bristol bfl12
DESCRIPTION
A copy of the presentations by Garry Hall and Sue McGlynn delivered for the Bristol BfL12 day.TRANSCRIPT
BfL12 Training Bristol, 27th February 2013
Sue McGlynn and Garry Hall
• "We"operate"as"a"charity"with"low"overheads"
• "Design"review"• "Not"for"profit""• "Trusted,"independent"and"impar=al"""
About&OPUN:&
OPUN"is"posi=oning"itself"as"the"leading&provider"of"""""""BfL"12"training"in"the"region"working"in"partnership"with"
NoFngham"Trent"University"
The&role&of&Architecture&Centres:&
BfL12"training""
Support"and"advice"–"enabling"
Championing"the"use"of"BfL12"locally"
Built"for"Life"–"key"opportunity"for"local"centres"
A
B
C
D
E
F
The principles that underpin Building for Life 12 Sue McGlynn
Our vision is to improve the urban design quality of house building in England, helping the country to build more and better homes and communities…
Introduction: Searching for character
How can we create places with a distinctive character and their own sense of place?
The&&que
st&&for&&cha
racter&
Movement and landscape
Neighbourhood Streets
Open spaces/gardens
Building elements/materials
The DNA of place
Settlement form: Movement and landscape
Urban form and functions
Building form: Details & materials
1. Linking landscapes for humans + wildlife Balancing movement, access and ecology
Tight urbanism v’s landscape
Whitehill Bordon Masterplan Hanham Hall, Bristol
Upton – Northampton
Making landscapes: Swales, permeable surfaces and even waste treatment can shape character
‘Feel and function’: Integrating sustainable drainage + waste
Making space for green and blue infrastructure
Neighbourhoods"defined"by"landscape"and"topography,"Sherford"
2. Using landscape to generate character areas
Green corridors and streets Green routes for the whole movement network – from rural edge to town centre
3. Connections: Street spacing and walkability Connected streets and routes make places walkable and increase use of public transport
!
External&and&&internal&links&
Streets are long-lasting elements of place A key influence on place making and local identity
Streets: Give access and the potential to experience places
Designing for the car but not letting it take over the social uses of
the space.
Standard highways geometries make places look the same
Streets as attractive, social spaces…
Street design, street width, building placement:
Varying character in a neighbourhood Long or short streets, wiggly or straight? Front gardens or no front gardens? A walkable space or car-dominated?
4. Varying character by varying house
types and styles
De Dijk, Rijswijk
5. Time and personalisation add to character at the largest and smallest scales
6. Density and perception of density Density: A measure not a quality
- Allotments / community gardens
- Play space
- Facilities for sport
Ypenburg, The Hague The Triangle, Swindon
7. A sense of community focus Community spaces
Urban structure
Site structure
Landscape structure
Building for Life 12: Transition and Remodelling
Why"the"Update?"
• "Comprehensive"spending"review"–"dissolu=on"of"CABE""
• "Slimmer,"less"resourced"Cabe"at"the"Design"Council""
• "NPPF"and"Housing"Strategy"
• "Growth"agenda"""
• "Quality"agenda"""
• "Fewer"resources"across"the"board"""
• "Deregula=on"–"red"tape"‘witch"hunt’""
• "Localism""
Our vision is to improve the urban design quality of house building in England, helping the country to build more and better homes and communities, by:
1. Providing a clear quality framework (clarity and certainty for industry)
1. Providing a clear quality framework 2. Promoting design dialogue at the start of
the process
1. Providing a clear quality framework 2. Promoting design dialogue at the start of
the process 3. Help stimulate consumer demand for and
recognition of better quality
1. Providing a clear quality framework 2. Promoting design dialogue at the start of
the process 3. Help stimulate consumer demand for and
recognition of better quality 4. Reward house builders for good design at
point of sale
Could&a&remodel&actually&achieve&more?""
CABE"(2007)""
CABE&(2010)&&
BfL&was¬&delivering&the&change&expected""""
Remodelling&BfL&was¬&a&choice,&but&a&necessity&if&it&were&to&survive&and&remain&relevant.""
• "Remodelling"BfL"was"not"a"choice,"but"a"necessity"if"it"
were"to"survive.""
• "Could&we&remodel&in&a&way&that&secured&industry&support&but&also&added&value?"""
Industry&frustraOon…&
“Rubbish”
Could&we&add&value&by&designing&out&issues&with&BfL&2008?"""
