Regenerate Public-Cultural Space in West Oxford

REGENERATE PUBLIC-CULTURAL SPACE IN WEST OXFORD WAI WONG [16038448] Urban Design Theory 1 (P32073) Module Leader : Prof. Georgia Butina Watson School of the Built Environment, Oxford Brookes University 2 December 2016

CONTENT I. INTRODUCTION

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II. EXPLANATION OF THEORETICAL IDEAS AND PRINCIPLES II.A Sustainability II.B Character II.C Ease of movement / Permeability II.D Public Realm II.E Diversity II.F Legibility

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III. ESTABLISHMENT OF THEORIES IN STUDIO DESIGN PROJECT III.A Public Space in Oxford III.B.1 Museum in Worchester Green Car Park III.B.2 Sculpture Park along the Oxpens Road III.B.3 Reactivate Oxpens Road

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IV. CONCLUSION

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V. REFERENCES V.1 BIBLOGRAPHY V.2 LIST OF ILLUSTRATION

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I. INTRODUCTION

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When public spaces are successful […] they will increase opportunities to participate in communal activity. This fellowship in the open nurtures the growth of public life, which is stunted by the social isolation of ghettos and suburbs. In the parks, plazas, markets, waterfronts, and natural areas of our cities, people from different cultural groups can come together in a supportive context of mutual enjoyment. As these experiences are repeated, public spaces become vessels to carry positive communal meanings.

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I. INTRODUCTION

(Carr, Francis, Rivlin and Stone, 1993)

Fig. 01 Oslo Opera House, Norway

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Fig. 02 Robin Williamsas Street Performier, New York

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ublic space has always been essential to urban design as it is capable of changing the city life for residents and visitors. The Oxford City Council has undertaken the similar attitude to the Oxens site of the Urban Design Studio 1 project.

Their planning policiy suggests that the proposl is to contain a certain amount of highquality open space that allows formal and informal activities in West End Oxford (Oxford City Council, ,2008A,B). To response their requirement, the proposal has been informed by the following the vision , ‘To create a cultural hub with a distinctive character and a strong link to central Oxford that draws in both visitors and locals alike through a sustainable network of connections and a tessellation of new focal points and dynamic spaces’ The vision highlighted the strong cultural and historic character of Oxford as elements to be expanded across the city. Therefore, the proposal introduces several design actions to achieve this objective. They discuss both public and private use of space. To inverstigate that, this essay focuses on how urban designers create a successful public space to encourage cultural development.

THE ESSAY STRUCTURE The following context will be in two parts, Section 2 explains different theories of successful public space, illustrated with different case studies; Section 3 discusses why and how the West End Oxford masterplan has derived from the theories. The essay will conclude examining how the proposed public space would affect urban life in Oxford.

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II. EXPLANATION OF THEORETICAL IDEAS AND PRINCIPLES 6

II. EXPLAINATION OF THEORETICAL IDEAS A SUSTAINABILITY B CHARACTER C EASE OF MOVEMENT D QUALITY OF THE PUBLIC REALM E DIVERSITY F LEGIBILITY (DETR and CABE, 2000)

Fig. 03 Highly Valued, Hard to Value, Trowers & Hamlins(2016)

Fig. 04

By Design, DETR and CABE (2000)

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The presences of great numbers of people gathered together in cities should not only be frankly accepted as a physical fact... they should also be enjoyed as an asset and their presence celebrated.

(Jacobs,2004)

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rban cities are constructed by two different types of spaces, private and public.

Public spaces have evolved in time based on the demand of the community. In most historically renowned cities, those spaces usually are public squares and markets.

Nowadays, the function of public spaces has expanded beyond, to other morphological layers like streets, parks, community centers and residential communal spaces.

Universally, public spaces are intended to serve as gathering points for the populace to socialise, but also host routine activities like walking to work or school and leisure activities like reading, etc. To meet this demand, urban designers have the responsibility to provide distinctive public spaces for people to interplay these events in their daily lives.

In order to investigate the design methodology of how public space encourages cultural development in the West End Oxford masterplan, the following section will introduce theoritical ideas behind the six urban design qualities outlined in By Design (DETR and CABE, 2000) and a series of case studies of public spaces around the world that have implemented these principle successfully.

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II. EXPLANATION OF THEORETICAL IDEAS AND PRINCIPLES

II.A SUSTAINABILITY

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Cities must urge urban planners and architects to reinforce pedestrianism as an integrated city policy to develop lively, safe, sustainable and healthy cities. It is equally urgent to strengthen the social function of city space as a meeting place that contributes toward the aims of social sustainability and an open and democratic society.

(Gehl,2010)

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Jan Gehl, a Danish architect and urban design consultant who concentrate on creating outstanding public space by suggesting a sustainable approach for people and cyclist as his urban design principal.

In Cities for People (Fig. xx), Jan Gehl suggests that “walking is the beginning, the starting point” (Gehl, 2010) for designing a successful public space. By then he developed that a sustainable public space should elaborate four principles: 1. LIVELY Public place aims to provide social and cultural opportunies for community to wonder around and enjoy their life in the city.

Fig. 05 Cities for People, Jan Gehl (2010)

2. SAFETY The sense of security generates by the flow of people, the more active public place, the more safeness.

3. SUSTAINABLE Introduce “green mobility” that city should encourage community to the use of walking, cycling and public transport, in order to increase economic and environmental activities and reduce environmental pollution and resources consumption 4. HEALTHY Gehl suggests the public to maintain a healthy life style with more walking and cycling in the city. Also, the sustainable approach is capable to reduce the use of vehicles and thus to improve the air quality in the urban area.

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#CASE STUDY

NEW ROAD, BRIGHTON, UK New Road, Brighton is one of the Jan Gehl’s award-winning project in the UK. Before the regeneration, New Road has been a wide vehicular street and narrow pedestrian road along with social and cultural facilities including the Jubilee Library and Brighton Dome, a historic theater.

