Urban Design Quarterly The Journal of the Urban Design Group
Issue 65 January 1998
Topic Landscape Architecture and Urban Design
Case studies The Manchester Higher Education Project
TfiTirrw Design Games in Tower Hamlets Forum for: Ian Bentley John Billingham Co-Chair of the Joint Centre for Urban Architect and Planner, formerly architects • town planners • Design, Oxford Brookes University. Director of Design and Development engineers • landscape architects Milton Keynes Development and all those interested in the John Biggs Corporation. quality of the built environment Urban Designer and Regional Coordinator for the South West. Bob Jarvis Senior Lecturer in Planning at South The Urban Design Group, founded Robert Brown Bank University School of Urban nineteen years ago, has been Architect working for Levitt Bernstein Development and Policy. Associates. established to provide high standards of Sebastian Loew performance and inter-professional Hugh Cannings Architect and Planner, until recently cooperation in planning, architecture, Architect and planner working for Principal Lecturer at the School of Austin -Smith:Lord Urban Development at South Bank urban design, and other related University. disciplines; and to educate the relevant Michael Crilly professions and the public in matters UDG regional coordinator for Marion Roberts Northern Ireland. Architect, writer and Senior Lecturer relating to urban design. Membership is in the School of Urban Development made up of architects, planners, Rupert Kemplay at the University of Westminster. landscape architects, engineers, Head of Landcare Landservices, a surveyors, historians, lawyers, landscape design and build business Jon Rowland based in Leeds. Architect and Urban Designer, photographers, in fact anyone interested previously technical Director of in the quality of our built environment. Thomas Kvan and Justina Llewelyn-Davies Planning. Former Local authorities, practices, and Karakiewicz Chairman of the Urban Design Group. Lecturers in the Department of universities are also members. The Architecture of the University of Hong U.D.G. runs a series of public lectures, Kong. workshops and other events which are Colen Lumley valid for C.RD. The Kevin Lynch Architect in private practice. Memorial Lecture has attracted such speakers as Leon Krier, Peter Hall, Sir John Pendlebury Lecturer in Town and Country Roy Strong, and Sir Philip Dowson. Planning at the University of Annual study tours are also organised. Newcastle upon Tyne specialising in The U.D.G. publishes a quarterly conservation. magazine dealing with urban design Monica Pidgeon issues and an Urban Design Source Editor and architectural writer. She Book which identifies urban design owns and directs Pidgeon audio practices, courses and members. The visual.
U.D.G. is working closely with the R.T.RI. Jennifer Ross to raise the profile of urban design. It Planner and urban designer. She is an has reciprocal membership with a Associate with Tibbalds Monro. number of complementary organisations Ian Thompson including Vision for London, and the Landscape architect and town British Urban Regeneration Association planner. Lecturer in Landscape (B.U.R.A.). The U.D.G. has set out an Architecture in the Department of Town and Country Planning, agenda aimed at explaining urban University of Newcastle upon Tyne. design and how, using urban design principles, the quality of the environment Chris Williamson can be raised. The Urban Design Group Partner in Weston Williamson, architects and urban designers. continues to grow. Membership is national, and each region has its own convenor, who organises local events.
Administrator Susie Turnbull Tel. 01235 851415 Fax. 01235 851410
Chairman Roger Evans Tel. 01865 377030 Contents
Enquiries and change of address: Cover 6 Ashbrook Courtyard, Westbrook Street Arial view of Montpellier Blewbury, Oxon 0X11 9QH Tel: 01235-851415 Fax:01235-851410 News & Events Leader 4 Simon Rendel's Obituary Chairman Roger Evans 01865-377030 Movement, Streets and Places 6 King's Cross Regeneration: Better Places 7 Patrons The Incredible Lightness of the Languedoc 8 Alan Baxter Joint Conference RTPI-UDG Urban Design Terry Farrell & Housing Provision 10 Peter Hall Bilbao Renaissance 11 Richard MacCormac Les Sparks Viewpoints John Worthington Urban Design Alliance 12 John Biggs & Michael Crilly UDG Regional Activities New Urban Design for London? 14 Marion Roberts Regional convenors: Urban Design as an Anti-Profession 15 Scotland Leslie Forsyth 0131 221 6071 Ian Bentley Northern Ireland Michael Crilly 01232 669384 North Alan Simpson 0191-2099099 International Yorks/Humber Lindsay Smales 0113 283 2600 Reclamation in Macau 16 North West Andy Farrall 01244-402213 Thomas Kvan & Justyna Karakiewicz East Midlands Steve Tiesdell 0115-951 4874 West Midlands Peter Larkham 0121 -331 5152 Topic South Wales Sam Romaya 01222-874000 Landscape Architecture and Urban Design South West John Biggs 01202 633633 Leader 20 East Anglia Alan Stones 01245-437642 Ian Thompson South East Julie Witham 01865-377030 Two Professions, One Purpose? 21 Ian Thompson Grainger Town Landscapes Editorial Board 23 John Pendlebury Derek Abbott Trees Versus Cameras 26 John Billingham Rupert Kempley Matthew Carmona Greening the City 29 Tim Catchpole Jennifer Ross Bob Jarvis Sebastian Loew Case Studies Tony Lloyd-Jones The Manchester Higher Education Project 36 Francesca Morrison Austin-Smith:Lord Marion Roberts Design Games in Tower Hamlets 39 Judith Ryser Levitt Bernstein Associates
Book Reviews Editors John Billingham Reviews by John Billingham, Jon Rowland and 42 Sebastian Loew Chris Williamson
Editor for this issue Sebastian Loew Practice and Education Index 44
Book reviews Tim Catchpole Endpiece 47 Being There 56 Gilpin Ave, London SW14 8QY Bob Jarvis
Art direction Simon Head Diary Back Cover
Print production Constable Printing Future issues © Urban Design Group 66 Urban Design and Conservation Topic Editor Stev' e Gould ISSN 0266 6480 67 Conference Report. Public Places: People Places
Material for publication: This should be addressed to The Editor, 26 Park Road, Abingdon, Oxon 0X14 1DS
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Urban Design continues to be flavour of the including a hands-on approach to improving parts of the month although not in the same obvious environment such as streams way as it was in the final stages of the and wychert walls. o 7 Conservative administration: John Prescott Within the UDG Simon had a relaxed approach to problems fi) does not have the same crusading attitude that arose and always gave 3 as John Gummer and he has other priorities wise counsel either in committees or at the UDG on his agenda. Nevertheless the current office which moved to debates on regional bodies - whatever they Simon Rendel 1941-1997 Blewbury in 1995. His Measuring loss of tranquillity 'Tranquil' Areas are defined as being beyond the immediate influence of towns, roads, airports, overhead pylons and other detractors. They are particularly useful for demonstrating the erodibility of undisturbed countryside in highly populated areas and areas vulnerable to pressure from the motor vehicle. The south-east of England diagram commissioned by the Council for Protection of Rural England and the Countryside Commission, and produced by Simon, shows the change from a reasonably intact hinterland of 'tranquillity' surrounding the capital in c.1960 (just after the opening of the M1) to a highly Semi-tranquil fragmented pattern in c.1992. Vulnerable In this region the fourfold increase in road traffic over the ^••a* Less vulnerable period is the chief agent in N fragmentation, though air traffic, new development and the construction of national grid power lines have also played their part. Further development and applications KMS 0 50 'Tranquil' Areas demonstrate the cumulative effect of development on open refined methodology for countryside and the need for Tranquil Area mapping which protection. The concept should could be used to illustrate local form an essential component of areas where mapping would be Strategic Environmental of interest, particularly areas Assessment (SEA). used for recreation such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Subsequently, in 1997, the Beauty (AONB's). The regional methodology was refinements were fundamental developed further to suit less in character because it meant densely developed territory in bringing in three new concepts: Wales and Scotland. The Welsh (a) the idea of contoured map represents the state of the mapping, ie several tranquillity art at this scale, showing zones of describable overprinted many kinds of character; (b) a minimum UDG's Treasurer intermittent disturbance such mapping unit of 100m rather as noisy sports and military than 1km as used for England, Arnold Linden has been acting training areas. or 0.5km used for Wales/ as the group's Treasurer for Scotland; and (c) introducing some time. He has agreed to In December 1995, Simon saw topography and woodland as continue in this capacity until the need to develop a more determining factors. # the next AGM in May 1998. News and Events Movement, Street and difficulties in finding examples Places - a new Guide to and relied extensively, though accompany DB32 not exclusively, on previous work they had done in o On Wednesday 15 October, a Poundbury. As a result the full house attended the Gallery architecture shown on the for Robert Thome, David Taylor slides was disappointingly and Lynn Armishaw's pastiche or derivative. The presentation of A Companion most interesting part of the Guide to Design Bulletin 32 report is the practical produced by Alan Baxter & information, the "how to do it", Associates for the Department of which Andrew Cameron of Environment and Transport. gave a few examples relating to tracking (the provision of the Since for the past 25 years at required carriageway width for least, highway engineering has vehicle movement within the had such a major and mostly overall width of the street), negative impact on urban junctions (create the right kind design, a fundamental change of enclosure) and car parking of approach was eagerly (reduce its prominence). In all expected. David Taylor of these the space for the explained that the genesis of vehicle was subservient to the the new guide meant that it creation of a place with the could not replace DB32 but as right sense of enclosure. indicated by its title, would complement it. Nevertheless he David Taylor ended the hoped that it would be more presentation with a series of than that and would be used as questions about the future, a new basis for design. He emphasising that the published pointed out that DB32 was a report should be seen as a first code whilst the present report step towards more sustainable should stimulate creative development. A lively debate thought. followed showing the attendants' concern about the The motivation for the study guide not being innovative was the government's enough in that for instance it is awareness of the damage still based on suburbia, a car- caused by the unbridled use of dominated environment and on the car and the need to control current car designs. The it. Consequently the report authors acknowledged that addresses not only highway since their work was based on design: it is part of a movement DB32, its origins were towards more sustainable suburban but they hoped that forms of living. Key principles their recommendations would put forward are: lead to different approaches, such as the abandonment of • look at the place, not the the cul-de-sac. Nevertheless car; everybody agreed that in the long term the goal must be the reduction in the need to travel, • take care of the quality of something not addressed by the public realm, which the report at present. Other includes mixed uses; questions related to details such as road surfaces, parking • respond to the character of bays and landscaping. The the place which does not point was made again that the mean architectural detail; case studies shown were not Top: Abbotsbury necessarily perfect but were Glebe - an example of • start with an agreed the best that could be found good practice. Ken development brief relating and that the principles in the Morgan Architects. land use to patterns to text encouraged more Bottom: Carriageway movement. imaginative approaches. The width checked by exchange of ideas continued plotting vehicle The report is based on a series for a long time indicating the tracking paths. of examples of good practice interest raised by the guide. # Alan Baxter & since it is meant to be used to Associates. support practitioners wanting to apply principles not universally Sebastian Loew accepted and to convince their opponents of their feasibility. Apparently the team had King's Cross Most of the new development Better Places, Better circle of developer/planner and Regeneration land would not be available for Lives user needs to be broken and a five to six years, so that major more collective responsibility Lesley Chalmers, at the time land areas cannot be marketed In connection with research into taken for quality in urban Chief Executive of the King's until about two thirds through Quality in Urban Design the design. Cross Partnership established the development period. RICS is arranging a series of as a result of obtaining Single However there are other areas events throughout the country John Walker, Chief Executive of Regeneration Budget funding such as the Copenhagen intended to make people aware the Commission for New Towns for the area, spoke to the UDG neighbourhood and of the relevance of urban gave his views on the public in September. She described Somerstown which require design. The first of these sector's role in urban design. the SRB area divided between attention. Some projects are occurred in Milton Keynes in He felt that briefing needed to Islington and Camden, with progressing: P&O are October. be pro-active and that a single seven conservation areas and interested in a major land ownership for a large area the Proposed Channel Tunnel development at the York Way Alan Rowley, one of the main and a supportive political Rail Terminal; 60% of the land is corner which could include a contributors to the RICS/DoE context were particularly used for housing and 70% of new Almeida Theatre. commissioned study, helpful. In Milton Keynes high this is social housing. The described the way in which the standards had been adopted, boundaries were put together The apparent lack of strategic work had been conducted; he there was a strong supporting for the SRB bid which will framework was one of the main defined the nature of urban role between uses in the way in provide £37 million out of a total subjects of discussion. design as being the design, which development occurred expenditure of £250 million. Chalmers who advocates such creation and management of and the landscape framework She felt that in spite of a framework stated that it is in the public realm. He then was very important. He referred substantial resistance and fact there, in a series of written referred to the five schemes to the way in which ideas for anger to plans put forward over statements, goals and that had been studied in depth: the Broughton area were being the past ten years, spirit and objectives. The worry remains a Business Park at Reading; developed and to current determination remained in the that the area may end up as a Ealing Broadway Centre; proposals for a waterfront site area. The Partnership have no series of separate Brindley Place, Birmingham; in Caldecotte. statutory powers and are developments which could and residential developments controlled by a Board of 18 have gained if a physical at High Wycombe and Great Paul Flello, who won the tender members with various assessment had formed part of Not ley. for the site mentioned in committees. the strategy, and a physical Caldecotte, described the way framework drawn up, not as a These case studies had been in which volume house builders Chalmers raised the issue of straitjacket but as a structural assessed against 50 urban were involved; he stated that whether a masterplan or a statement within which design considerations. The 58% of national sales were strategic framework was individual projects could make key lessons were: central controlled by 300 sales needed: she felt a masterplan a contribution. # government needs to recognise directors. He maintained that was the wrong approach since urban design issues; local urban design quality was not large parts of the area would John Billingham government needs to provide taken into account by them and be a rail construction site for strategies; developers need to instanced a case where a five to six years, and therefore think more about quality; the layout had been redesigned favoured a strategic framework. using the open space content A range of professionals more attractively. appointed to advise on the way forward reached the conclusion Peter Phippen, representing the that developers needed to look UDG, defined urban quality by ahead and not just use trends using the Lionel March for future planning. Chalmers research diagrams contrasting saw the overriding issues as a tower in open space with a being: quality in amenity and lower quadrangular block movement; integration and containing the same mixed uses; relationships with developable space. He argued the rest of Europe; and socially that the former lacked an urban sustainable development. feeling by comparison with the Eventually the character of latter which could become part King's Cross would be that of a of the urban fabric. metropolitan centre with neighbourhoods. Euston Road Some of the discussion raised is projected to carry three times the issue of whether suburban the present traffic in ten years development could possess time, a situation which asks for some of the urban qualities drastic action such as road Peter Phippen described. pricing; in a recent Guardian Certainly the UDG Agenda for article, Jonathan Glancey Urban Design can be applied proposed the sinking of Euston to places other than central city Road to enable the great districts. Otherwise its cultural institutions to the North message would be very and South to benefit from direct limited. # links and to create a significant element of public realm. John Billingham News and Events The Incredible Lightness of The Connections with the spirit of the old city development. One of these is Heliopolis, Languedoc and its historical traditions are observable the tourist business sector which is in the Cite Judiciaire designed by Bernard planned to accommodate the burgeoning Twenty members of the Urban Design Kohn, a disciple of Louis Kahn. One of the attractions of the area to retirement central grands chantiers not by Ricardo immigration and overspill from the group went on a study tour of Bofill, it alone seems to reflect some overpopulated resorts further east. sensitivity to regional inflexion and form. On Montpellier and Nimes between 17 the opposite side of the Promenade Royale In such a brief visit we managed to feel du Peyrou, Richard Meier some rapport with the ecology of and 20 October. Here Colen Lumley uncharacteristically cast in the Espace Pitot Montpellier and of the cultural crises in project, a modest mixed development, which it is enmeshed. It was odd that in a describes his impressions. displays some respect for the genius loci. place that houses a university stemming Could it be that the excesses of Antigone, from the thirteenth century with its school of The dynamism of gallic urban regeneration Bofill's monstrous civic phantasmagoria medicine and the first botanic garden in in evidence at Euralille and Montpellier, had induced this ego-reducing reaction? France (for the cultivation of herbal subject of the two Urban Design Group medicines) at which Rabelais and tours this year, both admirably Antigone was the misbegotten daughter of Nostradamus studied, that the modern choreographed by Sebastian Loew, and its the misalliance of Oedipus and his institutions have slight physical presence in imminent relationship to the European mother; but for Ricardo Bofill the centre. 