Creating communities
Design has a crucial role in creating communities which are stable, sustainable and enjoyable to live in. We believe that it is important to understand the essential character of a place, and to enhance its qualities. That means getting to know the existing community as well as designing homes for new residents.
We also believe the public realm is fundamental to any successful community. While design quality must not stop at the front door but pervade the entire neighbourhood, the public realm does need to be differentiated so it is legible, the purposes of each space well defined, its routes easy to find and their destinations clear. The resulting network of routes and spaces becomes a vital element in the public realm, connecting private homes to local gathering points along logical desire lines. This network needs to have a hierarchy of accessibility so that it creates a natural grading between fully public spaces and increasingly private ones which lead to individual front doors.
This approach creates value because it intensifies footfall in some areas and reduces it in others. That makes logical places for commercial outlets and civic facilities, while keeping primarily residential areas more private, which enhances residents’ sense of security and identity. An environment designed according to these principles will enhance existing strengths and supplement them with a variegated balance of commercial, civic and private amenities that is the essence of a stable and safe neighbourhood.