6.0 landscape strategy - amg.gwynedd.llyw.cymru

GRIMSHAW DESIGN AND ACCESS STATEMENT PONTIO PROJECT MAY 2010

6.0 lANDSCAPE STRATEGY

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ACCESS

Under the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 2005, all developers have a statutory duty to provide a public realm that is accessible to all users. Creating an inclusive public realm enables everyone to participate equally, confidently and independently in everyday activities – this has been a key design issue in developing the new public realm proposals. Meeting the access needs of wheelchair users, the less mobile, parents with prams and the visually impaired will be at the forefront of design decisions. However, this requires a careful balance with aesthetic considerations and in developing the design it is intended that DDA requirements will not have a negative effect on the quality of the public realm.

The design for the Pontio public realm has been developed so that:

Hazardous elements (level changes etc) are defined through sensitive, design-led •

interventions, e.g. high quality tactile paving, contrasting material textures, colours

and sizes;

Access to key spaces and facilities is provided for all users;•

Ramps and steps are carefully designed to integrate with the public realm proposals •

rather than appear as an afterthought;

Disabled parking is located as close as practicable to building entrances with DDA •

compliant access provided between;

Potential hazards are minimised by placing street furniture in an orderly manner;•

Street furniture is provided that is accessible and usable for everyone.•

The site’s natural topography makes providing DDA compliant access linking all external areas impossible. Wherever achievable, existing levels have been remodelled in order to provide ramped access to key entrances and facilities. Obstacles to movement have been removed and key routes simplified to provide clear, safe pedestrian links from parking areas, pedestrian crossings and existing pedestrian routes. The public plaza forming the new frontage to Deiniol Road aims to seamlessly integrate DDA compliant access into a dramatic and dynamic landform of slopes, ramps and steps. 1:21 gradient access from Deiniol Road to the main theatre entrance, connects visitors crossing from Bangor city centre or those being dropped off on Deiniol Road to the main theatre entrance. Alternative step access and access at gradient off Glanrafon Hill is provided for those approaching the Arts and Innovation Centre by other means. Together, these routes aim to improve permeability and connect the new building into the existing urban fabric.

Wherever possible, access has been provided at a minimum of a 1:21 gradient to create comfortable routes without the need for a formal ramp or handrail.

Tactile paving and handrails to steps and lighting of key routes will improve accessibility, particularly after dark.

Section CC’ Deniol Road Decked Terrace

Section AA’ Glanrafon Hill Disabled Access Route

Section BB’ Memorial Arch

Section EE’ Deniol Road Grass Bank and Disabled Access Ramp Section DD’ Deiniol Road Ramp and Secondary Step Access



79

AC

D

E

B

A

C

D

E

B



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MATERIAlS It is important that the public realm design, materials, street furniture, lighting and planting styles work together with the new building to create a holistic image for the area that is locally distinctive and sets an appropriate new vernacular for this part of the university campus. A combination of off the peg and bespoke products will help to create a distinctive and high quality environment and materials will be selected from a limited palette in order to establish a cohesive and legible image for the area. The emerging materials palette will be informed by existing building materials and will where possible use material reclaimed from site demolition works. In order to achieve a BREEAM excellent rating, hard landscape materials will have a minimum grade A status in the latest BRE Green Guide (2008) and be supplied from sustainable sources and/or have a high recycled content. The overall vision is for the definition of soft and hard landscape elements to merge at the buildings edges in order to bring the green character of College Park into the heart of the new building and its environs.

SURFACES

Premium Quality Concrete Paving Slabs Pontio plaza will be surfaced in premium quality concrete paving slabs which will provide a durable, hard-wearing and attractive appearance. A combination of off the shelf products and bespoke items within a co-ordinated system of products will offer opportunities for varying the size, colour and texture of paving to create a rich and textural hard landscape. Materials will be applied in a contemporary fashion, using long plank format paving with special detailing at the plaza’s edge to soften the delineation between plaza and park. It is the intention that the same surface materials will be used both internally and externally to merge the boundaries between building and plaza and create a simple, seamless and monolithic public space. Where practical, permeable paving will be used to aid surface water drainage over the expansive hard landscaped area. Where existing trees are to be retained, an innovative concrete lintel decking system will be used to minimise impact upon the tree and its roots and allow for adequate natural watering.

Bound Gravel The network of external footpaths through College Park, linking the various elevations and external spaces will be surfaced in a quality self binding gravel to seamlessly integrate routes into the green slopes. This material will also be used to surface the Arts Building roof terrace due to its lightweight construction. Using a permeable construction method will minimise drainage requirements and an aluminium edging detail will form clean, simple lines and enable healthy grass growth up to the new footpaths.

Asphalt Areas of asphalt surface will be limited to areas with no pedestrian access. A recycled sub-base will ensure that even heavily trafficked areas meet grade A+ green standards.

OthER SuRfACE MAtERIAlS

Due to the extreme level changes experienced across the site, careful detailing of hazards, slopes and changes in level will be required. In addition, the hard landscape proposals seek to make improvements to adjacent adopted footways/highway, the interface of which will require some consideration to ensure that an integrated and seamless public realm is created. Key principles to be followed:

Contrasting dark strips will assist with visibility to steps and ramps; •

Tactile paving in contrasting DDA compliant colours will be provided to top and •

bottom of steps and ramps and to controlled pedestrian crossings;

Delineation of university and local Council property boundaries will be marked with •

stainless steel studs to reduce the visual impact on the scheme;

Recessed paving manhole covers will be used to minimize the impact of utilities on •

the scheme;

High quality, wide topped concrete kerbs and channels will tie in to existing •

footways;

Drop-off and parking areas will be surfaced in small unit concrete paving to ensure •

the continuation of the paving scheme up to the site’s edges.

STEPS, WAllS & BOUNDARY TREATMENTS

Bespoke Concrete Steps & Walls Due to significant level changes across the site, a combination of soft slopes and retaining structures will create usable spaces and pockets for activity. Premium quality precast concrete steps and seat walls will be created bespoke for the project. Robust designs, contemporary in character will be carefully detailed to ensure a high quality finish.

Sandstone ashlar wallsWhere existing walls to the Memorial Arch and Arts Building are to be extended or replaced, sandstone ashlar walls will be created to match the building materials and formation techniques.

Stone rubble wallsExisting boundary walls along Penrallt will be retained where possible and where extensions or additions are required, these will make reference to existing materials and workmanship to ensure seamless integration.

Gabion retaining wallsMajor level changes between Penrallt and the proposed loading bay will require a significant retaining wall system. It is the intention that rock blasted material from site will be reused in a heavy duty mesh gabion system.

Details of materials and their locations can be found on Gillespies drawings M4670/001 and 002.



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