'Agropolis' and 'Euromedecine', project, stand in fluorescent contrast to UK anti(poly)gone was a reproach and a vast enterprises of research, are another practice; at least as seen from the statement of the true modernity. The two pillars of Montpellier Eurocite and the perspectives of the Cambridge fen, where "aberrant" town centre development of the tendency to segregate the town into so many of the latent issues of urbanism 1960s and 70s produced the Polygone functional zones is at the expense of the are comparable and unrealised. The multi level shopping complex which creation of heterogeneous and meaningful attraction of this dynamism is set against extended the cross town promenade via urban space. The empty symbolism of the repulsion of its realisation, its physical the Place Comedie, the vibrant centre of all Antigone only underlines the brazen expression. Even if you do not accept it, visible social life in Montpellier. This incapacity to understand and entrain the Koolhaas at Euralille at least makes a case winding west-east axis across the old town genius of the place. The new Fainsilber for the brash, bigness and glitz of modern provided the rationale for the new visions of buildings for the Law Faculty somewhat living and its media and information grandeur visited on the town by Mayor redress this absence of presence . dominated cultures. At Montpellier there is Georges Freche. The 'axe' concept was in a different game, a crude and blatant place before the Catalan architect was The academic institutions in Montpellier political symbolism toying with an atavistic selected and his work is deliberately have grown from 4,500 students in the iconography to drive home its political contained to Antigone to conserve the 1920s to 60,000. The vibrancy and night life agenda in the showcase element of its immaculate conception. The mixed of the town centre is a testament productions. What captures the Anglo development project elevates the to the existence of this youthful community. Saxon imagination is the way the cultural commonplace to the monumental, Efforts have been made to form links milieu is exploited to package the extending the 'axe' to the infinity of the between the cultural sector and institutions endeavour. All development is coloured by far bank of the river Lez and the engaged in advanced research in media concepts more cultural in origin than purely excruciating arc de triomphe building for and telecommunication technologies. Le socio-economic concerns. the administrative offices of the Regional Pole Informatique and Antenna, reflecting Council. Today it is ameliorated by the the media, information and communication bosque planting within its monstrous The striking impression of Montpellier is age are the two other pillars of the town's enclosures where a former chairman of the that amongst all this technologically-driven strategy. The increased link between UDG was to be observed dementedly Euro excitement the original settlement from culture, leisure and economic growth are pacing in vain reconciliation of spatial its founding in 985 as a station on the reflected in Espace Grammont a huge comparison. One is only left in awe of pilgrim's route to St Jacques de leisure complex with its Zenith, rock/ Bofill's ineffable genius for inventing places Compostelle stands intact, intra muros. The conference centre, a recreational adjunct of in which one can no longer believe in historic quarter is dissected by the the new culture, glimpsed only in passing. anything. hausmannisations of Rue Foch and Rue de Vasconi's Corum terminates and elevates la Loge, but the succeeding centuries have the Esplanade providing panoramic views left their traces, added rather than Beyond the town centre the developments from its roof. Beneath, piranesian-like top lit superimposed, leaving the medieval core include Port Marianne, continuing the axial spaces provide shared foyers for the intact. The seventeenth and eighteenth growth of the town westwards. The Littoral international conference centre and the century hotels particuliers inserted into this between the Mediterranean and the A9 is a Opera Berlioz. framework preserve the tight courtyard lit continuous beach backed by lagoons matrix of the old city, with its cellular plan inhabited principally by mosquitoes and Although engaged in creative economic form and narrow winding passages so flamingos. The beach and the rivalry with the neighbouring town of redolent of Islamic city planning. The Mediterranean setting must have imparted Nimes, the municipalities have cultural co- mansarded and blue slated bourgeois a Californian image in the minds of operation agreements. Our impressions of mansions surrounding the Secteur executives of IBM whose arrival in Nimes were contained by the duration of Sauvergarde, shoulder incongruously and Montpellier in the 60s triggered the visit, which precluded contact with local disdainfully the low pitched orange technopole explosion. It was probably the planners. The points of contact poignantly vernacular tiles of the Languedoc. It is mosquitoes that eventually induced them to underlined the contrast of mentalities, curious that Rob Krier in the development leave thirty years later. Undaunted, the roman history, echoed in Foster's temple of for Quartier Port-Marianne, leaden-footedly academic turned politician, Raymond culture, the Carre d'Art, on whose rooftop reproducing his classical revocations in Dugrand, Deputy Mayor, introduced the UD terrace the group spent a long, consoling, quasi northern European mode, is similarly group, in an appropriately tricolored and sunny lunch, musing and gazing through insensitive to the local character of the union flagged presentation, to the five the microcouliers at the prospect of the Languedoc. pillars of Montpellier's continuing Maison Carre: a surge of Anglo-Saxon chauvinism surfaced at this point, doubtless induced by access to the Languedoc nectar. The super graphics and red flashes on the o silver monoliths of Nemausus, like decals on racing cars, are the leitmotif of Jean Nouvel. A tough-minded perforated tin architecture, stylishly reinvoking the Corbusian unite apartments, but sited in a disaffected neighbourhood and abandoned by the professionals and those who could make it work as habitat, it stands in limbo awaiting treatment to render the site more secure. The Philip Starck street furniture in the town centre; a visitation to the Hot Littre to sample restoration of the conservation Vers Lyon area; the demountable covering of the roman amphitheatre; the buried car parking under the sculpture park of Place d'Assas; the palm tree and sculptured crocodile fountain in the Place du Marche, creating urban design out of the Town's heraldry; these snapshot visions were all that there was time for in a tour that ended in the delightful Jardin de la Fontaine, designed by Mareschal, the military engineer to Louis XV. En route from Nimes our coach passed through, but mercifully did not stop, at La Grand Motte, the fanciful French answer to the Costa Brava. By comparison with Antigone, its environment, whilst again a caricature and a monstrous pastiche of Vers Barcelone architectural invention seems to offer a real space of sites and relations, relevant in this case to the 'authentic' life of vacation (if that's how you like it). Top: Mr Dugrand, Deputy Maire of The resonances of these tours are enriched Montpellier and UDG by the points of contact and continuities. visitors. The trip ended touchingly. with a visit to the Above: Montpellier College des Ecossais, still with the planted and surroundings. terraces and the prospect across Left: A glimpse of Montpellier to the lagoons and Bofill's Antigone. Mediterranean littoral that was opened to Below: Foster's Carre the gaze of Patrick Geddes, in this last dArt in NTmes. venture of his idiosyncratic career. And doubly evocative in the revisiting now within the EU project, of his beloved 'Regionalism', with its desetatism and privileging of the region. He must be glowing in his grave. # Colen Lumley Cities of the Plain Urban Design Group Study Tour 29 June - 7 July 1998 Alan Stones is organising a visit of the cities of the plain of Lombardy and the Veneto for next summer. See back page for details. News and Events Urban Design and privacy and density. Not Housing Provision into surprisingly they found that by the Next Century reducing car parking requirements, site capacities D The Annual Joint Conference of could be dramatically the Royal Town Planning increased without losing Institute and the Urban quality. Their study also sees SAT6LUT6 Design Group was held on the need for a more pro-active VIUAAES Friday 31 October. It offered an and creative urban interesting variety of points of management approach to development. The first speaker, Trevor Lee Shostack from EDAW Osborne, Chairman of the presented a personal tale of Urban Villages Forum sees two cities, Milton Keynes those who still think 'suburb' as and Clerkenwell, each adapted rsrejxTuee missing the point and to a particular lifestyle and in y ' advocates higher densities turn shaping that lifestyle. Like 10 combined with better amenities other speakers he suggested and higher quality. He outlined that urban areas contained far VUX-Tl - some of the current problems more housing capacity than (wasted space, entrenched was recorded and that poverty, mono-tenure, long solutions had to be site specific term costs) and the reasons for but within a strategic so much bad building.The framework. principles of Urban Villages aim to remedy these shortfalls: The morning session ended mixed development, inclusivity, with Steve Coleman of Notting flexibility, strong and coherent Hill Home Ownership IDeWTI^yiNC, IVyULTI- urban design, qualityof addressing the problems of a U^ ZOtfES buildings and spaces, large housing estate in West walkability. Osborne London. He outlined the emphasized the need to adapt problems that had to be negotiations, and advocated for routes to and from somewhere, these principles to each area tackled, the importance of the a clear but flexible design build the highest densities on and signalled lack of ambition, partnership involved (local framework. His view of what busy routes, abandon the cul- a conservative market authority, housing association, urban design was concerned de -sac and reinvent the street, perception and lack of funding residents, developer, etc) and with did not augur well for what foster mixed uses and, in order as some of the constraints to what he saw as the key to their would be included in this to allow for change, design with turn the principles into realities. success. From work on the framework; he seemed to have flexibility in mind. estate the team learned inter a far less flexible approach Patrick Clarke of Llewelyn alia that establishing trust with than any of the other speakers. Terry Farrell and Julian Tollast Davies based his talk on the tenants takes time, that there is On the other hand his ended this full day with what firm's study of Sustainable a need for clarity between the willingness to have some of Farrell called "a ramble through Residential Quality in London partners and that costs cannot their schemes assessed so that housing", focussing mostly on commissioned by LPAC and be the sole determinant for successes could be replicated the work the firm is doing for the Government Office for judging a scheme. Coleman and mistakes avoided, was Cambourne in Cambridgeshire London. Their approach was also stressed the need for encouraging. where they have applied both strategic and local; they mixed tenures, for a blending of principles of sustainability to saw housing as providing an new and existing housing and In contrast, Meredith Evans of their design. opportunity to regenerate urban for providing high quality Leicester District Council community facilities. He made Britain and make it more started by stating that people A number of issues reappeared the interesting point that whilst sustainable. Six strategic did not like most new housing throughout the day and are most other speakers were principles were identified: developments and that their worth reiterating: design is area promoting an increase in intensification while quality was poor. He first specific but a strategic densities, they were trying to maintaining and enhancing analysed the reasons for framework is needed; a more reduce them. quality; contribution of new failure to design good quality sustainable city requires that housing development to urban housing: "Too much effort is put people travel less; traffic, regeneration; relating the Volume house building was into controlling detail while the parking and highways intensity of development to represented at the start of the overall framework is engineering issues must be accessibility to facilities and afternoon by Paul Davis of the abandoned to the highway subservient to the creation of public transport; encouraging Beazer Group PLC who engineer..." He then explained place; mixed uses and long term quality; reducing emphasized the importance of with specific examples, some mixed tenures are essential to people's propensity to own the market. Surveys told them of which are illustrated above, successful places; higher cars; improving the quality of that the consumers liked their what was being done in housing densities can be community facilities and the 'product' and that their concern Leicester to apply basic achieved but they must be public realm. for urban design was that principles of urban design: accompanied by better quality. places should be 'nice'. He emphasize edges and All speakers offered practical They analysed 50 infill sites in complained that much too often maximise interface between advice based on their own relation to three options local authorities brought issues urban and rural environments, work and experience. # concerned with car parking, of urban design at the end of locate new settlements on Sebastian Loew Bilbao Renaissance as yet of the commercial/leisure glass walls. It is articulated big hotels and smart shops, the area which Cesar Pelli is around a soaring central old part is hilly, has narrow Monica Pidgeon attended designing. The congress/ atrium, top lit by Gehry's streets, now pedestrianised, concert hall beyond, designed 'metallic flower' and overhung lined with 5-storey buildings, the opening of the new by Frederico Soriano and by one of Claes Oldenburg's some in a sorry state of Dolores Palacios is in early 'soft sculptures', a huge disrepair. A feature of the Guggenheim Museum and construction. shuttlecock. Around this space buildings is the 'miradores' or is a system of curved squared bay windows covering was impressed by the city. The 'pearl in the crown' is the gangways, lifts, staircase the facades. Here too are the new Guggenheim Museum towers, and galleries on three historic monuments of the city - With a population of barely a designed by Frank Gehry. At levels, some of classical the cathedral, the Arriaga million and a past as a great the beginning of the 90s the rectangular shape (stone clad), Theatre, museums, library, and centre of shipping, Bilbao is the Guggenheim Foundation was others curvilinear (titanium the largest market building in least glamorous of Spanish having money problems. clad). At the lowest level there Europe, the 3-level Ribera regional capitals. Its heavy Thomas Krens, the director, is an enormously long gallery market - as well as some of the industry was left behind in the decided that for $20 million the for exceptionally large works of best eating places specialising 80s by the emergence of the Guggenheim would lend its art or temporary exhibitions. Its in local cuisine. Inserted into 'tiger economies' of the East. name and works from its titanium form extends under the the fabric of the area is the So a 1.5 billion dollar collection to a foreign Salva bridge and culminates in beautiful enclosed, classical comprehensive development institution. Hearing that Bilbao a tower. At the very front end of Plaza Nueva, reminiscent of the was launched. The public and was willing to commit that the building, is a bright blue Plaza Real in Barcelona but private sectors of the region amount of money, he flew to the semi-circular block housing the square in shape, with a railed planned eight major projects to city: a site on the bend of the administration office linked by a central space for children's transform the city and make it a river was earmarked and, after high glass porch to the play, and cafes and a couple of centre for 'European trade, a limited competition, Gehry galleries beyond. shops round the outside. A tourism and culture. These was chosen. riverside park and promenade included a new airport terminal But to go back to the city itself. lining the full length of the north (no. 5 on map), a new subway Now, the Guggenheim Bilbao is surrounded by hills. bank from the market to the system (no. 10), a transport Museum Bilbao is complete The River Nervion flows University completes the interchange (no. 11), expansion and open to the public. It is through the city in a northerly picture of this city which is of the port and a number of possibly the most astonishing curve, separating the 'new' part gearing itself to attract new 'grand projets' replacing the building of our time. It has cost from the old city, the Casco business and tourism and docks around the derelict river $100 million funded by the Viejo. Whereas the new part become a European capital. # - a museum of art (no. 6), a Basque administration, and has has wide streets planned on a leisure and commercial area, swallowed up the city's entire grid, with plazas and fountains, Monica Pidgeon and a congress/concert hall cultural budget. It has received (no. 7) on the south side and a enormous coverage in the new pedestrian bridge to reach world's press, justifiably, for it Bottom: Bilbao town the north bank (no. 2)'. is a work of art. centre, showing the new schemes (courtesy Santiago Calatrava is doing the From the top of the hill to the Dennis Sharp airport terminal at Sandika with north, the building looks rather Architects). one of his bird-like structures, like a heap of old tin cans. But Below: The Guggenheim and he has already completed from near it is a knock-out no Museum. the footbridge over the river. matter from which side you look Norman Foster has designed at it. The site slopes down from the metro system. Eleven the street level to the river. To stations have been in use since the east the Salva bridge rises 1995, with 26 still to come, all high above, so Gehry curves a standardised and minimalist; spur gently down to meet the not even an advert on the pre- spacious museum forecourt. cast concrete wall lining panels From here there is access to a which are treated with a public bar and the museum transparent anti-graffiti coating. bookshop, or down a wide The two cut-and-cover stations stepped ramp to the main (Sarriko and San Ignazio) are entrance to the museum. More rectangular in section, the steps on the west side lead others in bored tunnels being down to a cantilevered tubular. At street level the latter concrete promenade that are identified by shell-like glass sweeps round in a great curve, enclosures, known locally as separating a water garden from Fosteritos, sheltering the the river. escalators. The building is a monumental The Stirling/Wilford transport sculpture of extraordinary form, interchange will replace the seemingly chaotic, with regular existing Abando railway station volumes clad in stone at the point where the old and contrasted with curving shapes new parts of the city meet by clad in titanium and large, the river. There is no sign of life variously inclined, steel and The creation of an alliance So, it's a hallelujah for the of urban design and acting for between the RIBA, the RTPI, Urban Design Alliance. But a the benefit of the wider public the RICS, the Landscape quiet hallelujah, with some domain. Institute, the Institution of Civil pretty important qualifications. Engineers, the Civic Trust and I can't help feeling some the UDG was first announced trepidation at being in the arena Membership during the autumn. Its aims are with so many large and "to work with all parties powerful allies. Are we If we are to play an influential concerned with the built destined to become the juniors role in the Alliance, it must be environment, both in the public in this alliance, overwhelmed as an equal partner with an and private sectors, to foster by the political, professional, equal voice. Far from disband both increased awareness and financial and media muscle of the membership we should better standards of urban the 'Institutes'? take advantage of the interest design". The launch took place generated by UDAL to increase on 1st December and will be It is not clear how the our membership. Our reported in the next issue of 'organisation' of UDAL will contribution to regional UDQ. In the meantime we operate. The Institutes have development should be to offer asked regional coordinators for announced their intention of our own regional database as a their reactions and here are two establishing urban design foundation and focus for those of them. steering groups, chapters and who wish to participate in sections. Will each regional urban design. UDG could group in each Institute do the become the membership arm From the South West same, each one organising of UDAL. meetings and conferences? It The launch of the Urban Design is good to see the aspiration