3) Spaces, Places & Changes

We must start by remembering that we experience any urban environment on foot. We see the buildings around us, but what we perceive is the feeling of the space between the buildings, and the way the different buildings interface with that space. Older places tend to create a more intimate street feel than places from the second half of the 20th century, this is not down to the architecture of the buildings, but because the structure of the pre-car place works better for people. To explain how the structure can change the feel of a place I have made a model of an urban crossroad. I have used identical buildings in each, but have slightly changed the structure within which they are sat to show how that impacts on street feel more than the design of the buildings themselves.

We don’t experience cities from above, so let’s have a look at what this feels like at street level.

Or watch this bit of the first video again:

So if we understand the structural qualities that make some places just feel nicer to be in than others, we can use that understanding to create new places or improve existing places. For once we understand the structure of place, it is fairly simple to understand what is wrong with unsuccessful places.

Understanding the problem is one thing, developing a deliverable solution is the next step and the most challenging part. Anyone can draw pretty pictures, but there is no point in pretty pictures unless there is a decent chance of achieving the outcome sought.

Delivering any successful built environment project requires a whole series of different approvals, consents and inputs. When a project extends to creating a new place rather than delivering a single building this becomes significantly more complex. Great places can only be designed and delivered if the key team members and those managing the project have a holistic understanding of urbanism.

Watch video 2 below for our overview of achieving change in the city and an introduction to the importance of money

Still here? Good, onto section 4 next.