King Charles III and urbanism/urban design
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Will reminded me, not that I didn't know, about Prince Charles and his longstanding interest in what we might call community (traditional) architecture, his writings on the subject including his terming "visual pollution" in modern architecture and an impoverished visual environment ("Prince Charles’s 10 principles for architecture – and 10 much better ones," Guardian, 2014, "King Charles III, City Maker," Bloomberg).
Charles’s 10 key principles …
- Developments must respect the land
- Architecture is a language
- Scale is also key
- Harmony: neighbouring buildings ‘in tune’ but not uniform
- The creation of well-designed enclosures
- Materials also matter: local wood beats imported aluminum
- Limit signage
- Put the pedestrian at the centre of the design process
- Space is at a premium – but no high-rises
- Build flexibility in
The Prince's Foundation supports traditional architecture in many forms, including a trade school teaching the skills of traditional architecture and building.
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As the Duke of Cornwall, the Prince led the development of Poundbury, a small community projected to have 6,000 residents when finished, built on traditional architecture and urban design principles.
It will be interesting to see if Prince William continues these programs.
I don't know anything about his interest, if any, in urban design, city making, architecture, etc.
Given how QE2 was such a "figure in the background," who couldn't say much publicly about the policy and practice of the UK governments, King Charles III will have to step back similarly, whereas as Prince he was able to be vocal, although the parts of the profession committed to modern design and development were quick to criticize ("A royal revolution: is Prince Charles's model village having the last laugh?," Guardian).
Labels: architectural history, civic architecture, urban design/placemaking
posted by Richard Layman @ 1:25 PM&Permanent Link
13 Comments:
Poundberry looks pretty standard New Urbanism to me; quite nice.
I'm not sure the idea scales up; lots of opportunity to rebuild small town but how do you apply this to cities?
I do see a lot of design district and pattern books going on; all very useful tools in the urban framework.
Good question. I don't think it's like to like. I am on a key nu list and they always push the 6 story max height. Yes in cities, at the core especially and at transit, that doesn't make sense.
But we have to remember that cities (like the transect) aren't just one thing. Like my veneration of the Nashville Community Character Manual, which works better for built places and infill than the ideologically pure NU Transect.
Lots of Poundbury elements are applicable at the sub city scale.
And yep, urban design plans, pattern books, and the often not passed DESIGN REQUIREMENTS are the way to translate it.
I just see how 21st century modern residential architecture as tear down infill diminishes the "architecture of the ensemble."
These are an example more of scale, since the house next door isn't particularly distinguished architecturally
https://flic.kr/p/2nKrdoT
https://flic.kr/p/2nKqzmL
I'll look for better examples of why design guideline requirements are necessary.
Well the two houses being "infield" are very unpopular right now. Starter houses from the 1950-1960 period are very out of fashion, the scale of both replacements looks ok to me and it shows why lot coverage is a useful tool.
One of the architectural criticisms of Poundberry is that is it's a mishap -- like a 1920 US suburb, all sorts of designs mixed up in one.
Of course those remain some of the nicest places in the live in the world.
I'd say the larger point is design vs architecture; the architect finds patterns books very threatening. Given the price point you can see why. Pattern built/builder designed house might be 50/sf, architect designed house 500+.
The road design of Poundberry is also very interesting. Not wasting space on front garages etc is good. Looks like most cars just park on the street.
https://poundbury.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Poundbury-Design-and-Community-Code-2019.pdf
wrt those houses, the scale and design is off compared to the existing houses. This area isn't historic, yes, built in the 50s and 60s.
But some of the houses are decent style wise. Like this:
https://flic.kr/p/2nLEmHa
I argue that should be the "template" (speaking of architects not liking pattern books) for "embiggening" (as Tom Tomorrow would say). That way you can make the houses bigger, but they still fit in design wise and in terms of the "ensemble."
In the Salt Lake initiative to legalize duplexes, triplexes, and quads, I argue there are plenty of good existing examples, that provide the model on how to do it sensitively.
A majority of Salt Lake housing is one story, unless it is pre 1915.
So sure, add a second story.
Besides fearing change generally, nimbys I think fear that people who want to do duplexes etc. want to increase the size of the house 1x, 2x, 3x for 2-4 large houses, rather than 2-4 smaller units.
This is a simple extant example, but you see how easy it is to use as a model for four units.
https://flic.kr/p/2nLEUyk
https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/poundbury-suburb-showcases-king-charless-vision-british-life-2022-09-15/
Knight Frank (2020), "Walkability and Mixed Use - Making Valuable and Healthy Communities," The Prince’s Foundation (https://princes-foundation.org); at https://princes-foundation.org/journal/walkability-report.
The New Yorker: King Charles’s Vision of Britain, Writ Small.
https://www.newyorker.com/news/letter-from-the-uk/king-charless-vision-of-britain-writ-small
2-story homes next to 1-story existing ones. The horror.
https://www.governing.com/assessments/can-britains-new-urbanist-king-mold-his-countrys-landscape
Can Britain’s ‘New Urbanist’ King Mold His Country’s Landscape?
As Prince of Wales, Charles had a lot to say about architecture and planning. But there are things that princes can do that monarchs might not be able to.
9/27/2022
"Facing up to the future: Prince Charles on 21st century architecture"
https://www.architectural-review.com/essays/facing-up-to-the-future-prince-charles-on-21st-century-architecture
12/20/2014
Not likely to speak out.
BBC: King Charles will not attend climate summit on Truss advice.
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-63105522
"No to Modernism, yes to arts and crafts: a look at the creative tastes of King Charles III"
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2022/10/17/no-to-modernism-yes-to-arts-and-crafts-a-look-at-the-creative-tastes-of-king-charles-iii
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