The blog highlights design codes’ significant role in creating harmonious and sustainable urban environments. I learned how multifunctionality, connectivity, and eco-friendliness are essential in modern urban design and thought deeply about how these factors affect improving the quality of life of communities.
In particular, the Smithfield Regeneration Project presented by the blogger was impressive in the process of strengthening social connections by integrating residential, commercial, and public spaces. As Gehl (2011) emphasised, I think this approach illustrates the importance of public spaces to promote human interaction and community activities. Through this case, I had a great opportunity to rethink how spaces with various uses enrich residents’ daily lives.
In addition, the King’s Cross Redevelopment Project highlights the positive changes that green spaces and walking-friendly designs bring to city life. Beatley (2016) emphasised the importance of designing spaces where humans and nature interact to increase cities’ sustainability. King’s Cross is an inspiring example of how cities, people, and nature can be harmonised through sustainability and people-centred design.
As an example of Korea, the Seoul Station 7017 project has emerged as an appropriate example. The project has recycled old overpasses into pedestrian-friendly parks and has recreated them into multifunctional urban spaces, including green spaces, cultural facilities, and public rest areas. It is consistent with the design principles emphasis in the blog. It is evaluated as an example of bridging urban disconnection and enhancing the quality of life for residents and visitors (Seoul Metropolitan Government, 2017).
In addition, another aspect that impressed me in the document was the flexibility of the design code shown through the Skerningham Garden Village project. The project emphasised public transportation and pedestrian-oriented design, which contributed to making the city a more livable environment while reducing environmental impacts.
On the other hand, reading this article made me question the difficulties each city could face in implementing the design code. This is because I believe active participation and policy support from the government and local communities were essential for successfully executing the design code. The UK’s Design Council (2024) emphasises the importance of developing and continuously improving the design code through collaboration between the government and local communities. It made me realise that urban designers should play an important role as coordinators between local communities and government policies, beyond simply playing their role as designers.
Through this blog, I have realised that design code is a powerful tool for transforming cities into more livable spaces. Based on this, I would like to explore ways to harmoniously integrate people, nature, and history through sustainable urban design. I have once again confirmed that urban design is a process that goes beyond simple space design and pursues a balance between community and environment.
References:
Beatley, T. (2016). Handbook of Biophilic City Planning & Design. Island Press.
Design Council. (2024). Design Council empowers local authorities with new design coding resources. Available at: https://www.designcouncil.org.uk/who-we-are/press/. [Accessed: 24 December 2024].
Gehl, J. (2011). Life Between Buildings: Using Public Space. Island Press.
Seoul Metropolitan Government. (2017). Seoul Station 7017(3m). Available at: https://english.seoul.go.kr/seoul-station-7017-3m/. [Accessed: 23 December 2024].
The blog highlights design codes’ significant role in creating harmonious and sustainable urban environments. I learned how multifunctionality, connectivity, and eco-friendliness are essential in modern urban design and thought deeply about how these factors affect improving the quality of life of communities.
In particular, the Smithfield Regeneration Project presented by the blogger was impressive in the process of strengthening social connections by integrating residential, commercial, and public spaces. As Gehl (2011) emphasised, I think this approach illustrates the importance of public spaces to promote human interaction and community activities. Through this case, I had a great opportunity to rethink how spaces with various uses enrich residents’ daily lives.
In addition, the King’s Cross Redevelopment Project highlights the positive changes that green spaces and walking-friendly designs bring to city life. Beatley (2016) emphasised the importance of designing spaces where humans and nature interact to increase cities’ sustainability. King’s Cross is an inspiring example of how cities, people, and nature can be harmonised through sustainability and people-centred design.
As an example of Korea, the Seoul Station 7017 project has emerged as an appropriate example. The project has recycled old overpasses into pedestrian-friendly parks and has recreated them into multifunctional urban spaces, including green spaces, cultural facilities, and public rest areas. It is consistent with the design principles emphasis in the blog. It is evaluated as an example of bridging urban disconnection and enhancing the quality of life for residents and visitors (Seoul Metropolitan Government, 2017).
