9 SECURING QUALITY

“To design a richly textured, expressive, sensuous, mixed-use, legible, adaptable and resilient place of enduring quality that houses people of all kinds well.”

This section seeks to demonstrate how the Phoenix will achieve consistency and coherence across the different housing and community buildings, while creating elegant, diverse and expressive places designed by many hands. It will explain the processes through which the Lewes Sourcebook was created and the emblematic Golden Threads were selected, and how these feed into a legally-binding Design Code. The Code will control the look and feel of future architecture. This section also contains images from the first detailed design on the site, known as Parcel 1.

9.1 SECURING QUALITY

The Design Code is a key application document providing a clear design framework for the development of the Phoenix, setting out the principles and detailed requirements for the design of the new neighbourhood.

The Design Code embodies the vision for the Phoenix and translates the concepts and design principles of the masterplan into a set of codes and guidance which will ensure the consistently high quality of the new neighbourhood throughout its development. In this section we will show how these principles are manifested within the Design Code.

The project vision and design principles of the masterplan are set out in earlier sections of this Design & Access statement. The Design Code embodies these principles and moves of the masterplan to control both the quality of the new neighbourhood and how individual public spaces and buildings will be delivered. The following pages illustrate how the concepts and design principles of the masterplan are manifested in the requirments set out in the Design Code.

How the Design Code works

The overall physical limits of the proposed development are set by the parameter drawings, which control the massing and scale of the development. The accommodation schedule specifies the maximum floor space. Within these limits, the Design Code controls in greater detail the design for the buildings and the public realm on each each parcel; for example the Design Code controls the urban grain of each block in detail through plot differentiation.

The Design Code will be an approved document which, along with the parameter plans and accommodation schedules, will control the design of the new neighbourhood as each area comes forward for development. The Design Code will be the benchmark by which the Planning Authority will assess detailed proposals for each part of the site, which will be submitted in the form of Reserved Matters Applications (RMAs). The Design Code will be legally binding through the Section 106 Agreement.

9.2 THE LEWES SOURCEBOOK & THE PHOENIX GOLDEN THREADS

The features identified in the Lewes Sourcebook have been distilled into a series of themes- the Golden Threads- which are to be used to inform the detailed design of the Phoenix. The Golden Threads for the Phoenix address the riparian landscape, townscape and heritage, plots and subplots, streetscape, roofs, facades, entrances & frontages and the choice of materials.

These Golden Threads are codified and used throughout the Design Code to control the design process for the new neighbourhood, ensuring it builds upon and enhances the characteristics of the existing town.

The Lewes Sourcebook and Site Character Study form part of the evidence base for the Design Code and are shown in full in the Appendices of this Design & Access Statement.

2 GOLDEN THREADS

2.1 GOLDEN THREADS

A detailed study of features of Lewes that underpin the town’s distinct character is captured in the Lewes Sourcebook, this is included in the supporting material for this application. The evidence base contained in the Lewes Sourcebook has been distilled into a series of themes referred to as ‘Golden Threads’, these are set out in this chapter.

Application of the Golden Threads

Golden Threads are applied to the design of The Phoenix neighbourhood in two ways, via ‘thematic’ or ‘coded’ use:

Thematic Golden Threads, are objective and are used to inform the design by requiring reference to the emblematic features set out in this chapter

Coded Golden Threads, set out in the Public Realm chapter, have the alphanumeric prefix ‘PR1’ and are prescriptive in terms of their use

Coded Golden Threads, set out in the Site Wide

Development Parcels chapter, have the alphanumeric prefix ‘DP1’ and are prescriptive in terms of their use

Use of the thematic and coded Golden Threads will assist The Phoenix in integrating into the existing context through reference to important local characteristics.

Worked Example

‘Material

Lewes and is thematic. In Chapter 6 (Site Wide Development Parcels) , the code ‘DP4 Material Selection’, informed by the aforementioned theme, controls material choices.

SDNPA Design Guide SPD

C.13.2 Roofs form and pitch of the roofs the roofing coverings used should reflect the best prevailing in the area and should include well-detailed eaves and ridges..” contemporary examples.

Local Facades

Differentiation/Individual Character rchitects

Variation in style, materials and elevation treatment amongst building rows is typical of Lewes. Landmark buildings add to the town’s granularity.

Articulation example

Strong articulation of individual buildings typically occurs through small distinct steps between facade lines, varying plot widths, and changing scale/height.

Layering

The layering of facade materials is characteristic of Lewes. In many instances, medieval structures are overlain by Georgian (and later-period) facades.

Contrasting materials are used at the base of walls and in horizontal banding and string courses. Gables and side flanks typically express through varied materials to front and rear facades. Georgian and later period facades also commonly articulate corners materially.

SDNPA Design Guide SPD

C. 2.1 Enhancing Local Character

“The character of a place should be identified and described. New development needs to conserve and enhance this character.”

Architects

Fenestration

Varied and horizontal proportions used for windows and other openings are typical of medieval facades in Lewes.

Georgian and later-period facades adopt vertical proportions with distinct order and hierarchy. Openings tend to be bigger at lower levels, stacked vertically and recessed back from the facade line, typically by a brick-thick.

Mae Architects

Richards Architects

Accent windows, including bow, projecting, and oriel, are also characteristic of Lewes.

Mae Architects