The issue for the site is the lack of space to encourage social activities and became a “run-down back alley” in the heart of Brighton. The council suggests to turn the city of Brighton and Hove to be sustainable, Gehl Architects suggested to pedestrianized the road by repaving it with tactiles that provide a platform for various soical and cultural activities like music, dancing and weekend markets and the addition of benches along the road which transform the street into a meeting place.

Sustainable public space increase flow of people around the city that provide a safe and lively environment that encourage artist, musicians and market to take place.

Fig. 06 New Road, Brighton [Before]

Fig. 07 New Road, Brighton [After]

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II. EXPLANATION OF THEORETICAL IDEAS AND PRINCIPLES

II.B CHARACTER … you begin to realize that the important determinant of any culture isnafter all the spirit of place (Lawrence Durrell, 1969)

Character is what makes a city unique. Urban designers are urge to retain the characteristic during the design process for the masterplan.

In Responsive Environments (Bently, Alcock, Murrain, McGlynn, Smith, 1985), it states that character of a public space is affected by three main factors, tenure, building type and technology.

Fig. 08 The Dimensions of Public Space Character (The Bartlett School of Planning2004)

Tenure is about what to be preserve in the design. By studying and researching the social dynamics like what is the image of the city, and hence what is worth to conserve in the development. This is not only about architecture, but also the history, culture and especially the people. Moreover, once an urbanists is capable to answer questions like what are the main circulations, focal points, activities take place and the history behind, then the masterplan they proposed is to generate a unique characteristic for the community.

Building use is how designers physically elaborate their project visions. Thence, urban designer is resposible to set a direction for the client about the land usage in particular area to make places unique.

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#CASE STUDY

PIAZZA DEL CAMPO, SIENA, ITALY In terms of delievering character to a public place, the Piazza Del Campo in Siena is one of the best examples. The historic centre of Siena has been recognised as the embodiment of a medieval city by the UNESCO (1995).

In the Piazza Del Campo, the richness of the public space is generate from its surrounding. The strong architectural sytle, various heights and diversity of building use with uniform material create an unique pattern and character of Siena.

Also, the large open space allows numerous cultural events to formulate the character of Siena. In company with the landmark and landscape that highlighted in the city, it creates the significant personalisation for a historic city in Italy.

A public space with strong characteristic would encourage more people to gather at the meeting place and hence to be a good quality public place for cultural events to proceed.

Fig. 09 Piazza Del Campo Aerial View

Fig. 10 Piazza Del Campo public square and landmark

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The permeability of any system of public space depends on the number of alternative routes it offers from one point to another, we call such quality a physical permeability. We have shown that smaller blocks, give more physical permeability .But Those alternatives must be visible, otherwise only people who know the area can take advantage of them, therefore, we are looking for a visual permeability.

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II. EXPLANATION OF THEORETICAL IDEAS AND PRINCIPLES

II.C EASE OF MOVEMENT / PERMEABILITY

(Bently, Alcock, Murrain, McGlynn, Smith, 1985)

The importance of movement determines whether thats a good city to live within and hence the more of permeability, the easier for people to walk with.

In Responsive Environments (Bently, Alcock, Murrain, McGlynn, Smith, 1985), it illustrates that in order to achieve permeability, urban designer should perform the following during their design process:

Fig. 11 Responsive Environments, Bently, Alcock, Murrain, McGlynn, Smith, (1985)

1. ANALYSE THE STREETS AND BLOCKS OF THE SURROUNDING AREA This is to understand how to establish new access points for the proposal based on the surrounding street network.

2. LOCATE NEW ROUTES THROUGH THE SITE This is to verify that people are able to access throughout the site with the provision of multiple routes, both visually and physically.

3. ANALYSE TRAFFIC ROLES OF ALL THE PROPOSED NEW STREETS This is to allow urbanists to know how the traffic be organised and the accessibility for the drivers, especially the width and junctions of the roads.

4. CHECK THAT THE BLOCKS DEFINED BY THE NEW STREETS ARE OF PRACTICABLE SIZES The is to confirmed that the proposed blocks or open space is comfortable to walk with and allow enough space for ciruculation i.e. 80m-100m

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#CASE STUDY

CONVENT GARDEN, LONDON, UK

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Markets were conspicuously an area of public welfare best entrusted to municipal enterprise, as most of those in provincial cities were.

(Thorne,1980)

In central London, Covent Garden is one of the most compelling district that well connected to the surrounding well-know areas, including the River Thames, Southbank, Leichester Square. Its location provides a strong permeability due to the significant landmarks in the surrounding and also alternative routes.

The central square area is identified with the market space formerlly in the 1700s, and now a popular shopping and tourist site which provides high quality of food and drink.

Together with the Royal Opera House in the north-east and the St Paul’s Church to the south-western boundary.

Fig. 12 Diagram of landmark and alternative routes

As time goes on, Covent Garden has become a hub of various cultural activites including food and drink, all sorts of performing arts and painters which also elaborate the funtionality of a public space.

Ease of movement is important for a public space which allows cultural events happened, the more permeability, the more opportunity for community to access, gather and enjoy the space.

Fig. 13 Performance at the square outside Covent Garden

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A comfortable and stimulating public realm that encourages social interaction requires detailed attention to the structure of a space and

(Lllewyn-Davies Planning 2000) the elements it contains.

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II. EXPLANATION OF THEORETICAL IDEAS AND PRINCIPLES

II.D PUBLIC REALM The quality of “Public Realm” in a public space imply that it euquips with the sense of comfort to the public. It is necessary for urban designers to think about certain elements, including various approach for different social spaces, distinctive places, street furniture, signage and lighting. Once the sense of public realm achived in the public space, it will become a safe and lively place for community and tourists. In accordance to Urban Design Compendium (Lllewyn-Davies Planning, 2000), there are few theories for each elements listed above:1. SOCIAL SPACE This introduce the provision of nodes, focal points with multiple uses, simple routes and versatile spaces for different gender and age group to enjoy the same space with different senses.

