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Location: Dorchester, DT1 3BN
Built: 2000
Designer: CG Fry & Son (developer) / Leon Krier and Percy Thomas Partnership (architects)
Type: suburban
Density: 40 homes per hectare
Parking ratio: 230%
The best known suburban housing development in Britain triumphs for its housing squares and on street parking. But the rear courts which first proposed taking the car off the street are less successful and raise issues about active frontages.
The relentless informality of Poundbury’s first phase is in fact very successful, capitalising on the sloping site and tying in well to relatively unexceptional existing developments on at least two sides.
The quality of materials is excellent,with intelligent use of a variety of bricks, natural stone, and render. The use of snapped headers relieves the brickwork from monotony, a simple device that is underused or not considered at all; joinery is high quality timber, either double hung sliding sashes or casements.
And the contrasts in geometry between streets leading from the market square (where a new Corn Exchange type building acts as a visual hub) are intriguing, with some continuous curves masking quantities of on street parking, and other straight, almost boulevard type streets using impeccably detailed layby parking outside residents’ homes.
Both roadways and pavements are generally conventional blacktop, although the pavement is then finished with unconsolidated gravel; they are divided from each other by riven granite kerbs. Five rows of setts demarcate edges of roadways around the central square from areas which are nevertheless accessible by car; elsewhere these setts are used to calm traffic. Very large riven granite blocks, set slightly proud of the carriageway surface, define the street side edge of the layby parking. Certain streets giving access to dwellings designated pedestrian only, are also finished in unconsolidated gravel. Behind retail units (and some residential terraces) there are garage or parking courts, sometimes demarcated along pedestrian routes by hardwood bollards; these are also occasionally gated, with terraced car ports off an area of semi-unconsolidated gravel. These ports have pitched roofs supported on stained timber posts. Other courts have enclosed garages with incongruously conventional doors, and contrasting roof pitches. On some streets, there are pavements of sufficient width to allow parking, although this is not marked as such.
Finally, a number of buildings have Doric stone colonnaded undercrofts in which cars sit (rather uneasily).
The development consists predominantly of 2 and 3 storey houses, as well as some retail units, arranged in long and short terraces. Some are arranged in market squares.
Buildings are easily big enough to dominate cars in the square.
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Cars parked on the shared surface bays on opposite side.
Proceed with Caution! - Inevitable debate regarding presence of cars on streets of scheme that proposes new rurality.
Green Light! - Despite simplicity of solution, choice of materials and detailed design are exceptionally high. Raised markers and semi-mature trees between bays aid parking judgement and clarify division of spaces, whilst length of bays breaks up parking impact. Used to supplement allocated parking elsewhere, in overflow area to scheme's commercial quarter.
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Partial plan of the development showing On-Street; In-line with pavement type provision
Proceed with Caution! - Inevitable debate regarding presence of cars on streets of scheme that proposes new rurality.
Green Light! - Despite simplicity of solution, choice of materials and detailed design are exceptionally high. Raised markers and semi-mature trees between bays aid parking judgement and clarify division of spaces, whilst length of bays breaks up parking impact. Used to supplement allocated parking elsewhere, in overflow area to scheme's commercial quarter.
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Unallocated uncontrolled bays in the squares are on a first come first serve basis.
Green Light! - Unallocated parking provides efficient use of space, and space can be used for purposes other than parking. Exceptionally high quality materials, and spaces are enclosed by substantial landmark buildings which reduce the impact of parking.
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Area next to apartments is free of bollards.
Green Light! - Unallocated parking provides efficient use of space, and space can be used for purposes other than parking. Exceptionally high quality materials, and spaces are enclosed by substantial landmark buildings which reduce the impact of parking.
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Partial plan of the development showing arrangement of on-street, housing square type parking provision.
Green Light! - Unallocated parking provides efficient use of space, and space can be used for purposes other than parking. Exceptionally high quality materials, and spaces are enclosed by substantial landmark buildings which reduce the impact of parking.
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There are several accesses to rear court, an issue for security.
Red Light! - Direct access from court to homes discourages use of front doors and makes street inactive.
Proceed with Caution! - Limited surveillance to car parking court from ground floor units. Relatively large size and permeability of courts undermine defensible space and create Secure By Design issues.
Green Light! - Good proportions, materials and detailing to court,with convenient access to home from garage.
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Large house offers better surveillance of rear court.
Red Light! - Direct access from court to homes discourages use of front doors and makes street inactive.
Proceed with Caution! - Second pedestrian access to rear court maybe a Secure by Design issue.
