Landscaping

Landscaping addresses the separate spaces within the development. As well as the materials, landscaping will address these differences, through height differences.

Hedgerows and trees are used in the site. The hedges separate the road from the public open space, shielding the space from the views and noise. The trees channel people, and provide shade, as well as improving the 'greenness' the development. Grass is popular during the summer, and provides space for people to relax and enjoy, and provides recreational space during the winter.

Road

The road passes under the retail centre, and the traffic lights have been replaced. The development will not slow down the already congested road.

General Feel

The general feel of the site is that of an open, green and airy development, with a cutting edge retail centre, containing high-end shops. There will be space to relax and stop within the centre, and enjoy the cafes on the front of the development, looking over the development and open to the North.

The development will use cutting edge lights, inside and out, shining on the glass, allowing the development to change feeling, shown below.

Other Buildings

The retail centre will relate well to other buildings on the development site and on the High Street. It shares the same materiel pallet. Its centre is most similar to the hotel and residential district, and the office area, sharing clean lines.

Environment

The development will meet strict environmental credentials, inline with Sunderland's Carbon Plan. The green space and tress will reduce the environmental footprint of the development, as will reducing the congestion on the road.

Accessibility

The development is highly accessible, with street level entrances at other ends, no level changes, pedestrian crossings, covered walkways and open and light environments. Users can drive into the car park, and access the centre without changing levels, using elevators and other measures within the store.

Shop Layout

The layout of the retail centre will pull people from the High Street, on the development site, where most of the shops will be. There will be a large-format store on the North, such as M&S or John Lewis.

There will be retail and food outlets, making the retail centre attractive to all, for shopping or leisure.

Conclusions

The masterplan provides a strategy and design on how to deliver the retail centre within the development. It discusses problems with previous developments, and how these were overcome, and provides a way in which this can be delivered, looking at previous presidents of architecture and urban design.

Main Building

The computer design shows the impression the retail development will have on the surrounding area. There are many glass surfaces, allowing for retail space and good design. This design creates an attractive internal and external design for the retail centre.

The large retail centre spans the road, linking the High Street and the development. The retail centre is approximately 26,050m² (2,050m² North & 24,000² South of road), allowing for large and smaller format stores.

Deliveries are accepted through the West side of the development, as well as access to the car park. This could also be integrated into the inefficient roundabout to the West of the road, shown in the Current Infrastructure & Buildings Map. The development will aim for most of the deliveries to be made during the night, when traffic on the roads is reduced.

Car Park

The car park provides parking for the retail centre, and for some of the development, teamed with others on the site. You cannot tell the difference between the car park and the shopping centre, and there will still be shops facing the existing High Street.

Materials

The materials used for the shopping centre are the same used for other buildings within the development, ensuring continuity within the site. These include sandstone, steel and glass.

The materials of the path also change depending on their uses;‧Footpath- There is a clear distinction which paths are footpaths, made from bricks in a Diagonal Herringbone pattern.‧Stopping Space- The space for stopping will be identified in York Stone. This is how seating outside the development will be identified, for use by cafes and bars.‧Crossings- When the footpath and the road crosses, there is a change in materiel to mark this crossing. This will make pedestrians more aware of vehicles, and calm traffic.‧Road- The material for the road will stay the same- asphalt.‧Grass- All grass will be available for restoration.

(Inline with NE Streets For All, 2005)

Street Furniture

There will be modern benches on the edge of footpaths, tables and chairs outside the shopping centre. Other attracts and street furniture will come from the central open space, and outside the education centre, outlined in the Site Masterplan.

Scale and Massing

As can be seen, the scale and massing of the retail centre is inline with the surrounding buildings, and the open space, leading to a well balanced and pleasant space.

Sunderland VauxRetail CentreMasterplan

Movement & RestThe development addresses different spaces through using different materials. Outside the retail centre will be seating, outside coffee shops, cafes and bars, allowing people to look over the green space.

CanopyThere is a canopy over the main walkways,North and South of the development. It covers the main, wide, footpaths, and channels people towards the

development. It provides shade and rain cover.

FootpathsFootpaths follow a hierarchy, of different widths and materials. They lead to the railways station, education centre, waterfront, and

business and residential district.

Loading, Parking & ServicingTwo entrances exist, for the car-park and loading. Traffic lights will ensure a smooth traffic flow, also allowing pedestrians to cross. This will also allow for tai drop-offs.

Existing High StreetThe development addresses the Existing High Street, and also

provides a canopy. It will also host cafes and bars, and will have shop fronts along the street. It will pull people from the High Street, over the bridge, and onto the

development.

RoadThe layout of the development allows for the road to pass

through, uninterrupted, without putting extra traffic lights in, which would slow down an otherwise congested road. The turnoff allows lorries and cars to not obstruct the road whist loading and and accessing

the car park.

Existing BuildingsThe development shares similar scale and massing as the

surrounding buildings (gray). The retail centre could also be extended over the road in the

future

Open SpaceThere is large amount of open space surrounding the

development, for people to enjoy. It also adds security through

observation, and the retail centre protects the space from the road.

GlassThe development, along with the others on the site, uses glass and steel, proving an open, light functional space within the retail centre. There will also be an observation deck on the top floor, taking advantage of the great views to the North

and West.

Diagram of Masterplan

Gray buildings already exist

50mN

Birds Eye View of development

Alexander Wilson ‧ 072319848