Putting Into Context the Value of UD_p21516tip

7/21/2019 Putting Into Context the Value of UD_p21516tip

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/putting-into-context-the-value-of-udp21516tip 1/9

AR413A: Planning 2 Lecture NotesPutting into Context the Value of Urban DesignArch. Eduardo F. Bober, Jr.

Urban Design [definition review]

-

the art of creating and shaping cities and towns, giving form and character through the design ofpublic spaces

- involves arrangement of public spaces, buildings, transport systems, services, amenities- traditionally a subset of urban planning, landscape architecture, architecture-

“designing of cities without designing buildings”(Barnett)- “the art of making places” (Cowan)- CONNECTS:

o people and placeso movement and urban formo natural and built environment

- TRANSCENDS:

o

planning and transportation policyo building and landscape designo engineeringo development economics

Urban Design [relation to planning]

- the element in the planning process that is concerned with finding an appropriate physicalframework for human activities in cities.

Urban Design [theory]

-

Urban design theory deals primarily with the planning and design of the public realm public realm = public space, public domain

Urban Design [scope: public realm]



Urban Design [scope: private spaces]

- Some aspects private spaces contribute to defining public spaces:o building facadeso private gardens o

front yards/backyards-

These can be manipulated or ‘controlled’ through prospective development/ design guidelines

Urban Design Controls

• Incentive Zoning

- allowing builders and developers more space if they provide certain desirable features and

amenities such as plazas, arcades, and other open spaces



• Cluster Zoning

- creating special zoning policies and regulations for medium to large sized controlled

developments

• Floor Area Ratio (FAR)- The proportions between

the built area and the lot

area.

• Floor Space Index (FSI)

- established by dividing the area of the total floor space of the buildings by the site area,

including half the area of any roads adjoining it.

• Architectural Guidelines

- building heights

- setbacks

- building bulk

- architectural character



Urban Design [scale]

- The scale of urban design work ranges from city/town plans to as detailed as street furniture and

environmental art

Creates a

sense of

place

(place-

making)

Urban Design [examples of projects]

o streetscapes

o mixed-use redevelopment

o parks and open spaces

o environmental graphics/way-finding

o environmental art

o

urban renewal

o historic preservation

o township creation

o waterfront developments

o

environmental lighting



Urban Design [best practices]

- The best practices in UD can be associated with the following concepts/movements:

• new urbanism

• landscape urbanism

•

smart growth• sustainable street network

• heritage conservation

• transit-oriented development (TOD)

Common Themes

Character, image and response to context – places which have their own character and which arewell related to their context

Spatial coherence and townscape structure – buildings which have a collective value and create

places which are distinctive and understandable

Building design quality and external appearance – buildings which are designed to be visuallyappropriate, attractive and fit for purpose providing architectural quality

Movement, linkages, permeability and accessibility – developments and places which support good

connections and which are well integrated

Security and safety – designing places which are inherently safe in design

Mixed-use, density and diversity – promoting uses which add to vitality and variety

Adaptability and flexibility – ensuring places and buildings are robust

Sustainability and eco-design – buildings and schemes which are more energy efficient

Design process and ongoing maintenance and management – ensuring an effective design process

starting with good analysis and ensuring ongoing care is considered

Economic Value of Urban Design [premise]

- Good urban design can be a factor for economic growth and regenerationo Assessment of what constitutes good design (refer to sample)o Identification of potential benefitso Formulating an overview of an impact assessment framework

Economic Value [defined]

o represents a measure of profit from a developmento additional Gross Value Added createdo

measure of welfare or utility which incorporates economic, social and environmentalconsiderations

good design can be seen as a ‘ public good ’

non-rival

non-excludable



Good urban design adds economic value by:

o

producing high returns on investments (good rental returns and enhanced capital values) o placing developments above local competition at little cost o responding to occupier demand o helping to deliver more lettable area (higher densities)

o

reducing management, maintenance, energy and security costs o contributing to more contented and productive work forces o supporting the ‘life-giving’ mixed-use elements in developments o creating an urban regeneration and place marketing divided o differentiating places and raising their prestige o opening up investment opportunities, raising confidence in development opportunities and

attracting grant monies o

reducing the cost to the public purse of rectifying urban design mistakes

Good urban design adds social and environmental value by:

o creating well connected, inclusive and accessible new places o

distributing mixed-use environments with a broad range of facilities and amenitiesavailable to all delivering development sensitive to its context

o enhancing the sense of safety and security within and beyond developments



Economic Value of Urban Design [rationale for government intervention in promoting good urban design]

• based upon issues on equity and unequal distribution of wealth

• economic efficiency, prevention of market failures

• welfare of society – health and environmental impacts

•

investments in regeneration to reverse physical and social decay, consequently reversingeconomic decline. Returns on investments would be:

o economic – job creation, business formation, market renewal

o social – improved community facilities, health,

o environmental – sustainability, health

Economic benefits Social benefits Environmental benefits

Strong evidence ofrelationship todesign

• Provides land savingsand better efficiency inthe use of space

•

Utilizes infrastructuremore effectively

• Attracts additionalvisitors and activity

• Helps achieve greaterefficiency in use ofresources

• Improves naturalsurveillance andsecurity

•

Increases choice andaccess to facilitiesand amenities

• Better meets theneeds of users

• Encourages greateruse of public space

• Increasesparticipation incommunity andcultural activities

• Lowers use of carfor local trips

• Encourages

walking andcycling

Evidence ofrelationship todesign

•

Increase viability oflocal facilities andbusinesses

• Positive impact on theimage of an area

• Increases commercialproperty values

• Improves staffproductivity andsatisfaction

• Reduces whole life

costs, includingmanagement andsecurity costs

• Improves long-termeconomic performanceof an area

• Enhances corporateimage/brand

•

Promotes greaterlevels of physicalactivity

• Increases diversityand duration of use ofpublic space

• Helps to improvesocial relations andcohesion

• Enhancesconvenience

•

Encouragescommitment toundertaking furtherimprovements

• Improves sense ofpersonal safety

• Positive impact onphysical and mental

•

Reduces harmfulemissions andpollutants

• Improved energyefficiency andsustainability

• Reduces relianceon vehiculartransport

• Lowers level ofenergy

consumption



• Contributes to arearevitalization/regeneration

• Improves businessperformance and

competiveness• Increases residential

property values

• Leads to greater landvalues

• Increases vitality oflocal businesses

health

• Reduces levels ofcrime and fear ofcrime

• Helps to improve

patient recovery rates• Increases sense of

community

• Assists in fosteringsocial engagementand participation

Costs of good design

o more challenging or complicated building format – height/massing

o

increased specification of construction and finish materialso more sophisticated or complex construction methods

o higher environmental standards and better environmental performances

o more open spaces or streets within the scheme

o more or better infrastructure

o time – to get design right

o

skills – namely the cost of using suitably qualified designers

o cultural change and initial time costs as developers leave their comfort zones

Beneficiaries of good design

o

Investors returns on investments

occupier demand

o Developers

investors attracted

company image

returns on investments

o

Designers

work

prestige

o

Occupiers

better performance

impression clients/guests

health & satisfaction

o Everyday users/society

regeneration



new & retained jobs

better environment

o Public authorities

meeting obligations

“ripple” effect

FOR THE ACTIVITY THIS WEEK AND NEXT WEEK

(Please refer to the Activity Guide posted in the e_group)

Documents

Putting Into Context the Value of UD_p21516tip