Investigating Places
This resource provides a flexible framework for investigating any place, anywhere. It provides an introduction to the design process and a framework for investigating a local place to identify what works, what doesn’t work and what might be improved. There are eight areas of activity which can be used independently or as a series of investigations:
- Looking at a place; local identity and design characteristics
- Documenting a place; maps and mapping, archaeology and artefacts
- Ideas for improvement; troubleshooting, visioning and finding a site
- Creating a design brief; criteria for development
- Designing an idea; developing and visualising concepts and aspirations
- Making a design real; planning, construction, skills and tools
- Refining a design idea; reaching a consensus
- Presenting a design idea; making a case to an audience
Each area of activity includes: an introduction, key concepts and questions, activity plans, key words and terms, curriculum links, additional references, linked school projects, images and support materials.It is designed to provide a ‘way in’ to the strategies and approaches built environment professionals use for analysing a place, creating a vision and set of principles for improving a place and developing a design brief. The range of approaches can be interpreted and adapted for any curriculum area, age group and local context. Individual elements could be used as starting points for other investigations. They could also be developed into a cross-curricular approach.
The resource focuses on identifying, researching and recording a local place, appraising what works, what doesn’t work and looking at what could be done to improve it. It explores and the ingredients and design qualities that make up the places we like and value. It outlines the mechanisms for how places are designed and built. The intention is that by better understanding the characteristics of local identity and sense of place we will be better informed about what to aspire for, preserve, protect, demolish, develop and improve and what distinguishes one place from another.
The development and regeneration of our villages, towns and cities is ever increasing and the demand for new housing is impacting on both green and brown field sites. The better informed all members of a community are about what is local, of value and sustainable the more able they will be to take part in designing their locality and influencing the design and decision making process. By getting involved and gaining a greater sense pride and ownership we all have the potential to contribute towards better quality design solutions for our neighbourhoods.
Further information and resources can be found by searching by keywords and file lists in the Resource Library.
