the importance of design in the built environment€¦ · more effective public procurement •...
TRANSCRIPT
The Importance of
Design in the
Built Environment
Mike Baulcombe (RIBA East Midlands)
#BuildaBetterBritain
The RIBA champions better buildings,
communities and the environment through
architecture and our members
• Provide services for our members
• Promote architecture and architects
• Lobby Government and other opinion formers
• Lead on the education of the future of the profession
#BuildaBetterBritain
Three documents to focus on
• RIBA manifesto ‘Building a Better Britain’ - Government
• NPPF – Local Planning Authorities
• Farrell Review – Construction professions
#BuildaBetterBritain
RIBA manifesto for the 2015 election
‘Building a Better Britain’
• More well-designed homes
• Well planned places
• Creative inspiring schools
• Smarter greener buildings
• Happy healthy places
• Flood proof communities
#BuildaBetterBritain
More well-designed homes
• Design quality, including space and light imperative
to future housing
• Opportunity for self and custom build
• We need to convince developers and housebuilders
of the benefits - viability
• Continuance of affordable housing
• Planning can play a part, linked to Neighbourhood
Plans
#BuildaBetterBritain
Well planned places
• Constant reform & diminishing resources
• Autonomous City regions and Combined Authorities
• Long term (joined up) approach but focusing on local
priorities
• Pro active planning including community engagement
#BuildaBetterBritain
Creative inspiring schools
• BSF versus Priority Schools Building programme
• Good design can still deliver better value for money
• Better designed schools = higher pupil attainment
• Standardise yes, but to better standards
• Procurement currently not efficient
#BuildaBetterBritain
Smarter greener buildings
• Current stock of buildings poorly maintained
• High energy costs result
• New build & retrofit key to better performing buildings
• Local Authorities have a key role, inc. Green Deal
#BuildaBetterBritain
Happy healthy places
• Our aging society will demand a different approach
• Planning of our cities and towns should reflect this
• Encourage healthier transport & lifestyles
#BuildaBetterBritain
Flood proof communities
• 5.2 million homes in the UK at risk
• Intelligent funding is needed to reduce the risk
• Take more care of where we build
#BuildaBetterBritain
NPPF
Section 7 - Requiring Good Design
• Local & Neighbourhood plans should outline quality
• Design codes to focus on place not detail
• Encourage innovation and originality
• Good design is not just aesthetics
• Design Review - local arrangements
• Weight given to outstanding design
• Poor design refused
#BuildaBetterBritain
Farrell Review
• Government commissioned
• Overall not advocating Government actions, but
industry facing
• Planning Landscape Architecture Conservation
Engineering
• Provides a proactive framework for PLACE
professions to work together at a local and regional
level
• RTPI and the planning profession are a key partner
#BuildaBetterBritain
Some key areas we can work on together
• Education & Outreach
– Community engagement via Urban Rooms
– ‘Design’ training for planning committee members
– ‘Champion the civic’
• Design Quality
– Proactive planning
– PLACE Reviews
– More effective public procurement
#BuildaBetterBritain
Community engagement via Urban Rooms
• Opportunity to present the town/city’s past and future
• Point of contact
• Planning consultations
• Workshops & Exhibitions
• Young People engagement
• Virtual and/or physical
• Examples include Blackburn
• RIBA working with three East Midlands authorities
#BuildaBetterBritain
‘Design’ training for planning committee members
• CPD for members and others in decision process
• Understanding of design is crucial
• RIBA & partners keen to help deliver
#BuildaBetterBritain
‘Champion the civic’
• Practises or individuals voluntarily engaging with their
communities
• In partnership with Local Authorities
• Help to educate and shape communities
#BuildaBetterBritain
Proactive planning
• Opportunities for planners to think creatively
• Not just development control
• PLACE Review provides a framework
#BuildaBetterBritain
PLACE Reviews
• Cover all aspects of the built environment
• Panels with representation from PLACE professions
• In cooperation with Local Authorities
• Long term
• Proactive rather than reactive
• Collaborative not judgemental
#BuildaBetterBritain
More effective public procurement
• Make public procurement efficient and cost effective
• Design quality is often not an important criteria in the
procurement process
• Taxpayers deserve better
• Over reliance on frameworks
• Design competitions offer one alternative
• Better designed buildings offer better value over their
lifetime
#BuildaBetterBritain
The benefits of design
quality
‘promoting excellence’
Chris Twomey, Director Lathams & Chair of Design Review -
OPUN26th February 2015
Contents
01 Why design matters
02 How design review
can help
03 Who is involved
04 Summary
why
design
matters
…..
01
Balancing often competing needs & ambitions...
High
Profile
Stirling
Prize-
Winners..
2014
2013
2011
2012
All about context…
Bold & distinctive solutions – with lasting appeal
how
Design
Review
can help
…..
02
Community/stakeholder involvement
Planning Policy/
legislation
Rigorous Site Analysis
Clear Vision &Principles
Robust Design Solutions
..Informed by relevant best practice guidance and
design standards
What the design review panel
look for..
Assessment of:
• Location and
landscape setting
• Relationship to
surroundings
(form, scale & mass
of buildings)
• Transport links
• Local facilities
• Predominant building
materials
What is special and distinctive
about the place?
Evidence of understanding
eg. Creation of new urban ‘green’
• Strong, active frontage
• Articulating ‘gateways’ and corners
Is there a clear vision and
strong concept?
• ‘Housing on the square’
• Clear distinction between public
‘fronts’ and private ‘backs’
• Building frontage to define
street pattern
• Improved connectivity/links
• Elevational ‘rhythm’ to enliven
street scene
• Materials to reflect neighbouring
buildings
And a promise of character and
identity?
Stakeholder & community engagement –
How have views shaped the scheme?
Consultation…
Pre-app?
• Re-using land and buildings
• Improving links and connectivity
• Harnessing renewables
• Using energy efficiently
• Conserving water
• Using natural systems
• Using local materials
• Integrating waste re-cycling
with sustainability embedded…
Who
is
involved
…..
03
Opun is part of a nationwide design network with 30 hand picked specialists from a wide range of disciplines, including:-
•Architects•Urban designers•Planners•Property consultants•Landscape Architects•Artists•Transport specialists
Bespoke service for local authorities, developers & clients
Independent Panel of experts
•‘Crit’ style reviews
• ‘Workshop’ sessions
• Collaborative and positive
• Charging mechanism to suit scheme complexity
• Early reviews encouraged, incl. follow-up sessions
Opun is already working with most East Midlands local planning
authorities (design review/neighbourhood planning/enabling/training)
Sessions tailored to suit …
Summary
…..
04
The benefits of
Design Review...
• Strong and distinctive design solutions, endorsed by the independent
Design Review Panel, will help to smooth the path to a successful
planning consent
• Schemes with a clear sense of identity and ‘place’ help to create a
marketing edge for clients – design review adds value to this process
• Design review can help mediate between the sometimes competing
aspirations of stakeholders, eg. highways, politicians, communities
• The design review process is open, transparent, positive – early
engagement provides the greatest benefits
Thank you
.. and a fresh perspective
with advice, guidance, clear and consistent
feedback, encouragement ...
OPUN Design Review Panel –
on hand to help
Contact Details
Design Review Enquiries- please contact:
Dharmista Patel at OPUN
All other Enquiries – please contact:
Mike Baulcombe at RIBA
#BuildaBetterBritain