Fig. 14 Urban Design Compendium, Lllewyn-Davies Planning (2000)

2. DISTINCTIVE SPACE This involves strengthening local identity by using local material, restainig historic elements into the street, imprints on pavement, plant locally, etc. Hence, to create quality space with public art by local artists on the streets.

3. STREET FURNITURE Public space requires a large amount of street furniture to provide a sense of meeting space for the public. Good quality street furniture can highlight the functions of a space but also treat as an artefact for the public.

4. SIGNAGE Simple and co-ordinated signage create legibility which makes a good public space to access by the public which enhance the flow of people.

5. LIGHTING Illumination for a public space brings the sense of safety and encourage night-time activities which creates more cultural events take place, for example, concerts and outdoor cinema.

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#CASE STUDY

HIGH LINE, NEW YORK, USA With the use of the abondoned railway track in New York, a compelling urban design approach appeared as the High Line by James Corner Field Operations and Diller Scofidio + Renfro.

The significant use of vegetation, tactile and timber pavement and bespoke seating furniture that encourage different events, like reading and sunbathing, the High Line provides a new social but distinctive public space for New York. Nevertheless, due to the original use of the railway track, it provides a strong permeability and legibility throughout the city which marks the success of this project.

Public realm refers to a public space that is publicly owned, accessible, fuctional and well maintained. Once the design achieves the quality of public realm, there are more flow of people which encourage opportunities for various kind of cultural activities

Fig. 15 View on the High Line, New York

Fig. 16 Street performers on the High Line, New York

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There are many means of creating a ‘stage set’, for a lively and interesting environment. The most successful way of ensuring that an urban park or square is well used to introduce an activity source alongside or in the interior of the space, such as a café or food stall. Remember that people attract people.

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II. EXPLANATION OF THEORETICAL IDEAS AND PRINCIPLES

II.E DIVERSITY (Lllewyn-Davies Planning, 2000)

Sucessful public place supports and facilitates different activities, for this reason, the design of it should manage to inform people how does it works. Public Place (Carr, Francis, Rivlin and Stone, 1993) and Public Space, Urban Space (Carmona, Heath, Oc, Tiesdell, 2003) suggests that there are five primary need that people seek in public space:

Fig. 17 Public Place Carr, Francis, Rivlin and Stone (1993)

1. COMFORT The sense of comfort mainly determine by three factors, environmental factors, physical and psychological comfort. Environmental factors including sun, wind, trees, etc. and the physical design of space with proper management stategies in order to create the sense of safety and comfort.

2. RELAXATION Relaxation is one of the psychological comfort, it developes with the ‘body and mind at ease’ and natural elements like trees, greenery, water features and the disengagement of traffics to avoid the contrast with the surrounding.

3. PASSIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE ENVIRONMENT People are attacted by others life and activity that happened in the space. Seatings are suggested to locate with the flow of people and advocate indirect observations of events occured in the public space, like street performers and water fountains.

Fig. 18 Public Places, Urban Space Carmona, Heath, Oc, Tiesdell (2003)

4. ACTIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE ENVIRONMENT Diverstiy of activities in the public space encourage active engagement for the community.

Urban designers are suggested to arrange for cultural activites like public art, sculptures, coffee kiosks, etc to encourage social interation.

5. DISCOVERY Discovery is a form of unpredicted movement. Public space with diversity, (e.g. art exhibition, festivals, parades, markets, etc.), provides a ‘break’ to the community’s routine.

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#CASE STUDY

PARC DE LA VILLETTE, PARIS, FRANCE

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During the 20th centry we have witnessed a shift in the concept of the park, which can no longer be separated from the concept of the city. The park forms part of the vision of the city.

(Tschumi,1987)

Parc De La Villette contains large number of cultural venues in Paris, including the largest science museum in Europe, the City of Science and Industry, three concert halls and the Paris Conservatory, a college of music and dance founded in 1795.

In order to enhance the functionality of the park as a public space, the large vegetated open space is suggested to use for large gatherings, circulation in the 19 th arrondissement.

Nevertheless, Tschumi introduces a series of follies that provide meeting points for public in the park. Each follies has its own functions, for example, the information center, and restaurants, which is an example of how architects provide diversity to a public space.

Public space involves multiple functions enhance the diversity of the community and also encourage the sense of active and passive engagement to the surrounding.

Fig. 19 Outdoor Theatre in Parc de la Villette

Fig. 20 Restaurant Folie in Parc de la Villette

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Part of the pleasures and difficulties we experience witht the built environment can be explained by our ease or difficulty in mentally grouping different elements from the visual field into synoptic units.

(Von Meiss, 1990)

Legibility is the quality that makes a place graspable according to the Responsive Environments (Bently, Alcock, Murrain, McGlynn, Smith, 1985).

Legibility is important in two levels, the physical form and activity patterns.

In terms of physical form of a place, the atheistic preferences of architecture incorporate with the kinaesthetic experience that has been illustrate by The Concis Townscape by Gorden Cullen as serial vision.

Fig. 21 The Concise Townscape Gorden Cullen (1961)

Fig. 22 Gordent Cullen’s serial vision Gorden Cullen (1961)

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II. EXPLANATION OF THEORETICAL IDEAS AND PRINCIPLES

II.F LEGIBILITY

This sort of experience have been elaborated in most of the traditional city as they plan the city according to the level of importance, the bigger the open space, the more active public activites take place. With the significant nodes and focal points that bring connections, for example, landmark creates critical visions, like church, city hall, etc, it leads public relevance to how the city has been laid out and hence where to go when they first arrive.

#CASE STUDY

CITY OF OXFORD, UK

Fig. 23 Aerial View of the city of Oxford

The city of Oxford has been recognised as one of the most historic cities in the UK. The strong language of legibility derived from a series of significant buildings turns out to be high quality of of spaces in regards to the Townscape idea

by Gorden Cullen.

With the high legibility, people are capble to understand how the city laid out, recognize the series of visions that given the remarkable identity of the city and hence to adopt it into their daily lives.

