An Introduction to Urban Design22 March 2016

Colin Hattingh

SOUTH AFRICA

THEORY

PRACTICE

Differingroles

& focus

WHAT IS URBAN DESIGN ?

“…for all our investment in the complexity ofindividual buildings on the one hand & inelaborate engineering infrastructures on theother, we have failed to achieve a humaneand coherent physical setting for human life”

Gosling & Maitland: Concepts of Urban Design,1984

Urban design is concerned with the design of the buildings, places, spaces and networks that make up our towns and cities, and the ways people use them.

It ranges in scale from a metropolitan region, city or town down to a street, public space or even a single building.

Urban design is concerned not just with appearances and built form but with the environmental, economic, social and cultural consequences of design.

It is an approach that draws together many different sectors and professions, and it includes both the process of decision-making as well as the outcomes of design.

creating memorable places...

THE ART OF DESIGNING THE PUBLIC ENVIRONMENT OF A CITY,

INCLUDING THE INTERFACE BETWEEN PRIVATE PROPERTIES AND THE PUBLIC ENVIRONMENT

CITY DESIGN

CIVIC DESIGN

PALEY PARK

BRYANTPARK

FEDERATION SQUARE

FUNCTIONALITY

CO

MP

LEX

ITY

FIT

MEANINGFULNESS

PERMEABILITY

LEGIBILITY

VARIETY

VIABILITY

ADAPABILITY

INTEGRATION

COMPACTION

IMAGE IDENTITY

SCAL

E

AMBIENCE

CONTEXT

CHARACTER

CHOICE

CONNECTIONS

CREATIVITY

CUSTODIANSHIP

COLLABORATION

LIVEABLECORRIDORS

COHERENT

CO

OR

DIN

ATION

CONTEXT

CHARACTER

CHOICE

CONNECTIONS

CREATIVITY

CUSTODIANSHIP

COLLABORATION

VIBRANT

Context:seeing buildings, places and spaces as part of whole towns and cities

Character:reflecting and enhancing the

distinctive character, heritage and identity of our urban

environment

Connections:enhancing how different

networks link together for people

Choice:ensuring diversity and choice for people

Creativity:encouraging innovativeand imaginativesolutions

Custodianship:ensuring design is

environmentally sustainable, safe and healthy

Collaboration: communicating and sharing knowledge across sectors, professions and with communities.

VISTA outlines Hamilton’s

expectations for better designed

environments. The guide highlights key

urban design principles considered

fundamental to Hamilton’s

development as a dynamic, prosperous,

memorable and sustainable city.

METROPOLIS CITY PLANNINGREGION

DISTRICT PRECINCT SITE BUILDING

Physical aspects

Metaphysical aspects

What is your favourite place and why?

Physical Characteristics(buildings, roads, trees, shade, water, landmarks, pedestrians, vistas, facilities, ridges, proportion, arcades, sunlight, colour, scale, space…)Metaphysical CharacteristicsMetaphysics investigates principles of reality transcending those of any particular science. Concerned with explaining the fundamental nature of being and the world – “Intangibles”.(safety, character, cosmopolitan, vibrant, clean, legible, atmosphere, memorable, welcoming, interesting, sense of place, sterile…)

UD IS NOT….URBAN COSMETICS

IS NOT ABOUTPAVING PATTERNS

STREET FURNITURETREES

Why?

“DESIGN DISJUNCTURE:SCENIC SPLENDOUR

MEETS URBAN MEDIOCRITY”

PDP

Second Generation PlanIntroduction of urban design Objectives and Policies to

ensure that the Plan reflects and aligns with the commitments that Council has made to improve urban

design outcomes through RMA processes.

From ‘rules-dominated’ design response Outcome focussed ‘design-with-rules’

Change in Approach

RD Status in the Plan

Central City rules and standards set a baseline expectation:

• Rules & Standards guide applicants as to what is acceptable• A breach of rules would lead to an RD assessment on that

matter which has been failed• Guided by:

– Objectives & Polices – Relevant assessment criteria– Relevant Design guidance

• If its good enough, rules can be broken

Why RD?• Have the ability to enter a dialogue with the applicant and could

advise the applicant that the building proposed does not result in an acceptable outcome in relation to the objectives and policies and has not adequately considered the matters of discretion.

• Discussion would use Rules and Standards as a starting point and benchmark of what is expected.

• PDP has a range of criteria to be used in assessing resource consents

• Particular Interest–B Design and Layout (36)–C Character and Amenity (28)

Assessment Criteria

B23 (Central City Zone)“Whether the design of the external façade relates to and compliments the surrounding architectural form, and breaks down the scale of the building so as not to create a large featureless building façade”

B 35 (Residential Activities)“The extent to which the design of residential development will provide visual interest and passive surveillance of public spaces and streets”.

Ward Street

Anglesea Street

CityGate

Centre Place

CONCEPT – INTERSECTION UPGRADEWard and Anglesea Streets

The Warehouse

Pedestrian mall

Colour paving to pedestriancrossing

New trees andbenches

New trees& benches

Left turn lane removed

Plantedmedian

Existingtrees

Not to scale

DickSmith

New trees

Stairs toplaza

• Consider row or terrace building typology• Units oriented parallel to street• Designed to overlook street and provide street address• Improved CPTED outcomes• Provide rear access lane• Higher intensity away from neighbours• Define public/private interface • Celebrate corner• Provide on site amenity – improved access to sunlight,

outlook• Reduce hard surfacing increase landscaping• Visually interesting, unique contemporary designs

DOES IT MATTER?

TO CONCLUDE…

City of Arts and Sciencesby Santiago Calatrava, Valencia

Milwaukee Art Museum

Centre Pompidou Modern Art Museum, Paris

Denver Art Museum Frederic C. HamiltonBuilding by Daniel Libeskind