to Alliance marks a welcome spread out to the regions Secretariat recognition by the Institutes through branches and chapters that the philosophy and etc., but how will duplication be The RIBA has assumed the role practice of urban design will be avoided? Who will co-ordinate of first Secretary. With Terry a vital factor in improving the the actions of so many? We, in Farrel and David Rock at the quality of the built environment UDG, already have a lively helm we can be sure that they in the 21st century. There need membership or urban design will be committed to uniting the be no fear that it will be a enthusiasts in the regions, disparate professions in the "short-run bright idea . . . many of whom regard their role pursuit of UD philosophies and extinguished after a few in promoting the ideas of urban practice. It is essential, months of headlines" (Planning, design with 'evangelistic' zeal. however, that the Secretariat 12/9/97), for the Urban Design We must be wary of should revolve on a regular group has, for nearly 20 years, underestimating the value of yearly basis and that UDG been encouraging the co- that enthusiasm and stifling it in should be early on the rota. operation of the building the unwieldy mass of a larger professions in the creation of organisation. quality places. Research It seems we have two choices: Since 1978, UDG has striven to UDG has become increasingly influence hearts and minds of • accept that the aims of UDG active in undertaking research the value or urban design are better served by projects with UD Schools and principles. We've finally subsuming ourselves into in the field of public achieved our main objective of the new UDAL; participation. The extension of persuading the professional this role, with emphasis on bodies to recognise that urban • or re-assess the role of UDG specific urban design issues design means working and seek the best ways to will be fundamental in raising together. How can we take any influence the philosophy and the profile and informing public issue with the aims and actions of UDAL. opinion. There should be the objectives of the Alliance when opportunity to take advantage they correspond so closely with If the first is chosen, it would of the influence of our richer those of the Urban Design deny the contribution that the partners to gain funding Group? It would surely be UDG membership, particularly sources for such projects. UDG churlish and short-sighted to in the regions, could make to could be the research arm of allow childish rivalries to cloud the forthcoming debate on UDAL. our vision and stop us from urban design. It is essential, embracing the UDAL as a vital however, that we re-assess the opportunity to further the role of UDG and how it can More urban designers beliefs of the UDG. The best contribute to ensuring the inclusion of the 'big guns' of the success of UDAL, whilst Urban design will only make building profession can only maintaining its independence. major incursions into the built enhance the chances of our UDG among the groups in environment when there is an beliefs and aspirations being UDAL, free from the trammels urban designer in every local taken up by government and of the professional Institutes, is authority and every architect's the business community. strongest placed to take the office, when every little house role of upholding the principles infill and factory is designed with an urban design input. The experiences can inspire regional levels. And this is increase of urban design creativity. His songs express where I have problems with the education into planning, better than I ever could, the mix UDAL and how it appears to be architecture, engineering and of urban heritage, culture and organised in a manner that surveying courses has to be personal feelings, which seeks to establish a national "»«'«.>»»»,»»«, Urban Design Alliance the most important priority for produce a 'sense of place' that agenda - one which is the work of UDAL. derives its uniqueness from a potentially insensitive to the combination of people and local context and sense of | UDAL must take a stand in the environment. It is this sort of place. Millennium dome! # 'sense of place' which urban designers strive to create or John Biggs contribute towards. Sense of place and regions possible contribution to the It is from this perspective I find The draft statement of wider debate surrounding it strange that while singers objectives of the UDAL claims compact sustainable cities and From Northern reminisce about places which that sense of place can be realising that urban design has Ireland hold memories and celebrate reinforced by good urban to be a shared responsibility. the distinctiveness of local design. Yet, one of the major The problems are the "I'm leaning on a bus stop towns and cities, the UK is omissions of this statement is omissions from the UDAL listening to the Lavery's din being treated like some the almost total lack of any objectives, concerning sense Bradbury Place Spring '93 homogenous entity by groups regional dimension beyond of place and sensitivity of old sensations rushing in of design professionals who London and the lack of any regional problems, and the fear and I'm talking to a lad from should know better. This is specific aims to protect and that these omissions were not Craigavad where the Urban Design enhance local distinctiveness made deliberately, bad as that about nothing in particular Alliance comes in with what and sense of place. might be, but that they were wondering what makes me me appears to be an incredible For example, the UDAL made through ignorance and and him him amount of insensitivity. Firstly, answers the questions 'What is lack of knowledge of regional and us individular" 1 insensitivity to the work of the Urban Design?' by quoting a issues. Urban Design Group but more definition contained in Planning importantly, insensitivity to Policy Guidance Note 1. Maybe The UDAL needs to be Cities and song 'sense of place'. it is a little obvious to state that sensitive to the local and PPG1 does not apply to regional contexts and to listen In July last year Joe Holyoak,2 Northern Ireland, as it operates to those who understand their in a blatant attempt to sound UDAL's aims under a different legislative and locality and sense of place, like a typical Bob Jarvis's organisational context. Its such as the person who knows Endpiece, wrote a short road The well-founded rationale is to equivalent is Planning Policy that Belfast City suits the rain. movie script about his trip change professional behaviour, Statement (PPS) 1 which manages to quote almost across North Carolina. He to bring down barriers and to "Now I'm standing writing this verbatim, the PPG1 definition of suggested a soundtrack which promote collaboration across song urban design as concerned celebrated in music and song the various disciplines. All this on the classified ads pages of with ". . . the complex the towns and places he sounds very familiar and was the evening paper interrelationships between all passed through. He asked part of the reason for joining the Belfast city's in the rain the elements of built and about the music celebrating UDG at a personal level. It is lights are coming on unbuilt space"3 without actually British towns. Why do we not difficult to find fault with these it's Saturday evening mentioning urban design and celebrate our well-loved places aims, but it is also difficult to and I'm ready to go drinking being happy to leave this as a in modern song? see how this is substantially again."4 # definition of material planning different from the Urban Design considerations. In partial answer to his Group rationale. And if the Michael Crilly questions, I suggest he listens initiative is nothing new, how to what is happening in the will it attract professionals and The insensitivity to the regional regions, particularly Northern individuals that are not already context is also amply References Ireland. While Belfast is not a involved in the work of the demonstrated by the name of conventionally beautiful city, it UDG? the organisation and the 1. White, Andy. 1994. Extracts is an interesting and exciting potential disaster of having an from 'Street Scenes from my place to live in and hang out. It Of course, the UDG does not acronym, which sounds like a Heart' on the Destination is a city that has an effect on have a monopoly over urban paramilitary group and appears Beautiful album, Warner Music your emotions through its design issues but it has been on gable wall murals throughout UK. inherited culture and traditions. an independent and influential Northern Ireland. This is the 2. Holyoak, Joe. 1996. 'Songs It is most definitely unique. It is voice particularly following the trap the Urban Villages Forum About Towns'. Urban Design a city that inspires song. higher profile given to urban fell into and I urge the UDAL Quarterly July (59) p47. quality and design by John not to do the same. 3. Department for the My personal favourite artist, Gummer. Will the UDAL Environment for Northern Andy White, sings about other actually add anything to this Ireland. 1997. Draft Planning cities he has lived in. In his on-going debate? Conclusion Policy Statement 1: General lyrics, each part of London or Principles. Planning Service, Dublin has its own character I feel that any new contributions Overall, it is not what is Belfast. and imprints its own memories or efforts in promoting urban included as part of the UDAL 4. White, Andy. 1992. Extracts about being in a certain place design should not reinvent which causes me problems: from 'James Joyce's Grave' on at a certain time I find it existing groups but become raising the profile of good the Out There album, Warner refreshing that new places and focused on the local and urban design, recognising the Music UK. Marion Roberts wonders raise a 'congestion levy' or hi-jacked back to the agenda of something similar. So a the late 1980's. what the proposed Mayor programme of similar scope and extent to match As the French urbanist Roland for London will do for Barcelona's 160 new urban Castro has remarked, no-one spaces would be out of the can argue against the values of Urban Design. Who do you question. fresh air, or indeed of creating employment. But we know now want for Mayor of London? In terms of the functions of the that good cities are not just new Authority, urban design is loose agglomerations of clean Richard Branson? Lord conspicuous by its absence, areas of employment, training either overtly as a term, or and the cultural industries, Archer? Michael Cassidy? implicitly through the lack of which is the implication of any reference to visual quality. Section 4 of the document. Margaret Hodge? Ken The functions of the Assembly (Note, the new GLA will not have been set out and deal with housing, even on a Livingstone? Does the described as though they strategic level - tough luck, existed on a two-dimensional rough sleepers.) prospect of such a choice plan, or within the confines of a There can also be a magic committee report. Planning is hidden in the un-designed, in exhilarate or appal you? Do defined as land-use planning the lost and forgotten. Much and the Mayor is responsible has been written about the Londoners need a powerful for setting out the strategic fragmentation of the framework for it. The questions postmodern city. London, in its 'voice' to represent them or the consultation document asks entirety offers this experience, are all concerned with the limits hauntingly described by the is such a concept obsolete of strategic and Borough modernist poet TS Eliot as powers rather than asking the 'unreal'. A strategic authority for in the cultural melting pot fundamental question whether London could provide a chance land-use alone provides a to anchor this unreality, but in a which constitutes the broad enough set of design framework which was parameters to define a new neither over-prescriptive nor all- present day metropolis? 'vision' for London. encompassing. To do this would require a vision which is not present in the current In May 1998 Londoners will This does seem an awful proposals set out for have the opportunity to vote on shame, given the efforts of consultation. Perhaps it is whether or not they want to even the last discredited hoped that the new Mayor will have a full-time salaried Mayor Government to come to grips provide the vision, somehow and staff, together with the with the real visual and dramatically transformed from 'check and balance' of a part- perceptual qualities of cities. two-dimensions to three. If so, time Assembly. Possibly it was inevitable that he or she will have their work any cause espoused by the cut out. The commitment to a directly hamburger loving former elected Mayor appeared in Secretary of State for the Labour's election manifesto last Environment would be dropped To conclude, the proposals as April. Consultation on the by an incoming Labour they stand are disappointing, proposals for a Greater London administration. firstly because the democratic Assembly closed on 24 accountability for forward October. So far, it appears that This begs the question: what thinking will be channelled the Government is committed has happened to all those through one person only, who to the concept of the Mayor. ideas bandied about in Urban may well be completely The debate about the Design Group conferences, in disinterested in urban design consultation document in the the Urban Design Campaign issues. Secondly, and most media focused almost and by the architectural importantly, urban design is not exclusively on this issue. This superstars? They ranged from included in the functions of the left a whole series of other revitalising the canal network, Authority. Finally, even if it were, questions of interest to urban to revivifying London's arterial should the Mayor have a bright designers largely unexamined. roads, to pedestrianising great idea, because of the lack of swathes of central London, to real funding, it will probably be Whilst the Press might have providing sculpture trails, to difficult to carry it through with portrayed a future mayor as a defining a complete urban the panache of say, a Paris or a kind of urban saviour, it is clear design strategy for the entire Barcelona. In my view, from reading the consultation city. Just at a point when the Londoners deserve better. # document1 that neither he nor ideas were beginning to flow, she will be able to rival their oft when it was actually possible to Dr Marion Roberts quoted counterparts in Europe discuss the design qualities and North America. The new that make up real, exciting big 1. Secretary of State for the Environment, cities (and which are huge Transport and the Regions (Cm 3724) Mayor for London will not have New Leadership for London: The any tax-raising powers, apart earners in terms of income from Government's Proposals for a Greater possibly, from the ability to tourism), the debate has been London Authority. A Consultation Paper. London: HMSO. July 1997. Urban Design as an Anti- environments, interested in betraying a very limited view of service is offered as an Profession both the process of this what professions might be like. innovation in the marketplace, it shaping and the spaces it Do professions have to be such has to develop its own 'unique Following the recent helps to shape. Combining limited and bounded selling point'. This means that technical, social and institutions? In practice, I think, the promoters of each conference on Bridging the expressive concerns, urban there is little chance of them innovative service have to designers use both visual and escaping this fate. emphasise the differences Gaps (see UDQ 64), Ian verbal means of between that particular service communication, and engage in The problem is linked to the and its possible competitors. Bentley argues against all scales of the urban socio- relationship between designers spatial continuum." and the market processes As town planning, for example, what he perceives as some through which most urban form split off to form a separate The very breadth of this is currently produced. profession, it did this by members' wish to see definition does point to Designers find themselves in emphasising the rationality of something important about competition with other its culture, drawing primarily on Urban design getting some urban design, which only professionals in the market for the social sciences for its makes sense if we try to construction services. theoretical underpinnings, and sort of professional status. understand why urban design Development agencies, buying rejecting as far as possible all has come onto the design in the market, choose the associations with the arts or The idea that Urban Design agenda as a whole in recent services which they believe to with the physical aspects of the should seek some sort of decades. There is a be cost effective in their own urban environment. Processes professional status, with entry perception, widely shared terms. They - like designers of this kind lie behind the regulations and exams to amongst those who see themselves - are subject to gradual institutionalisation of guarantee practitioners' themselves as urban sanctions of unemployment the fragmented set of competence, has rumbled on designers, that one of the and bankruptcy. In this professions, with tight for as long as I can remember. important reasons is because situation, there is a constant boundaries around them and I should like briefly to put the of gaps which have developed pressure towards economic gaps between them, which anti-professional view, which between the boundaries set up rationalisation of the currently carve up the city was clearly endorsed by a and institutionalised around the professional services on offer, between them. good number of those present. various actors involved in as innovators develop more cost effective ways of doing "shaping and managing urban If this picture is at all things. My objection stems environments", and particularly convincing, it raises serious fundamentally from my around the mainstream design questions as to how any professions. understanding of Urban Design One way of improving cost putative urban design as a field of work. Urban effectiveness is through a profession might hope to evade Design is notoriously hard to The necessarily broad nature of process of increasing the pressures I have outlined. If define. Many of those who think definitions like Madanipour's specialisation, so that broad it could not, then it could only they do it (me included) are can be seen as endemic to the and complex tasks are split exacerbate the pattern of gaps subject to periodic minor whole project of urban design: down into ever-narrowing parts. and boundaries which, in our identity crises, and spend lots it is entailed by the perceived For a given cost, this enables a muddled and ambiguous ways, of time trying to define it: need to bridge the various greater degree of specialised we all currently try to bridge. reading back over my own gaps, partly institutionalised expertise to be applied to each Those of us who are against the published attempts, over the through professional given aspect of the idea of an urban design last twenty years, I find that boundaries, through which fall development process, to the profession think that this is they all contradict one another, so much of potential value in benefit of whoever is in a exactly what would happen. and I think that is probably par urban design terms. position to buy the services for the course. Alan Rowley, concerned. The market This is not, however, an who has grappled rather Viewed from this perspective, process therefore supports the argument for a 'steady as she extensively with this issue, is the question raised by those of emergence of an ever more goes' complacency. It is not to on record as feeling that no us who are against the idea of complex and specialised say that urban design should short, clear definition is an urban design profession is a division of professional labour not seek a higher profile. It is possible. very simple one. If it is true that in the production of urban certainly not to mount some a significant part of what most space. kind of attack on the A recent heroically synoptic urban designers see as the established professions. It is attempt by Ali Madanipour, who negative character of many We can trace a historical merely to suggest that if we feels that there is "a pressing recent urban transformations is change from a situation where seriously want to challenge the need for a clearer definition" due to the gaps and all design services formed a status quo, to get better-loved illustrates the problems boundaries around the existing single field of expertise - urban places on the ground, involved. He identifies