Academia.eduAcademia.edu

Figure 18 – uploaded by Anusha Tandur

See full PDFdownloadDownload figure
If everywhere were accessible to everybody, physically or visually, there would be no privacy. But one of our basic sources of choice stems from our ability to live both public and private roles. For this capacity to flourish, both public places and private ones are necessary.

Figure 18 If everywhere were accessible to everybody, physically or visually, there would be no privacy. But one of our basic sources of choice stems from our ability to live both public and private roles. For this capacity to flourish, both public places and private ones are necessary.

Related Figures (32)

She is currently a planning officer at Reading Borough Council, mainly working on listed buildings and conservation areas. She has a special interest in urban history, and is currently investigating the historical development of different types of residential layout.
She is currently a planning officer at Reading Borough Council, mainly working on listed buildings and conservation areas. She has a special interest in urban history, and is currently investigating the historical development of different types of residential layout.
Once we understand this, it becomes obvious that even from the political point of view it is the things designers do to the built environment that matter. Ideals are not enough: they have to be linked through appropriate design ideas to the fabric of the built environment itself.
Once we understand this, it becomes obvious that even from the political point of view it is the things designers do to the built environment that matter. Ideals are not enough: they have to be linked through appropriate design ideas to the fabric of the built environment itself.
This is a practical book about architecture and urban design. It is meant to be useful on the drawing board, so it does not tell you how to do things most designers know already: how to plan buildings efficiently for a given set of activities, how to keep the weather out, how to lay out services and so forth. Designers sometimes do these things rather badly, but at least ways of doing them well are known, and information about them is readily available elsewhere.
This is a practical book about architecture and urban design. It is meant to be useful on the drawing board, so it does not tell you how to do things most designers know already: how to plan buildings efficiently for a given set of activities, how to keep the weather out, how to lay out services and so forth. Designers sometimes do these things rather badly, but at least ways of doing them well are known, and information about them is readily available elsewhere.
Permeability has fundamental layout implications. In the diagram below, the upper layout offers a greater choice of routes than the lower one: it is therefore more permeable.
Permeability has fundamental layout implications. In the diagram below, the upper layout offers a greater choice of routes than the lower one: it is therefore more permeable.
By this fourth stage in design, we have begun to focus on individual buildings and outdoor places. Our objective is to make their spatial and constructional organisation suitable for the widest possible range of likely activities and future uses, both in the short and the long term.
By this fourth stage in design, we have begun to focus on individual buildings and outdoor places. Our objective is to make their spatial and constructional organisation suitable for the widest possible range of likely activities and future uses, both in the short and the long term.
Sawa ee MN) Se eee The object of this second stage in design, which is covered in Chapter 2, is to maximise the variety of uses in the project. First we assess the levels of demand for different types of uses on the site, and establish how wide a mix of uses it is economically and functionally feasible to have. Then the tentative building volumes already established as spatially desirable are tested to see whether they can feasibly house the desired mix of uses, and the design is further developed as necessary. Legibility
Sawa ee MN) Se eee The object of this second stage in design, which is covered in Chapter 2, is to maximise the variety of uses in the project. First we assess the levels of demand for different types of uses on the site, and establish how wide a mix of uses it is economically and functionally feasible to have. Then the tentative building volumes already established as spatially desirable are tested to see whether they can feasibly house the desired mix of uses, and the design is further developed as necessary. Legibility
Designing for personalisation is discussed in Chapter 7. Here the designer is making the final detailed decisions about the forms and materials of the scheme; both to support personalisation, and to ensure that its results will not erode any public role the building may have. ee lee In practice, things are more complex than this simple step-by-step structure implies: it is constantly necessary to modify the emerging design as you think through the implications of each new step. This process is explored, by means of a case-study, in Chapter 8: Putting it all together. Here we show the implications of designing to support all the qualities together, in the context ofa large inner-city redevelopment.
