Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
avenue for public buildings, there can be little doubt that they were creating a dis-
tinctive place, although they did not elevate this and other ideas to explicit prin-
ciples of form seen in NU design codes. In addition, their interest in the local
environment can be seen by the fact that they built according to local site condi-
tions, allowing views of nearby villages and physical features. The mixed land use
characteristics of NU communities are generally seen to be a positive step forward
(or look backward) in terms of community design (Ford
1999
). Rather than the
strict separation of land uses in conventional suburbs, NU communities typically
succeed in integrating a variety of land uses in close proximity, blending residential
and commercial functions on the same lots (e.g. apartments above shops), civic
and commercial spaces, and providing more variety than what is found in previous
suburban developments.
Another appealing feature of NU developments is the focus on the design and
integration of so-called 'public space' and also the renewed attention to the concept
of a small 'town centre' with civic functions and retail-service activities, although
these are usually relatively few in number, given the limited size of the communities.
This lack of retail diversity is frequently cited as one of the problems in these areas
(Schleimer
1993
). Most have had limited success at reducing either automobile use
and ownership or commuting patterns beyond the community, although walkability
is often lauded as one of the most positive aspects of NU, given its benefits in pro-
moting health and sociability, through more physical activity and in meeting people,
especially in terms of internal movement within the development (Frantz and Col-
lins
1999
). Southworth (
2005
) has suggested that six criteria underlie the design of
a successful pedestrian network: connectivity; linkage with other transport modes; a
fine grained land use pattern; path quality, path context; and safety. Many develop-
ments integrate extensive networks of pedestrian pathways (connectors) through-
out the development, and are typically designed on a '5 min rule', namely that all
housing within the development should be within a 5 min walk of shops and civic
spaces. Schleimer (
1993
) found that 75 % of residents in such communities claim
that these design approaches do encourage walking, leaving Ford (
1999
) to suggest
that to some extent this type of design determinism, such as forcing people to park
and walk, has been successful. Yet these NU views are not new; they seem to have
forgotten that the Radburn and British New Town modifications of neighbourhood
ideas of the mid twentieth century, where pathways throughout the community to
schools and shops were a major characteristic.
Many have noted that NU communities are very attractive, and have architec-
tural features that are inherently appealing to many. Some of this appeal is linked
to the 'neo-traditional', vernacular, or retro elements of many of the designs, such
as dormers, bell towers, porches, or style characteristics such as Victorian motifs or
Georgian townhouses (Grant
2006
). These communities also photograph well (Katz
1994
; Brooke
1995
). For some, the architectural appeal is also based on the knowl-
edge that there will be little alteration of the design standards and architectural ap-
pearance through time, given the strict development codes and restrictive covenants
that control building materials, colours, and even exterior uses (Frantz and Collins