Legibility significantly affect the activities happened in a city. The more legible, the more active a city would be, thus, more social and cultural use of spaces are encouraged to occur.

Fig. 24 Oxford townscape analysis by Group D in Practice 1

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III. ESTABLISHMENT OF THEORIES IN STUDIO DESIGN PROJECT 20

III. ESTABLISHMENT OF THEORIES IN STUDIO DESIGN PROJECT The site of the Studio 1 proposal is located in West End Oxford in an area that is significantly connected with the Oxford railway station, Frideswide Square and the new Westgate development. Taking into account the lack of public space in Oxford, the masterplan suggests to provide a number of open spaces for the community. In relation to the vision which aims to create a cultural hub that emphasises the strong cultural background of Oxford, the scheme incorporates a new museum, a sculpture park and the rejuvenation of Oxpens Road as a public space.

In the following section, the essay will examine the issue of the existing public space in Oxford and how the Studio 1 masterplan has been informed by the qualities ivestigated in the previous section.

Fig. 25 Urban Design Studio 1 Masterplan

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III. ESTABLISHMENT OF THEORIES IN STUDIO DESIGN PROJECT 22

III.A PUBLIC SPACE IN OXFORD Most of the public spaces in Oxford are squares, enclosed within the historic buildings and markets. Both of the spaces contain social and economic activities but are deficient in cultural events (e.g. performing arts) due to the limititions of their size and their private ownership.

As illustrated by the case studies of the Radcliffe Camera and High Street, the city of Oxford does not provide a sufficient platform for artistic development. In the proposed West End Oxford masterplan, specific spaces are provided to encourage this type of events in order to activate Oxford’s cultural background, established throughout history, and thus to expand the city to the west.

#CASE STUDY

CASE STUDY 7: RADCLIFFE CAMERA Radcliffe Camera is one of the symbolic attraction in Oxford.

In company with the astonishing architecture, the square around it is in a form of circle which has limited the flow of people in a certain way. Due to the space needed for circulation, public does not have a space that can gather there as a meeting point. Hence, this is not a successful space for artists like musicians and painters to broadcast their work.

Fig. 26 Radcliffe Camera, Oxford

#CASE STUDY

CASE STUDY 8: HIGH STREET The corner of the High Street and Cornmarket Street in Oxford act as a meeting point for most social activities with multiple functions of buildings around. With a limit of seatings and high density of traffic, it creates a non-pleasant place to stay for a meeting or simply take a break. Therefore, the quality of this public space is not successful in the way of accompanying more social activities that generate from cultural events like market and performance.

Fig. 27 High Street, Oxford

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III. ESTABLISHMENT OF THEORIES IN STUDIO DESIGN PROJECT

III.B STUDIO 1 PROPOSED CULTURAL-PUBLIC SPACE

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1. Museum in Worchester Green Car Park 2. Sculpture Park along the Oxpens Road 3. Reactivate Oxpens Road Fig. 28 Urban Design Studio 1 Group D Masterplan (Not to scale)

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III. ESTABLISHMENT OF THEORIES IN STUDIO DESIGN PROJECT

III.B.1 MUSEUM IN WORCHESTER GREEN CAR PARK 1

The proposed museum is one of the key design actions to develop the vision in order to create a cultural hub. With its well-connected location with the railway station and the city of Oxford, the museum acts as a linkage in the masterplan. The proposed Museum not only include a new museum building that house worldwide art exhibition but also a new canal basin and large open space collaborate with the existing beer garden. These proposals ideally to create a new meeting point for people in Oxford.

SUSTAINABILITY CHARACTER EASE OF MOVEMENT

PUBLIC REALM DIVERSITY LEGIBILITY

1. NEW NUSEUM WORCHESTER GREEN CAR PARK

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Fig. 29 View of the proposed Museum Quarter

NEW MUSEUM

CIRCULATION PAVEMENT

TIMBER DECKING

MOBILE BOOTHS WATER BASIN NEW BRIDGE OUTDOOR SEATING

Fig. 30 Detailed plan of the proposed museum in the Worchester Green Card Park

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III. ESTABLISHMENT OF THEORIES IN STUDIO DESIGN PROJECT

III.B.1 MUSEUM IN WORCHESTER GREEN CAR PARK PUBLIC REALM

Fig.31 Lรถyly, Helsinki, Finland TImber deck in between the water and the museum be able to accomodate different social and cultural activites.

DIVERSITY

Fig.33;34 Chasing Kitsune, Australia (L); Jewish Culture Festival Pavilions, Poland (R) Food truck is one of the examples to provide diversity to the museum square but also offers flexiblility to the space. Cultural events is encouraged by providing variety of booth/kiosk, like cafe and library.

CHARACTER

Fig.32 Up Late, High Line, New York Daners, musicians and visual artist illuminate the High Line with participatory performances, installations given the sense of public realm.

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Fig.35 Roombeek the Brook, Netherlands Water feature is proposed in the masterplan accompany with the new museum to emphasise the significant river features in the city of Oxford.

PRECEDENTS AND DIAGRAMS OF DESIGN APPROACHES EASE OF MOVEMENT

LEGIBILITY

Fig.36; 37 Train Station Hoardings, Netherlands (L) ; Reiss Engelhorn Museum, Germany (R) Simple signage to give the signals for the public the ease of movement within the city and also the sense of safety by avoiding uncertainty.

SUSTAINABILITY

Fig.38 ‘ Invisible Border’, Milan, Italy Suspended shading from the museum provide appropiate shading to encourage sustainable lifestyle in public space.

Fig.39; 40 Musum of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK (above) ; Masterplan Legibility Diagram (bottom) The proposed museum itself act as a landmark by its comtemporary style and it is avaliable to multiple point of views which provide strong sense of legibility.

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III. ESTABLISHMENT OF THEORIES IN STUDIO DESIGN PROJECT

III.B.2 SCULPTURE PARK ALONG THE OXPENS ROAD The proposed sculpture park located alongside the Oxpens Road, surround by the new college building and residential blocks. The park is proposed to accommodate different artwork by local artists in order to encourage the cultural and leisure activities. Also, the open space proposed to be flexible which allows all sort of temporary events to take place, like markets, outdoor cinema and art exhibition. With the new Westgate development, the unique location of the sculpture park could act a buffer zone along the Oxpens Road.

