Culture leaves a ‘bleak’ landscape

30 May 2007

Councils’ aversion to risk is resulting in standardised and bland streetscape projects, according to a new report by the Council for Architecture and the Built Environment.
Misplaced fears of a ‘rampant compensation culture’ and unquestioning interpretations of health and safety regulations mean that many street and public space designs are geared for the worst-case scenario. When organisations are over-sensitive to risk, the report adds, relatively small risks are treated ‘like major threats’, and this can lead to a disproportionate response.
The report is based on a study of 10 public space projects across England and a survey of 16 organisations, including local councils, insurers and the Health and Safety Executive.
CABE Space’s report finds that ‘intelligent and creative designs’ with multiple benefits can face a frustrating battle to be accepted. Over-cautious designs are less likely to be challenged, it adds. For example, a home zone scheme for Dover was not implemented after the Fire and Rescue Service pointed out that traffic-calming measures outlined in the scheme would reduce speed of response, and the echelon parking design meant their vehicles would not be able to get close enough to the properties. This led to changes which undermined the original design quality. As such, CABE wants to promote a more balanced approach, rather than designing schemes as if the ‘public was stupid’.
‘This doesn’t mean we want dangerous or insecure environments,’ CABE Space director, Sarah Gaventa, said. ‘But we do want to avoid creating a generation of bland, bleak and barrier-ridden public spaces.’ : www.cabe.org.uk

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Culture leaves a ‘bleak’ landscape

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