccadilly Circus. along Oxford Street and north-south on The replacement architecture adopted the Regent Street, within an all-red vehicle consistent use of neo-classical stone, to traffic signal arrangement, also helped a formula set by Sir Reginald Blomfield, to restore the symmetry and formality in collaboration with other leading of the Circus townscape. At a series of architects. meetings with the project team, promoters the Crown Estate, TfL and Westminster’s The Urban Design Principles Director for Transportation, Martin Low, The Crown Estate freeholders the idea was put forward of introducing have reaffirmed in their mixed use 25.8 m long, diagonal pedestrian redevelopment strategy that the essence crossings. This type of crossing had been of a successful shopping environment, is developed in American and Japanese in the freedom to move between shops, grid cities, but had not been considered window browsing, without noise, smell, for such a densely congested space as danger or disruption by vehicular traffic. Oxford Circus. The advantages appeared But both Oxford Street and Regent to benefit pedestrians, in creating extra Street were laid out to maintain four or route choices and increasing the speed more lanes of moving vehicles without of road crossing, therefore also helping impediment from pedestrians. At Oxford in re-starting vehicle traffic, by reducing Circus this created a divide between the informal and unsafe crossing on red north and south and the east and west phases. sides of the two streets, at a point of To test such an innovative approach arrival by underground (approximately Atkins Transport and Intelligent Space 230,000 people per day) and transition pedestrian modellers initially developed Urban Design Background been focused on improved pedestrian of about 2,000 bus movements on 23 bus computer models including 2D real street clutter clearance and utilities works, full range of design professionals from Oxford Circus had become less of a place crossing arrangements and decluttering. routes an hour. For the approximately time simulations for vehicles (VISSIM) as well as implement improvements inception to completion. Consultations than a congested space, although it is Pragmatic outputs of these studies have 43,000 pedestrians per hour, crossing at and pedestrians (LEGION). The urban including concentric granite paving, are all about the communication of one of London’s most famous townscape been implemented in November 2009 to Oxford Circus had become an unpleasant, design team combined this data and lighting mounted on buildings and Legible ideas and proposals, in ways that are names, forming an architectural and significant acclaim. risky, major undertaking. Westminster prepared a 3D animated, photo-realistic London wayfinding. The works were timed accessible, engaging and believable. The transport junction between Oxford Street Oxford Street developed from its early City Council (WCC) working with environment (3D Studio Max model) with for the Mayor’s opening on 2 November work at Oxford Circus has made a major and Regent Street, two of the world’s origins as a Roman route whilst Regent Transport for London (TfL) and the New specialist Design Hive, which was used 2009 and the Christmas lights. contribution to a placemaking tool and greatest shopping streets. Although Street was built in the early 19th century West End Company (NWEC), had been for stakeholder and public consultation. a case study of a project that is being continuing to maintain success through as a symbol of elegant living with style and analysing the issues and opportunities for A particle-based system modelled the Lessons Learned monitored and validated. changing retail trends, urban design grace. The street was planned from 1811 an Oxford Street, Regent Street and Bond 5,000 virtual people, which the animation The completed project has drawn • analysis and improvement strategies led by architect and developer, John Nash, Street (ORB) Improvement Action Plan, programmed to walk and idle, when the significant public and professional support by the City of Westminster, have regularly who could be considered one of London’s and the Crown Estate had in parallel been lights changed for traffic signals. and Oxford Circus is again a place to visit been proposed since the 1980s, in the face first urban designers. His vision was for a preparing a Regent Street Public Realm The result is difficult to distinguish for its change in character by day and by of concerns over competitiveness with out wide boulevard with sweeping curves. It Strategy, seeking to redress the balance from a real piece of video footage. night. The movement of traffic appears of town and shopping mall developments. was designed to connect the royal estates between pedestrians and vehicles. A seven month programme of site to work as predicted with a dramatic The current Oxford Circus improve- and redefine the less fashionable streets operations had to coordinate with London reduction in pedestrian congestion. The ments, proposed in 2008, are part of of Soho, and as a compliment to Nash’s Underground improvements, maintain lessons for these changes are that the wider strategies for the West End and have patron the Prince Regent. safe and convenient retail operations, highway authorities are involved with the
34 — Urban Design – Autumn 2010 – Issue 116 Issue 116 – Autumn 2010 – Urban Design — 35 Francis Tibbalds Award Shortlisted Projects Francis Tibbalds Award Shortlisted Projects Firepool, Taunton NEW Masterplanning explains the redevelopment of Taunton’s cattle market site
↙ Illustrative photomontage ↘ Strategic connections to town and river ↓ Competition winning masterplan ↓↓ Design principles: land use, streets and spaces, movement
Taunton’s cattle market occupied a delivering riverfront offices, apartments and road. At lower levels the tower’s core prominent 16 acre, riverfront site. It was and a new park. Within the last 5 changes to a wider footprint to minimise a defining feature of Taunton for over years Firepool has become a focus for costs associated with tall buildings. a thousand years but has been largely regeneration in Taunton, combining bold Warehouse style, 5-6 storey offices and derelict since the market relocated. At new interventions with an understanding apartments bring a new building typology the same time young people were leaving of market town character, and putting the and scale of architecture to Taunton’s All streets in Firepool have a mix of Lessons learned A consistent commitment to high town, office demand was focused on the river at the heart of the community. waterfront. Careful use of physical offices and residential uses, and support The master plan recognised that Taunton quality design has built genuine M5, the cricket club was planning to move models, 3-d visualisation and sections has a range of local shops and amenities is no longer just a market town and partnerships with officers, members, out of town and proposals for Firepool Bold new interventions delivered a dramatic waterfront which to create a neighbourhood character created a modern, exciting waterfront Environment Agency, Natural England focused on retail warehousing. Station Boulevard will be a grand new sits comfortably with the surrounding 2-3 and vitality. Station Boulevard and the destination, distinctly different from and Creating Excellence in the South In 2004, the Taunton Urban Design entrance to Taunton, taking visitors from storey buildings. riverfront are the focus for activity the rest of the town centre. Creating a West. This support has enabled the design Framework (UDF) recognised Firepool’s the railway station to the new waterfront whilst quieter terraced streets with town connection between town and country team to respond quickly to new occupier potential as a finer grain, mixed-use space through the heart of the new office Market town character houses can attract families and local delivers a natural extension of a market requirements or funding opportunities. development which could act as a catalyst and retail area. It is carefully aligned to Firepool’s terraced streets integrate the businesses. town. This dual approach has helped Flexible design of local and regional for wider regeneration of the town centre. gradually reveal views of the three church waterfront architecture with the existing The master plan provides for large stimulate developer interest and maintain offices, apartments and town houses has This was the start of a process which towers which dominate and define the scale and grain of Taunton. They open footprint uses such as a food store and a local support. also helped maintain occupier interest saw Project Taunton select St. Modwen Taunton skyline. up views to the waterfront and bring the multi-storey car park, but ensures that Detailed design at the strategic despite the recession. as development partner on the basis of A slender tower, with potential for River Tone into the heart of Firepool. they are incorporated within mixed-use masterplanning stage created confidence Fresh input from the developer, a master plan which will deliver over a hotel and rooftop restaurant, has The riverfront and curving terraced perimeter blocks with active frontages to for the public and private sector that this architects, public realm and lighting 50,000 m2 of offices, 600 apartments and excited officers, members, businesses streets are natural extensions of longer the street. Detailed design of undercroft bold new strategy was both deliverable specialists continually challenges and town houses, a hotel, fitness centre, shops, and residents as a 21st Century addition distance, east-west, pedestrian and cycle and courtyard parking in all blocks hides and appropriate for the town. In particular refreshes the scheme whilst a core food stores, restaurants and community to the skyline. Views of the tower will routes. Larger spaces along the riverfront cars from the streets. it persuaded the County Cricket Club not masterplanning team helps maintain the facilities. complement the existing church towers and smaller internal spaces also help the to relocate but to build a new, mixed-use, essential principles and boldness of the 2010 will see work start on Phase 1, and mark the arrival into Taunton by rail transition in scale. stand on its existing site. original design. • 36 — Urban Design – Autumn 2010 – Issue 116 Issue 116 – Autumn 2010 – Urban Design — 37 Book Reviews Book Reviews