seven professions (as Jon Rowland architecture, whether offered by then we have to debate ways of key areas of ambiguity in the argued at the Oxford a trained professional or not - to creating some more dynamic, usage of the term 'urban conference) then how can it be the more complex situation of broadly based movement, with design' and comes to a broad a positive move to try to create today. In this process, a more subversive potential. A definition which, he feels, goes yet another profession? Will this architects have gradually profession will not cut it. # some way to dealing with the not inevitably lead to more reduced the scope of the ambiguities which concern him: gaps and boundaries? service which they offer, Ian Bentley relinquishing (whether willingly "Urban design therefore can be The protagonists of the or not) more and more of their defined as the multi- professionalisation view, on the historical role to various sorts of disciplinary activity of shaping other hand, might see engineers, surveyors, planners and managing urban questions like these as and managers. As each new International (D D 5' Inner Praia 16 In 1982 the proposal was made to expand Deformations of the City The 1991 reclamation aims to create a Macau again. The Macau government and sense of city and an urban space attractive leading business figures decided that a Two aspects interest us in this review: to the cosmopolitan and more modern city could be created by reclaiming urban spaces and the use of reclamation to sophisticated technocrats. Vicente sets out yet more land and building modern create such spaces. The urban spaces of a new agenda for urbanity and structures (Prescott 1993). Two public Macau have been used to create spaces demonstrates how to achieve it. As such, competitions were announced to guide the for commerce and for social transactions this last reclamation is the clearest in its expansion of land area. (e.g. Praia Grande); to create a sense of aims and one that addresses most directly place and identity, resolve a difficult the need for urban spaces in which to live. For the first stage, a team of the Hong geometry, and lately to regain Macau's Kong-based planning practice, P&T Group, international position. with Siza Vieira and Fernando Tavora of Conclusions Portugal, proposed a reclamation of the Macau's early growth shows a distinctly outer harbour. They submitted plans for a European form as streets follow contours or We have described a series of rectilinear urban grid of 144m by 72m: four natural phenomena, unlike the Chinese reclamations that have all taken place in blocks wide to the west and two wide to the planned city based on geomantic rules. one small and clearly bounded city. east, six blocks deep on the north south Initially, reclamation is undertaken in this Successful urban planning is difficult to axis. A central reserve separates the east organic method. Recent reclamation has define, except in specific facets: for and west sections and is continued on to done much to change the character of the instance success in financial terms the shore to provide a visual connection; a city. The 1970s expansion is a mixed resulting from good planning, as the city fathers hoped. Or in the feeling of urbanity Belatedly, the Macau city planners is too heavy handed, resulting in a large and well-being, a "cultured" result, again as recognised the importance of quality of formal space which is disconnected from the city fathers hoped. Another scale of urban space and the last expansion the surrounding structures. The result is success can be the popularity of the city - attempts to introduce urban forms which that the district is unpopular, remaining a large influx of inhabitants might indicate enhance the urban experience, The largely empty. that the city is a well planned environment. reclamation provides not only room for From this point of view, intended by the more commerce and habitation, it sets out The success of the latest reclamation planners, it has failed. Of course, all these to create a better living environment based remains to be seen. It is a remarkable measures are imprecise and subject to on current desires and principles. In this piece of urban planning in that its major influence from many other factors. When sense, it joins the established tradition of purpose is to restore a sense of urban evaluating the success of reclamation urban design that redefines the city through focus. The additional land required was strategies, we need to consider these grand gestures rather than incremental provided in the spaces created by the factors and speculate as to the sources of growth. generous gestures of the two ponds. By success. this point, however, Macau is burdened by If there is any one thing that determines so much unoccupied and unsold property The scale of expansion certainly affects success in Macau, it is the role of resultant that it is not clear the new land will be used. success: a small reclamation intended to public space. Where the reclamation sets Efforts may be made for political reasons to tidy up the urban edge and reduce erosion, out to establish a 'place' or to add complete the project and put a semblance as we see in the eighteenth century, incrementally to existing place, it has of success on this highly visible project provides better sites for commerce and succeeded. Where the reclamation has before the resumption of sovereignty by social functions. This organic growth been of sufficient mass to become a new China in 1999. The city needs something to extends existing urban and social patterns neighbourhood and does not continue the tie it back together after being left ragged without disturbing them. To take advantage fabric of the city, the reclamation is on this southern edge. The "reorganisation" of the economics of reclamation unsuccessful. of the Praia Grande might be the answer. # engineering, recent reclamation exercises define larger areas behind their barrier The most obvious example of a wrenching Thomas Kvan and Justyna Karakiewicz walls. These define a new environment, change of scale and discontinuity can be discrete and separate and creating a new seen in the rectilinear expansion proposed character for the city. It is these new urban in 1984 and completed in 1994. A generous forms which are seen by the Mecanese review of the design notes that the plan is citizenry and visitors to be unsuccessful. "characterised by a clarity of principles and geometric rigour but sufficiently flexible to Not all large expansions fail. Barcelona's ensure the survival of those few disciplining expansion in the nineteenth century, for elements of the plan when confronted with example, is of such strong character that it eventual changes in programming of sets up a separate counterpoint to the occupation for the area." (Prescott 1993). existing older city, successfully creating a The reality is less kind - wide streets new city whose life enhances the old. In between the buildings prevent the Macau, however, the schemes spontaneous eruption of activity that fills implemented from 1900 to 1984 have the alleys and lanes of old Macau. The broken from the traditional urban patterns "geometric rigour" in the central public park but not replaced it with a viable alternative. References >11 |9Ul ami Brito, R. de S.: 1962, Imagens de Macau A p ft w-isEEyk-si m Agenda Geral do Ultramar, Lisboa. i'Jirrjr I _ _ fro • QO Duncan, C.: 1987, "Development of _LlJ ; Mur-ii/i O Macau's City Landscape" Macau, City of Commerce and Culture R. D. Cremer, ed. UEA Press, Hong Kong. Hong Kong Museum of Art: 1996, Views of the Pearl River Delta Urban Council of Hong Kong, Hong Kong. Hurley, R. C.: 1898, Tourist Guide to Canton and Macau Ch'eng Wen Publishing Company, Taipei, reprinted 1973. Pires, B. V.: 1987, "Origins and Early History of Macau" Macau, City of Commerce and Culture R. D. Cremer, ed. UEA Press, Hong Kong. _ 19 Prescott J. A.: 1993, editor Macaensis Momentum Hewell Publications, Macau. Seurre, J.: 1996, "Macau 1996: the Die is Cast" China Perspectives No. 4, March/ April. Wang W. J.: 1997 "Is There A Plaza In Chinese Public Space" these proceedings Woodward, C.: 1992, Barcelona Manchester University Press, Manchester. Two urban spaces in Macau. Topic What is the difference between urban design and landscape architecture? A glib answer would be that the o former is done by urban designers, generally with a background in town planning or architecture, while the latter is done by landscape architects, who belong to a distinct profession with its own educational requirements for qualification and practice. Another possible - but potentially misleading - reply would be to say that landscape architects are primarily concerned with the 20 open spaces within towns and cities, particularly those which are vegetated, whereas urban designers are principally interested in built form and development processes. But this would underestimate the extent to which the activities of landscape architects and urban designers can overlap. In towns and cities landscape architects and urban designers are united by a shared concern for the quality of urban life and by the belief that this can be enhanced by positive interventions in the public realm. The brief given to the contributors to this section was simple and open-ended. They had to write something which addressed the overlap between landscape and urban design. All three chose to write about areas with problems. Rupert Kempley and Jennifer Ross share a concern about those alienated fragments of open space which seem at best irrelevant to the communities in which they are found, or at worst, as at King's Cross, are colonised by drinkers, prostitutes and drugs dealers. How, if not by surveillance cameras, might such areas be rescued? John Pendlebury, on the other hand, writes about Newcastle's Graingertown, an area which throbs with pulsating nightlife (and already has its CCTV). The problem here is not how to make spaces relevant to people, but how to do it in a way which also respects the dignified backdrop of late-Georgian architecture. # This article looks at the overlap common. Nevil Farr, a principal in the Liverpool office of Donaldson Edwards, between landscape architecture and was explicit about the overlap: s urban design. The purpose of "Good design to a client is getting it on time and within budget....good design to landscape architecture is to make me is all those things, plus I feel there are ephemeral things like delight and o good places. I owe this definition to enjoyment and tension and variety and colour of materials and invitation...all the Tom Turner who lectures at the variety of psychological reactions to that environment. I think this probably applies to University of Greenwich. something like urban design as well. I think o the principles probably hold good" (D There was a long period when most of (A these places were rural - landscape Phil Moss, a landscape architectural architects designed forests and country partner of BDR put it even more strongly: ••• parks, reclaimed coal tips and quarries and helped to ameliorate the impact of new "Landscape architecture is not just about O roads or power lines. These activities still detailing spaces between buildings... go on, of course, but what is striking is the landscape architects have got to be urban 3 extent to which landscape architecture, at designers and appreciate how settlements, (/> least in the UK, has, over the course of two cities, landscapes are put together, what va decades, become a profession largely are the component parts and how they concerned with urban environments. This relate to one another." perception grew out of my own o experiences working for planning departments in Glasgow and on Tyneside, Reticent vs. bombastic design 3 but it has been confirmed, at least to my (D own satisfaction, by a series of twenty- When landscape architects work in the seven interviews conducted with countryside, their objective is often to be as landscape practitioners over the summer of self-effacing as possible. Far from making "0 1997. design statements, their work should be so attuned to its context that no one can tell c that they have intervened. Some follow Definitions similar precepts when they come to the city. Peter McGuckin, consultant landscape If you ask landscape architects to say architect for Newcastle's East Quayside o what they mean by good design, they will redevelopment explained his philosophy: often give you an explanation that involves spaces, scale and attention to detail. Here, "The cleverness is doing always, for each for example, is Dougal Thornton, Principal site, what is right. Imposing your will might (D Landscape Architect for Stirling District be good, but it might be bad. Working with Council: -0 the grain might have been better. And in the case of the Quayside, the satisfying "I think the core of what we do is space example I have in mind is where we worked Z3 and the hardest thing is scale. People can with the grain of the vernacular in terms of —I get all the components right and get the materials and really decided that there was zr scale wrong. I think the movement through too much going on elsewhere and it was O space is the most fascinating thing we deal necessary to do this almost as a foil, to with and how people interact with show that good design was not always "D space and how they respond to it." about big statements." (7) O And here is Peter Fischer, a landscape An opposite view says that landscape architect based in Kingston-upon-Thames: architects have been too reticent. Tim Gale of London-based Edwards Gale was "To me scale of space.... a hobby horse of thinking of Barcelona when he said: mine is that I think a lot of design work, particularly urban design work of late, is "I think some bolder, stronger statements, pattern for its own sake, circles and like the ones most of us have seen now in squares and diamonds, whatever. To my Southern Europe would be entirely mind it's not what the design of urban appropriate and I'm sure we're going to get space is about. It should be how it them, because the new generation of functions. It should be simply paved and landscape architects who are emerging very carefully detailed." from college are interested and excited by all this." If you hadn't been told that these were landscape architects, you might have This is a view shared by Rodney Beaumont presumed that they were urban designers. of Gillespies who went as far as to The two professions have very much in advocate "bombastic" design, an Topic / Landscape Architecture and Urban Design unfortunate choice of words perhaps; his point would have been better served by a word like "authoritative" or "arresting". Collaboration or rivalry So far I have not had the opportunity to interview any urban designers about their attitudes towards landscape architects. The relationship between the two professions can be co-operative or could become combative. Roger Kirk-Smith of ASH in Liverpool was only half joking when he told me that: "There is a war going on between urban designers, architects - who want to dominate the world - and landscape architects. We've got to be very careful that we are perceived as being bona fide members of the urban regeneration school and not just the people "who do the fluffy bits." Top: Pattern for pattern's sake? Landscape architects are very sensitive Centenary Square, about this. The thing they hate most is Birmingham. being brought into a project at a late stage Left: Two views of and asked to do a planting plan. For many Newcastle by Masie their planting skills are secondary to their Rowe. real expertise, which is spatial design. Below: Pare de I'Espanya Industrial, In the private sector there are almost Barcelona. An certainly going to be occasions when example of urban designers and landscape architects 'bombastic' design? become rivals, but we must hope that enlightened clients will put together multi- disciplinary teams for large urban projects. To end on an optimistic note, I will quote Peter Fischer who praises the virtues of a multi-dimensional approach: "I've come to do other urban design work, townscape analysis with the Civic Trust and others, and I enjoy that sort of work. You're working with economists and people like Comedia/Demos, who are "lifestyle designers" almost, asking "how do people actually want to live in the urban fabric?" and "how do you create exciting or busy places where people want to be so that they're successful?" "And I've been working in teams doing that sort of work. I get quite a lot out of it, and I think we produce things that are right for the client and help the sorts of places we've been working on . . ." "And it's not something where you can say "Oh, I did that as a design". I was involved in something that was a process. There was a landscape element or urban design element.... not even that we did the detailed design. Somebody else has come along and done the detailed design but I think we set a framework. I enjoy the achievement of that." # Those of you who know Newcastle, activity. Grainger Town will become a o distinctive place, a safe and attractive but have not visited for a while, may location to work, live and visit.' wonder as to the whereabouts of this 3 Beyond the aspirational rhetoric this o •ii recognised that the well-being of Grainger place called Grainger Town. It has Town as a place relies on more than the 3 fabric of the buildings; it is to do with the existed for less than ten years, and economy and the people of the area. It is (fi also a vision which chimes with notions of 3 revitalise a decaying large chunk of Culture occurs in urban space. To understand urban space we need to look late-Georgian city centre. r- from above and below; to link the understanding given by political economy a> of the way built environments are created Richard Grainger was a nineteenth century through systems of money and power, to 3 entrepreneur; a speculative developer. He the perspectives given by everyday life, a was responsible for a whole series of where disorder and spontaneity can take developments in Newcastle, especially in over.5 The landscapes of our cities 0) the 1830s.1 Some of these have been lost; encompass not only physical spaces and for example, two thirds of the grandest the buildings that define them but also the o square in Newcastle, Eldon Square, people who use those spaces and the fi> replaced by the 1970s shopping centre associations and relationships they have which bears the same name. But much with those places. "O remains and it is Grainger's stamp that created a series of dignified classical late- (D Georgian streets forming England's only Two Walks planned commercial centre of this date.2 <0 Most famous of these is Grey Street, Two very different ways of experiencing the c_ described by Pevsner 'as one of the best urban space of Grainger Town, two very 2 O streets in England'. different landscapes, are exemplified by the walking journeys through the area described by Robert Hollands6 and David ~0 The Birth of Grainger Town Lovie.7 Lovie's text is designed as a CD companion to architectural walks around ZD Q_ By the late 1980s officers in the city council Newcastle and is produced as part of the CD were very worried about this part of the city Grainger Town Project. It is a model of its CT centre. The retail had moved north, and to kind. Informative and well illustrated, it is C the south the Quayside by the River Tyne the sort of guide non-specialists interested was in the process of being regenerated for in architecture would find accessible in a leisure uses, fuelled by the Tyne and Wear way that might not be true of the 'Buildings Development Corporation. Office users of England' series. Despite its 'official' were relocating elsewhere, outside the city. provenance it is not too afraid to make As a consequence the planned Georgian criticism of some of the less successful town suffered. Vacancies were high, developments of recent years. Its four especially on upper floors and the walks represent one way of experiencing condition of buildings poor. 