Courtyard Living

Urban Living

Social

The high density mixed use area helps to get the student housing, low income, offices in the area close by the boulevard that provide facilities for them. It create an opportunity to include the low and medium income inhabitants and also elderly people to an area which leads to adopting various residents in one place and prevent social excluding.

Ecological

The student housing and rent houses are created based on the ecological pillar as they are managed to have a direct access to the public nature and the green infrastructure. The view on the river is provided as well. These dense housing is connected to solar energy and thermal window to save 12% on whole house energy consumption (Laboratory, 2013). The foot print of the houses is the lowest which make it sustainable houses.

Complete

Outstandingly, Okotoks was missing the rent houses, affordable housing for the lower and medium income people and student houses. Which leads them to travel further than the downtown to find cheaper houses, which it end up to increasing the urban sprawl. Thus, by including them in Southridge Valley and provide them with the facilities needed, makes Southridge Valley added value to the town, and a places to look forward to live in for these target groups.

Urban and city feeling Affordable & mixed use High Density

Urban Living

These houses are 1190 high density houses which Okotoks lack of recently. These typologies are designed to fit the resident who has low income like students especially from D’arcy University and providing them by the needed facilities, night activities and healthy environment. The identity of these housing group that they have quality of nature, by having the park and quality of the boulevard where they are connected to wind walk neighbourhood. The reference of these houses is Sighthill in Glasgow by Architecture Collective (Sighthill Regeneration, 2015) as these new blocks respond to the scale of the existing flats and provide complete streets with clear definition of public and private space by having high dense houses.

Increasing density

Research evidence shows that mixed land use is a key factor influencing neighbourhood walkability, travel costs and fuel use. In low density neighbourhoods with a few local destinations, fewer people walk and more people drive. From a health perspective, even a slight increase in physical activity and the prevention of weight gain can lead to significant community benefits. Low density neighbourhoods result in activities being spread out resulting in car dependence and geographic inequity (including stratification of the population) as wealthier people move to locations that minimise their travel. (Healthy spaces and places, 2009)

Increase the proximity

The mixed use areas can is designed by locating the services and facilities within easy walking distance by having the boulevard close by public transport corridors or other public transport. Southridge Valley is providing a range of development types that allow for a mix of day and night time activities supported by dense residential activity that aids with natural surveillance and provides a ‘base load’ of activity. (Healthy spaces and places, 2009)

Active Plinth

Inside the high density neighbourhood there is also room for mixed use functions. This means that there is a lot of interaction between the private and public spaces. The plinth gets an active function by facilitating room for offices, workplaces, shop and meeting spaces. Plots with a residential function have a semi-raised living room, and in front they can have a small garden. These gardens can be just a couple of pavement stones wide, and create a completely different visual. When combined, the residential plots still have their privacy, without destroying the active plinth.

Figure 26: Southridge Valley’s high density

Street Design

Primary street design

This will be the access way into the high-density area. Parking will be situated mostly within the blocks some parking spots will be provides. The rest will be used for walking, green and street elements. It can also be used by cyclist as it is safe, and speeds are low.

Secondary street design

This secondary street has only on one side parking, therefore more space is used for walking area, green and street elements. The road is smaller in comparison to the primary road and everything is on the same level, resulting in a less designated place for cars and more area to play

Figure 27: Primary high density street design Figure 28: Secondary high density street design

Courtyard Living