Urban Design: Health Smartcities + Eco-warriors Designing High- The Urban Housing Publishers and the Therapeutic CJ Lim and Ed Lui, Routledge, Density Cities For Social Handbook award Environment 2009, pb £29.99, and Environmental Eric Firley and Caroline Stahl, ISBN 978-0-415-57124-1 Wiley, 2009, hb £45.00, Cliff Moughtin, Kate McMahon Sustainability ISBN 978-0-470-51275-3 Moughtin and Paola Signoretta, Edward Ng (ed.), Earthscan, Architectural Press, 2010, pb Smartcities is an exploration of the idea of 2010, hb £65.00, £29.99, ISBN 978-1-8561-7614-9 creating a city of ‘closed sustainable eco- ISBN 978-1-84407-460-0 It was a pleasure to be asked to review the systems’ undertaken by CJ Lim and Studio Urban Housing Handbook, as a copy has sat The UDG Awards Programme now includes This final book in the series on Urban Design 8 Architects. The book adopts the polemi- on a shelf behind my desk for several months a Publishers Award (see inner cover of this by Moughtin et al. researched and written in cal style enlisted by Le Corbusier in La Ville Designing High Density Cities is a thorough and I have turned to it many times for informa- issue for more details of the Awards Event): collaboration with a psychotherapist and a Radieuse (1933): here too the vision presented textbook with chapters by a variety of au- tion and delight. The book is one of a number publishers whose books have been recently social scientist, aims to open up the subject to is of a tightly controlled three-dimensional thors. Edited by a professor at the Chinese published in recent years that categorise reviewed in the journal and others in the a wider arena. It sets out to explore the nature aesthetic. The book also draws on the ‘let’s do University of Hong Kong, the book is strongly housing and urban form, enabling analysis urban design field, were asked to nominate of a therapeutic environment and identify how it’ vibe of Archigram, referencing the work of focused on that city which sets a benchmark through systematic drawings, diagrams and a book published in the last 18 months. Eight this can be designed. The first of three parts this group and that of the Japanese Metabo- for extreme urban density. As a compiled se- comparison. Such a description understates entries were received and are reviewed on sets out the theoretical background for health lists. Its aim is to set out a utopian view as a ries of academic texts, the highly referenced the contribution of this book, a rich piece of the next four pages. A panel of four members and the therapeutic environment, the second stalking horse to the status quo. chapters read as a refereed journal. While work operating on many levels. was selected (Juliet Bidgood, Marc Furnival, relates this to British radical and philanthrop- Smartcities is organised in manifesto, case some readers might consume the contents The Urban Housing Handbook is thorough Jonathan Kendall and Lee Pugalis); they ic traditions, and the last extrapolates design studies and commentary. The manifesto sets from front to back, it is more likely that and beautifully illustrated. It is a work of reviewed two books each and were asked principles. Its scope makes it a good primer out compelling reasons for a radical approach specific chapters will be read in isolation, academic rigour and a visual delight that can to shortlist one of the two books. The four for those wishing to broaden their under- to sustainable city design, citing the influence depending on the reader’s focus. sit on the shelf or coffee table of those from a shortlisted books are due to be circulated standing of the context for urban design. of utopian visions in urban design history. It is evident that this volume is aimed at variety of disciplines who wish to develop an around the panel which, under the coordina- The concept of a therapeutic landscape The 13 case studies are mostly speculative an academic or professional audience with a international and historical interest in dwell- tion and chairmanship of Alastair Donald will as a place where people traditionally sought projects that span Asia, Europe and America. specialist interest in environmental engineer- ings, the basic component of cities. choose the winner to be announced at the healing powers was defined by the cultural The first one is for Guangming Smartcity, in ing or building physics. Although many parts It is the product of two years of full-time award event in February 2011. geographer W. Gesler and the book uses his China, a new town centre to house 200,000 are of interest to general readers – I would work, a level of commitment of time and effort definition of therapeutic environments to people. A series of artificially constructed recommend it to urbanism students seeking fully conveyed in the text, photographs and analyse a series of case studies. This plu- residential hills and craters integrate the conceptual tools for the science of city-mak- drawings. The systematic text is organised ralistic reading defines place as made up of infrastructure of a low-energy, low-waste city ing – many chapters quickly develop a high around 30 basic housing types, grouped by ty- natural, built, social and symbolic elements. with an agrarian economy of vertical kitchen level of technical detail. pology and then by chronology, each of which Epidaurus and Bath serve as historic examples gardens and aquaculture terraces. The book is notable for its rigour and is the subject of a short contextual essay and a of places dedicated to healing, Cuba as an The case studies search for a richer assumed knowledge of environmental phys- recent comparative housing project chosen to example of a modern state that has success- language for a high-density city. This takes ics. The non-specialist may understand the demonstrate the ongoing relevance and value fully prioritised health and self-sufficiency on the Corbusian paradigm but agitates essence of the issues but it is inevitable that of the type. with limited resources. Examples where a the ground plane so that it becomes more some parts will be explored only by those Particularly notable is the exemplary therapeutic environment is being fostered are constructed than the buildings themselves. with scientific expertise. As an example, the rigour of the drawn information by Katharina also drawn from Nottingham, Copenhagen Buildings are overtaken by landscapes, so chapters on the cooling potential of natural Gron, whose drawings are spare and beautiful. and Freiburg. that in the Nanyui Urban Living Room, towers ventilation (a key issue in such intensively Plans, sections and figure-ground diagrams, A convincing case is made for the primary are subsumed by multiple layers of elevated mechanically serviced environments) rely on at similar scales, allow side-by-side urban and role of the environment as sustaining the parkland. The drive is to create ‘new hybrid a working knowledge of calculus that will ap- architectural evaluation. family. Arguments from feminism give a dif- typologies of buildings and landscapes’. Parks ply to a narrow audience. The consistently lavish and seductive pho- ferent conception of the important and often are made productive and interlaced with Though not really a volume for the tography enables links between historic ty- undervalued roles women and carers play in agricultural zones or condense disparate general reader, the book still forms a useful pologies and contemporary equivalents to be society, and outline how they might be better elements such as energy production, hills of reference for those interested in designing drawn, the longevity of some typologies and supported by a therapeutic environment. It is lychees, plazas lawns, sound gardens, art and at high density. But many issues are not cov- recent interpretations of them being particu- suggested that design schools should teach reformed landfill. ered: it could have included a greater histori- larly interesting. Many are new and delightful listening and emotional literacy in order to Within a typically formal vocabulary, cal overview (regulatory, social and technical discoveries. It is interesting to note that many increase contextual awareness and create projects set out to intensify sensual experi- processes that led to high density urbanism) new projects are one-off design responses to design cultures more attuned to the needs of ence as in the Tomato Exchange for Trafalgar and varied scales of analysis (infrastructure peculiar circumstances rather than the prod- the majority. Square where hydroponic towers introduce and landscape). Despite the title, the issue of uct of prevailing development orthodoxy. The The principles identified are for the city the luscious qualities of the fruit to the city. social sustainability needs greater definition typologies are accompanied by strong narra- to be designed as part of an interdependent However at times the vision for Smartcity ap- and merits further coverage, for example in tives explaining the social and technological bioregion, for the needs of the family to be at pears too totalising and the scale of struc- relation to the roles of public space, culture factors influencing urban development; one the heart of city planning, for city structures tures seems out of kilter with people. When and family. would have liked a greater discussion regard- to integrate green spaces, for neighbourhoods design proposals are developed at a more It is a shame the illustrations are black ing the success – or otherwise – of contempo- to be renewed or developed as carbon neural intermediate scale, a welcome formal diver- and white and of variable quality. The book rary housing production. healthy quarters, and for cities to be proac- sity creeps in. could have been more lavish, conveying the Unapologetically, the book avoids the free- tive and participatory in achieving ecological The stated need for a more radical review experiential richness of Hong Kong and other standing Modernist object, concentrating on planning. of how we envisage urban living is reinforced high-density environments alongside the typologies that are integrated urban compo- Moughton et al point out that climate in the closing commentary from three differ- scientific analysis. The title of the book raises nents. While understandable, one would have change will intensify the pressures for popula- ent experts. Each one argues for a shift in how high levels of expectation, so that its techni- liked greater discussion regarding the implica- tion growth and increase demand for new we view ourselves, our needs and our inter- cal nature and focus on a narrow academic tions of increased urban density; only at the communities to be built. They conclude that connectedness with one another and with audience, inevitably leads to a degree of very end of the book are the technological and to sustain humanity in harmony with the nature. Indeed we are at a time when we need disappointment. This is perhaps unfair to an spatial breakthroughs of early residential tow- environment, the planning system will need to think more speculatively, to stretch our col- interesting and important volume. But there ers considered. Perhaps a follow-up volume the popular authority to fully engage with the lective expectations and Smartcities takes us is another book with an identical title waiting could develop this further, exploring vertical- challenges of climate change. some of the way. to be written for a broader readership. ity and hybrids in greater detail? • Juliet Bidgood • Juliet Bidgood • Jonathan Kendall • Jonathan Kendall 38 — Urban Design – Autumn 2010 – Issue 116 Issue 116 – Autumn 2010 – Urban Design — 39 Book Reviews