'Grainger Town' Newcastle. was born and studies of the area began, 3 culminating in a report by EDAW in Hollands' text, by contrast, describes the October 1996 which produced a vision Newcastle phenomenon of 'going out', a statement: pulsating part of Zukin's symbolic economy. An American survey of 'world 'Grainger Town will become a dynamic and party cities' rated Newcastle as the world's competitive location in the heart of the City. number eight, only trailing the likes of New Grainger Town will develop its role in the Orleans, Amsterdam and Rio.8 Hollands1 regional economy, within a high quality book is quite definitely not intended as a environment appropriate to a major companion to a night out on the town, but European Regional Capital. Its reputation describes an activity far more prevalent for excellence will be focused on leisure, than that of the architectural tourist. He culture, the arts and entrepreneurial describes the youthful and extended Topic / Landscape Architecture and Urban Design weekend nightlife which has developed at Start the same time as the region has Here experienced its most rapid economic decline. Nights out have been transformed D from a simple rite of passage to a permanent socialising ritual for young adults. This is ascribed partly to economic re-structuring but also to cultural consumption in the city assuming a central role in young people's experience of modern life. One element of 'going out' is its processional nature, moving from pub to pub through the evening. Different individuals and groups establish regular patterns for their nights out. This might include, for example, central meeting points or a 'warm up' pub. From there perhaps 7-10 pubs or bars might be 24 visited, sometimes following a rigorous schedule. All this is a very different experience of the city than might be experienced by the typical purchaser of David Lovie's book and its raw energy can intimidate those who are not part of it. But as Holland shows it is important part of the lives of many young people, never mind its economic value. A successful strategy for Grainger Town must embrace (and not seek to displace) this culture as much as the culture of the architectural spaces in which it takes place. Spatial Treatment These physical spaces are of course part Hi I'll. of the picture. One of the conclusions of the EDAW study is that"... despite a generally high quality of 'classical townscape', the external public realm and spaces between buildings is woefully inadequate for a European regional capital of the scale and importance of Newcastle." This raises key questions of how spaces should be changed and enhanced. One of the brilliances of Grainger's vision Top: An Architectural was his creation of a planned town centre Walk (reproduced superimposed on the medieval and courtesy of David eighteenth century street pattern, leaving Lovie). most of the earlier streets largely intact. He Above: Bigg Market: saw the opportunity to open up large areas street furniture as of land by breaking new streets through traffic management. areas which were effectively backland. At Top right: A Night on the heart of this medieval street pattern is the Town (reproduced the progression of streets from the courtesy of Robert Newgate to the north of city, arching round Hollands). until above the Cathedral and Castle the Bottom right: The street broadens to form the Bigg, Cloth and Grainger Memorial Groat Markets. This is one of the first areas (reproduced courtesy in the area to be comprehensively of Charlie Holmes and landscaped under the Grainger Town Ian Ness - computer initiative. The results are not encouraging. artwork by Bryan The anonymous 'heritage' treatment ignores Roberts). the advice of the EDAW report and represents a significant lost opportunity. The area has been divided up by a rather random and clumsy geometry owing nothing to either the history or architecture of the space, and has been littered with street furniture which seems as much concerned with traffic management as environmental quality. It is a scheme that has nothing to do with any meaningful sense of place. The Bigg Market has been a venue for serious drinking for centuries, as a medieval market or as the focus now for the dynamic youthful celebration of 'going out'. It would have been far better to celebrate this excess through a treatment based on fun and panache; or if the City Fathers required something more sober, a simpler treatment which connected with the real space and its history as set out in the City's own assessment of the character of the area,9 rather than arbitrary catalogue 'heritage'. In contrast the competition for a memorial to mark the bi-centenary of the birth of Richard Grainger seems to have had a happier outcome. The site chosen for the competition was a worrying one. Lying on a strong axis with the 135 foot high monument to Earl Grey a vertical statue or sculpture would have been in unhappy competition. Fortunately the winning team of Ian Ness (architect) and Charlie Holmes (sculptor) realised what not to do and designed a horizontal panel. Slightly raised, and set in the roadway, the panel is of cast iron. Conclusion In creating this place 'Grainger Town' it is important that the complexities of its landscapes are recognised. Grainger's 'City of Palaces' deserves to be rejuvenated but the landscapes for which Route and Description of Local Night Out (Dan L26) these fine buildings are the backdrop are equally important. In part this is a As I say, w'always meet in the Trent about half seven to eight o'clock. We always stay there for about an hour, maybe two or three drinks if w' stay in, so we leave landscape of physical spaces. These have there about quarter to nine. Say we gan' to the Bigg Market and probably gan' to evolved as part of the area's morphology Legends. Have one in there, er, come out of there about quarter past nine, twenty from the time the Roman's chose this as the past nine, then to the Adelphi, have one in there. Leave there about half past place to bridge the Tyne, and need to be nine,and to Maceys, say come out there about ten to ten, er, Balmbra's, come out understood and respected in formulating of there about quarter past ten. Then to Masters, come out of there about twenty- environmental works. In equal part this a five to eleven, then go to the Empress or the Bridge for last orders, come out of landscape of social activity and relations there and then sometimes go to the nightclub. (one part of which is the phenomenon of 'going out') which are equally deserving of their place in 'visions' of the city. Cultural production is rightly seen as part of the strategy for the promotion and economic rejuvenation of Grainger Town, but this should not be at the expense of those people, such as the young, who now use and enjoy these urban spaces. # References 1. Ayris, I., A City of Palaces: Richard Grainger and the Making of Newcastle upon Tyne. 1997, Newcastle upon Tyne: Newcastle Libraries and Information Service. 2. Pevsner, N. And Richmond, I., Northumberland. 1st ed. The Buildings of Topic / Landscape Architecture and Urban Design England. 1957, Harmondsworth, The little known Stolen Middlesex: Penguin. 3. EDAW, Grainger Town Regeneration Mountaineering Jacket Theory of Strategy. 1996, Newcastle City Council, JJ £Z encouraged to play in the streets and TD CD women don't want to walk in the park alone after dark. CD From the utilitarian point of view of CD providing the greatest happiness for the greatest number, the challenge of reclaiming these outlying urban areas for everyday citizens is an important task, more important by far than re-modelling city centres, these less glamorous peripheral areas being where the majority of people spend most of their time. The impact of CCTV The Stolen Jacket Theory is of little importance to mainstream urban designers as, understandably, their attention is focused by commercial pressures on city centres where comprehensive re-development is most common and where Closed Circuit Television has largely negated fear of robbery or assault by strangers . The most famous and successful example is in Newcastle which saw a 35% fall in crime over a year in the city centre following the establishment of a CCTV system in December 1992. An argument can be made that all the efforts of landscape designers to attract people outside by the creation of beautiful, distinctive and functional spaces can potentially be superseded by the installation of surveillance systems, which in Newcastle and many other similar city centres, are now increasingly seen to be a proven method of providing security and which may begin to redefine what attractive urban space is. One of the reasons for the success of out of town shopping centres has been the ambience of security which they provide, deceptive though this has been shown to be. CCTV systems have already been set up outside city centres in high crime residential areas, Chapeltown in Leeds being a recent example. The implications for urban design are significant; a new aesthetic of surveillance might supersede the traditional pursuit of a green urban Arcadia. Should, for instance, a local authority be forced to choose between a residential CCTV system or environmental improvement - to choose cameras before trees? Safety and spatial quality Space is the building block of landscape design and its manipulation is the entire point of the discipline. Spaces can be made permeable, semi-permeable or totally enclosing; they can be lightly punctuated, heavily punctuated, or made colourful or sombre. In fact landscape designers can do everything with space, except it would seem, the single most desired thing which is to make it around- the-clock comfortable and safe for all sections of society, something which cameras, expensive though they are, seem to promise to do. It is surprising how little addressed, in terms of safety, spatial quality is at a landscape professional level, either educationally or in coverage within publications, with only the occasional honourable exception proving the point1. It is as if an (imaginary) Guild of Carpenters refused to consider the quality of timber their members were using and they went on constructing furniture, ornaments and houses without a great deal of thought for the strength and durability of the wood being used. Top: The urban ideal rarely achieved in Various organisations have attempted to peripheral un- tackle this problem, broadly termed surveilled urban Community Safety, the most important areas. current landscape issue and one which Middle: The People's informs many others. If people, for Park, Halifax, as it instance, are afraid to walk the streets, it is once was. inevitable that public transport will suffer Bottom: The People's and traffic congestion will increase. The Park, Halifax, now: a Priority Estates Project (PEP), Youth Works, threatening under- NACRO, and Crime Concern are the most used place, the prominent of the organisations involved in sculptures protected Community Safety some of which in turn from vandalism. Topic / Landscape Architecture and Urban Design manage the DoE Safer Cities programme currently running in 14 locations. One of the difficulties of improving Community Safety is measuring the extent of the problem and assessing the results. Research shows the difficulty of reclaiming public space for everyday society once it has been lost and even with substantial expenditure this difficulty can not be under- estimated. The Priority Estates Project The Priority Estates Project (PEP), which has been sponsored by the DoE since 1979 to work on some of the country's more challenging housing estates, attempted to measure on a scientific, quantitative basis the effectiveness of its involvement in the improvement of two stressed housing estates located respectively in Kingston- upon-Hull and in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. The results of this experiment illustrate the difficulty of returning value for money even with intensive environmental improvement. PEP has a basic model for estate Top left: Neglected improvement, based on DoE guidelines2, ungated rear access: the critical ingredients being : a local estate stolen jacket paradise. based office, a local repairs team, local Top right: CCTV is the control of rent collection and, most substitute for a moral importantly for urban designers, a conscience. programme of small scale capital /Above left: Close improvements. spatial definition and intense informal As part of the experiment, PEP selected surveillance: the two socially similar control locations in the young men in stolen locality of the experimental estates to test jackets feel the cold. whether their input had had a marked Above right: effect; these were located nearby in Hull Libertarians may and Lambeth. Environmental quibble but for the improvements played a significant part in jacket this is trouble. both the PEP programmes. The Hull estate, Middle left: Informal for instance, was laid out on criminal- surveillance makes friendly Radburn grounds with pedestrians the cycle path separated from traffic, in effect providing a unfriendly to stolen network of convenient unmonitored escape mountaineering routes for burglars. This layout was jackets. rectified and people were returned to Left: What you can do walking alongside roads where informal with a tree if you don't traditional surveillance could operate and smash it up. the old paths were blocked up. Many residents were also given improved defensible space around their houses through the creation of small but clearly defined gardens. In addition, an intensive programme of maintenance was implemented ensuring the speedy removal of graffiti and reversal of vandalism. Despite all this and the expenditure of over £2m crime fell quicker on the London control estate than on the experimental site where the intensive programme of work had been carried out. In addition ethnographical research showed fear of crime had not fallen significantly. The London PEP follow up report3 admirably makes the difficulty of achieving long term In 1996 the then Government concrete gains clear: "on the estates o studied during this research all of the launched the "Greening the City successes were only partial - they occurred in either one or the other of the (D Initiative" to promote discussion and O experimental estates, or only for particular areas or groups of residents in each Conclusion 3 green spaces and places in our urban The fundamental difficulty which the PEP A strategic approach - the key to References success 1. Design for Community Safety, New Nearly all of the successful projects Forest District Council, 1997. examined either arose from or were clearly 2. Guide to Local Housing Management, influenced by wider environmental Power, 1987. strategies. Such a strategic approach was 3. Housing, community and crime, the found to be essential to the long term impact of the Priority Estates Project. protection of a sustainable physical Home Office Research Study HMSO, 1993. environment in terms of: • providing a comprehensive understanding of the operation of the green network and the valuable contribution it makes to the urban environment; • identifying and providing an appropriate basis for protection; • providing a basis to assess the implications of development schemes upon the wider environment and thus providing a basis for incorporating appropriate amelioration measures to minimise such impacts at the outset of Topic / Landscape Architecture and Urban Design Making things happen Effective Community Participation Within each area wide strategy a series of A key objective of most of the cases was to projects and initiatives were identified as improve the living and working conditions o being actively pursued, thus providing an within urban areas. This objective was effective means of channelling activity and most effective when those directly affected resources towards particular priorities or were involved in the process. Community opportunities. From the projects examined involvement was thus seen as essential to a number of key themes and lessons were the process. identified for taking a project forward to implementation and for subsequently The research identified a number of maintaining it. different ways for involving the community, with a number of key procedures and Two prerequisites for 'getting things activities essential to any process: started' effectively were identified: • consistent and long term involvement of • the need for a person or community who project officers; will act as project 'animateurs'; 30 • consistent communication: all leaflets • the provision of a vision and strategy by and publications circulated as part of which the initiators' enthusiasm can be the project adopting a consistent format; shared and resources channelled. the process rather than having to react • keep the community informed: every to a situation when it arises i.e. a Almost every project and initiative action and outcome from meetings prevention rather than cure approach; depended at least in its early stages, on should be reported back to the the energies and commitment of individuals community, and a contact name • resolving conflict and hence providing or a group. In recognition of the importance provided so enquiries can be answered; the opportunity to balance different of such support and involvement, in many needs i.e. conservation and public cases project officers were appointed to • local context: all meetings should be access; build, nurture and sustain such support. held at a local venue already well used For example as part of the King's Cross by the community, and where possible • allowing for the effective integration of Estate Action Programme a significant should be associated with a well environmental and landscape issues amount of time was spent at the outset of established local event; into the wider land use planning system; the project building an effective tenant participation forum which ensured each • communication of ideas: the use of • providing a focus for obtaining, residential block in the estate and every visual material to illustrate how a targeting and managing scarce financial group had the opportunity to become particular scheme will look provides an resources; involved and influence each stage of the appropriate mechanism with which to process. engage the community and obtain a • providing a mechanism to co-ordinate reaction; and accommodate disparate The cases showed however that requirements of all sections of the participation by itself was not enough. A • making relevant: to engage different community; communicable vision that secures the co- sections of community, appropriate operation and support from potential techniques and events relevant to the • providing a framework for decision- partners, funders, local politicians, and particular group should be employed. making and managing actions. other key individuals and organisations is For example, Neighbourhood Nature, a also necessary. Many of the projects project run in Walsall by the National An essential pre-requisite for evolving examined took more than ten years to Urban Forestry Unit involved an Asian effective area wide environmental implement and had been developed in an Women's group in a tree planting strategies - where impacts can be incremental fashion, often in response to campaign by transferring their assessed and changes measured - the availability of funding. The availability of traditional skills in garment production to depends upon the availability of relevant a framework provided the basis upon the production of flags and banners to and accurate information about all aspects which support could be enlisted, actions 'dress' trees. A tree dressing festival of the environment. A number of local co-ordinated and changing circumstances was run in association with the project. authorities produce state of the absorbed. For example, again at Kings environment reports and use such Cross, an overall master plan for • keep focused: involve only those groups information as a baseline against which to enhancement of the public realm of the that will be directly affected by the measure environmental change. estate was drawn up in consultation with scheme; Southampton, Leicester and the Black the resident community at the start of the Country were found to have some of the process and was used as a basis for a • quick success: implement a series of most comprehensive and sophisticated successful Estates Action Bid. This then preliminary projects to help initiate and data available. In the case of Southampton, provided the framework for developing and sustain interest and enthusiasm; such information is maintained on a GIS implementing initiatives on a project by information system alongside all other land project basis with relevant interests in the • flexibility: be prepared to alter and use planning data. This data collection is community. respond to different ideas; supplemented by regular consultation with the community, co-ordinated through a • identify champions: attempt to identify number of area based focus groups. core groups or individuals to help organise events and disseminate information. Though such processes are time OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXTENDING consuming and costly, where they have THE URBAN FOREST-regional priorities been effectively carried out, the projects enjoyed significant success. o Site Selection 5 Making best use of scarce resources is $ particularly relevant when considering environmental improvements. The cases ui demonstrated a number of important issues ^ CD in relation to site selection: g QJ >2 • Targeting resources at the most evident £ CO environmental problems first. 