The Depot, Manchester
The Depot, Whalley Range, Manchester by Buttress Architects for Rise Homes Map Street View Map Street View For 100 years, the corner of Bowes Street
Residential sites
Visual structure
Introduction
Attractive streets typically have a coherent rhythm and structure, often delivered through scale and proportion of buildings, windows and doors, repeating roof forms, symmetry, materials, composition, window spacing and detailingThe details of a building are the individual components and how they are put together. Some are a deliberate part of the appearance of a building, including doors, windows and their surrounds, porches, decorative features and ironmongery. Others are functional, although they can also contribute to the appearance of a building. These include lighting, flues and ventilation, gutters, pipes and other rainwater details. Detailing affects the appearance of a building or space and how it is experienced. It also affects how well it weathers and lasts over time..
The 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. and structure of traditional streets in Trafford is very recognisable. In the urban parts of the Borough this is typically houses along defined building lines with local materials and repetition of architectural features, often bay windows and gable ends.
Infill projects will be expected to reference these traditional features in a modern form. Larger housing developments will require a variation in the size and design of houses but this should still follow the rules of visual 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. set out in this Chapter.
Features of residential visual structure
- Interesting views within the area
- Maximisation of views out of area to landmarks
- Coherant street with identifiable structure
- A mix of diversity between streets
- A complimentary pallette of materials
- Spaces enclosed by buildings
RSVS 1
Coherent rhythm and structure of streets
CODE
Description
Compliance
CODE
Residential developments must deliver streets with an identifiable and coherent structure, taking design cues from the surrounding area.
Description
Streets with an identifiable rhythm and order make streets aesthetically pleasing. Where people can identify and ‘read’ the structure of a street they will be able to navigate through an area more easily and understand and appreciate its 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..
Streets displaying good visual structure typically use consistent housing typologyTypes of housing can include: 1) House (detached, semi-detached, terraced); 2) Bungalow; and 3) Apartment., proportions (including window proportions), height, roof form, facade composition, materials, orientation and placement. The chosen method for creating structure must be influenced by design cues from the surrounding area.
Whilst consistency is key to creating good visual structure in a street, most streets benefit from some variation – see Code RSVS 2 – Variation.
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 amasterplan or design framework for the whole of the place.
Documents required:
- Site plan
- Site Wide Landscape Strategy
- Floor plans
- Elevations
- Street sceneAll spaces and features which form the street environment, including buildings, street furniture, fittings and finishes and green infrastructure and open spaces. drawings
Examples from surrounding areas in Trafford
ContextualThe 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. examples of coherent rhythm and structure
Trafford’s traditional streets display all the qualities of good visual structure. Throughout the Borough, streets use repeating roof forms, symmetry, materials, composition, window spacing, detailingThe details of a building are the individual components and how they are put together. Some are a deliberate part of the appearance of a building, including doors, windows and their surrounds, porches, decorative features and ironmongery. Others are functional, although they can also contribute to the appearance of a building. These include lighting, flues and ventilation, gutters, pipes and other rainwater details. Detailing affects the appearance of a building or space and how it is experienced. It also affects how well it weathers and lasts over time. and more to create a coherent rhythm.
The Trafford twin with forward gable ends and bay windows is a common way of creating a coherant street structure
Despite different colours and materials this street is unified through the bold repitition of gable roof and bay windows
Terraced streets in Trafford create unity through strong buildings lines, repeated architectural features and complimentary materials
This street is unified by the materials, its elevation composition, repeating chimneys and the projecting windows and roof detail
Examples of achieving rhythm and coherence
Principles of coherent rhythm and structure
Repition of architectural features
Street composition and spacing
Facade proportion and composition
Rhythm of roof types and features
Window proportion and spacing
Material palette and details
Gable roof orientation and projection
RSVS 2
Variation
CODE
Description
Compliance
CODE
Applicants must demonstrate that the layout delivers an appropriate degree of variation in the streetscene having regard to the local context.
Description
Variation in the streetsceneAll spaces and features which form the street environment, including buildings, street furniture, fittings and finishes and green infrastructure and open spaces. refers to the degree of variance between building types, scale, materials and the composition of elevations. Context will dictate the balance between the need for more formal urban streets where there is less variation and the need for more variation such as in more rural settings. A highly diverse street sceneAll spaces and features which form the street environment, including buildings, street furniture, fittings and finishes and green infrastructure and open spaces. can be confusing for viewers and difficult to ‘read’ as a coherent structure. A street sceneAll spaces and features which form the street environment, including buildings, street furniture, fittings and finishes and green infrastructure and open spaces. that lacks variety may be monotonous if the building type is bland and featureless.
Compliance
Applicants should demonstrate in their submission how this element of the Code has been complied with.
Development types:
- Not required for small infill projects of fewer than five dwellings. May not berequired for projects of five to ten dwellings depending on the surroundingcontext.