Liverpool: Shaping the City Grand Urban Rules Great Public Squares: An Making Better Places: Stephen Bayley & Paul McMullin, Alex Lehnerer, 010, Rotterdam, Architect’s Selection The Planning Project in the RIBA Publishing, London, 2010, 2009, hb £32.95, Robert F. Gatje, W. W. Norton Twenty-First Century hb £19.95, ISBN 978-90-6450-666-6 & Co., 2010, hb £48.00, Patsy Healey, Palgrave ISBN 978-1-85946-329-1 ISBN 978-0-393-73173-6 Whether we are civic administrators, urban Macmillan, 2010, pb £22.99, designers, architects or private developers, ISBN 978-0-230-20056-2 Liverpool’s status as 2008 City of Culture we all feel the weight of regulations. Grand This book, by New Yorker Robert F. Gatje, gave good reason for the surge of building Urban Rules raises the idea of rules them- does exactly what it says on the tin: it selects Patsy Healey, the distinguished planning projects in the city centre, most notably selves as a topic, and as potential design and analyses forty great public squares from academician, continues her place-shaping the 2009 Stirling prize nominated Liverpool tools, which is timely in our current climate the perspective of an architect. It is what I excursion through her latest publication One master plan, which has substantially of box ticking and overly process-driven would describe as a coffee table book: an concerned with making better places. The re-stitched the waterfront back into the city projects; the notion of rules clearly needs re- oversized hardback with large, bright images book is about the ‘idea and practice of plan- centre. Stephen Bayley, design director and vising to render it more relevant to a current, interspersed with minimal text of various ning’, which in Healey’s view is much more critic, commentator and author, goes back to contemporary context. type sizes. Whilst in the introduction the than the bureaucratic procedures of planning his roots and adds a journey through Liver- Alex Lehnerer deals with a serious topic author describes himself as an architect and systems. The aim of the book is to unshackle pool past and present to this showcasing of through entertaining and illustrative exam- planner, I would question the extent to which the planning project – which is about making recent regeneration work. Although slightly ples. Using the concept of the imaginary city the practice and theory associated with the improvements to the qualities of places with sentimental, this section provides an ap- of Averuni, he delves into the kafkaesque latter professional outlook has influenced an eye to the future – from reductive prac- pealing insight into Liverpool, and will be of world of rules, highlighting the often perverse the work of this book. This is epitomised in tice. Healey does so by focusing on how ideas interest both to those who already know the nature and results of usually well-intentioned Gatje’s definition of the square which refers of sustainable liveability are transformed city and those that only know it anecdotally. rules when implemented. After listing a set of to urban space as that which ‘is left between’ into action, which in turn has social, material Images by photographer Paul McMullin relate rules from around the world, the main chap- architectural structures; ‘formed by three and economic effects on the ground. This well to the text and take us through a wide ters examine: context, interface of public dimensions of void’. Consequently, the book circular interaction is organised by exploring range of scales, add tone and give a sense of and private interests, thresholds, codifying ‘is about space, albeit space that is usually the ongoing management of neighbourhood the place itself. aesthetics, neighbours, shifts in focus of sets shaped by architects as enclosed between change, the promotion of major development This hardback edition, which has been of rules, zones, difference and consistency; buildings’. If Gatje had reflected on the social projects and spatial strategy making. Placing supported by many of the companies and leading to designed variation, a key theme of dimension of the design and production theory in the background, the book will be of institutions involved, divides the second half the book. There is an assumption that poten- of space (see, for example, Henri Lefeb- significant interest to the practising planner, into case studies sensibly grouped into public tial for diversity, once created, will be taken vre, Michel de Certeau or Ali Madanipour), the student planner and those with a stake in realm, shopping, working, visiting, living and up by developers in the way intended. he may have achieved greater success in the planning project more generally. learning, each with a helpful, albeit short, in- Each chapter is structured around a se- revealing spatial experience or lived space’ As with much of Healey’s previous mate- troduction. Whilst this is essentially an archi- ries of illustrative accounts, with a supportive As a result, notwithstanding the quality of rial, it responds to people’s concerns about tectural record, more objective urban design but sometimes too brief an introduction. A photographs, images selected tend to follow improving social life through a positive analysis would have been useful with plans, succinct conclusion for each chapter would Gatje’s conceptualisation of urban space as tone that advocates liveable and sustain- drawings or diagrams to illustrate the context have aided the inevitable chains of thought voids by focusing on architectural details able places. International case studies are of each scheme. There is some critical com- that the text richly induces, and drawn more and often depicting empty space, devoid of interspersed throughout the text, which are ment, although more about what is still to be out of the relevant anecdotes cited, which sociality. This contradicts Gatje’s own obser- intended to help others learn from prior ex- done, which is laudable, rather than works throw up wonderful terms such as ‘grumble vation that ‘The more people in a square, the perience, but not to be confused with ready- completed. This does however limit the line’. better it feels’. made best-practice remedies. relevance for urban designers of what is in The consideration of rules as tools of As with all selections of great things, Whilst the case studies are useful to a many ways an excellent publication, a small design and delivery extends to the fact choices are highly personal, situated and point, bringing a modicum of life to Hea- number of typos notwithstanding. that many are formulated by lawyers and subjective. What one person considers a ley’s whirlwind introduction to the planning The book demonstrates well the impres- administrators - rather than design focused great public square may be rebuked by project, I would not concur that the cases sive level of work which has been done with professionals - and the, sometimes disas- another. The merit in highly selective lists is, have been fashioned from a method of ‘thick flair, sensitivity and quality, achieving an trous, common assumption that rules are therefore, the capacity to stimulate debate. If description’ (see Clifford Geertz or more integration between new and existing, thus directly transferable. It becomes clear that ten designers were asked to draw up a list of recently the work of Bent Flyvberg). In my breaking the ‘out-of-town-in-town’ typology rules should not only be reviewed periodi- forty great public squares, how likely is it that interpretation, thick description is applied seen recently in White City, West London, to cally to ensure they remain fit for purpose, any would mirror those selected by Gatje? in a manner that lets the spatial story unfold the detriment of Shepherd’s Bush. What is but that we consider a re-profiling of them in Determining whose list is right and whose and refold through multifaceted, messy and also conveyed well is the process by which general, and a re-framing of our relationship wrong, misses the point in my opinion – it is situated accounts. It opens space for the each project came about: the genuine client with them. This could allow more diversity about views. Gatje recognises this and ac- reader to explore issues, rather than being support and leadership and the dedication to emerge through the consideration of the tively invites readers to measure their choices presented with the findings that may either The panel of four members and commitment of those involved, showing broader context. The final chapter draws this against his. be accepted or rejected. The extent and an exemplar manner of regenerating towns together through examples of masterplan- To summarise, the benefits of coffee table variety of cases presented throughout the shortlisted the following and cities. ning analysis. In Kees Christiaanse’s final es- books are that they are easy to read with lim- book makes this task impossible. Further, books from which the By embracing a contemporary yet say, Rem Koolhaas reminds us that ‘a “generic ited jargon and small blocks of text, visually by Healey’s own acknowledgements, case sensitive approach, a bold new tranche of city” does not enjoy a long life’, which we stimulating with colourful illustrations and material amassed was largely derived from winner will be selected: buildings and spaces have been added as can interpret as a manifesto to keep rules photographs. Entertaining volumes, they can secondary sources which tend to iron-out the Smartcities + Eco- another layer to the rich and varied history of as guides, leaving space for human-focused alleviate boredom and inspire conversations. messy creases of social life. • Liverpool, and will give confidence to future design. On the flipside, they are not very portable, Providing a counterbalance to system- warriers, Routledge clients and commissioners, particularly Grand Urban Rules succeeds in being lack analytical detail and the subject matter atic knowledge, drawing more heavily on pertinent in the current economic climate. educational, interesting and entertaining, can be forgotten just as quickly as it takes experiential knowledge from the streets may • The Urban Housing The question remains to what degree the high which is no mean feat. It is a complex topic one to leaf through the glossy oversized have helped provide the thick description Handbook, Wiley quality of the physical change translates into and to have taken it on at all is laudable. It pages. that Healey obviously sought. Despite these long term socio-economic regeneration, not provides much food for thought, in an often • Lee Pugalis slight detractions, the book is essential read- • Grand Urban Rules, 010 just for the new quarters, but the city as a ignored, but critical area. ing for all those searching for a 21st Century Making Better Places, whole. • Marc Furnival introduction to the planning project. • • Marc Furnival • Lee Pugalis Palgrave Macmillan 40 — Urban Design – Autumn 2010 – Issue 116 Issue 116 – Autumn 2010 – Urban Design — 41 Practice Index Practice Index other Contributors Regional contacts Practice Index Atkins plc Bree Day LLP Chris Blandford Associates Conservation Architecture Euston Tower, 286 Euston Road, The Old Chapel 1 Swan Court, 9 Tanner Street, & Planning Juliet Bidgood, architect and If you are interested in getting Directory of practices, corporate London NW1 3AT 1 Holly Road, Twickenham TW1 4EA London SE1 3LE Wey House, Standford Lane, Headley, •urban designer, director at the involved with any regional activities organisations and urban design T 020 7121 2000 T 020 8744 4440 T 020 7089 6480 Hants GU35 8RH design and communication studio - please get in touch with the following courses subscribing to this index. The E [email protected] E [email protected] E [email protected] T 01420 472830 Neat and a CABE Enabler following pages provide a service C Paul Reynolds W www.architech.co.uk W www.cba.uk.net E [email protected] London and South East to potential