Context
Urban Design
Context is a very important consideration in the development of a new college, whether on an existing site with existing buildings or on a new ‘brownfield’ or new ‘greenfield’ site. A site analysis should be conducted at the outset of the project to set the scene and identify the salient issues both on the site and in the neighbourhood.
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Elements to be identified within the analysis should include the site boundary, site orientation and the suns path through the seasons, prevailing wind direction, pedestrian and vehicular access, public footpaths and other routes across the site, contours, existing building heights, extents and uses, floodplains and other ground conditions, traffic noise and pollution, services above and below ground, statutory listed buildings, buildings of local historical interest and conservation areas, trees and other vegetation, views into and out of the site.
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It is important to be aware of the greater context in which the site resides. The history and the evolution of the urban form of the city or town together with its physical and economic development can give a greater understanding of the issues and influences affecting the site and can offer further prognosis to site constraints and opportunities. Studies outlining the sites archaeological and ecological settings similarly inform the prospects.
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The identification of local landmarks is also important in setting the scene, defining routes to the site and in developing an appropriate response through a series of masterplan options. Interventions can be space creators embracing or defining publicly accessible space through to ‘object’ buildings providing a landmark response to the setting.
