Handbook: Workshop 1 (PDF) - DDQ - Delivering Design Quality

Reflecting on Site PrinciplesOn concluding the hands-on drawing workshop a periodof review and discussion clarified the main themes thatinfluence the development of this particular site. Theseinclude:• All concepts showed the canal-side as an asset. Howthis was expressed varied from group to group. Themost successful ones were based on an open grid withgood east – west circulation and views.• All concepts suggested the neighbouring railway andindustrial land are detrimental to achieving a qualitydesign. Most proposals provided screen planting whilesome went further by adding large off-sets of openspace to the industrial area to the south.• All concepts recognised the single road access pointas a problem. Therefore many schemes showed theaspiration to connect; to the north through the canalbasin, possibly to Walker Street and to the south relyingon the industrial access. The concepts showed all thevariable options for using one, two or three accesspoints, often using a development block to prevent theleast desirable connection.• The limits to road access had influenced ideas aboutland use, with new employment next to existingemployment. In some cases this had resulted in threecul-de-sacs.• All concepts recognised the very linear nature of thesite with its north-south orientation. Therefore mostconcepts expressed a central spine or street thatserviced development parcels on either side.• The central spine and access to canal-side frontagehad allowed some concepts to illustrate an open andhighly permeable grid.• In some, open space was concentrated on the canalfrontage, contributing to the open space setting of thecountryside. In others, the open space was dispersed inpockets throughout the plan.DDQ training 2010 workbook25