clients when they are Interdisciplinary practice that offers a C Tim Day C Chris Blandford/Mike Martin W www.capstudios.co.uk range of built environment specialists Eco-urbanism guides the Also at Uckfield C Jack Warshaw John Billingham, architect and Robert Huxford and Louise Ingledow looking for specialist urban design working together to deliver quality partnership’s core disciplines of Landscape architecture, Historic cities,towns, sites, buildings, •planner, formerly Director of Design T 020 7250 0892 advice, and to those considering E [email protected] taking an urban design course. places for everybody to enjoy. architecture, urban design and environmental assessment, ecology, conservation areas, regeneration, and Development at Milton Keynes community planning. urban renewal, development studies, new buildings, guidance, Development Corporation South Those wishing to be included in future Austin-Smith:Lord LLP economics, town planning, historic Masterplanning, expert witness Maya Shcherbakova issues should contact the UDG, Port of Liverpool Building, Brock Carmichael landscapes and conservation. services. Richard Cole architect and • M 07884 246190 70 Cowcross Street, London EC1M 6EJ Pier Head, Liverpool L3 1BY Architects planner, formerly Director of E [email protected] T 020 7250 0872 T 0151 227 1083 19 Old Hall Street, Liverpool L3 9JQ CITY ID Dalton Crawley Partnership Planning and Architecture of the E [email protected] E [email protected] T 0151 242 6222 23 Trenchard Street 29 Carlton Crescent, Commission for New Towns South West W www.udg.org.uk C Andy Smith E [email protected] Bristol BS1 5AN Southampton SO15 2EW Judy Preston C Louise Ingledow Also at London, Cardiff and Glasgow C Michael Cosser T 0117 917 7000 T 02380 719400 Alastair Donald is an urbanist. M 07908219834 Multi-disciplinary national practice Master plans and development E [email protected] E [email protected] •He’s currently co-editing The Future E [email protected] with a specialist urban design unit briefs. Mixed-use and brownfield W cityid.co.uk W www.daltoncrawley.com of Community: Back from Beyond the Alan Baxter & Associates backed by the landscape and core regeneration projects. Design in C Mike Rawlinson C Steve Dalton Grave EAST MIDLANDS Consulting Engineers architectural units. Wide range and historic and sensitive settings. Place branding and marketing vision Urban design and Masterplanning of Laura Alvarez 70 Cowcross Street, London EC1M 6EJ scale of projects. Integrated landscape design. 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C Clive Rand W www.bdp.co.uk E [email protected] E [email protected] •planner, writer and consultant, Georgia Giannopoulou Places: regenerate, infill, extend T 0191 222 6006 create. Concept through to implementation C Andrew Tindsley W www.colinbuchanan.com W www.davidlock.com teaching at the University of on complex sites, comprehensive BDP offers town planning, C Martina Juvara C Will Cousins Westminster E [email protected] Andrew Martin Associates design guides, urban regeneration, Masterplanning, urban design, Planning, regeneration, urban Strategic planning studies, Northern Ireland Croxton’s Mill, Little Waltham, brownfield sites, and major urban landscape, regeneration and design, transport and traffic area development frameworks, Malcolm Moor, architect and James Hennessey Chelmsford, expansions. sustainability studies, and has teams management and market research. development briefs, design •independent consultant in urban T 028 9073 6690 Essex CM3 3PJ based in London, Manchester and Area based regeneration, town guidelines, Masterplanning, design; co-editor of Urban Design E [email protected] T 01245 361611 The Bell Cornwell Belfast. centres and public realm design. implementation strategies, Futures E [email protected] Partnership environmental statements. Scotland W www.amaplanning.com Oakview House, Station Road, Hook, Burns + Nice Colour Urban Design Limited Anna Nasalska, urban designer, Francis Newton, Jo White & Laurie C Andrew Martin/ Hampshire RG27 9TP 70 Cowcross Street, London EC1M 6EJ Milburn House, Dean Street, DEVEREUX ARCHITECTS LTD •member of Street network Mentiplay Sophie O’Hara Smith T 01256 766673 T 020 7253 0808 Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 1LE 200 Upper Richmond Road, E [email protected] Master plans, urban design, urban E [email protected] E [email protected] T 0191 242 4224 London SW15 2SH Lee Pugalis is based at the regeneration, historic buildings, W www.bell-cornwell.co.uk W www.burnsnice.com E [email protected] T 020 8780 1800 •School of Architecture, Planning and The North of England region and project management, planning, EIA, C Simon Avery C Marie Burns/ Stephen Nice W www.colour-udl.com E [email protected] Landscape, University of Newcastle Wales require contacts landscape planning and design. Specialists in Masterplanning and the Urban design, landscape C Peter Owens W www.devereux.co.uk coordination of major development architecture, environmental and Design oriented projects with full C Duncan Ecob proposals. Advisors on development transport planning. Masterplanning, client participation. Public spaces, Adding value through innovative, Alan Stones architect-planner, Arnold Linden plan representations, planning design and public consultation for regeneration, development, ambitious solutions in complex urban •urban design consultant and former Chartered Architect 54 Upper Montagu Street, applications and appeals. community-led work. Masterplanning, residential, environments. Head of Design at Essex County education and healthcare. Council London W1H 1FP T 020 7723 7772 Bidwells Chapman Taylor LLP DHA Planning & Urban C Arnold Linden 16 Upper King Street, Norwich NR3 1HA 32 Queensway, London W2 3RX Conroy Crowe Kelly Design Louise Thomas, independent • Integrated regeneration through the T 01603 763 939 T 020 7371 3000 Architects & Urban Eclipse House, Eclipse Park, urban designer participation in the creative process E landscapearchitecture@bidwells. E [email protected] Designers Sittingbourne Road, Maidstone, of the community and the public co.uk W www.chapmantaylor.com 65 Merrion Square, Dublin 2 Kent ME14 3EN Neither the Urban Design Group nor at large, of streets, buildings and W www.bidwells.co.uk C Adrian Griffiths/ Paul Truman T 00 353 1 661 3990 T 01622 776226 the editors are responsible for views places. C Luke Broom-Lynne MANCHESTER E [email protected] E [email protected] expressed or statements made by Planning, Landscape and Urban Bass Warehouse, 4 Castle Street W www.cck.ie W dhaplanning.co.uk individuals writing in Urban Design Assael Architecture Design consultancy, specialising Castlefield, Manchester M3 4LZ C Clare Burke and David Wright C Matthew Woodhead Studio 13, 50 Carnwath Road in Masterplanning, Townscape T 0161 828 6500 Architecture, urban design, Planning and Urban Design London SW6 3FG Assessment, Landscape and Visual E [email protected] Masterplanning, village studies. Consultancy offering a full range T 020 7736 7744 Impact Assessment. Chapman Taylor is an international Mixed use residential developments of Urban Design services including E [email protected] firm of architects and urban with a strong identity and sense of Masterplanning, development briefs W www.assael.co.uk Blampied & Partners Ltd designers specialising in mixed-use place. and design statements. C Russell Pedley 2A Brackley Road, Chiswick city centre regeneration projects Architects and urban designers London W4 2HN throughout Europe. covering mixed use, hotel, leisure T 020 8747 3870 and residential, including urban E [email protected] frameworks and masterplanning W www.blampied.co.uk projects. C Clive Naylor Architectural Masterplanning, urban design, tourism, education, commercial expertise in the United Kingdom and overseas.
42 — Urban Design – Autumn 2010 – Issue 116 Issue 116 – Autumn 2010 – Urban Design — 43 Practice Index Practice Index
DNS Planning & Design Feria Urbanism Gillespies Holmes Partnership JMP Consulting Land Use Consultants Livingston Eyre Associates Melville Dunbar Associates Gloucester House, Second Floor Studio, 11 Fernside Road Environment by Design 89 Minerva Street, Glasgow G3 8LE 8th Floor, 3 Harbour Exchange Square 43 Chalton Street, London NW1 1JD 35-42 Charlotte Road, The Mill House, Kings Acre, 29 Brunswick Square Bournemouth, Dorset BH9 2LA GLASGOW T 0141 204 2080 London E14 9GE T 020 7383 5784 London EC2A 3PG Coggeshall, Essex CO6 1NN Gloucester GL1 1UN T 01202 548676 21 Carlton Court, Glasgow G5 9JP E [email protected] T 020 7536 8040 E [email protected] T 020 7739 1445 T 01376 562828 T 01452 413726 E [email protected] T 0141 420 8200 C Harry Phillips E [email protected] C Luke Greysmith F 020 7729 2986 E [email protected] E [email protected] W www.feria-urbanism.eu E [email protected] Urban design, planning, renewal, W www.jmp.co.uk GLASGOW E [email protected] C Melville Dunbar W www.dns-planning.co.uk C Richard Eastham C Brian M Evans development and feasibility studies. C Paul Smith 37 Otago Street, Glasgow G12 8JJ C Laura Stone Architecture, urban design, planning, C Mark Newey Expertise in urban planning, MANCHESTER Sustainability and energy efficiency. Integrating transport, planning and T 0141 334 9595 Landscape architecture, urban Masterplanning, new towns, urban Urban design practice providing a masterplanning and public T 0161 928 7715 Commercial,residential,leisure. engineering, development planning, E [email protected] design, public housing, health, regeneration, conservation studies, responsive and professional service participation. Specialisms include E [email protected] urban design, environmental C Martin Tabor education, heritage, sports. design guides, townscape studies, by experienced urban designers from design for the night time economy, C Jim Gibson HOMES & COMMUNITIES AGENCY assessment, water and drainage Urban regeneration, landscape design briefs. both landscape and architectural urban design skills training and local OXFORD (HCA)-MILTON KEYNES throughout the U.K. design, masterplanning, sustainable Liz Lake Associates backgrounds. community engagement. T 01865 326789 Urban Design Team, National development, environmental Western House, Chapel Hill METROPOLITAN WORKSHOP E [email protected] Consultancy Unit, Central Business John Rose Associates planning, environmental assessment, Stansted Mountfitchet 14-16 Cowcross Street, Farringdon, DPDS Consulting Group Fletcher Priest Architects C Paul F Taylor Exchange, Berkeley Court, Borough Road landscape planning and Essex CM24 8AG London EC1M 6DG Old Bank House, 5 Devizes Road, Old Middlesex House, 34/42 Cleveland Urban design, landscape 414-428 Midsummer Boulevard, Newcastle-under-Lyme, ST5 1TT management. Offices also in Bristol T 01279 647044 Te 020 7566 0450 Town, Swindon, Wilts SN1 4BJ Street, architecture, architecture, planning, Milton Keynes MK9 EA T 01782 382275 and Edinburgh. E [email protected] E [email protected] T 01793 610222 London W1T 4JE environmental assessment, T 01908 692692 E [email protected] W www.lizlake.com W www.metwork.co.uk E [email protected] T 020 7034 2200 planning supervisors and project E louisewyman@englishpartnerships. W www.johnroseassociates.co.uk Lathams C Matt Lee C David Prichard/ Neil Deely W www.dpds.co.uk F 020 7637 5347 management. co.uk C John Rose St Michael’s, Queen Street, Derby DE1 Urban fringe/brownfield sites where Metropolitan Workshop has C Les Durrant E [email protected] C Louise Wyman Analyses problems, prepares 3SU an holistic approach to urban design, experience in urban design, land Town planning, architecture, W www.fletcherpreist.com G.M.K Associates briefs and creates bespoke T 01332 365777 landscape, and ecological issues use planning, regeneration and landscape architecture and urban C Jonathan Kendall 1st Floor Cleary Court, HTA Architects Ltd design solutions, which maximise E [email protected] can provide robust design solutions. architecture in the UK, Eire and design: innovative solutions in Work ranges from city-scale master 169 Church Street East, 106-110 Kentish Town Road, development opportunities, and C Derek Latham/ Jon Phipps Norway. Masterplanning, design guidance plans (Stratford City, Riga) to Woking, Surrey GU21 6HJ London NW1 9PX formulates sustainable strategies. Urban regeneration. The creative Loci and development frameworks. architectural commissions for high- T 01483 729378 T 020 7485 8555 reuse of land and buildings. 