00 Consideration of the numbers of 31 potential beneficiaries either living, travelling or working in the vicinity of the site - isolated and infrequently used areas that are not already a focus of activity have little prospect of becoming so and should therefore be given low priority. Marrying improvement works to the Key priorities of those living and working in Regional Priority 1 • ^ren«*y re*4 tn4 r»il the area. corriderc City Owttenfl* »te«s The ability of a site to respond to the Regional Priority 2 S«K ondary road and changing needs of the community. r«< conidon The relationship and integration of Source: The Black Country Urtoan Forest - A Strategy for it's Development environmental projects to wider NURJ improvement programmes. Above: A strategic approach is essential to the long term success of the green network. Function and Use Below: Overall masterplan used as framework for implementing each project. Many of the projects were concerned with the regeneration of green spaces which despite being an integral part of a place had become alienated from and irrelevant to the community it served, leading to problems of neglect, vandalism, crime, drugs and prostitution. In the King's Cross Estate Action project, for example, the designers used the traditional, formal urban squares to accommodate contemporary uses and functions. The formal layout of mowed lawns and plane trees reflected the historic traditions of the area and the former status afforded to the squares provided the physical framework to introduce change. The needs of the residential community were diverse. Mothers with very young children wanted a secure and overlooked play area, older children wanted a kick- about area, the elderly wanted quiet and secure areas to sit, dog owners wanted to walk their dogs and everyone wanted to improve security and safety. The needs of the residents, however, conflicted with the uses made of the area by drug dealers, drinkers and prostitutes. Through detailed consultation and community involvement, sensitive design, police involvement and increased security and definition of public and private space, the designers managed Topic / Landscape Architecture and Urban Design to incorporate multiple use areas, identify priority user areas and control usage by undesirable elements. The designers accept that as communities change, the open space environment will have to adapt if they are not to deteriorate again. The historic arrangement of the spaces and their location do, however, provide the appropriate framework within which such changes can be accommodated and a diverse range of uses supported. In contrast, the Premier Business Park occupants were more concerned with issues of image and operational efficiency on their industrial estate. Thus accommodation of different user requirements was identified as an essential factor in the success of a project both in terms of implementation and aftercare. These two case studies demonstrate the importance of involving local people in the process. Security and Safety Sense of security was identified as one of the more critical elements in the maintenance and creation of urban spaces. A number of initiatives and measures were adopted involving the education of users, improving sightlines and the permeability of natural areas: 'designing out' overgrown shrubbery and other thick barriers; providing entrances and exits into safe high activity areas in order to improve permeability; reducing hiding and entrapment spots; grading vegetation at woodland/park edges; providing clear sight lines for long distances; providing paths of not less than 4 metres; improving lighting; using wardens and installing CCTV in particularly sensitive spots. Access to all The provision of environments which are accessible to all gives rise to a number of related issues concerned with education, policy and design. The case studies identified a number of physical solutions including the incorporation of wooden board walks as part of the Southampton Greenways project to provide continuous and uninterrupted wheelchair access to a range of naturalistic environments, and the use of interpretation material incorporating Braille in Coventry. Response to Nature Many of the projects examined involved devising solutions to large scale environmental problems with limited capital budgets and minimal revenue funding. In such cases a response that works with the natural conditions proved the most successful in terms of value for money, speed of establishment, sustainability, ease of maintenance and cost of aftercare. This o has implications at the design stage in terms of devising planting regimes, ascertaining the use to be made of the site and the use of hard and soft landscapes. In the majority of cases the proposals adopted low maintenance, naturalistic responses which rely on the indigenous regeneration of the landscape. Funding All of the cases examined required public 33 sector funding. Pulling resources together from a variety of different sources has been critical to the success of many projects. A critical problem identified by the cases was the ability of projects to obtain and sustain long term revenue support. There is no such thing as the "maintenance-free environment" although the cases demonstrated that the burden can be significantly reduced by careful thought during the design stages. The cases did, however, identify a number of ingenious ways of gathering resources from a variety of private and public sources in order to support the long-term management, maintenance and monitoring of green spaces. Examples included endowment payments or commuted sums associated with development schemes (Bedfont Lakes), Section 106 agreements, (Southampton Greenways); contributions from companies as part of packages which lead to energy savings and the reduction in waste (Business Environment Association) or from commercial spin-offs such as the production of wood by-products and wild flower seeds for commercial sale (The National Urban Forestry Unit). The Establishment of Partnership Most of the cases have been implemented or managed by some form of multi-sector partnership arrangement. A number of common themes emerged: • one organisation is usually needed to start the ball rolling - independent voluntary arm's length organisations are well placed - as illustrated by the role played by local Groundwork Trusts in a variety of cases; • successful partnerships are based Top left: Inventive Middle left: Uses Bottom left: Shared around mutual gain; techniques engage relevant to the surface in courtyards. the community. community Above: Spaces • local authorities have a key role through accommodated in between housing projects, land reclamation, use of traditional urban blocks redefined as development control powers and land squares. private spaces and management practices; courtyards. Topic / Landscape Architecture and Urban Design gi • successful partnerships must involve the § right individuals as well as the right ^ organisations; many of the case study c5" projects owe their origins to a q committed individual but projects S sustainable over time depend on a careful blend of individuals; < V> • back up support helps partnerships succeed; many of the case study 01 projects demonstrate the importance of o professional staff time to secure 05 g maximum value from partnerships and 3 volunteers. Making Things Last 34 Equally important to the implementation of projects is ensuring that they last and that they continue to meet the objectives set and the needs of the users. Underpinning this task are three important factors that need recognition: • landscape environments can be a fragile commodity, if not managed and maintained properly they will quickly deteriorate; • landscapes evolve and change not only physically but also in terms of how they are used; • expenditure focused upon capital rather than revenue requirement, coupled with the short termist nature of many funding regimes places a premium upon innovative and low cost approaches to maintaining such environments, designing projects which reduce maintenance requirements and adapt to the changing funding regimes. These factors have implications for design, community involvement, employment of staff, the production of management and maintenance contracts and the potential to generate revenue. The impact of inflexible maintenance contracts was felt by many of the landscapes identified. Many of the projects had opted to remove certain complex landscapes from CCT contracts and/or employ wardens alongside tendered maintenance contracts. Support given by volunteers helped foster the sense of environmental stewardship. Monitoring A common complaint was that the indicators identified by grant giving bodies were not appropriate or limited to numbers of trees or acres planted. Indicators devised for some case studies were: • timber output • incidents of vandalism • community involvement • atmospheric pollution • biodiversity indicators • capital and life cycle cost of different types of greening • employment generation, direct and indirect With the requirements of Local Agenda 21 local authorities are encouraged to develop sustainable development indicators for individual greening projects. In Leicester, experience of the Environment City project led to the identification of four key stages: • understanding "where we are now" gathering the baseline data; • setting goals or targets for improvement; • data gathering to illustrate progress towards targets; • information on progress widely and effectively communicated, The above could serve as a model of improved monitoring practice for any environmental improvement projects and as a basis for improved resource allocation decisions at central and local government levels. Conclusions Urban green space has a central role to play in the long term sustainability of the city. The potential benefits are significant but the processes of achieving long-term success are often complex and difficult. It is hoped that the lessons from these projects will contribute to the success of the greening schemes of the future. # Top left: Top and above: Reinterpretation of the Naturalistic streetscape gives approaches to 1. Greening the City: A Guide to Good priority to greening provide a Practice. A report for the Department of the pedestrians. cost effective means Environment. 1996 HMSO (GFA Consulting Middle left: Large of regenerating in association with Tibbalds Monro). scale planting to derelict sites. green large spaces in The views expressed are the author's own. short to long term. Bottom left: Maintenance needs to be rethought to work with the environment. Case Studies Background city and educational, could then be Top right: targeted to achieve a five-year View of the The Manchester Higher Education Precinct improvement programme aimed at a longer Manchester (HEP), which forms the southern sector of term corporate development concept and Education precinct. D c Major growth in the 70s and 80s and New and improved pedestrian routes significant changes in patterns of teaching aligned to the old street pattern of the o and inter institution working had occurred precinct would take cognisance of Q) without the intended major improvements to increased inter-institution activity, changes the HEP's infrastructure. City centre and in patterns of intra-institution movement precinct-destined traffic shared the same arising from major changes in the location central roads through the Precinct. of learning resource centres, the Consequently, major deterrents to modifications to car parking policy and the achieving its academic and business locations of existing or new entrances to potential included congested and chaotic public and academic functions. Pedestrian vehicular and pedestrian access to and safety and orientation were paramount. circulation within the precinct, parking 5 anarchy and issues of personal and property security. Lack of investment in the A New Precinct o HEP's rapidly deteriorating public environment together with the minimum While each of the institutions had their own contribution that most buildings made to main focus, priority was to be given to the o' animating the street-level environment has creation of a new precinct focus at the o resulted in an increasingly unattractive and junction of Oxford Road and Booth Street unfriendly precinct character. where, coincidentally, four of the key institutions share common boundaries. A location for federal initiatives, the precinct Aims and Approach focus could also provide the opportunity to rationalise the remnants of the vertically Crucial aspects of structure and character segregated pedestrian network of the 60s needed to be re-examined in order to plan, and help revitalise and sustain the provide a framework to build a new recently improved Manchester University precinct 'presence' which matches the Precinct Centre. The focus would provide a academic aims. A key aim was to create a location for precinct-wide events and an unified sense of corporate place, providing outdoor performance space for the Royal surroundings of real quality for all users of Northern College of Music. the HEP Scare financial resources, both MANCHESTER METROP0UTAN s^tkv.tte P^eadilly UNIVERSITY <«,,,, U M I S T Staum M«ncuni*n Hu!m» Way ROYAL NORTHERN COLLEGE OF MUSIC BOOtfc Slfeel U^jwsf Biook S»re« HOSPITAL Lloyd Street TRUST f/enue of Avenge oj 'ght & Proposed Extension ?n«rtnct IHntafeDP., ity Centre RNCM Proposed: ^xtensiol f/lajor gateway Precinct Centre Architectui Oxford Rpai Case Studies The proposed precinct structure, based mainly on these radical changes to the access arrangements, provided the framework for enhancing the physical character and, thus, presence of the precinct. Central to a new place marking strategy was the proposal to create boulevards and avenues of 'light and green' aligned to the designated pedestrian priority routes. Key intersections between the new approaches and boulevards would provide opportunities to create new gateways to the Precinct. Intersections of boulevards and avenues would give opportunities to emphasise the location of existing focal places and spaces and create new ones, such as the Precinct Centre. These important articulations of the structure would be highlighted by variations in street lighting intensity, and a much revamped landscape. The routes would provide vistas and views to important buildings within and outside of the precinct and greatly improve pedestrian security. The comprehensive relighting of the boulevards and avenues would incorporate dual light sources to create variations in intensity of light across the street to reflect the differences in use. Lighting of building facades was proposed to advertise precinct presence from the Mancunian Way and the key approach routes, and to animate the frontages to the new boulevards and avenues. A new vocabulary of precinct street furnishings was proposed, aimed similarly at complementing the articulation of the new structure and satisfying the needs of the user. A comprehensive system of external and internal signage would assist access and orientation within the precinct. Top: Booth Street Boulevard from Austin-Smith:Lord recognised that the HEP Western Gateway. vision and federal programme of Above: Precinct improvements could only be realised by a space from Forum. united approach to implementation. An Right: Lyme Walk. independent Precinct Development Directorate was seen as essential for delivering the corporate improvement programme and focusing effort in the very competitive environment of fund raising. Given a centrally directed effort, the vision of a corporate presence for the precinct could be achieved, based on Austin- Smith:Lord's strategy, to create a distinctive city centre located academic quarter. This would complement other regeneration initiatives in Hulme and around the Arndale Centre which are designed to sustain Manchester as England's second city. The contribution of the HEP in this respect must never be undervalued which, politically, may well currently be the case. # Hugh Cannings Austin-Smith:Lord Introduction pre-war and post-war five storey deck access blocks; terraced cottages of ^ traditional construction and appearance; and a pair of 1960s 16-storey tower § A common criticism of bringing non- blocks. The Ocean Estate South is far simpler in terms of scale and character. ° professionals into the decision-making It consists of three identical eight storey 1950's blocks of 74 dwellings each. <5- process is that they lack the necessary Their austere appearance and extensive size make them vaguely reminiscent 0 skills and knowledge. (Ventriss, 1987) This of housing blocks built in Eastern Europe. £ perception is often one of the arguments 05 against community involvement in design. Both estates are marked by a high degree of extensive and advanced physical Though such participation has on the whole deterioration and inherent design problems. These include: insulation; out-of- $ been increasing, many in the community date services and fittings; rainwater penetration through roofs and faulty have never before been asked to make rainwater goods; decaying windows, external fabric and balconies; and w decisions of this nature or on this scale, vandalised and insecure common areas. (Masterplan Report, 1996) These ^ and it can be a bewildering and conditions are coupled with severe social concerns, such as poor health ^ overwhelming process. It should be no directly attributable to the deteriorating physical conditions and overcrowding ^ surprise then that their views may often be (Ambrose, 1996). An added problem is that these estates were built to a & based on preconceived ideas without an CO notional density of 220 habitable rooms per acre, well over what would be co awareness of all the available alternatives considered acceptable today. or of the constraints and limitations on any possibilities. Or that their views may be 39 based on their own individual concerns, The Project and not take into consideration those of the community as a whole. Specifically, we were asked to carry out the following: Yet the benefits of community participation • a costed appraisal of options for refurbishment and redevelopment on the are well documented. These can include a two estates; design more responsive to the needs of the • feasibility assessments for new housing on scattered council and privately- local community, the fostering of a sense owned sites in the neighbourhood; of ownership, the acquiring of new skills • an implementation plan for the above, addressing issues such as a and an enhanced sense of community timetable for decanting, demolition and construction. spirit. (Hester, 1987) Apart from any moral right to do so, these benefits give In the case of the refurbishment options, the work was reduced by half due to credence to the participation of the the Council's prior decision to demolish the Ocean Estate South blocks and community. If the community then is to play a part in the decision making process, the problems noted above must be addressed. Only then will the community be able to participate fully and effectively. This case study is about Levitt Bernstein Associates' experiences in Central Stepney, in London's East End, where residents were an integral part of the decision-making process. This article examines how this was achieved, and the role of participatory design in enabling them to make an informed decision. Background At the end of 1995 we were asked to work together with local residents, the local authority (the London Borough of Tower Hamlets) and other consultants to develop a masterplan. The study's focus was on the regeneration of two run-down local authority estates the Ocean Estate South and the Limehouse Fields Estate, and whether the estates should be refurbished, redeveloped or some measure of both. Limehouse Fields is a large estate of 852 dwellings, most notable for two aspects: a lack of open space due to the density of the estate layout, and the range of housing types, serving almost as a built record of the varying physical solutions put forward over the last 60 years. These include both Case Studies redevelop the site. This left the buildings on the Limehouse Fields Estate. As they were found to be structurally sound, refurbishment was studied as an option. o Development of options for this was relatively straightforward and included: identifying the problems and necessary remedial works; and establishing a programme for the works and temporary decanting of residents during refurbishment. The process of developing new build options for the two estates and scattered sites was a far greater challenge (and