BOOK REVIEW

WORLD CLASS PLACES

The Governement's strategy for improving quality of place. HM Government

http://www.veilig-ontwerp-beheer.nl/publicaties/world-class-places-the-government2019s-strategy-for-improving-quality-of-place/view

This publication looks mainly into quality of spaces, how the general public perceive and react to them, the progress made by the government to make set policies work and the challenges faced in the transformation of places. A few case studies have also been picked out to prove how much planning whilst bearing quality of space in mind could be successful.

From my understanding of the publication, An urban development which lacks quality lacks the following:

 Variety of homes, spaces and efficient services
 Proper treatment of historic places
 Well planned buildings which are visually appropriate
 High quality green spaces.

Therefore, If I try to relate these elements back to the present situation of the Broadmarsh centre area in Nottingham, I would say that it tends to fall short to an extent in each the above stated elements.
Particularly the treatment of the major historic places and the proper planning of buildings.

Reading this has made me more cautious what impacts the proposed changes on the broadmarsh centre might have on the people; the users of the spaces and how attached it could make them feel.

Two of which are:

The importance of planning and designing for all; the old and the young, families and friends.

 By doing so, there will a much better sense of community and belonging, The inhabitants would feel much safer and would also feel free to interact with the environment and neighbours.

This can be achieved by providing easy access and good connectivity from one zone to another while bearing in mind the movement of both the handicap and the young children who would as well want to use these spaces.

Another way is by providing public gathering spaces with natural elements like water features and green
spaces in parks and squares where different people can meet and interact.

Planning for the distant future and not the immediate future

A very good case study used in the publication was that of Edinburgh, planned and built about 200 years ago and that plan still exists today. After looking at the case of Edinburgh, it amazing how Broadmarsh centre has just been around for over a decade and there are already plans to redevelop the area.
This makes one wander, what did Edinburgh do to last all these years?

I think this revolves mostly around how the connectivity of the area was approached during design and planning stage. Once the connectivity is functional, considers other factors such as pedestrian/vehicular movements, important link to historic areas, placement of squares at strategic points, etc. then what is left is to look at the blocks of building and how these blocks could allow for future use even if it is for a different programme.

That being said I think the main problem of the Broadmarsh area is the connectivity, that has made all the building blocks just fit into the pockets created by the high traffic roads and very little pedestrian ways.

What can be done to resolve this is to ensure a highly functional connectivity network that considers factors such as users, traffic flow of people, links to the popular places, links to squares, future improvements. etc.

http://www.veilig-ontwerp-beheer.nl/publicaties/world-class-places-the-government2019s-strategy-for-improving-quality-of-place/view

This publication has enlightened me on quite a number of issues relating to the quality of places that are sometimes not considered during urban design and master planning but have great merits to the city or area in which the master plan is proposed if considered.