1 Butlers Court, Sir John Rogerson's Metropolis Planning and profile professional clients. E [email protected] E [email protected] John Thompson & Partners Planning, landscape and Quay, Dublin 2 Design EDAW Plc C George McKinnia C James Lord/Sally Lewis 23-25 Great Sutton Street, architectural expertise combining the T 00353 1 881 4062 30 Underwood Street, London N1 7JQ The Johnson Building, 77 Hatton FPCR Environment W www.hta-arch.co.uk London ECIV 0DN new with the old. E [email protected] T 020 7324 2662 Garden & Design Ltd Halcrow Group Ltd Design-led housing and T 020 7017 1780 W www.loci.ie E [email protected] London EC1N 8JS Lockington Hall, Lockington, 44 Brook Green, Hammersmith regeneration consultancy offering E [email protected] Lavigne Lonsdale Ltd C Conor Norton W www.metropolispd.com T 020 3009 2100 Derby DE74 2RH London W6 7BY inter-disciplinary services including W www.jtp.co.uk 38 Belgrave Crescent, Camden Urban design, architecture and C Greg Cooper E [email protected] T 01509 672772 T 020 7602 7282 architecture, Masterplanning, urban C Marcus Adams Bath BA1 5JU planning consultancy dedicated to Metropolitan urban design solutions C Anna Bazeley E [email protected] E [email protected] design, graphic design, landscape Edinburgh T 01225 421539 working for better places: places drawn from a multi-disciplinary Manchester W www.fpcr.co.uk W www.halcrow.com design, sustainability and planning. 2nd Floor Venue studios, 15-21 TRURO with a real sense of identity, a better studio of urban designers, architects, Express Networks Phase 2, 3 George C Tim Jackson C Robert Schmidt Calton Road, Edinburgh EH8 8DL 55 Lemon Street, Truro quality of life. planners, and heritage architects. Leigh Street, Manchester M4 5DL Integrated design and Award winning consultancy, Hyland Edgar Driver T 0131 272 2762 Cornwall TR1 2PE T 0161 200 1860 environmental practice. Specialists integrating planning, transport and One Wessex Way, Colden Common, E [email protected] T 01872 273118 LSI Architects LLP Mouchel Edinburgh in Masterplanning, urban and mixed environment. Full development cycle Winchester, Hants SO21 1WG C Alan Stewart E [email protected] The Old Drill Hall, 23 A Cattle Market 1 Waterhouse Square, 138-142 Holborn 5 Coates Crescent, Edinburgh EH3 7AL use regeneration, development covering feasibility, concept, design T 01962 711 600 Addressing the problems of physical, W www.lavigne.co.uk Street, Norwich NR1 3DY London EC1N 2HG T 0131 226 3939 frameworks, EIAs and public and implementation. E [email protected] social and economic regeneration C Martyn Lonsdale T 01603 660711 T 020 7822 2560 Urban design, planning, landscape inquiries. W www.heduk.com through collaborative interdisciplinary We are an integrated practice of [email protected] E [email protected] architecture and economic Hankinson Duckett C John Hyland community based planning. masterplanners, Urban Designers, C David Thompson W www.mouchel.com development services. Particular Framework Architecture Associates Innovative problem solving, driven Landscape Architects and Product Large scale Masterplanning and C Ludovic Pittie expertise in market-driven and Urban Design The Stables, Howberry Park, Benson by cost efficiency and sustainability, Jon Rowland Urban Design Designers. Experienced in large visualisation in sectors such as Integrated urban design, transport development frameworks. 3 Marine Studios, Burton Lane, Lane, Wallingford OX10 8BA combined with imagination and 65 Hurst Rise Road, Oxford OX2 9HE scale, mixed-use and residential health, education and business, and and engineering consultancy, Burton Waters, Lincoln LN1 2WN T 01491 838 175 coherent aesthetic of the highest T 01865 863642 Masterplanning, health, education, new sustainable settlements. changing the urban landscape in a Entec UK Ltd T 01522 535383 E [email protected] quality. E [email protected] regeneration, housing, parks, public positive manner, creating places for Gables House Kenilworth Road, E [email protected] C Brian Duckett W www.jrud.co.uk realm and streetscape design. MacCormac Jamieson sustainable living. Leamington Spa, Warwicks CV32 6JX C Gregg Wilson An approach which adds value Intelligent Space C Jon Rowland Prichard T 01926 439 000 Architecture and urban design. A through innovative solutions. Atkins, Euston Tower, 286 Euston Road Urban design, urban regeneration, LDA Design 9 Heneage Street, London E1 5LJ Nathaniel Lichfield & Partners E [email protected] commitment to the broader built Development planning, new London NW1 3AT development frameworks, site 14-17 Wells Mews, London W1T 3HF T 020 7377 9262 Ltd W www.entecuk.co.uk environment and the particular settlements, environmental T 020 7121 2558 appraisals, town centre studies, T 020 7467 1470 E [email protected] 14 Regent’s Wharf, All Saints Street, C Nick Brant dynamic of a place and the design assessment, re-use of redundant E [email protected] design guidance, public participation E [email protected] W www.mjparchitects.co.uk London N1 9RL Masterplanning, urban design, opportunities presented. buildings. W www.intelligentspace.com and Masterplanning. C John Phillipps C Liz Pride T 020 7837 4477 development planning and C Elspeth Duxbury Multidisciplinary firm covering all Major master plans to small, bespoke E [email protected] landscape within broad based Garsdale Design Limited Hawkins\Brown Planning analysis and support, Kay Elliott aspects of Masterplanning, urban buildings. Acclaimed contemporary W www.nlpplanning.com multidisciplinary environmental and High Branthwaites, Frostrow, 60 Bastwick Street, London EC1V 3TN pedestrian modelling, GIS and 5-7 Meadfoot Road, Torquay, Devon regeneration, public realm design, buildings designed for historic C Nick Thompson engineering consultancy. Sedbergh, Cumbria, LA10 5JR T 020 7336 8030 specialists in retail and urban TQ1 2JP environmental impact and community centres of London, Cambridge, Also at Newcastle upon Tyne and T 015396 20875 E [email protected] Masterplanning. T 01803 213553 involvement. Oxford, Bristol and Durham. Cardiff FABRIK E [email protected] W www.hawkinsbrown.co.uk E [email protected] Urban design, Masterplanning, 38 A High Street, Alton, W www.garsdaledesign.co.uk C David Bickle Jacobs W www.kayelliott.co.uk Levitt Bernstein Associates Macgregor Smith Ltd heritage/conservation, visual Hampshire GU34 1BD C Derrick Hartley Multi-disciplinary architecture and Tower Bridge Court, 224-226 Tower C Mark Jones Ltd Christopher Hse, 11-12 High St, appraisal, regeneration, daylight/ T 01420 593250 GDL provides Masterplanning and urban design practice specialising in Bridge Road, London SE1 2UP International studio with 30 year 1 Kingsland Passage, London E8 2BB Bath BA1 5AQ sunlight assessments, public realm C Johnny Rath urban design, architecture and mixed-use regeneration, educational T 020 7939 1375 history of imaginative architects T 020 7275 7676 T 01225 464690 strategies. heritage services developed through Masterplanning, sustainable rural E [email protected] and urban designers, creating E [email protected] E [email protected] FaulknerBrowns 25 years wide ranging experience in development frameworks, transport W www.jacobs.com buildings and places that enhance W www.levittbernstein.co.uk W www.macgregorsmith.co.uk National Building Agency Dobson House, Northumbrian Way, the UK and Middle East. infrastructure and public urban realm C Dan Bone their surroundings and add financial C Patrick Hammill C Michael Smith Hatherton, Richard Avenue South, Newcastle upon Tyne NE12 0QW design. Multidisciplinary urban design, value. Urban design, Masterplanning, full A broad based landscape/urban Milltown, Dublin 6 T 0191 268 3007 Globe Consultants Ltd Masterplanning and architecture as architectural service, lottery grant design practice with particular T 00 353 1497 9654 E [email protected] 26 Westgate, Lincoln LN1 3BD HOK international Ltd part of the integrated services of a Landscape Projects bid advice, interior design, urban emphasis on high quality prestige E [email protected] C Neil Taylor T 01522 546483 Qube, 90 Whitfield Street national consultancy. 31 Blackfriars Road, Salford, renewal consultancy and landscape landscape schemes. W www.nba.ie Architectural design services from E [email protected] London W1T 4EZ Manchester M3 7AQ design. C Eoghan Ryan inception to completion. Expertise C Steve Kemp T 020 7636 2006 Jenny Exley Associates T 0161 839 8336 Matrix Partnership Strategic planning, town centre in transport, urban design, W www.globelimited.co.uk E [email protected] Butler’s Quarters, The Mews, Lewes E [email protected] LHC Urban Design 17 Bowling Green Lane, regeneration, urban design Masterplanning, commercial and Provides urban design, planning, C Tim Gale Road C Neil Swanson Design Studio, Emperor Way, Exeter London EC1R 0QB frameworks, Masterplanning urban leisure projects. economic and cultural development HOK delivers design of the highest Danehill, East Sussex RH17 7HD We work at the boundary between Business Park, Exeter, Devon EX1 3QS T 0845 313 7668 extensions, village planning, design services across the UK and quality. It is one of Europe’s leading T 0845 347 9351 architecture, urban and landscape T 01392 444334 E [email protected] guidance and design briefs. internationally, specialising in architectural practices, offering E [email protected] design seeking innovative, sensitive E [email protected] C Matt Lally sustainable development solutions, experienced people in a diverse W www.jennyexley.com design and creative thinking. C John Baulch W www.matrixpartnership.co.uk masterplanning and regeneration. range of building types, skills and C Jonathan Sayers Urban designers, architects and Master plans, regeneration markets. Landscape architecture. Urban landscape architects, providing an strategies, development briefs, site design. Catalysts for transforming integrated approach to strategic appraisals, urban capacity studies, sensitive urban realm and education visioning, regeneration, urban design guides, building codes and projects. Inspirational vision renewal, Masterplanning and concept visualisations. underpinned by public workshops, public realm projects. Creative, consultation, contextual analysis, knowledgeable, practical, character assessment, contracts. passionate.
