Description
Book SynopsisTowns have undergone dramatic and rapid change over the last century. Declining historic cores are surrounded by sprawling low-density housing, industrial and retail estates. The character and sense of place at the heart of rural towns and villages is under threat. By drawing people away from town centres, these developments erode the sense of community and public life.
This book demonstrates how contemporary architecture, community engagement and thoughtful urban design can contribute to the creation of thriving small communities. It addresses a lack of inspiration and ideas for architects and designers working in small communities and promotes a character-based approach to designing and planning 21st century towns.
Table of ContentsAcknowledgements
Foreword by Prof. Wayne Forster, Welsh School of Architecture
Introduction
1. Understanding Small Settlements 1.1. What do we mean by towns and smaller communities?
1.2 . History, growth and evolution
1.3. Contemporary challenges facing small communities
1.4. Is now the right time for change?
2. Homes: Creating distinctive places to live 2.1. The need for new homes
2.2. Temple Gardens, Temple Cloud
2.3. Cinque Port Street, Rye
2.4. Project: Tibby’s Triangle, Southwold
2.5. The Avenue, Saffron Walden
2.6. Social Housing, Gistel
2.7. Steepleton Retirement Community, Tetbury
3. Town centres: Building the Heart of a Community 3.1. The changing nature of the town centre
3.2. Warwick Hall Community Centre, Burford
3.3. Marks & Spencer, Northallerton
3.4. School in town, Westport
3.5. Hebden Bridge Town Hall, Hebden Bridge
3.6. Welcome Building, Bishop Auckland
4. Public space: Encouraging social life 4.1. The value of public space
4.2. Bridge Street, Callan
4.3. Prescot Forum, Prescot
4.4. Helensburgh Town Centre, Helensborough
4.5. Clonakilty 400, Clonakilty
5. Long term strategies: Future visions for small settlements 5.1. Recent initiatives to shape future places
5.2. Ruthin Future, Ruthin
5.3. Village Design Guides, South Cambridgeshire
5.4. Sharing Bolsover
5.5. Urban Regeneration Plan, Selb, Germany
6. Conclusion
