Drumchapel | Urban Design Project 2 | Masterplanning

URBAN DESIGN PROJECT IN DRUMCHAPEL 02: REGULATORY FRAMEWORK

Prepared By: Zhenghao Gan Architecture Year5 Urban Design Studies Unit University of Strathclyde

Foreword This urban design project is the final year project of our postgraduate study in University of Strathclyde. The course is designed to equip us to analyse the urban fabric, space and measures. The chosen site is Drumchapel, located in the north - west of Glasgow city. The site is currently a problematic area in Glasgow and my target is to renew and improve the area according to current urban design theory.

Our design process is divided into three stages: analysing the existing city, creating a overall strategy and detailed masterplan. This booklet is created to explain my detailed masterplan proposal for the third stage, developed with the first two stages research. Please also check booklets for the details of current situation of Drumchapel and booklets for our early stages of development strategy.

This is the second booklet out of three. It will focus on mainly residential area, breaking down into coding of the street facade, street design and housing typologies.

Contents

1. Analysis and Strategy Current Drumchaple Analysis Design Elements Strategies Proposed Concept Plan

2. Regulatory Framework Foundation Masterplan Street Design

3. Special Design Development Blocks Design Development Open Space Design Development Green Space Design Development

4.Conclusion The Masterplan

REGULATORY FRAMEWORK FOUNDATION MASTERPLAN

The foundation masterplan the first outline of the final master plan. Starting at this stage, I begin to focus on all the details of a community.

From the final stage, I developed a conceptual plan on how to improve the area. Every strategy now applies to every street and plot. The foundation plan focuses on three areas: density distribution, street layout and street front.

Each block is decomposed into edges and plots, which determine the area defined, and special areas are pointed out.

To effectively compare and apply the existing example neighborhood and the newly designed area, I use Local Urban Code to define the characteristics of the region.

Local Urban Codes are series of numbers that define shapes, functions, and features. The typology of blocks and episodes. By applying similar code, I can recreate the feeling of the example neighborhood in the sample area.

In the first stage to define the design area, I defined the density according to the proposed nodes.

Within the 400m catchment area of the node, which is 5 minutes walking distance, will have the most density. This area will be quite busy and crowded, with a lot of commercial and social activities that attracts people to go. In this way more people can benefit from the shops and services. The plot and house size is also smaller to benefit small craft shops and residence with less ability to pay for high rent in the community centre.

Within the 800m catchment area, which is 10 minutes walking distance, will be the medium density area. In this area there will be mostly quite residential area, with little non-residential community services. Outside the 800m circle it will be low density houses.

This area will have bigger houses on large gardens for bigger families who would like more spaces a more rural environment.

M+

Medium+ Density 75-65

M

Medium Density 65-60

L

Low Density 52-48

M-

Medium- Density 60-57

L-

Low- Density 48-45

L+

Low+ Density 57-52

y

L L

L+ L+

L+

L+

L+ L+ M-

M+ M M

M

M

L+

L

M-

L+

L

L+

L+ L

L+

L

L L

L

L

L L-

L+

M M-

L-

y

y

M+

M M

M

M-

L+

M+ M+

M+

L

L

LL-

L-

L-

L-

L L-

L-

L

L

L-

L-

L-

In this section I will be explaining how we can improve the impression with suitable street facade. The facade type and hight varies according to the importance of the street. Small plots along the streets helps to develop various style since it could be owned by different organization. The unique impression of a neighbourhood is not complete by one planner or architect, it is a collaboration of many which makes city scape fascinating and attractive

Active Frontage Low Level of Privacy Moderate of Privacy High Level of Privacy Special Frontage

Active Street Front Code Number: 01.A My research area is on Great Western Road, an outer skirt in northwest Glasgow. As the center of the street, there is a mix of high-density residential and first floor on the main street. The groudfloor is a butcher, a cafĂŠ, a wine shop and a vocabulary store which offer needs of everyday life. It can be used as a practical example to refer to Drumpchapel area and the function of a town centre should be roughly the same.

Indicator

Unit

Great Western Road, Glasgow

Tallant, Drumchapel

Average Building Hight

n

4

4

Average Plot Depth

m

28.6

18

Average Plot Width

m

29.3

16

Mix-use Ratio

m/m

0.9

1

Plot Coverage

m2/m2

0.66

0.81

Privacy Level

No transition area

No transition area

House Type

Line Double Aggregated

Line Double Aggregated

Most of this street is located in the design area's main road-Tallant Road. It is the first floor of a mixed-use highdensity residential housing. It is the main business centre for daily life in my design area. On the first floor there may be shops, restaurants, offices or small workshops.

There is no building between the edge of the building and the pedestrian road. Transparency is maximized to blur the boundaries between public and private space, attracting people and maximizing business value, thus bringing economic benefits to the locals.

Vision of Development

Medium+ And Medium Density Street Front Code Number: 01.B The example area is located in southeastern Glasgow, close to the industrial area. This area is basically purely residential.

The tablet is widely used in Glasgow. On the first floor there is a green zone separating public streets from private residential areas and protecting the privacy of people living underground.

In this sample, the back garden is a shared garden, but it can also be divided by plot, so each building has its own backyard.

Indicator

Unit

Lily Street, Glasgow

Carolside Road, Drumpchapel

Average Building Hight

n

3

2-3

Average Plot Depth

m

26.64

23.46

Average Plot Width

m

15.35

16.30

Active Front Ratio

m/m

0

0

Plot Coverage

m2/m2

0.35

0.48

Privacy Level

Light green area

Light Green area

House Type

Line Double Aggregated

Line Double Aggregated

The typical plan of 3-4 floor flats contains 2 bedroom and a living room. In some case on the corner or a bigger plot it could fit in 3 bedrooms. It is suitable for small families or friends to share.