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SUSTAINABILITY CHARACTER EASE OF MOVEMENT

PUBLIC REALM DIVERSITY LEGIBILITY

2. SCULPTURE PARK ALONG THE OXPENS ROAD

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Fig. 41 View of the proposed Sculpture Park along Oxpens Road

SCULPTURES

MAIN CIRCULTION

OUTDOOR SEATING

Fig.42 Detailed plan of the proposed sculpture park alone the Oxpens Road

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III. ESTABLISHMENT OF THEORIES IN STUDIO DESIGN PROJECT 32

III.B.2 SCULPTURE PARK ALONG THE OXPENS ROAD PUBLIC REALM

DIVERSITY

Fig.43 Red Ribbon Park, China The use of art piece as to provide public seating as a way to consolidate soical and culture events in the sculpture park.The more sitting place, the more flow of people in order to create a sense of ‘hub’ in West Oxford.

Fig.45 Botanical Gardens, Australia Outdoor cinema is one of the activities suggested to hold in the sculpture park. Also, the square corperate with the college encourages educationrelated activities held by the college to take place in the open space and hence to interact with the city.

Fig.44 Warde, Israel Art installtion with the idea of bringing lighting and sinifying the sculpture create sense of active and passive engagments to the sculpture park

Fig.46 Mobile market stalls, Czech Republic Mobile market stalls are introduced to the park as a media for people to engage with the food and drink culture in Oxford.

PRECEDENTS AND DIAGRAMS OF DESIGN APPROACHES EASE OF MOVEMENT

Fig.47;48 Symantec Chengdu Campus, China (L); Masterplan Circulation Diagram(R) The use of differnciated materials to identify the different spaces and providing direct and alternative routes to enhance the permeability SUSTAINABILITY

Fig.49 Berlin’s Water Enhanced Tempelhof Rain harvesting system is proposed in the park in order to reuse the water for infiltration for to vegetation.

LEGIBILITY

Fig.50;51 Treedom, Budapest, Hungary (L); Marina Bay, Singapore (R) Sculptures and installations in the proposed park will become iconic features in the city to provide landmarks and incident scences.

CHARACTER

Fig.52 St. Johns and Central, Portland The use of distinctive design on pavement and street furniture by local artists to create a unique public space in Oxford.

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III. ESTABLISHMENT OF THEORIES IN STUDIO DESIGN PROJECT

III.B.3 REACTIVATE OXPENS ROAD Oxpens Road has a prominent location to Oxford, but it has not been treated properly. In our West Oxford masterplan, we proposed to regenerate the Oxpens Road by widening it. After that, it will be able to accomodate cycle path on both directions and also the pedestrian street to activate the frontage. This design action aims to reactivate Oxpens Road to by providing opportunities for communities. By collaborating with the proposed artist gallery, the wide pavement also invites local artists to perform and publish their artwork there.

SUSTAINABILITY CHARACTER EASE OF MOVEMENT

PUBLIC REALM DIVERSITY LEGIBILITY

3. REACTIVATE OXPENS ROAD

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Fig. 53 View of the proposed Oxpens Road

Fig. 54 View of the proposed Oxpens Road

Fig. 55 View of the proposed Oxpens Road

Fig. 56 Proposed Street Network Site boundary Existing main route Proposed connections across site

Existing bus route Proposed bus route Proposed bus stop

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III. ESTABLISHMENT OF THEORIES IN STUDIO DESIGN PROJECT

III.B.3 REACTIVATE OXPENS ROAD SUSTAINABILITY

LEGIBILITY

15 min Train Station

10 min 5 min 5 min

Fig.57 NATCO Urban Street Design Guide Oxpens Road is re-designed into a pedestrian and cyclists dominent street in order to achieve a lively, sustainable and healthy street.

10 min P

15 min

On-site cycle network Off-site cycle network Cycle parking

Fig.58 Highway Lighting System, India The proposal suggest to apply piezoelectic system applied on the Oxpens Road, this will then generate electricity for the surrounding public assets (e.g. lampost) when people and vehicles move along the street.

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Westgate Shopping Centre

P

P

Nodes Car parking

Fig.59 Masterplan Movement Pattern The proposed nodes and circulation has been illustrated in the diagrams. By introducing a number of focal points along the site, it generates a series of views that create a connection from the railway station and the Westgate developement. The new Oxpens will no longer be a pass by street but also part of the city centre. This is how cultural activites are encouraged to take place.

PRECEDENTS AND DIAGRAMS OF DESIGN APPROACHES EASE OF MOVEMENT

DIVERSITY

90m

100m 80m 85m

Fig.60Masterplan Block Size Daigram The blocks size of the masterplan along the Oxpens Road is suggested to be in the range of 80m - 100m to achieve the comfort for walking experience.

PUBLIC REALM

Fig.61;62 Shopping Centre, Australia (L); Allen and Pike Streets, New York (R) Use of colors and tactile to enhance the functions of pavement for different users i.e. pedestrian, vehicles and cyclists.

Residential Retail Leisure Hotel Commercial

Fig.63 Masterplan Land Use Diagram the new Oxpens Road brings variety of active frontages and hence be able to invite more disparate footfall to the site.

CHARACTER

Fig.64;65 Baltimore, USA (L); High Street, Oxford (R)

Inviting local artists to create art work on the streetscapes and retain the architecture language of Oxford along the regenerated Oxpens Road.

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IV. CONCLUSION Oxford is one of the most significant cities in the UK due to its prominent location that connects it to big cities such as London and Birmingham and strong historic background. In order to enhance its strong characteristics and to regulate the existing issues within it, the proposed masterplan suggests providing spaces for social and cultural activities.