Green Light! - Good proportions, materials and detailing to court, with convenient access to home from garage. Small scale of court create sense of ownership. Single vehicular access creates sense of defensible space
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Partial plan of the development showing On-Plot; Rear Court type provision.
Red Light! - Direct access from court to homes discourages use of front doors and makes street inactive.
Proceed with Caution! - Limited surveillance to car parking court from ground floor units. Relatively large size and permeability of courts undermine defensible space and create Secure By Design issues.
Green Light! - Good proportions, materials and detailing to court,with convenient access to home from garage.
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Partial plan of the development showing On-Plot; Rear-Court type provision
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Natural granite setts define both pavement and road from bays.
Proceed with Caution! - Inevitable debate regarding presence of cars on streets of scheme that proposes new rurality.
Green Light! - Despite simplicity of solution, choice of materials and detailed design are exceptionally high. Raised markers and semi-mature trees between bays aid parking judgement and clarify division of spaces, whilst length of bays breaks up parking impact. Used to supplement allocated parking elsewhere, in overflow area to scheme's commercial quarter.
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Steep pitches and tall chimneys keep cars in scale.
Proceed with Caution! - Inevitable debate regarding presence of cars on streets of scheme that proposes new rurality.
Green Light! - Despite simplicity of solution, choice of materials and detailed design are exceptionally high. Raised markers and semi-mature trees between bays aid parking judgement and clarify division of spaces, whilst length of bays breaks up parking impact. Used to supplement allocated parking elsewhere, in overflow area to scheme's commercial quarter.
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Trees break up bays.
Proceed with Caution! - Inevitable debate regarding presence of cars on streets of scheme that proposes new rurality.
Green Light! - Despite simplicity of solution, choice of materials and detailed design are exceptionally high. Raised markers and semi-mature trees between bays aid parking judgement and clarify division of spaces, whilst length of bays breaks up parking impact. Used to supplement allocated parking elsewhere, in overflow area to scheme's commercial quarter.
Be the first to add a comment!
Surface material is unconsolidated gravel rather than blacktop.
Green Light! - Unallocated parking provides efficient use of space, and space can be used for purposes other than parking. Exceptionally high quality materials, and spaces are enclosed by substantial landmark buildings which reduce the impact of parking.
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Trees break up the long line of bays.
Green Light! - Unallocated parking provides efficient use of space, and space can be used for purposes other than parking. Exceptionally high quality materials, and spaces are enclosed by substantial landmark buildings which reduce the impact of parking.
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A separate pedestrian access.
Red Light! - Direct access from court to homes discourages use of front doors and makes street inactive.
Proceed with Caution! - Limited surveillance to car parking court from ground floor units. Relatively large size and permeability of courts undermine defensible space and create Secure By Design issues.
Green Light! - Good proportions, materials and detailing to court,with convenient access to home from garage.
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Surveillance of court is limited.
Red Light! - Direct access from court to homes discourages use of front doors and makes street inactive.
Proceed with Caution! - Limited surveillance to car parking court from ground floor units. Relatively large size and permeability of courts undermine defensible space and create Secure By Design issues.
Green Light! - Good proportions, materials and detailing to court,with convenient access to home from garage.
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On plot garages but no access to front of houses.
Red Light! - Direct access from court to homes discourages use of front doors and makes street inactive.
Proceed with Caution! - Limited surveillance to car parking court from ground floor units. Relatively large size and permeability of courts undermine defensible space and create Secure By Design issues.
Green Light! - Good proportions, materials and detailing to court,with convenient access to home from garage.
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Single vehicular access makes court less vulnerable to crime.
Red Light! - Direct access from court to homes discourages use of front doors and makes street inactive.
Proceed with Caution! - Second pedestrian access to rear court maybe a Secure by Design issue.
Green Light! - Good proportions, materials and detailing to court, with convenient access to home from garage. Small scale of court create sense of ownership. Single vehicular access creates sense of defensible space
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Unblemished white wall is evidence of little crime.
Red Light! - Direct access from court to homes discourages use of front doors and makes street inactive.
Proceed with Caution! - Second pedestrian access to rear court maybe a Secure by Design issue.
Green Light! - Good proportions, materials and detailing to court, with convenient access to home from garage. Small scale of court create sense of ownership. Single vehicular access creates sense of defensible space.
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Archway makes for defensible space.
Red Light! - Direct access from court to homes discourages use of front doors and makes street inactive.
Proceed with Caution! - Second pedestrian access to rear court maybe a Secure by Design issue.
Green Light! - Good proportions, materials and detailing to court, with convenient access to home from garage. Small scale of court create sense of ownership. Single vehicular access creates sense of defensible space
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Space submitted by Sam Brown
9 October 2013