For Low level of privacy houses, ambiguous barrier will be placed between the public and private space. Shallow green front garden, low fences or bollards are used to define the typology. The building usually set back 1-3 meters. It usually found nearly active frontage which dominated with residential area, or near the node area and mainly on the secondary road.

Vision of development

Medium Density Street Front Code Number: 02.A The sample area locates at north east Glasgow, next to the Firhill Stadium. One of the street front is facing the main road so there is a shop on the corner. This row of single houses is also very common in Glasgow. Each house has a front and back garden, and parking on street right in front of the house.

Low fencing in front of the garden protects the privacy.

Indicator

Unit

Springbank Street, Glasgow

Drumchapel Road, Drumchapel

Average Building Hight

n

2

2

Average Plot Depth

m

19.45

26.35

Average Plot Width

m

9.35

8.33

Active Front Ratio

m/m

0.16

0

Plot Coverage

m2/m2

0.51

0.46

Privacy Level

Front Garden with fence

Front garden with fence

House Type

Single Family, Aggregated

Single Family, Aggregated

Aggregated houses usually have 3-4 bedrooms for bigger families and group of friends. Currently average size of a house in UK is roughly 6.7m X 9m, which is quite small to fit in all infrastructure. But on this proposed plot, there are a lot of possible way to layout the house on this 8m X 12m site.

Moderate privacy level design applies to residential units on the ground floor, few retail units except some important corners. The building usually set back 2-3 meters. The common methods to emphasis ownership of private property are bollards, small front yard or shallow basement gap.

Vision of development

Medium And LowDensity Street Front Code Number: 02.B The sample area is a site with a lot of high quality semidetached house. Located on the south skirt of Glasgow, it has strong sense of country side. The houses are quite big in size, leaving relatively large area of gardens. The deep garden protects the privacy of the residence. Since there is a big front yard most of the people will park their car in the garden.

In this type of housing area, each individual garden become important: the quality of the garden defined the quality of the street.

Indicator

Unit

Maxwell Drive, Glasgow

Glenkirk Drive, Drumchapel

Average Building Hight

n

2

1-2

Average Plot Depth

m

28.46

29.5

Average Plot Width

m

10.32

11

Active Front Ratio

m/m

0

0

Plot Coverage

m2/m2

0.34

0.31

Privacy Level

Front Garden with fence

Front garden with fence

House Type

Single Family, Semi-detached

Single Family, Semi-detached

Low density semi-detached housing mostly locates at the edge of the design area. The regular large block allows many types of development and freedom of building form.

It can also be sites for self-built projects.

The high privacy level housing has a setback of 4-5 metres. It demands isolation between private property and public space. Elevation of ground floor, large front garden and deep basement are common design methods to achieve this.

Vision of development

Medium+ Density

Medium Density

Low+ Density

Low Density

Local Nodes Local Main Road Local Road 01.A 01.B 02.A 02.B 03.A

Active Street Front Medium+ Density Street Front Medium Density Street Front Medium and Low Density Street Front Low Density Street Front

02.A

01.B

01.A

02.B

01.A

02.A

03.A 02.A

02.A

02.B

02.A

02.A

01.B

01.B

02.B

02.B 03.A 02.A

02.A

02.B

02.B 02.A 02.B

02.B

02.B 02.B 02.A 02.A

02.B 02.A

02.B

02.A 02.B

02.B 02.B 02.B

03.A

02.B

REGULATORY FRAMEWORK STREET DESIGN

The existing streets in Drumchapel is very boring. Not only because of the houses on both side looks exactly the same, but also the because the street design is lack of hierarchy. Most of the street has the same pavement, same width, same street furniture, and these repeating elements reinforced the feeling of a dull, lifeless neighbourhood.

To improve this, we divided the streets into different characters and designed pavement and furniture accordingly. When walking around Drumchapel, the environment will change while moving and giving the place a stronger sense of identity.

Tallant Road Section The existing Tallant road is very bland and less designed as unsafe and with barriers (speed bumps). The traffic flow is limited with Drumchapel. The Drumchapel’s demo-socialeconomic profile has already spoken for itself. The proposed one preserves the existing size but change in layout: introducing a green shrub with bicycle lanes with two traffic lanes. The pedestrian pavement work as adaptable space for both parking, pedestrians or cafÊ desks set. The traffic calming measure blends well into the busy public transportation flow.

New Linkwood Road Section The new secondary road connects existing Linkwood Drive to Drumchapel Road to guide traffic flow in by use a new brige.

The new one is set 2 lane way with on street parking space, wide pavements are designed. The street is aimed as a main local road to maximise transportation from south to north.

Mostly residential blocks are composed of the street frontage which could be a reasonable design for wide pavement. Rich street vegetation is utilised to enrich the streetscape.

Drumchapel Road Section The existing Drumchapel Road is a main urban road in the local area but two sides of this road were residential area without littlle pedestrian facilities consideration which are quite important part of the road public functions. So I put more pedestrian facilities into the two sides in order to complete the basical functions.

Shared Pedestrian Street In the transformation of road, our proposal kept as much existing streets as possible. But the existing streets are fairly narrow for a social-able pedestrian pavement. To improve the experience of pedestrians and expand the activity happens on the street, most of the residential streets are designed to be a shared street. On this street people are forced to make eye contact to each other, which also helps in improving communication on street.

This type of streets has least traffic flow, so when there is no car, it can be use by the residence in a lot of ways. Also the mixture of all traffic on one street forces everyone pay more attention to others, and improves the safety on the street.