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Design Surveys:
MORI pol commissioned
by CABE in 2002 said...
81 % of people said they
are ‘interested in how the built environment looks and
feels’
People work more productively in well designed offices: agree 77%
disagree 7%
Well designed schools improve children's education: agree
70% disagree 17%
The
design of hospitals makes no difference to how fast
patients recover: agree 29% disagree 52%
How
streets look and feel makes no difference to crime: agree
22% disagree 66%
Well designed houses will increase
value quicker than average: agree 72% disagree 9%
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In Taunton Deane how many households were there in 2001?
Think
you know the answer?
Check this and many more facts about our town by
visiting our 'Taunton Statistics' page
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 Do
you remember? If you have lived through changing times in
the Taunton area, then why not help us give character to
our local heritage by sharing your memoirs with us for
future generations.
Click Here To Read More...
Taunton Castle
One of the many historic features covered in our 'Brief
History of Taunton'.
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Did you know...
that a warmer climate will increase risk of deterioration
in water quality and increase in infection. Buildings will
suffer increased subsidence and associated insurance
claims due to drying out of substrata. Did you also know
that we
will have longer growing seasons providing increased crop
yields, which means potential for new crops (grapes, navy
beans, sweetcorn, soya and sunflowers), and that a longer,
more reliable summer season will lead to increased visitor
numbers and visitor spend boosting local economies.
Here you can review such key
findings in a report by the UK Climates Impacts program.
SW Climate
Change - Opportunities & Challenges
click
here
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Our 'What Is' does exactly what is says on the tin. We ask the
simple questions and we try to get simple answers. Of course,
answers really depend on who you ask but if you wish to ask a
question or wish to submit an answer or addition why not email
us by
Clicking Here
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Questions so far:
What is
architecture?
What is
an architect?
What is the history of architecture?
What is a well designed building?
What is a well designed place?
What is
design?
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The
general definition is: The human-built environment.
But Webster's dictionary gives following definitions for
architecture:
-
the art or practice of designing and building structures and
especially habitable ones,
-
formation or construction as (or as if as) the result of a
conscious act,
-
architectural product or work,
-
a method or style of building.
Prof Charles HA MacCallum Head of
School at the Glasgow School or Art sums it up well 'Architecture
is a discipline which seeks to improve the relationship
between people and their environment, and encompasses the
social and physical sciences as well as the arts'.
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wordreference.com
defines an architect as:
-
a person
qualified to design buildings and to superintend their
erection
-
a person
similarly qualified in another form of construction example:
a naval architect
-
any planner or
creator
example: the architect of the expedition
But what do they do?
Architects have the power to shape the environment in which
people spend their daily lives. They do this by designing the
insides and outsides of buildings, and the spaces around them,
plan the layout of groups of buildings, and alter old ones.
They work with clients, from corporate bodies to local
communities, to help them decide what they need and then work
through all the steps needed to produce a final design and see
the design through to completion.
None of this is easy! An architect's work is demanding and
requires a lot of consultation with other people to develop
the brief, survey the site, decide upon the organisation of
spaces and the shape and appearance of the building, its cost,
the internal environment and services, its construction and
the process by which it is built.
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Adrian Tinniswood at
gives us a run down on A History of British Architecture. From
the Middle Ages to the 20th century.
I wonder what were the influences and movements that have
shaped the changing face of British architecture?
Click Here to Find Out
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Design is more than just beauty;
it is an integral part of the success of any project. The key
facets of building design quality set out by CABE (Commission
for Architecture and the Built Environment) are:
- Appearance: the
building should be excellent in itself and appropriate to
its surroundings, attracting a favourable response from
users, customers and the wider public
- Context: the project
is seen as a place, not an isolated building, including
creation of public space, contribution to the neighbourhood
and its environment, effect on transport patterns
- Buildability:
including ease of construction, materials from sustainable
sources, prefabrication, use of standard components
- Maintenance:
including energy use, cleaning, repair costs, all estimated
over the life of the building
- Operation: including
use of space, navigation around the building, comfort of
users, flexibility, effectiveness of the service,
accessibility
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The joint DTLR/CABE publication,
By Design, promotes higher standards of urban design. It
states the objectives of a well designed place as being:
- Character: to
promote character in townscape and landscape by responding
to and reinforcing locally distinctive patterns of
development, landscape and culture
- Continuity and
enclosure: to promote the continuity of street frontages
and the enclosure of space by development which clearly
defines private and public areas
- Quality of the public
realm: to promote public spaces and routes that are
attractive, safe, uncluttered and work effectively for all
in society, including disabled and elderly people
- Ease of movement: to
promote accessibility and local permeability by making
places that connect with each other and are easy to move
through, putting people before traffic and integrating land
uses and transport
- Legibility: to
promote legibility through development that provides
recognisable routes, intersections and landmarks that help
people find their way around
- Adaptability: to
promote adaptability through development that can respond to
changing social, technological and economic conditions
- Diversity: to
promote diversity and choice through a mix of compatible
developments and uses that work together to create viable
places that respond to local needs
 A
recommended read produced by our
own
Taunton Deane
 Borough
Council is their Residential Design Guide.
Numerous local authorities
have already produced detailed planning guidance on issues
such as housing, landscaping and shop fronts. In addition it
is worth considering area-specific design policy, not only to
protect historic environments, but also to raise the quality
in other areas.
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 Design
is everywhere - and that's why looking for a definition may
not help you grasp what it is. Who better to answer that
question than the Design Council.
Click Here To Read More
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