Design, the art of making places for people, is fundamental to delivering enhanced living environments.
Better-informed application of design principles and skills to planning objectives is central to providing a high level of amenity and sustainability for development. Incorporating evaluation of design principles into the initial investigations of a development area establishes clear implementation objectives and opportunities early in the process.
These objectives and opportunities can form the basis for review and assessment of decision making throughout the concept planning and master planning stages
The key principles of design provide for people to interact with and respond to the environment.
These qualities can be used to formulate responsive design solutions at virtually any scale of development.
Sense of well being: Good design provides a sense of well being and amenity by ensuring recognition of the natural context and the functional requirements of the community and responding with:
A feeling of safety and security
Uncluttered and easily maintained streets and public places carefully detailed with integrated public art and functional elements
Well-designed lighting and street furniture
Places suited to the needs of everyone, including disabled and elderly people
Attractive and robust planting appropriate to the locality
Public spaces and routes that are lively and pleasant to use
Ease of movement for residents and visitors is reinforced by consideration of connectivity and permeability and provides for an community which easy to get to and to move about in . It is enhanced by easy of accessibility, a choice of safe and a high quality routes. Legibility principles establish an understanding of place and way finding for residents and visitors. A discernable planning structure and complementary place making ensure that the living environment has a clear image and is easy to understand. Enhancing the legibility of a place will include the identification and incorporation into planning
Adaptability Provision for changing lifestyles and community needs enhances the future social and economic sustainability of a community A place that can change easily provides for:
Flexible uses
Possibilities for gradual change
Buildings and areas adaptable to a variety of present and future uses
Reuse of historic buildings and spaces
Diversity of space and function provides with a range of experience and choice. This can be achieved through;
Place making to provide for variety of function and land use
Participants