Designing for personalisation is discussed in Chapter 7. Here the designer is making the final detailed decisions about the forms and materials of the scheme; both to support personalisation, and to ensure that its results will not erode any public role the building may have. ee lee In practice, things are more complex than this simple step-by-step structure implies: it is constantly necessary to modify the emerging design as you think through the implications of each new step. This process is explored, by means of a case-study, in Chapter 8: Putting it all together. Here we show the implications of designing to support all the qualities together, in the context ofa large inner-city redevelopment.
The permeability of any system of public space depends on the number of alternative routes it offers from one point to another. But these alternatives must be visible, otherwise only people who already know the area can take advantage of them. So visual permeability is also important. A place with small blocks gives more choice of routes than one with Jarge blocks. In the example below, the large-block layout offers only three alternative routes, without backtracking, between A and B. The version with small blocks has nine alternatives, with a slightly shorter length of public route. Smaller blocks, therefore, give more physical permea- bility for a given investment in public space. They also increase visual permeability, improving people’s aware- ness of the choice available: the smaller the block, the easier it is to see from one junction to the next in all directions.
The permeability of any system of public space depends on the number of alternative routes it offers from one point to another. But these alternatives must be visible, otherwise only people who already know the area can take advantage of them. So visual permeability is also important. A place with small blocks gives more choice of routes than one with Jarge blocks. In the example below, the large-block layout offers only three alternative routes, without backtracking, between A and B. The version with small blocks has nine alternatives, with a slightly shorter length of public route. Smaller blocks, therefore, give more physical permea- bility for a given investment in public space. They also increase visual permeability, improving people’s aware- ness of the choice available: the smaller the block, the easier it is to see from one junction to the next in all directions.
Both physical and visual permeability depend on how the network of public space divides the environment into blocks: areas of land entirely surrounded by public routes. These can vary radically in size and shape, as illustrated below:
Both physical and visual permeability depend on how the network of public space divides the environment into blocks: areas of land entirely surrounded by public routes. These can vary radically in size and shape, as illustrated below:
Unnecessarily monolithic developments, which could function equally well if divided into smaller elements, produce excessively large blocks.
Unnecessarily monolithic developments, which could function equally well if divided into smaller elements, produce excessively large blocks.
Physical permeability between public and private space occurs at entrances to buildings or gardens. This enriches public space by increasing the level of activity around its edges. We shall show how important this is in Chapter 4: for now, it implies that as many entrances as possible should be located round the edges of public spaces, as opposed to what often happens nowadays.
Physical permeability between public and private space occurs at entrances to buildings or gardens. This enriches public space by increasing the level of activity around its edges. We shall show how important this is in Chapter 4: for now, it implies that as many entrances as possible should be located round the edges of public spaces, as opposed to what often happens nowadays.
This is not to say that culs-de-sac are always negative: they support responsiveness if they offer a choice which would otherwise be missing. But they must be added to a permeable layout, not substituted for it.
This is not to say that culs-de-sac are always negative: they support responsiveness if they offer a choice which would otherwise be missing. But they must be added to a permeable layout, not substituted for it.
Permeability is effectively reduced by segregating the users of public space into different categories, such as vehicle users and pedestrians, and confining each to a separate system of routes. When this happens, the only way to give both categories a level of permeability equivalent to a de-segregated system is through an expensive duplication of routes. Hierarchical layouts reduce permeability: in the example below there is only one way from A to D, and you have to go along B and C: never A-D directly, or ADCABCD, but always ABCD. Hierarchical layouts generate a world of culs-de-sac, dead ends and little choice of routes. ens — ieee . binianis Chapter 4 will show other ways of helping motorists and pedestrians to live together. And in any case, it is never necessary to build segregation irrevocably into a layout early in design. If we initially make a high level of permeability for everyone, then segregation can be achieved later, if necessary, by detailed design or management. This gives future users control over how they want to use the place, because they can de-segregate if circumstances change.
