Queens Conservation Area: March 1987 - The Planning Service

New Development
It is not the Depsement's aim to stem rhe
natumlflow of change,bllt to crate an
attnaspherewhsseby grater sensitivityis
givenm the design of new buiIdhgs in the
Queenss&flsemtim Area Therefore new
developmentshould improve each existing
situation in term of qWtyand use, and nor
m&& it. There are many solutionsto the
preblemof how the clientsdemandscm be
tcadarediato a pduct that fits comfortably
amongst O&I
bddinges. While no two
solutiwswill be rhe me, the answermay
come fmm'one of the foflowhg approaches.
Reproduction
The most obvious way of capturingthe
characterof a place is to reproducethe
buirdiugIc~ at least the fade Phat previously
occupieda site. In terracesof unitled
composition this is often the only alternative,
evenif costly and emhg to achieve.
Atrentionto detailthereforeis a vital
considerationand suacess will depend upon
the we of correct colours, elevatioaalfinishes
and the detailingof exsemaljoinezy. The key
to successfuZ reproducticmis that the madern
designermast not imparth% ownpersanal
style on zhe building, &S in a very
unobtrusivefashion.
The approachoutlinedabove is similar to
conversion of existingbuildingsmd quires
d dapplication.To udamhe the quality
of an imponantbuilding throughanfdW
restonition,poorly worhd oonversions oran
unsympatheticextensiondevaluesthem1
objectives of conservation.
CC-
2 Mount Charles. Greek revival style v ik 1842.
Faitbhslly ramred €&wing erncnsive k b damage.
Contrast
Traditional
is often seen asofferingthe besr:solution, particuIsrlyh
relationto domesticbuildings.
It is possible to desigeabuilding form
that is u~~srnpmmis'mgly modern, but
which ifmbitecturally sawing may
welladdtothehc~erofanarea.
New dewtopmat, ifit is to slip
unobtrwsivedy into theurban scene
must respectand nothfen the bulk
and desiga of the existing form.
An importantfactorhere is thatthe
appeal ofnew buildings is largely
subjective,dependingu ppersonal
prejudices. It is thereforeextremely
difEdr to defineguidehesfor &is
appr- which dependson the skill
and experriseoftbedesigner.
Thc method involvesstudying ~ urwdg buE1d'ings and noting
their inherent chmweristics. By applyingthese charaaeridcsin a
maditidway, a new brJildinPcm be pmdud which respects
existingform.The essentialaim here is to presene the uniqueness
rhat each ;areahas evolved, and not allow it to besubmerged under a
bland archim1m~trment.