IV. CONCLUSION

The design vision of the proposal is to create a cultural hub for the community. In terms of public space, a ‘hub’ for social and cultural activities suggests that it is an engaging public space which accomodates a certain amount of pedestrian flow that would, in its turn, encourage artists to promote themselves in it.

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Urban designers are obliged to understand how to create public spaces of high quality. In result of the analysis of the six key urban design qualities: sustainability, character, ease of movement, public realm, diversity and legibility, in Section II, the proposed masterplan implements them through various approaches of perceptual, visual, functional and social dimensions, the process of which has been detailed in Setion III. Urban designers are required to investigate the design on a variety of scales from the width of the pavement to the design of street furniture, etc. - in order to deliver better public realm. If fully realised, a successful public place makes the area more lively and unique, as well as provides a wide range of opportunities for anybody who engages with it.

Fig. 66 Visual impression of proposed museum in Worchester Green car park

Fig. 67 Visual impression of proposed Oxpens Road

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V. REFERENCES V.1 BIBLOGRAPHY Barton, H., Grant, M., Guise, R. (2010) Shaping Neighbourhoods: For Local Health and Global Sustainability. London: Routledge.

Bently. I, Alcock. A, Murrain. P, McGlynn. S, Smith. G (1985) Responsive Environments: a manual for designers, London: The Architectural Press Carmona, M. (2003). Public places, urban spaces. 1st ed. Oxford: Architectural Press.

Carr, S., Francis, M., Rivlin, L. and Stone, A. (1992). Public space. 1st ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Centre, U. (2016). Historic Centre of Siena. [online] Whc.unesco.org. Available at: http://whc.unesco. org/en/list/717 [Accessed 1 Dec. 2016].

V. REFERENCES

CITY OF MUSEUMS. Museum Clusters in the Contemporary City, by Mila Nikoli, architect. (2016).

PUBLIC SPACE. [online] Available at: https://museumcluster.wordpress.com/1-museum-cluster/4public-space/ [Accessed 1 Dec. 2016].

Cullen, G. (1971) The Concise Townscape. London: The Architectural Press.

Department for Transport (2007) Manual for Streets. London: Thomas Telford Pub. References DETR & CABE (2000). By Design Urban design in the planning system: towards better practice [online] Avaliable at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/ file/7665/158490.pdf [Accessed 1 Dec 2016] Durrell, L. and Ingersoll, E. (1998). Lawrence Durrell. Madison, N.J.: Fairleigh Dickinson University Press.

Fishman, R. (1977). Urban utopias in the twentieth century: Ebenezer Howard, Frank Lloyd Wright and Le Corbusier. 1st ed. New York: Basic Books.

Gallacher, P. (2009). Everyday spaces. London: Thomas Telford Ltd. Garmory, N. and Tennant, R. (2005). Spaced out. Oxford: Architectural Press.

Gehl, J. (2006). New city life. Copenhagen: Danish Architectural Press.

Gehl, J. (2010). Cities for people. 1st ed. Washington, DC: Island Press.

Gehl, J. (2011). Life between buildings. Washington, DC: Island Press.

Gehl, J. and Svarre, B. (n.d.). How to study public life. Washington, DC: Island Press.

Great Britain. Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, and Bartlett School of Architecture and Planning, (2004). Living places: caring for quality. 1st ed. London: RIBA. Gooding, M. (1998). Public--art--space. London: Merrell Holberton.

Homes and Communities Agency, Roger Evans Associates (2013). Urban Design Compendium. 2, Delivering Quality Places (2nd edition). London: Homes & Communities.

Jones, P., Boujenko, N., Marshall, S. (2007) Link & Place: A Guide to Street Planning and Design. London: Local Transport Today.

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V.1 BIBLOGRAPHY (CONT’) Kayden, J. (2000). Privately owned public space : the New York City experience. 1st ed. New York: John Wiley.

Lynch, K. (1960). The image of the city. 1st ed. Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press.

Gehl, J. (2010) Cities for People. Washington, DC: Island Press.

Lllewyn-Davies Planning, English Partnerships, Alan Baxter & Associates, Housing Corporation (2000).

Urban Design Compendium. London: English Partnerships.

Madanipour, A. (2010). Whose public space?. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge.

Meiss, P. (1990). Elements of architecture: From Form to Place. 1st ed. London: Van Nostrand Reinhold.

Miles, M. (1997). Art, space and the city. London: Routledge.

Miller, K. (2007). Designs on the public: the private lives of New York’s public spaces. 1st ed. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.

National Association of City Transportation Officials. (2016). Urban Street Design Guide - National Association of City Transportation Officials. [online] Available at: http://nacto.org/publication/urbanstreet-design-guide/ [Accessed 1 Dec. 2016].

Oxford City Council (2008a) West End Area Action Plan Volume 1 - Main Document. Oxford: Oxford City Council. (Online) Available at: https://www.oxford.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/1435/west_end_ aap_volume_1_-_main_document.pdf (Accessed: 20 NOV 2016) Oxford City Council (2008b) West End Area Action Plan Volume 2 - Appendices. Oxford: Oxford City Council. (Online) Available at: https://www.oxford.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/1434/west_end_ aap_volume_2_-_appendices.pdf (Accessed: 20 NOV 2016) Oxford City Council (2013) Oxpens Oxford West End Master Plan SPD. Oxford: Oxford City Council.

(Online) Available at: https://www.oxford.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/592/oxpens_masterplan_spd. pdf (Accessed: 20 NOV 2016) Trowers & Hamlins LLP (2016) Highly Valued, Hard to Value, Towards an integrated measurement of real estate development - Full Report- [online] Avaliable at: http://www.trowers.com/uploads/Files/Highly_ Valued_Full_Report_Final.pdf (Accessed: 30 NOV 2016) Project for Public Spaces. (2016). [online] Available at: http://www.pps.org/ [Accessed 30 Nov. 2016].

Rendell, J. (2006). Art and architecture. London: I.B. Tauris Thorne, R. (1980). Covent Garden market. 1st ed. London: Architectural Press.