44 — Urban Design – Autumn 2010 – Issue 116 Issue 116 – Autumn 2010 – Urban Design — 45 Practice Index Practice Index
New Masterplanning Limited The Paul Hogarth Company Pod Quartet Design Roger Griffiths Associates Scott Tallon Walker Smeeden Foreman Taylor Young Urban Design 2nd Floor, 107 Bournemouth Road, Avalon House, 278-280 Newtownards 99 Galgate,Barnard Castle, The Exchange, Lillingstone Dayrell, 4 Regent Place, Rugby Architects Partnership Chadsworth House, Wilmslow Road, Poole, Dorset BH14 9HR Road, Belfast BT4 1HE Co Durham DL12 8ES Bucks MK18 5AP Warwickshire CV21 2PN 19 Merrion Square, Dublin 2 8 East Parade, Harrogate HG1 JLT Handforth, Cheshire SK9 3HP T 01202 742228 T 028 9073 6690 T 0845 003 7755 T 01280 860500 T 01788 540040 T 00 353 1 669 3000 T 01423 520 222 T 01625 542200 E [email protected] E [email protected] E [email protected] E [email protected] E [email protected] E [email protected] E [email protected] E [email protected] W www.newMasterplanning.com W www.paulhogarth.com W www.pod.gb.com C David Newman W www.rgalandscape.com W www.stwarchitects.com C Trevor Foreman C Stephen Gleave C Andy Ward C James Hennessey C Andy Dolby Landscape architects, architects and C Roger Griffiths C Philip Jackson Ecology, landscape architecture Liverpool Our skills combine strategic planning EDINBURGH Newcastle urban designers. Masterplanning, A quality assured landscape Award winning international practice and urban design. Environmental T 0151 702 6500 with detailed implementation, Bankhead Steading, Bankhead Road, 10 Summerhill Terrace, hard landscape projects in urban consultancy offering landscape covering all aspects of architecture, assessment, detailed design, Urban design, planning and design flair with economic rigour, Edinburgh EH30 9TF Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 6EB areas achieving environmental architecture, land use urban design and planning. contract packages and site development. Town studies, housing, independent thinking with a T 0131 331 4811 C Craig van Bedaf sustainability. planning, urban design, project supervision. commercial, distribution, health and partnership approach. E [email protected] Masterplanning, site appraisal, implementation, EIA and expert SCOTT WILSON transportation. Specialist in urban Integrated urban design and layout and architectural design. Randall Thorp witness services. 3-4 Foxcombe Court, Wyndyke Furlong, Soltys: Brewster Consulting design training. Nicholas Pearson landscape architecture practice, Development frameworks, urban Canada House, 3 Chepstow Street, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 1DZ 87 Glebe Street, Penarth, Associates providing Masterplanning, regeneration, design codes, briefs Manchester M1 5FW RPS T 01235 468700 Vale of Glamorgan CF64 1EF Terence O’Rourke LTD 30 Brock Street, Bath BA1 2LN regeneration and public realm and design and access statements. T 0161 228 7721 Bristol, Cambridge, London, Newark, E [email protected] T 029 2040 8476 Everdene House, Deansleigh Road, T 01225 445548 consultancy to the public and private E [email protected] Southampton & Swindon W www.scottwilson.com E [email protected] Bournemouth BH7 7DU E [email protected] sectors. Pollard Thomas Edwards C Pauline Randall T 0800 587 9939 C Paj Valley/ Ken Jores W www.soltysbrewster.co.uk T 01202 421142 W www.npaconsult.co.uk Architects Masterplanning for new E [email protected] Also at Birmingham, Leeds, London, C Simon Brewster E [email protected] C Simon Kale / Paul Jolliffe PD Lane Associates Diespeker Wharf 38, Graham Street, developments and settlements, W www.rpsgroup.com Manchester, Plymouth Urban design, master plans, W www.torltd.co.uk Masterplanning, public realm 1 Church Road, Greystones, London N1 8JX infrastructure design and urban Part of the RPS Group providing a Urban design, planning, landscape, design strategies, visual impact, Town planning, Masterplanning, design, streetscape analysis, County Wicklow, Ireland T 020 7336 7777 renewal, design guides and design wide range of urban design services economic and architectural environmental assessment, urban design, architecture, concept and detail designs. Also full T 00 353 1287 6697 [email protected] briefing, public participation. including Masterplanning and design expertise supported by regeneration of urban space, landscape architecture, landscape architecture service, EIA, E [email protected] W www.ptea.co.uk development frameworks, design comprehensive multidisciplinary landscape design and project environmental consultancy, complex green infrastructure, ecology and C Malcolm Lane C Robin Saha-Choudhury Random Greenway guides and statements. skills. management. urban design problems. biodiversity, environmental planning Urban design, architecture and Liverpool Architects and management. planning consultancy, specialising Unit S204, Second Floor, Merchants Soper Hall, Harestone Valley Road Rummey Design Associates Shaffrey Associates _space Environment Terra Firma Consultancy in Masterplanning, development Court, Derby Square, Liverpool L2 1TS Caterham Surrey CR3 6HY South Park Studios, South Park, 29 Lower Ormond Quay, Dublin 1 Spaceworks, Benton Park Road Cedar Court, 5 College Road Nicoll Russell Studios frameworks, site layouts, T 0151 703 2220 T 01883 346 441 Sevenoaks Kent TN13 1AN T 00 353 1872 5602 Newcastle upon Tyne NE7 7LX Petersfield GU31 4AE 111 King Street, Broughty Ferry applications, appeals, project co- E [email protected] E rg@randomgreenwayarchitects. T 01732 743753 E [email protected] T 0191 223 6600 T 01730 262040 Dundee DD5 1EL ordination. C Roo Humpherson co.uk C Robert Rummey C Gráinne Shaffrey E [email protected] E contact@terrafirmaconsultancy. T 01382 778966 Masterplanners, urban designers, C R Greenway Masterplanning, urban design, Urban conservation and design, with W www.spacegroup.co.uk com E [email protected] PEGASUS developers, architects, listed building Architecture, planning and urban landscape architecture, architecture, a particular commitment to the C Richard Charge / Tony Wyatt C Lionel Fanshawe W www.nrsarchitects.com Pegasus House, Querns Business and conservation area designers; design. New build, regeneration, environmental consultancy. regeneration of historic urban Multidisciplinary practice offering Independent landscape architectural C Willie Watt Centre, Whitworth Road, Cirencester specialising in inner city mixed-use refurbishment and restoration. Responsible place-making that centres, small towns and villages, expertise in urban design, practice with considerable urban Design led masterplanning and GL7 1RT high density regeneration. considers social, environmental and including new development. architecture, conservation and design experience at all scales from town centre studies which seek to T 0128 564 1717 Richard Coleman economic issues. landscape architecture. EIA to project delivery throughout UK provide holistic solutions to complex E [email protected] Powell Dobson Urbanists Citydesigner Sheils Flynn Ltd and overseas. challenges, creating sustainable W www.pegasuspg.co.uk Charterhouse, Links Business Park 14 Lower Grosvenor Place, SAVILLS (L&P) LIMITED Bank House High Street, Docking, Space Syntax Limited ‘joined up’ and enjoyable C Mike Carr St Mellons, Cardiff CF3 0LT London SW1W 0EX Lansdowne House, 57 Berkeley Square Kings Lynn PE31 8NH 4 Huguenot Place, Heneage Street, Terry Farrell and Partners communities. Masterplanning, design and T 029 2079 9699 T 020 7630 4880 London W1J 6ER T 01485 518304 London E1 5LN 7 Hatton Street, London NW8 8PL access statements, design codes, E [email protected] E [email protected] T 020 7353 0202 E [email protected] T 020 7422 7600 T 020 7258 3433 NJBA Architects & Urban sustainable design, development W www.powelldobsonurbanists.com C Lisa Gainsborough E [email protected] C Eoghan Sheils E [email protected] E [email protected] Designers briefs, development frameworks, C James Brown Advice on architectural quality, W www.savills.com Award winning town centre C Tim Stonor W www.terryfarrell.com 4 Molesworth Place, Dublin 2 expert witness, community Masterplanning, design frameworks, urban design, and conservation, C Ben van Bruggen regeneration schemes, urban Spatial Masterplanning and C Drew Nelles T 00 353 1 678 8068 involvement, sustainability appraisal. design codes, town centre strategies, historic buildings and townscape. SOUTHAMPTON strategies and design guidance. research-based design; movement, Architectural, urban design, planning E [email protected] Offices at Cirencester, Birmingham, housing renewal. A commitment to Environmental statements, listed Brunswick House,Brunswick Place, Specialists in community consultation connectivity, integration, and Masterplanning services. W homepage.eircom.net/~njbrady1 Bristol, Nottingham, Leeds, Bracknell people, places, sustainability, design buildings/area consent applications. Southampton SO15 2AP and team facilitation. regeneration, safety and interaction. New buildings, refurbishment, C Noel J Brady and Cambridge. and delivery. T 02380 713900 conference/exhibition centres and Integrated landscapes, urban Richards Partington E [email protected] Shepheard Epstein Hunter Spawforths visitor attractions. design, town centres and squares, Philip Cave Associates Pringle Brandon First Floor, Fergusson House C Peter Frankum Phoenix Yard, 65 King’s Cross Road, Junction 41 Business Court, East strategic design and planning. 