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Working with the local community to raise aspirations and awareness of design in the built environment. Forging links with higher education establishments to create a research base and practical local guidelines for new development.
Themes:
Sustainable communities and place making
Climate change
Housing
Design quality and innovation
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Focus:
Working with the local community to raise aspirations and awareness of design in the built environment. Forging links with higher education establishments to create a research base and practical local guidelines for new development. |
Background:
Doncaster Design Centre has initiated a research programme in response to Yorkshire Forward’s aim to support the regeneration of Doncaster as part of the Renaissance Towns initiative. This has involved developing a series of projects, set up in partnership with higher education establishments to involve students in live projects that address topical and relevant local issues. |
What happened:
Energy efficient housing guidelines were developed for local house builders. They explore new and sustainable construction techniques and how to encourage energy efficiency in domestic situations without being ultra modern and fulfil living needs. Designed to appeal to and support small-scale projects they meet the needs of the general public and design professionals rather than volume house builders. They provide practical guidelines and detail on ‘how to’, technical specifications on acoustics and materials, as well as guidance on how to meet housing regulations and standards. Students were asked to analyse and develop design ideas for a number of key sites in and around the town centre where change is envisaged, such as the historically sensitive Minster Quarter. The student work helped to inform the Council’s preparation of subsequent design and planning briefs.
A Public Realm Study was initiated to support the master plan of Doncaster town centre. Doncaster currently suffers from a divisive main road cutting through the town centre. This has exposed the back elevations of buildings and created a faceless and uninviting throughway in the heart of the city. To resolve this, the council plan to create an urban boulevard. This research project has involved workshops and public exhibitions in accessible venues such as the shopping centre. It was designed to inform and raise support for the proposed developments from motorists, the public and local residents. It highlighted design quality issues such as road surfaces, materials, trees, cycle lanes and characterisation issues so as to readdress the harmful impact of the rear elevations of the buildings.
In addition, an Urban Morphology study will document the changes to Doncaster since pre-roman times to the present day and will culminate in a publication and education pack. A Tall Buildings Study will review how towns like Doncaster can accommodate super structures and look at what impact they have on their identify, skyline and sense of place. |
Who was involved:
Doncaster Design Centre
Partners
Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council
Sheffield Hallam School of Architecture
Leeds Metropolitan University
Funders
Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council
Arts Council England |
The difference it made:
Doncaster Design Centre’s careful facilitation process and involvement of local partners has created a greater understanding of and involvement in local design issues. Complex and topical issues have been addressed in relation to the local context and distilled into practical and accessible tools. Documents created for professional audiences have become publicly accessible. Design students have been able to apply theory to practice, improve their skills, understanding of local issues, develop local relationships and improve their employability. The student projects have provided another level of detail to supplement the Renaissance Masterplan for the town centre. The research and student work undertaken in association with Sheffield Hallam and Leeds Met has also provided the council with excellent background information to inform policy preparation and development guidance. The research outcomes can potentially inform professional practice, public debate and the council’s planning and redevelopment of the local area. |
What they said:
“The aim is to help raise awareness and improve the council's, professionals and the public’s understanding of architecture and how topical issues apply to Doncaster. Sustainability is of interest to everyone from school pupils to anyone who has ever dreamed of designing and building their own home. There can be a lot of misunderstanding about modern architecture so this kind of process is very valuable and why we get involved.”
(Anthony Snowden, Architect, neveAD)
“Doncaster Design Centre have facilitated a number of challenging projects for students on both courses which have resulted in both organisations and the public benefiting from an exchange of ideas on sustainability and the built environment. The success of the themed approach to sustainability and the built environment exemplified by the guide has now been developed further this year, we are currently looking into the potential of guides being produced for current and future projects.”
(Geoff Birkett, Course Leader Technical Architecture , Built Environment Division Sheffield Hallam University) |
Future possibilities:
Whilst the future organisation and role of the Doncaster Design Centre is currently under review, it is envisaged that in the future partners will continue to work closely with local universities and schools in the delivery of educational objectives as part of the Centre’s core rationale. |
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More information:
www.doncaster.gov.uk/bluebuilding |
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Student design work for the Minster Quarter on display to the public .
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The design centre projects have involved students
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Design concepts by NeveAD |
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Themes
regeneration
design quality and innovation
planning
sustainable communities and place making
young people and communities
climate change
housing |
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