Tschumi, B. (1987). Cinégramme folie: Parc de la Villette. 1st ed. [Sevenoaks]: Butterworth Architecture.

Whybrow, N. (2011). Art and the city. London: I.B. Tauris.

Whyte, W. (1980). The social life of small urban spaces. 1st ed. Washington, D.C.: Conservation Foundation.

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V. BIBLIOGRAPHY V.2 ILLUSTRATION

Cover Fig.01 Fig.02

Fig.03 Fig.04

V. REFERENCES

Fig.05 Fig. 06 -07 Fig.08

Fig. 09 - 10 Fig.11 Fig.12 Fig.13

Fig.14 Fig.15 Fig.16 Fig.17 Fig.18 Fig.19 Fig.20

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Original Illustration Snohetta (n.d), Available at: https://eliinbar.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/11-528x396.jpg (Accessed: 01 DEC 2016) Ryan Haught (1979), Available at: http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7O-yE9uIHVs/U-zAuE2oanI/AAAAAAAA 3U0/ mS2lucU0gug/s1600/Robin%2BWilliams%2Bstreet%2Bperforming %2Bin%2B1979.jpg (Accessed: 01 DEC 2016) Trowers & Hamlins LLP. (2016), Available at: http://www.trowers.com/uploads/Files/Highly_Valued_Full_Report_ Final.pdf (Accessed: 01 DEC 2016) DETR & CABE (2000). Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/ file/7665/158490.pdf (Accessed:01 Dec 2016) Gehl, J. (2010). Available at: https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41VoiCgy%2BvL._SX375_ BO1,204,203,200_.jpg (Accessed: 01 DEC 2016) Brighton & Hove City Council (n.d) Avaliable at: http://www.healthycities.org.uk/uploads/files/010_designing_ street_for_different_users___brighton_and_hove.pdf (Accessed 01 DEC 2016) Great Britain. Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, and Bartlett School of Architecture and Planning, (2004) Available at: http://www.futurecommunities.net/files/images/ving_Places_Caring_for_Quality_Report__ODPM_.pdf (Accessed: 01 DEC 2016) Urban Forms (n.d.) Avaliable at: http://urbanforms.eu/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/piazza-del-campo.img1_2000x1500.jpg(Accessed: 01 DEC 2016) Bently. I, Alcock. A, Murrain. P, McGlynn. S, Smith. G (1985) Avaliable at: https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon. com/images/I/519HSjikm7L._AC_UL160_SR160,160_.jpg (Accessed: 01 DEC 2016) The English Miscellany (2014) Avaliable at: https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lhhGEtNQgMs/U-eBbABx8SI/ AAAAAAAABag/3psxZOIpp5w/s1600/covent+garden+map.jpg (Accessed: 01 DEC 2016) iStock.com/Anatoleya (2013) Avaliable at: https://www.urlaubsguru.de/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/streetperformer-in-covent-garden-istock_76306501_xlarge-editorial-only-anatoleya-2-707x468.jpg (Accessed: 01 DEC 2016) Lllewyn-Davies Planning, English Partnerships, Alan Baxter & Associates, Housing Corporation (2000). Avaliable at http://www.rudi.net/system/files/images/endudc.preview.jpg (Accessed: 01 DEC 2016) Time Out (2016) Avaliable at: https://media.timeout.com/images/100453281/image.jpg (Accessed: 01 DEC 2016) Themostalive.com (2013) Avaliable at http://themostalive.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/NYCbusker-21024x680.jpg (Accessed: 01 DEC 2016) Carr, S., Francis, M., Rivlin, L. and Stone, A. (1992), Avaliable at: https://pictures.abebooks.com/ isbn/9780521359603-us-300.jpg (Accessed: 01 DEC 2016) Carmona, M. (2003). Avaliable at: http://stari.gradst.hr/library/books/books2007/public-places-urban-spaces. jpg (Accessed: 01 DEC 2016) France-hotel-guide.com (n.d.) http://www.france-hotel-guide.com/fr/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/cine-etegrand-300x300.jpg (Accessed: 01 DEC 2016) Bernard Tsuchmi Architects (1998) Avaliable at: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/1a/de/ db/1adedb1585dd96fdaec8480ad364e0dd.jpg (Accessed: 01 DEC 2016)

V.2 ILLUSTRATION (CONT’)

Fig.21 Fig.22 Fig.23

Fig.24 Fig.25 Fig.26 Fig.27 Fig.28 Fig.29 Fig.30 Fig.31 Fig.32 Fig.33 Fig.34 Fig.35

Fig.36 Fig.37 Fig.38 Fig.39 Fig.40 Fig.41 Fig.42 Fig.43 Fig.44

Cullen, G. (1971) The Concise Townscape. London: The Architectural Press. Cover Cullen, G. (1971) The Concise Townscape. London: The Architectural Press. pp.17 illus.