70 Cowcross Street, London EC1M 6EJ 10 Bonhill Street, London EC2A 4QJ 124 – 128 City Road, London EC1V 2NJ Offices throughout the World London WC1X 9LW Ardsley, Leeds WF3 2AB Tibbalds Planning & Urban T 020 7250 0077 T 020 7466 1000 T 020 7490 5494 Savills Urban Design creates value T 020 7841 7500 T 01924 873873 Design Novell Tullett E [email protected] E pbmarketing@pringle-brandon. E [email protected] from places and places of value. E [email protected] E [email protected] 19 Maltings Place, 169 Tower Bridge 7 Unity Street, Bristol BS1 5HH W www.philipcave.com co.uk C Simon Bradbury Masterplanning, urban design, C Steven Pidwill W www.spawforth.co.uk Road, London SE1 3JB T 0117 922 7887 C Philip Cave C Alison Anslow W www.rparchitects.co.uk design coding, urban design advice, SEH is a user-friendly, award- C Adrian Spawforth T 020 7089 2121 E [email protected] Design-led practice with innovative Offices, hotels, workplace design. Urban design, housing, retail, planning, commercial guidance. winning architects firm, known for Urbanism with planners and E [email protected] C Maddy Hine yet practical solutions to education, sustainability and its work in regeneration, education, architects specialising in W www.tibbalds.co.uk Urban design, landscape environmental opportunities in urban Project Centre Ltd commercial projects that take Saunders Partnership housing, Masterplanning, mixed-use Masterplanning, community C Andrew Karski architecture and environmental regeneration. Specialist expertise in Saffron Court, 14b St Cross Street, a responsible approach to the Studio Four, 37 Broadwater Road, and healthcare projects. engagement, visioning and Expertise in Masterplanning planning. landscape architecture. London EC1N 8XA environment and resources. Welwyn Garden City, Herts AL7 3AX development frameworks. and urban design, sustainable T 020 7421 8222 T 01707 385 300 Sheppard Robson regeneration, development Paul Davis & Partners PLANIT i.e. LTD E [email protected] Richard Reid & Associates E martin.williams@sandersarchitects. 77 Parkway, Camden Town, Stuart Turner Associates frameworks and design guidance, Mozart Terrace, 178 Ebury Street The Planit Group, 2 Back Grafton Street W www.projectcentre.co.uk Whitely Farm, Ide Hill, Sevenoaks, com London NW1 7PU 12 Ledbury, Great Linford, design advice. London, SW1W 8UP Altrincham, Cheshire WA14 1DY C David Moores Kent TN14 6BS C Martin Williams T 020 7504 1700 Milton Keynes MK14 5DS T 020 7730 1178 T 0161 928 9281 Landscape architecture, public realm T 01732 741417 E charles.scott@sheppardrobson. T 01908 678672 Townscape Solutions E [email protected] E [email protected] design, urban regeneration, street E [email protected] Scott Brownrigg Ltd com E [email protected] 128 Park Road, Smethwick, West W www.pauldavisandpartners.com W www.planit-ie.com lighting design, planning supervision, C Richard Reid St Catherines Court, 46-48 Portsmouth W www.sheppardrobson.com W www.studiost.co.uk Midlands, B67 5HT C Pedro Roos C Peter Swift traffic and transportation, parking Road, Guildford GU2 4DU C Charles Scott C Stuart Turner T 0121 429 6111 New Urbanist approach establishing Public realm solutions informed by and highway design. Robert Adam Architects T 01483 568 686 Manchester Architecture, urban design and E [email protected] a capital framework with a robust urban design. We create 9 Upper High Street, Winchester E [email protected] 27th Floor, City Tower, Piccadilly Plaza environmental planning, the W www.townscapesolutions.co.uk subsequent incremental approach. quality spaces for people to live, PRP Architects Hampshire SO23 8UT W www.scottbrownrigg.com Manchester M1 4BD design of new settlements, urban C Kenny Brown Bridging the divide between urban work, play and enjoy. 10 Lindsey Street T 01962 843843 C Luan Deda T 0161 233 8900 regeneration and site development Specialist urban design practice design and architecture. London EC1A 9HP E peter.critoph@ Integrated service of architecture, Planners, urban designers and studies. offering a wide range of services T 020 7653 1200 robertadamarchitects.com urban design, planning, architects. Strategic planning, urban including master plans, site layouts, Paul Drew Design Ltd E [email protected] C Peter Critoph Masterplanning, involved in several regeneration, development planning, studio | REAL design briefs, design and access 23-25 Great Sutton Street C Andy von Bradsky W www.robertadamarchitects.com mixed-use schemes regenerating town centre renewal, new settlement 59-63 High Street, Kidlington, Oxford statements, expert witness and 3D London EC1V 0DN Architects, planners, urban World-renowned for progressive, inner city and brownfield sites. planning. OX5 2DN illustrations. T 020 7017 1785 designers and landscape architects, classical design covering town T 01865 377 030 E [email protected] specialising in housing, urban and country houses, housing E [email protected] W www.pauldrewdesign.co.uk regeneration, health, education and development, urban master plans, W www.studioreal.co.uk C Paul Drew leisure projects. commercial development and public C Roger Evans Masterplanning, urban design, buildings. Urban regeneration, quarter residential and mixed use design. frameworks and design briefs, town Creative use of design codes and centre strategies, movement in towns, other briefing material. Masterplanning and development economics.
46 — Urban Design – Autumn 2010 – Issue 116 Issue 116 – Autumn 2010 – Urban Design — 47 Practice Index Education Index / Endpiece
TP bennett LLP Urban Innovations White Consultants ANGLIA RUSKIN UNIVERSITY Edinburgh College of Art Oxford Brookes University MA/Diploma in Urban Design. Joint One America Street, London SE1 0NE 1st Floor, Wellington Buildings, 18-19 Park Place, Cardiff CF10 3DQ Department of the Built Environment School of Architecture Joint Centre for Urban Design, programme in Dept of Architecture T 020 7208 2029 2 Wellington Street, Belfast BT16HT T 029 2064 0971 Faculty of Science & Technology Lauriston Place, Edinburgh EH3 9DF Headington, Oxford OX3 0BP and Dept of Town and Country E [email protected] T 028 9043 5060 E [email protected] Faculty Building, Rivermead Campus T 0131 221 6175/6072 T 01865 483403 Planning. Full time or part time, C Mike Ibbott E [email protected] C Simon White Bishop Hall Lane, Chelmsford CM1 1SQ W www.eca.ac.uk/index.php?id=523 C Georgia Butina-Watson/ integrating knowledge and skills Development planning, urban C Tony Stevens/ Agnes Brown A holistic approach to urban T 0845 196 3952/3962 C Leslie Forsyth Alan Reeve from town planning, architecture, design, conservation and The partnership provides not only regeneration, design guidance, E [email protected] / Diploma in Architecture and Urban Diploma in Urban Design, six months landscape. Masterplanning – making places feasibility studies and assists in site public realm and open space [email protected] Design, nine months full-time. full time or 18 months part time. MA and adding value through creative, assembly for complex projects but strategies and town centre studies W www.anglia.ac.uk/urbandesign Diploma in Urban Design, nine one year full-time or two years part- University of Strathclyde progressive, dynamic and joyful also full architectural services for for the public, private and community C Gil Lewis / Dellé Odeleye months full time or 21 months part- time. Department of Architecture, exploration. major projects. sectors. Graduate Diploma in Urban Design & time. MSc in Urban Design, 12 months Urban Design Studies Unit, Place Shaping. Innovative, one year, full-time or 36 months parttime. MPhil University College London 131 Rottenrow, Glasgow G4 ONG Tribal Urban Studio Team Urban Practitioners Whitelaw Turkington workplace-based course. Developed and PhD, by research full and part- Development & Planning Unit, The T 0141 548 4219 87 - 91 Newman Street, London W1T 3EY 70 Cowcross Street, London EC1M 6EJ Landscape Architects to enable built environment time. Bartlett, 34 Tavistock Square, E [email protected] Offices in the UK and Overseas T 020 7253 2223 33 Stannary Street, London SE11 4AA professionals to better understand, London WC1H 9EZ W www.udsu-strath.com T 020 7079 9120 E antonyrifkin@urbanpractitioners. T 020 7820 0388 design and deliver great places. Leeds Metropolitan T 020 7679 1111 C Ombretta Romice E urbanstudioteam@tribalgroup. co.uk E [email protected] University E [email protected] The Postgraduate Course in Urban co.uk C Antony Rifkin C Lindsey Whitelaw Birmingham city University The Leeds School of Architecture, C Sara Feys Design is offered in CPD,Diploma and W www.tribalgroup.co.uk/ Specialist competition winning urban LEEDS Birmingham Institute of Art & Design Landscape and Design, Hepworth MSc in Building and Urban Design MSc modes. The course is design urbanstudioteam regeneration practice combining 16 Globe Road, Leeds LS11 5QG Corporation St, Birmingham B4 7 DX House, Claypit Lane, Leeds LS2 8AE in Development. Innovative, centred and includes input from a C Simon Gray/ Simon Green economic and urban design skills. T 0113 237 7200 T 0121 331 5110 T 0113 283 2600 ext. 29092 participatory and responsible design variety of related disciplines. Tribal's Urban Studio team (formerly Projects include West Ealing and E [email protected] E [email protected] E [email protected] in development and upgrading of the planning practice of Llewelyn Plymouth East End. C Guy Denton W www.bcu.ac.uk W www.leedsmet.ac.uk/courses/la urban areas through socially and University of the West of Davies Yeang) have expertise in Urban regeneration, streetscape C Joe Holyoak C Edwin Knighton culturally acceptable, economically England, Bristol Urban Design, Masterplanning, URBED (Urban and Economic design, public space, high MA Urban