Landscape led Vision

Urban Structure

Movement Framework

Mix of Uses

Density and Form

New Places

Urban Structure

Introduction

New places are defined as large scale new or regenerated communities, usually requiring a new urban structure to be formed. This includes the pattern or arrangement of development blocks, the streets, buildings, open spaces and landscapes which make up urban areas. It is the interrelationship between these elements, rather than their particular characteristics, that bond together and make a place.

 

The urban structure should be designed around a landsacpe led strategy in order to deliver a positive and coherent identity and lay the foundation for the detailed design that follows. When successful it provides a coherent framework which forms the basis of the design of individual elements bringing them together to create coherent, characterful and unique places.

 

The urban structure of each place will be subtly different and larger sites should be planned in a way that complements and responds to its strategic and immediate context. When planning New Places, a simple layered approach will deliver a successful masterplan which is holistic in its outcome.

Urban structure characteristics

  • Development should be informed by landscape-led placemaking principles;
  • A clear movement framework;
  • Careful consideration of density;
  • A range of local services and facilities, ideally within walking distance, or otherwise accessible public transport;
  • Consideration of views into and out of the site.

NPUS 1

Layout and Identity

NPUS 2

Defining spaces

Examples of space definition

Square

Circus

Linear park

Informal

Crescent

Street

Principles of context led space enclosure

Look at the images below to understand the impact of building height to street width ratio

High rise, high density neighbourhoods or town centres; A ratio of 1:1 building height to street width

High density suburbs and town centres context; A ratio of 1:2 building height to street width

Low density new places and medium density suburb context; A ratio of 1:3 building height to street width

Low density residential context; A ratio of 1:4 building height to street width

Examples of varying enclosure to create variety of visual characters

NPUS 3

Creating a skyline

NPUS 4

Views, vistas and landmarks

Principles of views, vistas and landmarks

Terminated views

Corner plots

Vistas

Framed views

Deflected views

Landmarks

Examples of neighbourhood views, vistas and landmarks

New places urban structure case studies

Timekeepers Square

by Buttress Architects for Muse Developments The development is located in the Adelphi/Bexley Square Conservation Area and the primary aim of the site was to

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Accordia

Accordia by Fielden Clegg Bradley Architects, Alison Brooks Architects and Maccreanor Lavington Architects Accordia was the first housing project to win the RIBA Stirling Prize and widely regarded

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Permeable paving options