Aarhus residence, Denmark
Aarhus residence, Denmark by CEBRA when designing these new apartment buildings in aarhus, denmark, CEBRA architecture began with one of the most important spaces for a community: the
Residential sites
Landscape led residential layouts
Introduction
As set out in our Strategic Design Principles, our guiding principle for designing a development is a ‘landscape-led’ approach. The residential development should incorporate a layered approach starting from the strategic objectives to the site context to ensure the design is influenced by and knits into the wider community and existing landscape successfully.
Codes in this Section
For more information on street design, visit the chapter in the streets and public realm section here:
Features of landscape led layouts
- Sustainable drainageSuDS are a natural approach to managing drainage in and around properties and other developments. Sustainable drainage measures are ones which avoid adding to flood risks both at a development site and elsewhere in the catchment by replicating natural drainage processes. SuDS work by slowing and holding back the water that runs off from a site, alleviating flooding and allowing natural processes to break down pollutants. More methods
- Street trees
- Limited sealed surfaces
- Permeable surfaces for parking
- Hedgerow used for boundaries
- Green walls and climbing plants encouraged
- Green planting on car port
- Green roofs
- Grass with groundcover edging
RSRL 1
Landscape led
CODE
Description
Compliance
CODE
Residential layouts must be landscape led and designed around open spaces. Existing landscape features, planting and key views into and out of the site must be retained and incorporated into the residential layout, street pattern and open spaces.
Description
Residential layouts must be design and landscape led, with housing quantum being the output of a context appropriate layout. The design must give precedence to existing landscape features and characterCharacter includes all of the elements that go to make a place, how it looks and feels, its geography and landscape, its noises and smells, activity, people and businesses. This character should be understood as a starting point for all development. Character can be understood at three levels; the area type in which the site sits, its surroundings and the features of the site. More when shaping a development for sites of any size. This can include long views and areas of landscape beyond the development boundaries. Consider what kinds of spaces exist in the surrounding area in order to define provision within the proposed site to ensure appropriate and balanced provision. Identify and preserve areas that have high ecological importance, particularly ancient and traditional landscapes. Identifying existing landscape and site features can help to inform the design of a residential development and provide a well established and natural means of creating a sense of placeA sense of place is the unique collection of qualities and characteristics that makes one town or development different to another. It lends meaning or attachment to a development or place, transforming it into a home, a neighbourhood, or a community. A sense of place is also what makes our physical surroundings worth caring about. More when incorporated into spaces or streets.
Compliance
Applicants should demonstrate in their submission how this element of the code has been complied with.
Area types:
- In New Places the contextThe context includes the immediate surroundings of the site, the neighbourhood in which it sits and the wider setting. The context may include the physical surroundings of topography, movement patterns and infrastructure, built form and uses. An understanding of the context, history and character of an area must influence the siting and design of new development. More for new development may be able to be drawn more widely where there will be a complete change in characterCharacter includes all of the elements that go to make a place, how it looks and feels, its geography and landscape, its noises and smells, activity, people and businesses. This character should be understood as a starting point for all development. Character can be understood at three levels; the area type in which the site sits, its surroundings and the features of the site. More to the immediate surrounding as a result of the new development or should be directed by a masterplan or Design Framework for the site.
Documents required:
- Context characterCharacter includes all of the elements that go to make a place, how it looks and feels, its geography and landscape, its noises and smells, activity, people and businesses. This character should be understood as a starting point for all development. Character can be understood at three levels; the area type in which the site sits, its surroundings and the features of the site. More appraisal (may be incorporated within the Design and Access Statement).
Examples of landscape led residential developments
Using existing landscape to inform the layout structure of residential project; Hortham Village by Barratt Homes is an example of a residential scheme that has retained mature landscape and incorporated into the open spaces which houses overlook
Principles of open space layouts
Central park; A residential layout built around a central park
Pocket parks; A residential layout built with a connected series of pocket parks
Urban square; A residential layout built around a central park
Linear parks; layout with long linear open streets and spaces
RSRL 2
Context and identity
CODE
Description
Compliance
CODE
Applicants must demonstrate, based upon an understanding of the local context, that the development has a positive and coherent identity and can be positively integrated into its surroundings, respecting and reinforcing the character of the area.