University of Oxford (n.d) Strategic plan 2013-18 Avaliable at: http://a339062bb12acaf0447f-fe54b552272646 221985f1a127513c68.r76.cf2.rackcdn.com/9615955A-F332-47D0-BC9C-205F323FF43E.jpg (Accessed: 01 DEC 2016) Illustration originally prepared as part of the submission for module P32074 Illustration originally prepared as part of the submission for module P32072 Flickr.com/chrisgj6 (2013) Avaliable at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisgj6/11647839133/ (Accessed: 01 DEC 2016) Blogspot/roys-roy (2014) Avaliable at: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VX9S4d34hcE/U-ts-9Tf0hI/AAAAAAABW-A/ fNiPVo54ZSM/s1600/Oxford041.jpg (Accessed: 01 DEC 2016) Original Diagram; Data originally presented in submission for module P32072 Illustration originally prepared as part of the submission for module P32072 Original Diagram; Data originally presented in submission for module P32072 Kuvio Architectural Photography (2016) Avaliable at: http://img.archilovers.com/projects/77d814f2-f88742a8-8e7d-3b55ccb7db8d.jpg (Accessed: 01 DEC 2016) Carlos David (2016) Avaliable at: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cn6yPH6XYAA0Cx4.jpg:large (Accessed: 01 DEC 2016) Bonnie Savage (2011) Avaliable at: http://www.australiandesignreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/ HASSELL-Chasing-Kitsune.jpg (Accessed: 01 DEC 2016) Haim Yafim Barbalat (2015) Avaliable at: http://images.adsttc.com/media/images/55af/5088/e58e/ ceb3/3000/011c/slideshow/F3_BC_KWARTALFKZ.jpg?1437552769 (Accessed: 01 DEC 2016) Buro Sant en Co (2016) Avaliable at: http://images.adsttc.com/media/images/572f/fe1f/e58e/ ce4d/8300/011a/slideshow/1497592_440163552752523_1632622385_n.jpg?1462763035 (Accessed: 01 DEC 2016) Opera (2011). Avaliable at: http://graphicambient.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/train-station-01.jpg (Accessed: 01 DEC 2016) Patrick Bayer (2014) Avaliable at: https://mir-s3-cdn-cf.behance.net/project_modules/ max_1200/9d3cc620778585.562f0f6959696.jpg (Accessed: 01 DEC 2016) Moreno Maggi (2016) Avaliable at: http://images.adsttc.com.qtlcn.com/media/images/570d/48ae/e58e/ce87/ b300/0017/slideshow/unnamed_(5).jpg?1460488359 (Accessed: 01 DEC 2016) 3xn architects (2011). Avaliable at: http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/1/38266/1745546/mol_1.jpg (Accessed: 01 DEC 2016) Original Diagram; Data originally presented in submission for module P32072 Illustration originally prepared as part of the submission for module P32072 Original Diagram; Data originally presented in submission for module P32072 Courtesy of Turenscape (2013) Red Ribbon Park Avaliable at: http://www.turenscape.com/upload/ project/201606/f0271645ea639018611adbb44a8f9de3.jpg (Accessed: 01 DEC 2016) dor kedmi (2015) Warde Avaliable at: http://www.designboom.com/architecture/hq-architects-warde-flowerinstallation-react-to-passersby-jerusalem-10-26-2015/ (Accessed: 01 DEC 2016)

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V. BIBLIOGRAPHY V.2 ILLUSTRATION (CONT’)

Fig.45 Fig.46 Fig.47 Fig.48 Fig.49 Fig.50

V. REFERENCES

Fig.51 Fig.52 Fig. 53-56 Fig.57

Fig.58 Fig.59 Fig.60 Fig.61

Fig.62 Fig.63 Fig.64 Fig.65 Fig. 66-.67

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Moonlight cinema (n.d) Avaliable at: http://singles.myfitness.partners/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/moonlightcinema.jpg (Accessed: 01 DEC 2016) Michal Šeba (2012) TRH Market Stalls Avaliable at: http://images.adsttc.com/media/images/55f1/87bf/99e9/ ba96/ea00/0039/slideshow/12_trh_foto.jpg?1441892245 (Accessed: 01 DEC 2016) Tom Fox (2015) Symantec Chengdu Campus Avaliable at: http://www.landezine.com/wp-content/ uploads/2015/06/Symantec-Chengdu-Tom-Fox-08-300x300.jpg (Accessed: 01 DEC 2016) Original Diagram; Data originally presented in submission for module P32072 Christina Fenton, Haiden Goggin, Jonathan Holland, and Anthony Traviglini(2013) W.E.T. Avaliable at: http://www. yankodesign.com/images/design_news/2013/10/07/wet_01.jpg (Accessed: 01 DEC 2016) Atelier YokYok (2015) The Treefom Avaliable at: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/54c65f13e4b0cd0029db fa31/55e77a48e4b0c3fb8fc1013f/55e77c44e4b03bba84ea7f77/1441234406508/09-TREEDOM-YokYok-2015-lt. jpg?format=1500w (Accessed: 01 DEC 2016) Edwin Cheong (2012) Avaliable at: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/4d/ b8/63/4db86364a91ec89348116fbb125e4ed3.jpg (Accessed: 01 DEC 2016) The City Repair Project (2015) Avaliable at: http://www.cityrepair.org/intersection-repair-examples/ (Accessed: 01 DEC 2016) Illustrations originally prepared as part of the submission for module P32072 NATCO Urban Street Design Guide (n.d.) Side Walks. Avaliable at: http://nacto.org/wp-content/themes/sink_ nacto/views/design-guides/retrofit/urban-street-design-guide/images/sidewalks/sidewalks-1.jpg (Accessed: 01 DEC 2016) Debaditya Chakraborty (2015) Avaliable at: https://www.elprocus.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/StreetLight-that-Glows-on-Detecting-Vehicle-Movement-14.jpg (Accessed: 01 DEC 2016) Illustration originally prepared as part of the submission for module P32072 Original Diagram; Data originally presented in submission for module P32072 BricknPave (n.d) Avaliable at: https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e402a1_9bc0d61b7eab4f9a86c7f92eeae50a94. jpg/v1/fill/w_1024,h_683,al_c,q_90/e402a1_9bc0d61b7eab4f9a86c7f92eeae50a94.webp (Accessed: 01 DEC 2016) National Association of City Transportation Officials (2009) Allen & Pike Streets, bikeway. Avaliable at: http:// nacto.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/allen_bikeway.jpg (Accessed: 01 DEC 2016) Original Diagram; Data originally presented in submission for module P32072 Alice Yoo (2013) Hopscotch Crosswalks Avaliable at: http://mymodernmet.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/archive/ ydgWN1TaqbUgDtii6vQD_1082136358.jpeg (Accessed: 01 DEC 2016) IES Abroad (2011) Oxford’s city centre Avaliable at http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7qvDIc0tVDo/TjwfM_TWB7I/ AAAAAAAADF0/ZqflTcu8Ws8/s400/Oxford_high%2Bstreet_nicole%2Bfriedman.jpg (Accessed: 01 DEC 2016) Illustrations originally prepared as part of the submission for module P32072

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