QUESTION TIME
The Titanic Signature Project in Belfast is a shining example ofwhat can be achieved.
retain businesses and to create sociallymixed communities. Place-making influences a
building’s aesthetics, but involves many other things besides, including how it contributes to the public realm, how it relates physically to its surroundings, and how its design comes from an appreciation of the specific qualities of that particular place. Beautiful buildings are then a welcome bonus, but I’m not convinced that bland buildings are necessarily such a problem. If you look at many of our town centres, the individual buildings may not be architecturally distinguished, but in combination, creating streets and spaces and accommodating
a rich mix of activity, they create a real and valued sense of place. In areas of regeneration, it can
be a struggle to persuade people that good design is worthwhile. Building up confidence is critical. Developers need it, and so do local communities.Without it why risk a better quality building or a type of development that doesn’t already feature in the area? One way to build up confidence is through some form of public sector intervention. At one end of the spectrum, this means direct investment. There have been plenty of examples over the last few years, one of the most recent being the Turner Contemporary gallery in Margate. The majority of these
high profile, culture-led projects have produced buildings we can be proud of. In many more cases, the
public sector helps to bring land forward for development, or provides some form of gap funding, working in partnership with the private sector. Government is currently promoting this approach through ‘build now pay later’ for new housing on public sector land. In these situations, with the public sector contributing, it’s vital that it influences the development process to make sure that design is prioritised. However, we should also be
careful to look closely before judging regeneration. Take Elephant and Castle as an
example. The Strata Tower beat a strong field of contenders to win the 2010 Carbuncle Cup. But its high profile obscures other achievements, such the programme of smaller scale ‘early housing’ sites, where Southwark Council set up an architects panel and two of the first tranche of schemes were shortlisted for Housing Design
Awards this year.
Our panel of architects are experts in their field and have experience in a vast area of architectural design including; landscape, public sector and private residencies. If you would like to contribute as a panelist email:
rebcecca.gibson@
onecoms.co.uk
experts provide a compelling
Our industry THE EXPERTS... JANE
insight into the topical issues of the day
DANN DIRECTOR, TIBBALDS PLANNING AND URBAN DESIGN
Jane is an Architect, Urban Designer and Planner, experienced in UK masterplanning and spatial strategies for regeneration, design policy and research. She has been an Enabler for CABE and member of the Inspire East Design Review Panel.
MARK
MUIR DIRECTOR AT KAY ELLIOTT
Mark’s experience spans many sectors including education, healthcare, commercial, residential, retail and urban mixed-use. He is currently the lead consultant on Kay Elliott’s work as part of the £90 million Titanic Belfast.
KARL RENNER
PARTNER, CLARKE RENNER ARCHITECTS
Karl hasworkedwithmany of the major housing developers, such as Berkeley, Linden, Barratt and London Square. Heworked at BDP, Feilden andMawson, Chapman Taylor and Covell MatthewsWheatley, before forming Clarke Renner Architects.
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