Permeability is effectively reduced by segregating the users of public space into different categories, such as vehicle users and pedestrians, and confining each to a separate system of routes. When this happens, the only way to give both categories a level of permeability equivalent to a de-segregated system is through an expensive duplication of routes. Hierarchical layouts reduce permeability: in the example below there is only one way from A to D, and you have to go along B and C: never A-D directly, or ADCABCD, but always ABCD. Hierarchical layouts generate a world of culs-de-sac, dead ends and little choice of routes. ens — ieee . binianis Chapter 4 will show other ways of helping motorists and pedestrians to live together. And in any case, it is never necessary to build segregation irrevocably into a layout early in design. If we initially make a high level of permeability for everyone, then segregation can be achieved later, if necessary, by detailed design or management. This gives future users control over how they want to use the place, because they can de-segregate if circumstances change.
For the public/private interface to make private life richer, instead of destroying privacy altogether, it is vital that its degree of permeability is under the control of the private users. Do not worry about this: it is not difficult to achieve at a later stage of design, by using normal building elements like level changes, windows, porches, curtains, sound-reducing glazing and venetian blinds. This will be covered in Chapter 4. This degree of control is often not provided nowadays: instead of leaving users to control how much permea- bility they want, designers decide for them, by making permanent physical and visual barriers. This is usually because the front/back distinction has been forgotten.
For the public/private interface to make private life richer, instead of destroying privacy altogether, it is vital that its degree of permeability is under the control of the private users. Do not worry about this: it is not difficult to achieve at a later stage of design, by using normal building elements like level changes, windows, porches, curtains, sound-reducing glazing and venetian blinds. This will be covered in Chapter 4. This degree of control is often not provided nowadays: instead of leaving users to control how much permea- bility they want, designers decide for them, by making permanent physical and visual barriers. This is usually because the front/back distinction has been forgotten.
Because private activities out of doors are particularly vulnerable to overlooking, they have to be screened by solid barriers. If they are at the front, adjoining public space, these barriers have a negative, deadening effect, destroying the public character. Most of the private outdoor space must therefore be at the back.
Because private activities out of doors are particularly vulnerable to overlooking, they have to be screened by solid barriers. If they are at the front, adjoining public space, these barriers have a negative, deadening effect, destroying the public character. Most of the private outdoor space must therefore be at the back.
The first step in design, therefore, is to analyse the layout of routes in the surrounding area; defining the access points onto the site, and noting their relative importance in terms of where they lead to. This is covered in Design Sheet 1.1. This choice will only be useful if people are aware of it, so it is important to locate new routes as continuations from as many access points as possible outside the site itself, and make sure they can be seen to lead somewhere.
The first step in design, therefore, is to analyse the layout of routes in the surrounding area; defining the access points onto the site, and noting their relative importance in terms of where they lead to. This is covered in Design Sheet 1.1. This choice will only be useful if people are aware of it, so it is important to locate new routes as continuations from as many access points as possible outside the site itself, and make sure they can be seen to lead somewhere.
Applied consistently, the front/back distinction - with private open space at the back, and public open space at the front - leads to a type of layout we call perimeter block development.
Applied consistently, the front/back distinction - with private open space at the back, and public open space at the front - leads to a type of layout we call perimeter block development.
Headington, Oxford, England
Headington, Oxford, England
The tentative street positions now decided will start to define blocks. These must now be checked for size: make them as small as possible. The minimum practicable size depends on the forms of their perimeter buildings, and on the usage of the private outdoor spaces within the blocks themselves. Both factors are discussed in Design Sheet 1.4.
The tentative street positions now decided will start to define blocks. These must now be checked for size: make them as small as possible. The minimum practicable size depends on the forms of their perimeter buildings, and on the usage of the private outdoor spaces within the blocks themselves. Both factors are discussed in Design Sheet 1.4.
580 California St., Suite 400
San Francisco, CA, 94104
© 2025 Academia. All rights reserved