- In New Places it should be demonstrated how this element fits in with amasterplan or design framework for the whole of the place
Documents required:
- Site plan
- Site Wide Landscape Strategy
- Floor plans
- Elevations
- Street sceneAll spaces and features which form the street environment, including buildings, street furniture, fittings and finishes and green infrastructure and open spaces. drawings
Principles of achieving residential variation
Variation can be achieved in a variety of ways. The same level of diversity between housing types can be achieved across a site, whilst also ensuring unified visual structure to streets. Where diversity within a street is required by 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., there must still be a visual 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. that creates structure to the street (see Code RSVS 1).
Diversity between blocks
Diversity can be achieved between blocks so that there is variance of building types on either sides of streets. This can be advantage for efficient blocks but there will need to be an identifiable structure to bring order to the street
Diversity between streets
Diversity can happen between different streets if blocks can accommodate a variance of building types. This will allow for a greater range of house types, sizes and tenures. This can also help to create more efficient blocks, more unified street structures and assist with wayfindingBetter wayfinding means improving the ease with which people can navigate themselves to, from and within a place or development..
Diversity within streets
The amount of diversity within a street will depend on 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.. Diversity within streets in urban areas is only acceptable where there is a coherant structure defined by elements in the following section, such as repeating architectural features, building spacing, proportions and scale.
Principles of achieving residential variation
RSVS 3
Define and enclose spaces with buildings
CODE
Description
Compliance
CODE
Buildings must be positioned and sited to define edges and areas of open space to create a strong identity and a sense of place and enclosure.
Description
Open spaces generally benefit from a sense of enclosure through the introduction of buildings. The sense of enclosure can lend a site a clearer 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.. The degree to which a space is enclosed and the height of buildings enclosing a space will be dependent on 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. of the site.
Compliance
Applicants should demonstrate in their submission how this element of the Code has been complied with.
Development types:
- Not required for small infill projects where open space is not required onsite.
Area Types:
- In New Places it should be demonstrated how this element fits in with amasterplan or design framework for the whole of the place.
Documents required:
- Site plan
- Site Wide Landscape Strategy
Principles of space definition layout types
Square
Circus
Linear park
Informal
Street
Crescent
Principles of context led space enclosure
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 residential site building enclosure
RSVS 4
Views, vistas and landmarks
CODE
Description
Compliance
CODE
Applicants must demonstrate that they have optimised opportunities to protect existing views, vistas and landmarks and create new views into and out of the development site.
Description
Developers should look for opportunities to link the development site with its surroundings and create a visual connection between areas. Creating new views, and protecting and strengthening existing views can help to create a sense of a place, aid legibilityThe degree to which a person understands and recognises characteristics about an area or building which help them to navigate around an area, or understand a building. and make wayfindingBetter wayfinding means improving the ease with which people can navigate themselves to, from and within a place or development. easier.
Compliance
Applicants should identify the key existing views, vistas and landmarks relevant to the application (with assistance through the pre-application process if necessary) and analyse the impact of the development upon them. Where a site is in a conservation area, the relevant views identified in the Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan should be used as a minimum. Consideration should be given to changes in level which may produce unexpected views. Applicants must show, where relevant, what new views will be created in or through the development.
Area Types:
- In New Places it should be demonstrated how this element fits in with amasterplan or design framework for the whole of the place.
Documents required:
- Site plan illustrating key views (may be incorporated within the Design andAccess Statement)
- Accurate Visual Representations in accordance with requirements in theCouncil’s adopted Validation Checklist
- Landscape/Townscape Visual Impact Assessment in accordance withrequirements in the Council’s adopted Validation Checklist
Examples
Creating interesting townscape through views
There are a variety of ways to achieve views in residential projects. Here are some examples of layouts that create or enhance existing views.
Principles of views, vistas and landmarks
Terminated views
Corner plots
Vistas
Framed views
Deflected views
Landmarks
Example of master plan views
Examples of residential views, vistas and landmarks
Visual identity and structure case studies
Greenwich Millennium Village South
Greenwich Millennium Village South by Turkington Martin and Jestico + Whiles for GMVL, Taylor Wimpey and Countryside Properties Map Street View Map Street View Masterplan
Cobham Manor, London
Chobham Manor, Stratford, London PRP, Make, muf architecture/art for LLDC (Taylor Wimpey and L&Q) Map Street View Map Street View Part of the London Legacy
Nunhead Green
Nunhead Green by AOC and Derek Millar Architects Nunhead Green transforms a brownfield site, redefining existing connections between the village green and surrounding neighbourhood. The
Brentwood Locks
brentwood Lock West, London by Duggan Morris Mixed tenure housing along the waterfront, forming part of a five-year project to breathe new life into the
Annesley Gardens
Annesley Gardens, Dublin by Metropolitan Workshop for Metropolitan Workshop’s project at Annesley Gardens, in the 19th Century suburb of Ranelagh, has transformed a highly constrained
Brick House, Birmingham
Brick House, Port Loop, Birmingham by Glenn Howells for Urban Splash The 43-acre site of the Port Loop masterplan is circled by historic canals –
The Acres, Timperley
The Acres, Timperley by Trinity Architects (now B2 Architecture Ltd) for LandmarkA building or structure that stands out from its background by virtue of its
Abode, Cambridge
Abode, Cambridge by Proctor and Matthews / BBUK Studio Limited for Countryside Properties Timber cladding, gable ends, a pedestrian focused public realm and generous planting