is the focus of this article). Inherently more open to a greater range of possibilities, this placed added emphasis on the importance 40 of enabling residents to make an informed decision. In order to make it more accessible to residents, and bearing in mind our own sequence of work, the course we pursued was phased, each increment building upon the previous one. This approach consisted of: • examination of existing conditions of the estate; • exploration of existing schemes as possible models; • study of urban design principles; • "design game" played by residents; • development of alternative proposals; • assessment of the proposals and selection of a preferred option. The first step began by looking at the existing conditions of their estate. This tied in with our development of alternatives for the refurbishment, but here we took it a step further; through non-leading questions which we asked, the fundamental concerns underlying the problems were identified. From these concerns residents goals began to be defined. This is illustrated by an example. Adjacent to the Limehouse Fields Estate runs a section of the Grand Union Canal. Tenants' initial comments were that they didn't like it, and that they did not want housing or even communal open space to be adjacent to it. What emerged through questioning was Above: Example of that a child on the estate had drowned layout for new build recently playing in the canal. What was housing on one of the really needed was not complete separation scattered sites. from the canal; rather, the inherent problem Top: View of the was the lack of suitable play areas on the same. estate. Provision of this, together with a Right: Residents suitably safe landscape treatment of the participating in canalside, dealt with residents' concerns. design games. An enhanced canalside as a public amenity soon became one of their goals. In the second stage, we examined alternative solutions, including both examples of traditional housing and recently built schemes. The examples were both ones suggested by residents and ones we knew of from our own experience. Discussion of these examples was from the game was that certain issues took For us this project was a success. The facilitated by photographs of built schemes prominence, such as the importance of process we went through provided the and coach visits to other estates. During overlooking for security. What also came opportunity for residents to identify their this stage residents (and we) not only across very clearly was residents' goals, and to expand their knowledge and broadened our knowledge of the range of preferences on matters such as a layout skills. The key was the design game, where possibilities, but also began to assess how based on streets or squares. they learned by themselves what was each measured up against previously involved in site design. The process can identified goals and priorities. Following the game, we developed serve as model to others. It offers a way of alternative layouts for each of the sites, enabling the community to participate fully This discussion of alternative solutions was based upon what had been discussed. and effectively and make an informed taken a step further by a slide presentation These were then assessed together with decision about their future. # reviewing urban design principles. This residents. This in turn informed further included: a comparative analysis of streets, development of the layouts, leading to a Robert Brown squares and cul-de-sacs; emphasis given proposal fully supported by the residents. to structures at corners and at the end of views down streets to create local References landmarks; and the orientation of dwellings Analysis to circulation routes, open spaces and Ambrose, Peter (1996). views. A significant and unexpected aspect When it came time to examine potential I Mustn't Laugh Too Much - Housing and of the discussion that followed was the masterplan layouts the residents were able Health on the Limehouse Fields and Ocean examples raised by residents themselves to assess them from an informed basis. Estates in Stepney. Centre for Urban and where these principles (and others) could They understood the reasons behind Regional Research, University of Sussex. be seen. various design decisions and were able to Capital Action (1996). Central Stepney analyse them in an objective manner. SRB Housing Masterplan Report. The next stage was a design game, in Perhaps more importantly, they were able Hester Jr., Randolph T. (1987). which we asked the residents to try for to recognise in the proposals some of the 'Participatory Design And Environment themselves to design a layout for new decisions (both good and bad) that they Justice: Pas De Deux or Time to Change houses and flats on a fictitious site. Each themselves had made, providing them with Partners?' The Journal of Architectural and resident was given a site plan at 1:500 an even greater insight into and Planning Research, Vol. 4, No. 4, scale, similarly scaled models of houses understanding of the proposals. December: 289-300. and flats, and different sheets with coloured Ventriss, Curtis. (1987). The Enabling cut-outs for alternative road/parking/ The approach provided for a non-committal Practitioner and the Recovery of Creative footpath arrangements, front and rear atmosphere in which the residents own Work. The Journal of Architectural and garden layouts, and communal open preferences and values emerged. It Planning Research, Vol. 4, No. 4, space. They were then asked to develop, presented the opportunity for residents December: 281-288. in teams of two or three, layouts for the site (and us) to expand their knowledge about with the following objectives, taken from the the alternatives available, and to develop client's Masterplan brief, in mind: the skills necessary to assess the alternatives. • provide as many dwellings as possible with a ratio of two houses for each flat; The most vital aspect of our approach was • 1 car parking space for each dwelling; the design game: it was intended to be and • front and rear gardens for all houses and was fun; this made it less threatening, and ground floor flats; thus more accessible. By taking a lateral • open communal space (the size based approach, looking at a fictitious site, in proportion to the number of residents were freed from defending the dwellings). subjective (and personal) concerns they might have about a design for their own Apart from providing the necessary estate. Playing the game gave residents instructions, we stood back to let residents the opportunity to learn first hand the have a go at it themselves and only had an limitations and possibilities of their own input when asked specific questions. What preconceptions and ideas identified followed was a rather boisterous exercise, together. Moreover, playing the game marked by noisy and animated discussion, illustrated far better than words spoken by comparison of each other's layouts, a great either side ever could both the urban deal of laughing, and a sense of design principles discussed and residents' disappointment when the session had to be own preferences for the site layout. drawn to a close. When it came time to examine the In the discussion which followed we asked alternatives, we were able to focus on the residents their reaction to the game. All positive and negative aspects of each agreed it was a great deal of fun, despite layout. No lengthy explanation was its difficulties. A comment repeated by all required to explain a complex concept. was how complex they found it, with each There was no sense of myopia influencing decision made impacting on another, and judgement nor shadowing consideration of the limitations imposed by certain the concerns of the greater community. constraints such as the sizes required for Nor was there any sense of us and them, of each element, which made it difficult to get us forcing a solution upon them. as many dwellings on the site as they first thought they might. What quickly emerged Book Reviews World Cities: Tokyo gaps, its streets, its spirit and Botond Bognar transport networks. It Academy Editions £75 introduces the idea of the 'city of infinity', the abolition of urban o When Isaiah Berlin put forward space emptied of significance, the idea of the disparity of rolled out over the surrounding cultural values and the lack of hinterland in an intensity where, universality, he must have been "there are no givens and thinking of Japan. We view constants, and where Tokyo as chaos in concrete. everything exists as its own Hajime Yatsuka describes the opposite." city as a patchwork: "... there is no organic The last three sections of this relationship between sumptuous publication deal neighbouring elements such as with a series of architectural streets and buildings, and it is projects defining Tokyo as it not possible to establish such a might have been, as it is, and relationship ... the tendency is as it will be. As an outsider 42 to move from the texture to the looking in one is struck by the patchwork, from the issues of calmness and synthesised city to the city fracture. In many places the sans organes, from Ville calm and space is provided by Radieuse to the patchwork city blank walls, textured or of Anarchy." coloured, whilst the plans seem to introduce abrupt changes of grid and dramatic spatial To Western eyes this is all Geo-Space Urban Design The following chapter interventions. We can see this incomprehensible. One almost Gideon S Golany & considers transportation in a number of examples: has to be an urban Toshio Ojima facilities in terms of subways, Hasegawa's Shonandai anthropologist and peel back John Wiley New York £50 parking lots and roadways. Cultural Centre and the cultural layers to begin to Ojima makes the point that, Kitegawara's Rise Cinema understand concepts such as This book investigates the given this approach, a long Complex with its illusory 'omote' - the public face of possibility of providing urban term phased plan is needed for collection of building shards buildings on an avenue - or growth into and below ground infrastructure before any 'ura' - the back of buildings, represents the quintessential level - the use of geo-space. superstructure is constructed. where human scaled alleyways Japanese spirit; Aida's urban It is a collaboration between In the sixth chapter, Japanese provide a more understandable microcosm of a War Memorial Gideon Golany, who wrote the Geo-Space and Infrastructure sense - not of place - but of Park and his Furusato Village introductory chapters and the System, he examines the confusion. Hall with its 'infinity of space' conclusion, and Toshio Ojima, comprehensive infrastructure in where public space is a professor in Tokyo, who cities and it becomes clear that internalised and constrained; Tokyo has twice been writes about specific Japanese Tokyo is not as far advanced as Hara's shiny, tumbling Yamato destroyed by earthquakes. This experience. most West European cities International Building, and idea of transience and shock although it has more examples Sejima's Y House. has shaped both the nature Golany's section refers to of the use of geo-space. In the and form of development. precedents for this type of last chapter on international There is no respect for history. I suppose it is the exuberance development, categorises uses of geo-space, Golany Development is there to use the and sheer technical verve that typologies and then examines gives a short and disappointing land to its utmost potential. The allows these buildings to be the functional and overview of examples in China, constant process of renewal part of the thread that holds the environmental consequences. Cappadocia and India with still allows the teeming cultural patchwork of the city together, He believes that geo-space scant reference, and no life to continue, co-exist and sometimes unravelling to offers "a promising and realistic illustrations, to contemporary somehow overcome the demonstrate designs that are solution for some of the practice in Japan, USA, changing spatial structure, more sculpture than fabric, problems of our congested France, Canada and Sweden. colonising it with gaudy sometimes holding space to cities" citing scarcity of land, messages that reflect the create a moment of orderliness climate and the availability of The book gives some useful inexorable spirit of the Tokyo in chaos. appropriate technology. quantitative backgrounds to citizen to adapt. environmental performance of Botond Bognar has brought One of Ojima's contributions geo-space solutions and To understand the city we have together this excellent record of concerns shopping centres in categorises forms of to throw out our text books. the city and its parts with a Japan and he refers to 19 development but fails, in my Forget Responsive series of essays and a available examples. One of view, to assess qualitative EnvironmentsI Burn your Bacon commentary that is peppered these in Kawasaki is examined aspects in any great depth. and chuck your Kostof! There with quotes. The price may in detail and there are detailed This is perhaps the danger of is a completely different seem high, but when one surveys of temperature, trying to cover too great an vocabulary that this book tries compares it to the transitory humidity, pollution and wind, area in one book. Nevertheless, to define and succeeds in nature of a restaurant meal, this but by comparison there are for those investigating the illustrating. It sets about this visual feast may offer more very few useful illustrations. subject for the first time, it will task by first establishing the sustenance. # These are essential if one is to provide a useful reference to cultural, economic and physical judge the benefits of such an available material. # contexts. It defines the city in Jon Rowland approach. terms of such aspects as its John Billingham Civic Realism and civic pride. The fifth Structure and Style Twentieth Century Society and Peter G Rowe section concerns Spatial Conserving Twentieth their deliberations surrounding MIT Press 1997 £25.50 meanings and examines the Century Buildings the alterations to several changing background to what Edited by Michael Stratton interesting examples. Peter Rowe's latest book is was Yugoslavia and the E & FN Spon ISBN 0419217401 about the creation of urban redevelopment of Ljubljana £29.95 paperback The book also deals with users' places that are civic in planned by Plecnik (1928). The changing demands from their character - "which belong to plans proposed that a water It would be untrue to say that buildings. We expect higher everyone and yet to no one in axis and a land axis should interest in twentieth century standards of comfort resulting particular". He investigates become organising spines for buildings has never been so in possible changes to fabric how such places came about development and create places great. Any archive, footage or and structure without and examines the social, of "extraordinary civic documentaries on the opening destroying the integrity of the political and cultural amenity". Regionalism and of almost any social housing architecture. Similarly owners background that influenced civic pride were clearly scheme or indeed any civic and uses change, leading to them. He develops his thesis conveyed by Plecnik's building in the fifties and sixties major alterations in the way in by analysing a range of factors improvements; today they are shows unbounded enthusiasm which buildings work. Only a in five sections of the book and visible symbols of Slovenia and for the ambitious modern few buildings can be preserved in each examines places that civic life in the new state. The designs. As we now know this by the National Trust; the concluding section aims to exemplify these. quickly faded and it has taken remainder need to evolve and define certain principles of some time to get to a position adapt to these new demands. civic realism whilst recognising In the first section, where good modern This book helps establish how that each of the examples in Re-examining the Public architecture is appreciated this should be done by the book exhibit functions and Realm, he describes the separately from the lesser reference to specific examples. attitudes that overlap. Rowe historical development of Siena works. identifies five tests for defining that resulted in the creation of Although it may not be and maintaining civic realism: the Campo, a place for This book consists of papers immediately apparent this expressing a pluralism of collective expression as well as presented to the Institute of publication can be a source of attitudes, a sense of common individual enjoyment. The Advanced Architectural Studies great inspiration. We may no accord, a transcendental second section, Civic Realms during a two-day conference in longer live in an age where quality, concern with everyday and Public Places, looks firstly Autumn 1996. The choice of designers are encouraged to life and providing for collective at Barcelona and provides a buildings generally avoids the be quite so innovative on such events. more detailed background than well known icons of Modernism a grand scale. There are those is available in most comparable but draws from a wide range of who argue that too much is material on post-Franco This is a well researched and innovative and interesting listed now but my opinion is developments, although erudite book giving a depth of examples. Some of the papers that this is not necessarily a excluding the work for the social background usually do read as though they would bad thing. Listing, if properly Olympics. This is followed by lacking in comparable texts. It make great conference considered, is merely saying comments on the Parisian gives particularly useful material, stimulating lively that if anyone wants to alter, Grand Projets and he insights into Barcelona, Paris, debate and discussion but are adapt or replace a building or concludes that both cities Rome, New York and Ljubljana not so satisfying in book composition, special exhibit pluralism and and historically into Siena and format. consideration needs to be individuality within their this is the strength of the book given. It is asking, can we particular social systems. together with its development The publication is in four parts, design something better than that which we are replacing? of views about the different ranging from discussions on Realism and World Making qualities and characteristics of the principle of conservation to investigates the use of the term civic spaces. Unfortunately, it practice accounts on the detail There is surprisingly little "realism" in the figurative arts lacks the balance of illustrative of refurbishment of modern, repetition or use of the same and then looks at the origins material that would enliven the innovative and often examples to illustrate the and development of Rockefeller text and provide the troublesome materials. The different topics which this book Center, New York, seen as an connections made in words; at majority of the chapters are covers. I took it on holiday with aesthetic realist project. It also Harvard where the subject very readable and informative. me and (although I did leave it examines the post war Italian formed a course given by Peter They do not demand that the till after Martin Amis' new novel) neo-realism movement and the Rowe he undoubtedly used reader be a technical boffin or I found it very readable and impact on INA-Casa projects in more illustrations. Without these political expert to understand. very informative on many Rome. He comments that the (which would have produced aspects of twentieth century "crux of realism is a probing quite a different book and Several chapters focus on the buildings. # concern with everyday life". possibly simplified some of the use of industrial materials and arguments) it leaves one new forms which were intended Chris Williamson Individual Spaces and wishing for more. For a social to establish maintenance free Collective Places raises the historian/urban designer the buildings. Whilst this is often far issue being grappled with in book will be particularly useful from reality many twentieth the work on the UDG Good but for a visual/morphologist/ century buildings have been Places Guide. Rowe looks at urban designer it will identify treated by the construction SoHo and Central Park, rooms of incredible interest but industry equivalent of a Manhattan, and maintains that without the furniture to make wholesale butcher rather than genuine social space them collectively civic, real and those of a skilled surgeon. To accommodates social outstanding. # demonstrate how this latter practices, is legible and approach works there is an imaginable, and is symbolic in John Billingham excellent chapter by Ken terms of identity, ownership Powell on the work of the Practice Index Directory of Babtie Group Trevor Bridge Associates Civic Design Partnership Shinfield Park 7-9 St Michaels Square 22 Sussex Street Reading, Berks. RG2 9XG practices and Ashton-under-Lyne London SW1V 4RW Tel: 0118 975 8844 Lancashire OL6 6LF Tel: 0171 233 7419 Fax: 0118 931 0268 Tel: 0161 308 3765 Fax: 0171 931 8431 Contact: Matthew Chard MAUD MU Fax: 0161 343 3513 D urban design Contact: Peter J. Heath Architect and Mark Bulchin MRTPI Contact: Trevor Bridge Dip LA DA Town Planner Paul Townesend MICE MCIT MIHT FFB Ml Hort ALI courses Whether it's our strategy for the external Multi-disciplinary practice with urban Landscape Architecture, Urban areas of BAA pic's airports, presented to subscribing to designers, architects, landscape Design, Environmental Planning, Sir John Egan, a Conservation architects, transportation and Ecology, expert witness. 