Description
Well-designed places are influenced positively by the surrounding landscape characterCharacter includes all of the elements that go to make a place, how it looks and feels, its geography and landscape, its noises and smells, activity, people and businesses. This character should be understood as a starting point for all development. Character can be understood at three levels; the area type in which the site sits, its surroundings and the features of the site. More, urban grainThe pattern of the arrangement of street blocks, plots and their buildings in a settlement. The degree to which an area’s pattern of blocks and plot subdivisions is respectively small and frequent (fine grain), or large and infrequent (coarse grain). Urban grain is a key component of defining the character of a place. More, patterns of built formForm is the three-dimensional shape and modelling of buildings and the spaces they define. Buildings and spaces can take many forms, depending upon their: size and shape in plan; height; bulk – their volume; massing – how bulk is shaped into a form; building lines – the alignment of building frontages along a street; and relationship to the plot boundary – and whether they share party walls or not. In the case of spaces, their form is influenced by the buildings around them. More and the local vernacular. Developments do not need to copy their surroundings in every way but they must have a strong identityThe identity or character of a place comes from the way that buildings, streets and spaces, landscape and infrastructure combine together and how people experience them. More or characterCharacter includes all of the elements that go to make a place, how it looks and feels, its geography and landscape, its noises and smells, activity, people and businesses. This character should be understood as a starting point for all development. Character can be understood at three levels; the area type in which the site sits, its surroundings and the features of the site. More that comes from the way that buildings, streets and spaces, landscape and infrastrucutre combine together. It is appropriate to introduce elements that reflect how we live today, to include innovation or change such as increased densities, and to incorporate new sustainable features or systems.
Compliance
Applicants should demonstrate that SuDSSuDS are a natural approach to managing drainage in and around properties and other developments. Sustainable drainage measures are ones which avoid adding to flood risks both at a development site and elsewhere in the catchment by replicating natural drainage processes. SuDS work by slowing and holding back the water that runs off from a site, alleviating flooding and allowing natural processes to break down pollutants. More solutions have been incorporated into the scheme in accordance with the drainage hierarchy.
Documents required:
- Site plan and landscaping plan
- Drainage Strategy as required by the Council’s adopted Validation Checklist.
Green spaces in the surrounding context
Look at the pattern and network of local open spaces and greenspace in the local area and where possible integrate this into layout of residential projects
RSRL 3
Vehicle parking
CODE
Description
Compliance
CODE
Applicants must provide a parking strategy that does not result in vehicles dominating the streetscene. Parking layouts must comply with the relevant codes set out in the ‘Layout, Parking and Public Realm’ sub-chapter in ‘Landscape and Nature’.
Description
Applicants should provide vehicular parking using an appropriate range of solutions such as on-plot parking, courtyard parking. Where it is appropriate to provide on-street parking bays, they must be well landscaped in accordance with the relevant codes set out in this code.
Compliance
Applicants should demonstrate in their submission how this element of the code has been complied with.
Area types:
- In New Places it should be demonstrated how this element fits in with a masterplan or Design Framework for the whole of the place.
Documents required:
- Site plan
- Landscaping plan
- Transport assessment
- Code requirement signposted in the Design and Access Statement.
Example of combining courtyard parking with landscape and drainage solution
Residential sites landscape layouts case studies
Aura, great kneighton
Aura, Great Kneighton by Tate Hindle for Countryside Properties Aura is an example of how good new housing communities can be if a local authority
Derwenthorpe
Derwenthorpe by Studio Partington for Joseph Rowntree Foundation Derwenthorpe was one of the first large-scale low carbon communities in northern England. Its ‘green’ heating and
The Avenue in Saffron Walden
The Avenue by Pollard Thomas Edwards Architects for Hill This development inserts 76 new homes into a conservation area in a historic market town and
Hortham Village
Hortham Village by Barratt Homes The Hortham Village demonstrates how to create a place by simply retaining a large amount of existing landscape within the