Design. This course Master of Arts in Urban Design viable and environmentally Faculty of the Built Environment, Landscape Architecture, Planning, Development Group) quality residential and corporate enhances the creative and practical consists of one year full time or sustainable interventions. One year Frenchay Campus, Coldharbour Lane, Policy, Strategy and Sustainability. Manchester landscapes. Facilitators in public skills needed to deal with the diverse two years part time or individual full time or two years part time. Bristol BS16 1QY 10 Little Lever Street, participation. activities of urban design. Modes of programme of study. Shorter T 0117 328 3508 Turley Associates Manchester M1 1HR attendance are flexible: full-time, programmes lead to Post Graduate University of Greenwich C Janet Askew 25 Savile Row, London W1S 2ES T 0161 200 5500 WHITE YOUNG GREEN PLANNING part-time or individual modules Diploma/Certificate. Project based School of Architecture & Construction, MA/Postgraduate Diploma course in T 020 7851 4010 E [email protected] 21 Park Place, Cardiff CF10 3DQ as CPD short courses. The course course focussing on the creation of Avery Hill Campus, Mansion Site, Urban Design. Part time two days per E [email protected] W www.urbed.co.uk T 029 2072 9000 attracts students from a wide range sustainable environments through Bexley Road, Eltham, London SE9 2PQ fortnight for two years, or individual W www.turleyassocaiates.co.uk C David Rudlin E [email protected] of backgrounds. interdisciplinary design. T 020 8331 9100/ 9135 programme of study. Project-based C Michael Lowndes (National Head of London C Gordon Lewis W www.gre.ac.uk/schools/arc course addressing urban design Urban Design) 26 Gray’s Inn Road, London WC1X 8HR Also at London, Newcastle, Cardiff University London South Bank C Neil Spiller issues, abilities and environments. Offices also in Manchester, Belfast, T 020 7436 8050 Manchester, Leeds, Bristol and Welsh School of Architecture and University MA in Urban Design for postgraduate Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Urban design and guidance, Southampton School of City & Regional Planning, Faculty of Arts and Human Sciences, architecture and landscape University of Westminster Glasgow, Leeds and Southampton. Masterplanning, sustainability, Regeneration and development Glamorgan Building, King Edward V11 103 Borough Road, London SE1 0AA students, full time and part time with 35 Marylebone Road, London NW1 5LS Nationwide integrated urban design, consultation and capacity building, strategies, public realm studies, Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3WA T 020 7815 7353 credit accumulation transfer system. T 020 7911 5000 x3341 planning and heritage services housing, town centres and economic development planning, T 029 2087 5972/029 2087 5961 C Bob Jarvis E [email protected] provided at all project stages and regeneration. Masterplanning for urban, rural and E [email protected] MA Urban Design (one year full University of Newcastle C Bill Erickson scales of development. Services brownfield land redevelopment. [email protected] time/two years part time) or PG Cert upon Tyne MA or Diploma Course in Urban include Masterplanning, townscape Vincent and Gorbing Ltd W www.cardiff.ac.uk/cplan/ma_ Planning based course including Department of Architecture, Claremont Design for postgraduate architects, analysis, design guides and public Sterling Court, Norton Road, Willie Miller Urban Design & urbandesign units on place and performance, Tower, University of Newcastle, town planners, landscape architects realm resolution. Stevenage, Hertfordshire SG1 2JY Planning C Allison Dutoit/Marga Munar Bauza sustainable cities as well as project Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU and related disciplines. One year full T 01438 316331 20 Victoria Crescent Road, Glasgow One year full-time and two year part- based work and EU study visit. Part of T 0191 222 6004 time or two years part time. Tweed Nuttall Warburton E urban.designers@vincent-gorbing. G12 9DD time MA in Urban Design. RTPI accredited programme. C Georgia Giannopoulou Chapel House, City Road, co.uk T 0141 339 5228 Chester CH1 3AE W www.vincent-gorbing.co.uk E [email protected] T 01244 310388 C Richard Lewis C Willie Miller E [email protected] Masterplanning, design statements, Conceptual, strategic and The ordering of artisans’ parcelling). Gracia five. Each subsequent urbanisation joined its W www.tnw-architecture.co.uk character assessments, development development work in urban design, Grid references is an inland settlement which the Cerda grid new streets to those of the adjacent ones, C John Tweed briefs, residential layouts and urban Masterplanning, urban regeneration, joined to Barcelona, primarily by the broad resulting in an approximate grid that is not Architecture and urban design, capacity exercises. environmental strategies, design and Masterplanning. Urban waterside development briefs. avenue of Passeig de Gracia, with its two fa- as exact as Cerda’s, nor as grand as the West environments. Community teamwork West & Partners mous Gaudi buildings of Casa Mila and Casa End, but much more intimate than either. enablers. Visual impact assessments. Isambard House, 60 Weston Street, Willmore Iles Architects Ltd This year is the 150th anniversary of the Batllo. It is a delightful fine-grained quarter, It is not a spectacular place. It is a local London SE1 3QJ 267 Hotwell Road, Bristol BS8 4SF implementation of the plan for the expan- diverse and lively, with two 1890s market quarter for local people, and is not on the Urban Design Futures T 020 7403 1726 T 0117 945 0962 97c West Bow, Edinburgh EH1 2JP E [email protected] E [email protected] sion of Barcelona (the Eixample in Catalan, halls, and more than half a dozen excellent tourist trail. It has only one Gaudi building, T 0131 226 4505 C Michael West W www.willmoreiles.com the Ensanche in Spanish), designed by the small local squares. One, the modernised the Casa Vicens, although Park Guell is just E [email protected] Masterplanning within the C Andrew Iles urbanist Ildefonso Cerda. He incidentally is Plaça del Sol, is in Jan Gehl’s and Lars Gem- uphill to the north. But it is a very distinctive W www.urbandesignfutures.co.uk creative interpretation of socio- Architecture, town planning, urban C Selby Richardson economic, physical and political design, campus development credited with coining the word urbanism in zoe’s book New City Spaces. and beautiful place, and a remarkable dem- Innovative urban design, planning urban parameters: retail, leisure, frameworks. Architects and urban the first place. For my money, the Eixample The students studying Gracia had initially onstration of how a community can decide on and landscape practice specialising commercial, residential. designers with specialisms in remains one of the best and most progres- assumed because of its grain, that it was simple parameters of good urban form and in Masterplanning, new settlements, education and student residential sive urban plans made in the modern period, originally a late-mediaeval settlement. But implement them; not by imposed rules, but urban regeneration, town and village WestWaddy: ADP design. studies. The Malthouse, 60 East St. Helen despite the municipality’s subsequent failure Sola-Morales’ essay explains that it was by collective agreement. Street, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 5EB Yellow Book Ltd to implement Cerda’s proposed building developed only in the early 19th century Joe Holyoak Urban Initiatives T 01235 523139 39/2 Gardner’s Crescent code. Walking through the grid, as I did with by a remarkably coherent process of free • 1 Fitzroy Square, London W1T 5HE E [email protected] Edinburgh EH3 8DG my urban design students in May, one experi- enterprise; comparable to, but at a smaller T 020 7380 4545 W westwaddy-adp.co.uk T 0131 229 0179 E [email protected] C Philip Waddy E [email protected] ences grandeur and ordinariness, regularity scale than, the development of London’s W www.urbaninitiatives.co.uk Experienced and multi-disciplinary W www.yellowbookltd.com and variety, the universal and the local. West End fifty years earlier. Individual farms C Kelvin Campbell team of urban designers, architects C John Lord Presumably because of the anniver- and convents were urbanised by their owners Urban design, transportation, and town planners offering a full Place-making, urban regeneration regeneration, development planning. range of urban design services. and economic development involving sary, there are about ten new books on the one by one, to a similar pattern, apparently creative and cultural industries, Eixample in the Jordi Capell bookshop in the agreed purely by consensus, without any tourism and labour market research. College of Architects’ building. Not wishing overall plan. On each estate, a rectilinear to overload BMI Baby, I limited myself to buy- grid of streets was laid out, orthogonal to ing a small book by Manuel de Sola-Morales the two pre-existing roads, with a small called Ten Lessons on Barcelona, drawn from rectangular square at its centre. Each block his teaching at the Laboratori d’Urbanisme was divided into narrow-fronted plots which, de Barcelona. One of his lessons is about the unlike in the London estates, were built on Eixample; another is about the development individually. Most buildings are of two or of Gracia (charmingly subtitled in translation three storeys, and generally no higher than
48 — Urban Design – Autumn 2010 – Issue 116 Issue 116 – Autumn 2010 – Urban Design — 49