Higher&res&v&lower&res&
Points&chasing&
Assessment&rather&than&dialogue&based""
Status&of&Building&for&Life&&&
“…move'away'from'the'standards2based'approach'and'back'to'being'a'star9ng'point'
for'nego9a9ons…”"""
Published"21st"Nov"2011"
Meant"to"‘get"the"
na=on"building’"
“This'Government'recognises'that'what'we'build'is'just'as'important'as'how'many'homes'we'build”"""
“Tools'such'as'Building'for'Life'set'out'some'of'the'features'that'are'useful'to'consider'when'designing'new'homes'and'neighbourhoods”"""
“We'also'see'an'opportunity'to'adapt'
exis9ng'successful'toolkits,'such'as'Building'for'Life,'to'
support'communi9es”"""
“This'Government'aEaches'great'importance'to'the'
design'of'the'built'environment”"""
“will'func9on'well”"""
“add'to'the'overall'quality'of'the'area”"""
“establish'a'strong'sense'of'place”"""
“create'safe'and'accessible'environments'”"""
“respond'to'local'character”"""
“address'the'connec9ons'between'people'and'place”"""
“promote'or'reinforce'local'dis9nc9veness”"""
3 sec=ons 12 ques=ons
60 good"prac=ce"recommenda=ons""""
Building"for"Life"must"be"seen"as"facilitator"of"
quality,'speedy'growth"""""
Underlying&principles:&
Underlying&principles:&
• "One"ques=on"(rather"than"two)"when"one"would"do"
• "Lose"jargon"–"open"BfL"to"non]design"professionals"
• "Shi^"from"assessment"to"dialogue"–"traffic"lights"
• "Avoid"duplica=on""
• "Don’t"‘overtake’"na=onal"policy/Building"Regula=ons"
• "Post"bag"and"common"issues""
Underlying&principles:&
• "One"ques=on"(rather"than"two)"when"one"would"do"
• "Lose"jargon"–"open"BfL"to"non]design"professionals"
• "Shi^"from"assessment"to"dialogue"–"traffic"lights"
• "Avoid"duplica=on""
• "Don’t"‘overtake’"na=onal"policy""
• "Post"bag"and"common"issues"
• "Conform'or'robustly'jus9fy'''
Conform'or'robustly'jus9fy'''
Ambers"–"factors"outside"the"control"of"the"applicant,"e.g."
third"party"land"ownership"(connec=ons)"
Or:""
Off"site"housing"contribu=ons!!
Building for Life 12: The questions and how it works
• "12"ques=ons"(ra=onalisa=on)""• "More"accessible""
• "Designed"for"community"
engagement""
• "StarOng&point&for&discussions"""• "No"scoring"regime""
• "Avoid"reds,"minimise"ambers,"
aim"for"greens""""
Start&the&process&with&all&quesOons&set&at&‘amber’"""""
We&recommend&that&local&authoriOes&avoid&fixed&thresholds,&i.e.&only&approve&12&‘greens’&&12"‘greens’""
versus"
11"‘greens’"and"1"(robustly"jus=fied)"‘amber’?""
Q1.&ConnecOons&
• "Prompts"you"to"think"beyond"the"red"line"
• "Suggests"overlooked"routes"as"best"prac=ce"• "Warns"against"insular"developments"–"this"
would"score"a"‘red’"if"no"good"explana=on"is"given"
Q6.&Working&with&the&site&and&its&context&
• "Prompts"discussion"of"site"analysis"
• "Role"of"landscape"in"adding"character"• "Highlights"the"need"to"integrate"natural"and"human"systems"–"lots"of"research"to"support"this"
as"important"
Q7.&CreaOng&well&defined&streets&and&spaces&&
• "Recognising"the"value"of"the"street"as"the"key"structural"element"of"urbanised"areas"
• "Role"of"landscape"in"defining"streets"and"spaces"• "The"importance"of"perimeter"block"forma=on,"
logical"building"lines"and"corners"
Trn corner
Q9.&Streets&for&all&
• "Natural"signpost"to"MfS"–"user"hierarchy""
• "Prompts"put"emphasis"on"design"to"influence"
behaviour"
• "Also"talks"about"overlooking"
Q9.&Car&parking&
• "Stresses"convenience"–"as"this"is"how"people"WILL"park"
• "Prompts"suggest"parking"in"the"street"as"an"
op=on"
• "Emphasis"on"overlooked"parking"too"
Q11.&Public&and&private&spaces&
• "Steers"discussion"to"le^"over"spaces"and"ownership"
• "Prompts"you"to"think"about"loca=on"AND"
quality"of"amenity"space"
• "Fenced"play"areas"are"not"recommended"
Q12.&External&storage&and&amenity&space&
• "Gets"you"talking"about"these"issues"at"an"early"stage"
• "Prompts"talk"about"bikes"and"bins,"but"also"the"
realis=c"use"of"garages"too"
• "Steers"you"away"from"unsecure"cycle"storage"
etc"–"overlaps"with"crime"preven=on"agenda"
Case&Study:&Manor&Kingsway,&Derby&
Image credit: OPUN/HCA
Image credit: OPUN/HCA
Image credit: OPUN/HCA
Built&for&Life&awards&&
• "Built"for"Life"will"reward"developers"at"the"point"of"sale"for"good"design.""
• "Annual"league"tables"–"possibly"the"first"being"published"in"2014"to"give"the"industry"=me"to"respond."
• "Launches"6"February"at"Westminster"with"Nick"Bowles"
MP"and"Lord"Carlisle"""
• "Significant"interest"from"industry"in"the"scheme"
already"(and"this"is"before"the"launch!)"
• "‘12"green’"schemes"independently"verified"by"an"
architecture"centre"will"be"en=tled"to"apply"for"a"Built"
for"Life"licence"from"the"BfL"Partnership."
• "Local"centres"will"be"permihed"to"charge"for"this"
service,"but"fees"will"need"to"be"agreed"collec=vely"so"
there’s"consistent"pricing"in"consulta=on"with"Design"for"
Homes"as"price"points"are"sensi=ve."
• "Licences"will"be"charged"per"market"rate"sale"unit"""
• "Local"centres"need"to"iden=fy"Building"for"Life"advisors"to"undertake"these"reviews.""
Desktop&Exercise&&