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A specialist urban design practice planning, urban design, landscape New design in Historic Contexts. providing services throughout the UK. W S Atkins Planning Consultants architecture, environmental Waterfront buildings and strategies. Expertise in urban regeneration, Woodcote Grove, Ashley Road assessment and management. Innovative Urban Design and Planning development frameworks, master Epsom, Surrey KT18 5BW Particular strengths include urban approaches. planning, town centre improvement Tel: 01372 726140 regeneration and enhancement, schemes and visual impact Fax: 01372 743006 master planning, environmental assessment. Contact: Joanna Chambers BA BTP strategies and implementation. Philip Cave Associates MRTPI 5 Dryden Street Covent Garden London WC2E 9NW Multi-disciplinary practice of urban James Brebner Associates Tel: 0171 829 8340 planners, landscape designers, 6 West Hall Road, Kew Fax: 0171 240 5800 transport planners, urban designers, Surrey TW9 4EE Contact: Philip Cave BSc Hons MA (LD) architects and environmental planners, Tel: 0181 876 0405 ALI specialising in Master Plans, Fax: 0181 332 2786 Development Frameworks and Contact: James Brebner MRTPI, Architect Design led practice seeking Concepts, Development Briefs, innovative yet practical solutions. Environmental Assessment, Environ- Small practice dealing with urban Large scale site planning through to mental Improvements, Town Centre design issues in SE England. In small scale detailed design - from renewal, Traffic Management and particular, proposals for new studies to constructed projects. Contaminated land. development, enhancement schemes Specialist experience in landscape and the design of public open space. architecture. Terry Farrell and Partners Halcrow Fox Nathaniel Lichfield & Partners Ltd Andrew Martin Associates 17 Hatton Street 44 Brook Green 14 Regent's Wharf, All Saints St Croxton's Mill, Little Waltham London NW8 8PL Hammersmith London N1 9RL Chelmsford, Essex CM3 3PJ Tel: 0171 258 3433 London W6 7BY Tel: 0171 837 4477 Tel: 01245 361611 Fax: 0171 723 7059 Tel: 0171 603 1618 Fax: 0171 837 2277 Fax: 01245 362423 (also in Newcastle upon Tyne) Contact: Andrew Martin MAUD DipTP Contact: Nick Birchall/Martin Sagar Fax: 0171 603 5783 O Contact: Asad A Shaheed BA Arch Contact: Nicholas Thompson BA BPI (Distinction) FRICS FRTPI Architectural, urban design and MArch MA (UrbDes) MRTPI and lain Rhind planning services. New buildings, BA MPhil DipUD (Dist) MRTPI Strategic, local and master planning, refurbishment, restoration and Area and site planning, town centre project co-ordination and facilitation, interiors,masterplanning and town renewal, waterfront regeneration, Independent planning, urban design development briefs and detailed planning schemes. Retail, traffic calming studies, conceptual and economics consultancy, studies, historic buildings and Conference Centres, Exhibition Halls, design, visual impact assessment. combining analysis with creativity. conservation. Comprehensive and Offices, Railway infrastructure and Masterplans: all sites, all uses. integrated planning of new and Railway Development, Art Galleries, Residential schemes. Urban expanded communities, including Museums. Cultural and Tourist Landscape Design Associates regeneration. Town centres. Visual housing, employment, shopping, buildings, Television Studios, Theatres, 17 Minster Precincts appraisal. Conservation. recreation and leisure, transport and Housing, Industrial Buildings. Peterborough PE1 1XX environmental considerations. Tel: 01733 310471 Fax: 01733 53661 Llewelyn-Davies FaulknerBrowns Contact: Roger Greenwood Dip LA Brook House Peter McGowan Associates Dobson House ALI MILAM 2 Torrington Place The Schoolhouse Northumbrian Way Robert Tregay BSc (Hons) Dip LD FLI London WC1E 7HN 4 Lochend Road 45 Newcastle upon Tyne NE12 OQW Tel: 0171 637 0181 Edinburgh EH6 8BR Tel: 0191 268 3007 Urban and landscape design, Fax: 0171 637 8740 Tel: 0131 555 4949 Fax: 0191 268 5227 landscape and development Contact: David Walton BA MRTPI Fax: 0131 555 4999 Contact: Neil F Taylor BA (Hons) planning, masterplans, environmental FIHT Contact: Peter McGowan DipLA MA DipArch (Dist) RIBA MBIM strategies, urban regeneration, town (UD) ALI and village studies and environmental Architecture, planning, urban design, Urban Design, Environmental and improvements. Feasibility to development and masterplanning; Landscape architecture and urban Economic Regeneration, implementation. urban regeneration, town centre and design: planning and design. Masterplanning, Development and conservation studies; urban design Highways, pedestrianisation and Implementation Strategies. briefs, landscape and public realm traffic calming. New town Derek Latham & Company strategies. development. Urban parks and St. Michael's, Queen St spaces. Sea fronts. Urban Renewal. Gillespies Derby DE1 3SU Landscapes for housing and industry. Environment by Design Tel: 01332 365777 David Lock Associates Ltd GLASGOW Fax: 01332 290314 50 North Thirteenth Street Tel: 0141 332 6742 Contact: Derek Latham Dip Arch RIBA Central Milton Keynes NFA Fax: 0141 332 3538 DipTP MRTPI Milton Keynes MK9 3BP Falcon House, MANCHESTER Tel: 01908 666276 202 Old Brompton Rd Tel: 0161 928 7715 Specialists in the 'Creative Reuse of Fax: 01908 605747 London SW5 0BU Fax: 0161 927 7680 Land and Buildings', the Company Contact: Will Cousins DipArch Tel: 0171 259 2223 Fax: 0171 259 2242 OXFORD brings its planning, landscape and DipUD RIBA (also at Bangkok, Beijing, Hong Kong, Tel: 01865 326789 architectural expertise to highlight Kuala Lumpur, LA, Melbourne, Paris, Fax: 01865 327070 both urban and rural opportunities in Strategic planning studies, public Singapore, Vietnam) sensitive areas of change. Town and inquiries, urban regeneration projects, Contact: Peter Verity MArch MCP The Practice philosophy provides City Centres, National Parks, master plans, area development (Penn) RIBA clients with creative and sustainable Conservation Areas, Listed Buildings, framework plans, environment solutions and a commitment to combining the new with the old. statements. Architectural, Urban Design, excellence from inception to Master planning, development Planning, Landscaping services completion in Planning, Urban proposals, E.I.A.s. internationally. Development Design, Landscape Architecture, Lyons + Sleeman + Hoare Planning, Urban Regeneration, New Architecture, Graphic Design and Nero Brewery Communities, Waterfront Regeneration, Ecology. LEITHGOE Landscape Architects Cricket Green Tourism Planning and Design. and Environmental Planners Hartley Wintney 6 Southernhay West Hampshire RG27 8QA Greater London Consultants Exeter EX1 1JG Tel: 01252 844144 Terence O'Rourke pic 127 Beulah Road Tel: 01392 210428 Fax: 01252 844800 Everdene House Thornton Heath Fax: 01392 413290 Contact: Andrew Aldridge BA Dip Wessex Fields, Deansleigh Road Surrey CR7 8JJ (also London tel: 0171 229 6469) Arch RIBA Bournemouth BH7 7DU Tel: 0181 768 1417 Contact: Andrew Leithgoe DipLA FLI or Colin Darby BSc DipTP Tel: 01202 421142 Fax: 0181 771 9384 Dip Urban Design MRTPI Fax: 01202 430055 Contact: Dr John Parker DipArch Landscape Assessment, Planning, Contact: Terence O'Rourke DipArch ARIBA DipTP FRTPI FRSA Design and Maintenance. Hard and Architecture, planning, master (Oxford) DipTP RIBA MRTPI soft Landscape solutions. planing, urban design - commercial Services focus on architectural and Experienced in working with practice covering broad spectrum of Planning and Design Consultancy urban design aspects of planning and Architects and Engineers. Clients work - particularly design of buildings specialising in land use planning, environment including: photo- include PSA/DoE, Local Authorities, and spaces in urban and historic landscape architecture, ecology, montage studies especially high Property Institutions, Universities, contexts. environmental assessment and urban building proposals, site investigation, Private clients. design. Development Briefs, Master traffic, applications, appeals, marinas, Plans, Urban Regeneration, Town ElA's, feasibility, development MacCormac Jamieson Prichard Studies, Conservation and Public schemes, conservation and security Gordon Lewis Associates Limited 9 Heneage Street Realm Strategies. schemes. Westgate Court, Westgate St Spitalfields, London E1 5LJ Cardiff CF1 1DD Tel: 0171 377 9262 Tel: 01222 231401 Fax: 0171 247 7854 Greig + Stephenson Fax: 01222 399287 Contact: David Prichard BSc DipArch 4-5 Long Yard Contact: Gordon Lewis BSc, BArch, (Lond) RIBA off Lamb's Conduit Street RIBA, FFB London WC1N 3LU Master-planning, development briefs, Tel: 0171 405 6789 Architecture, planning and urban urban regeneration studies, land use Fax: 0171 405 3999 design. Public and private sector. studies, rural settlements. Planning in Contact: Ken Greig / Nigel Stephenson Development strategies, business historic and sensitive sites. plans and public realm studies. Architects, designers and planners Business park, residential and health specialising in retail-led urban infill estate planning. and town centre repositioning. Wide- ranging international experience. Practice Index Education Index PRP Architects Symonds Travers Morgan Urban Design Futures University of the West of 82 Bridge Road, Hampton Court Environment 97c West Bow England, Bristol East Molesey, Surrey KT8 9HF 24-30 Holborn, London EC1N 2LX Edinburgh EH1 2JR Scotland Faculty of the Built Environment Tel: 0181 481 8100 Tel: 0171 421 2000 Tel: 0131 226 4505 Frenchay Campus Fax: 0181 481 8111 Fax: 0171 421 2222 Fax: 0131 226 4515 Coldharbour Lane, Bristol BS16 1QY Contact: Peter Phippen Also at Reading: 01734 573330 o Contact: Selby Richardson DipArch Tel: 0117 965 6261 OBE DipArch (RWA) RIBA Contact: Marie Burns BA (Hons) DipTP MSc ARIAS Fax: 0117 976 3895 MAUD Dip LA ALI Contact: Richard Guise Social and private housing development, Land use planning, development MA/Postgraduate Diploma course in special needs housing, including Multidisciplinary Practice of urban feasibility and site layout studies, Urban Design. Part time 2 days per housing for elderly people, mentally designers, landscape architects, urban design strategies and fortnight for 2 years, or individual handicapped and single people, planners, ecologists, noise and air appraisal, town centre and village programme of study. Project based healthcare, urban redevelopment. pollution expertise - undertaking studies, environmental improvements, course addressing urban design environmental and visual impact traffic calming, design guidelines. issues, abilities and environments. assessments, traffic calming studies; town Anthony Reddy Associates centre and waterfront regeneration University College Dublin The Malt House schemes, contamination remediation, new The Urban and Economic School of Architecture and Grand Canal Quay build housing and estate refurbishment. Development Group (URBED) Department of Regional and Dublin 2, Ireland 41 Old Birley Street Urban Planning Tel: 010 353 1 6704800 Manchester M15 5 RF Richview, Clonskeagh Fax: 00 353 1 6604801 Taylor Young Urban Design Tel: 0161 226 5078 Dublin 14, Ireland Contact: Anthony Reddy BArch FRIAI The Studio, 51 Brookfield Fax: 0161 226 7307 Tel: 00 353 1 7062757 46 RIBA DipPM MAPM Cheadle, Cheshire SK8 1DQ Contact: David Rudlin BA MTP Fax: 00 353 1 2837778 Paul Duignan BArch FRIAI Tel: 0161 491 4530 Contact: Philip Geoghegan, Course Fax: 0161 491 0972 Urban regeneration / town centres / Director Architecture, planning, urban design, Contact: Stephen Gleave MA DipTP housing including health checks, MSc in Urban Design is an project management. Project types: (Dist) DipUD MRTPI environmental audits, urban design, Interdepartmental Postgraduate Masterplanning, Development master planning, analysis and Programme in Irish and European Frameworks, Urban Regeneration Urban Design, Planning and strategy development. Design offering study within the Projects, Town Centre Renewal, Development. Public and Private framework of developing urban Residential, Business Parks. Sectors. Town studies, housing, design policy at European level. commercial, distribution, health and Urban Initiatives 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time. transportation are current 'live' projects. 35 Heddon Street Rothermel Thomas Specialist in Urban Design Training. London W1R 7LL Edinburgh College of Art/Heriot 14-16 Cowcross Street Tel: 0171 287 3644 Watt University London EC1M 6DR Fax: 0171 287 9489 School of Architecture Tel: 0171 490 4255 John Thompson and Partners Contact: Kelvin Campbell BArch RIBA Lauriston Place, Edinburgh EH3 9DF Fax: 0171 490 1251 77 Cowcross Street, London EC1M 6BP MRTPI MCIT FRSA Tel: 0131 221 6071/6072 Contact: James Thomas BA (Arch) Tel: 0171 251 5135 Fax: 0131 221 6606/6157 DipTP FRIBA FRTPI FRSA FIMgt Fax: 0171 251 5136 Urban design, transport planning, Contact: Robert Smart Contact: John Thompson MA DipArch infrastructure and development planning Diploma in Urban Design: 1 year full Urban design, conservation, historic RIBA to include master planning, town centre time or 3 years part time. MSc in buildings, planning, architecture. Expert studies, conservation, environmental Urban Design: 1 year full time or 3 witness at planning inquiries. Multidisciplinary practice, working improvements, traffic calming and years part time plus 1 year part time. throughout the UK and Europe, design guidelines. Recognised by the RIBA for the RIBA specialising in architecture, urban Urban Design Diploma. Shepheard Epstein and Hunter design and masterplanning, urban Architecture Planning and regeneration, new settlements and Weston Williamson University of Greenwich Landscape community consultation; addressing Architects and Urban Designers School of Architecture and 14-22 Ganton Street the problems of physical, social and 70 Cowcross Street Landscape London W1V 1LB economic regeneration through London EC1M 6BP Oakfield Lane, Dartford DA1 2SZ Tel: 0171 734 0111 collaborative interdisciplinary Tel: 0171 608 0894 Tel: 0181 316 9100 Fax: 0171 434 2690 community based planning. Fax: 0171 608 0896 Fax: 0181 316 9105 Contact: Steven Pidwill Dip Arch RIBA Contact: Chris Williamson RIBA Contact: Philip Stringer Eugene Dreyer MA (City and Regional MAPM MRTPI FRSA MA in Urban Design for postgraduate Planning) Tibbalds Monro Ltd architecture and landscape students, 31 Earl Street, London EC2A 2HR Weston Williamson consider all full time and part time with credit Architecture, master-planning, Tel: 0171 377 6688 aspects of the urban environment accumulation transfer system. landscape, urban design, computer Fax: 0171 247 9377 integrating the smallest detail with the modelling, environmental statements, Contact: Andrew Karski BA (Hons) overall concept. Leeds Metropolitan University planning-for-real, public consultation, MSc (Econ) FRTPI School of Art, Architecture and development consultancy. Design Multi-disciplinary practice of architects, Brunswick Terrace, Leeds LS2 8BU planners, urban designers, landscape Tel: 0113 283 2600 Skidmore, Owings & Merrill Inc. designers, tourism specialists and Fax: 0113 283 3190 46 Berkeley Street, London W1X 6NT interior architects. The firm provides Contact: Edwin Knighton Tel: 0171 930 9711 consultancy services to institutional, Master of Arts in Urban Design Fax: 0171 930 9108 public sector and corporate clients. consists of 1 year full time or 2 years (also Chicago, New York, Washington, part time or individual programme of San Francisco, LA, Hong Kong) study. Shorter programmes lead to Contact: Roger Kallman Tweed Nuttall Warburton Post Graduate Diploma/Certificate. Chapel House Project based course focusing on the International multi-disciplinary practice. City Road creation of sustainable environments Master Planning, Landscape Chester CH1 3AE through interdisciplinary design. Architecture, Civil Engineering and Tel: 01244 310388 Urban Design. Project types: urban Fax: 01244 325643 University of Manchester regeneration schemes, business park Contact: John Tweed B Arch RIBA FRSA School of Planning & Landscape master plans, university campus Manchester M13 9PL design, transportation planning. Architecture and Urban Design Tel: 0161 275 6914 Associated services: environmental Masterplanning. Urban waterside Fax: 0161 275 6983 impact assessments, design environments. Community teamwork Contact: Dr Andrea Mageean/ guidelines, infrastructure strategies. enablers. Design guidance and Eamonn Canniffe. support for rural village appraisals. MA in Urban Design and Visual impact assessments and Regeneration. Joint programme by design solutions within delicate Dept. Planning and Landscape and conservation environments. School of Architecture. 1 year full time or 2 years part time. university ot Westminster Ninety years ago we were more robust, more preparea to talk about aitticuit School of Urban Development and Planning and rather mysterious things. Here is Raymond Unwin. 35 Marylebone Rd "As the designer walks over the ground to be planned, he will picture for London NW1 5LS Being There is an abbreviated and revised version of a paper with slides and lyrics presented at the New Learning Environments Conference organised by UWE, Bristol in April 1997. The original presentation was sponsored by the Staff Development Fund of the School of Urban Development and Policy, South Bank University, London. Wednesday 21 January 6.00 for 6 30 Body Movement in Urban Space Experimentation from the Architectural Association with Julia Ward & Gaby Agis, who are involved in the Association's teaching programme. Venue: The Gallery, 77 Cowcross Street, EC1. Tickets: £3 non UDG members / £2 members /£1 concessions. All tickets purchased at the door. Wednesday 18 February 6.00 for 6.30 Pedestrianisation of London Speaker: Richard MacCormac. CITIES OF Venue & tickets: as 21 January. THE PLAIN Wednesday 11 March 6.00 for 6.30 Oxford Street: The Future Panel discussion with Jake Brown, Brian Avery, Sally Collinson from Oxford Street Traders Association and Malcolm Murray Clark from Westminster CC. Venue & tickets: as 21 January. Wednesday 15 April An Integrated Transport Policy for London Panel discussion chaired by Peter Hall. Panellists to be announced in April UDQ. Venue: 77 Cowcross Street, London EC1. Wednesday 13 May AGM & UDG 20th Anniversary Celebration Evening Boat Trip on the Thames. Details: to follow. Regional Events Wednesday 14 January RICS Seminar in Glasgow Better Spaces: Better Lives. Details: Faraz Baber on 0171 334 3873 Late Feb / early March Joint Meeting with RTPI & Belfast Civic Trust Urban Villages. Venue: Belfast. Details: Michael Crilly 01232 669384. Cities of the Plain Urban Design Group Study Tour Wednesday 15 April Spatial Structure and New Urbanism 29 June - 7 July 1998 Speaker: Anthony Okoye. Venue: Grassmarket Campus, Edinburgh College of Art. The cities of the plain of Lombardy and the Veneto share Details: Leslie Forsyth 0131 221 6175. a Roman heritage in their plan forms but exhibit a great Study Tour variety of medieval and Renaissance architecture and 29 June - 7 July Cities of the Plain townscape. Apart from Pavia, Parma, Cremona, Mantua, Cities of the plain of Lombardy and Veneto. Padua, Vicenza and Verona, we shall visit Sabbioneta, a Travel by rail from London. Details: Alan Stones on 01245 437642. town planned according to Alberti's principles. Cost: £450 inc. 8 nights' accommodation. Travel will be by rail from London. Accommodation will Urban Villages Forum Events Study Visits be in tourist class hotels, and the cost of the tour will be 6 February - West Silvertown, London £450 including eight nights' accommodation. Docklands. 13 February - Hulme & Ancoats, Manchester 23 April - Poundbury, Dorchester. Further information from Alan Stones, Fullerthorne, 12 June - Crown Street, Glasgow. Church Street, Kelvedon, Essex C05 9AH or phone Details: Amanda Sykes on 0171 490 2819. 01245 437642. The last booking date is Friday 10 April 1998. wmi 3