In addition, another aspect that impressed me in the document was the flexibility of the design code shown through the Skerningham Garden Village project. The project emphasised public transportation and pedestrian-oriented design, which contributed to making the city a more livable environment while reducing environmental impacts.
On the other hand, reading this article made me question the difficulties each city could face in implementing the design code. This is because I believe active participation and policy support from the government and local communities were essential for successfully executing the design code. The UK’s Design Council (2024) emphasises the importance of developing and continuously improving the design code through collaboration between the government and local communities. It made me realise that urban designers should play an important role as coordinators between local communities and government policies, beyond simply playing their role as designers.
Through this blog, I have realised that design code is a powerful tool for transforming cities into more livable spaces. Based on this, I would like to explore ways to harmoniously integrate people, nature, and history through sustainable urban design. I have once again confirmed that urban design is a process that goes beyond simple space design and pursues a balance between community and environment.
References:
Beatley, T. (2016). Handbook of Biophilic City Planning & Design. Island Press.
Design Council. (2024). Design Council empowers local authorities with new design coding resources. Available at: https://www.designcouncil.org.uk/who-we-are/press/. [Accessed: 24 December 2024].
Gehl, J. (2011). Life Between Buildings: Using Public Space. Island Press.
Seoul Metropolitan Government. (2017). Seoul Station 7017(3m). Available at: https://english.seoul.go.kr/seoul-station-7017-3m/. [Accessed: 23 December 2024].
Thanks for sharing,I really enjoyed reading your blog.I think design Codes are interesting. They are like a guide for cities and communities, showing how to make things look good and work well. I think these rules are important because cities grow so fast now. Without a standard, things could get messy or even harm the environment.
For example, the “Smithfield Regeneration Project” in Birmingham is very nice. Design Codes in this project clearly plan how homes, businesses, and public spaces should fit together. This not only makes these areas work better together but also makes the whole community feel connected. It is like building with blocks, where every piece needs to match perfectly to make the community function.
The “King’s Cross Redevelopment” project in London focuses on green spaces and streets that are good for walking. I think this is important because many cities depend too much on cars. Streets are often made for cars, not for people. So, making cities more livable and better for interaction is very important for the future. Design Codes help prevent gaps between buildings or spaces. They make sure new designs blend naturally with older ones.
The “Skerningham Garden Village” project in Darlington reminds me of similar developments in my country,China, like The pocket park construction project in Xuhui District, Shanghai, is a classic example of public participation, green and low-carbon development. By building pocket parks wherever possible, the urban green space area is increased, the urban heat island effect is alleviated, the air quality is improved, and the quality of life of residents is enhanced.. These ideas are similar. They want to make life better by adding green spaces, mixed-use areas, and easy transport. But compared to here, the project seems to care more about community interaction and what residents need. I think this is something my country can learn from. A place with nice houses and parks is good, but if people don’t interact, life there might not feel as good as it could.
Overall, I think Design Codes are a good way to make cities more organized and sustainable. But rules are not enough. How people carry out these plans and add creative ideas will decide if the community is successful.
reference:
The 2024 edition of the Shanghai Handbook was released, providing key cases for sustainable urban development in the 21st century.Available at:https://www.shanghai.gov.cn/nw4411/20241101/887d2e6ed0604f4b8c32179c9295ee78.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Hey Jiale! I really enjoyed reading this blog. It explains the role of design codes in urban planning in a clear and engaging way. The examples, like the Smithfield regeneration in Birmingham and the King’s Cross redevelopment in London, make it easy to see how design codes can improve communities by creating spaces that are both practical and attractive.
I found the part about using design codes to create functional and mixed-use spaces interesting. The Smithfield project shows how design codes can help connect residential, commercial, and public areas in a smart way. It’s amazing how they act like a guide to keep everything organized and meet people’s needs. As Carmona (2019) explains, design governance ensures urban development remains both coordinated and responsive to people’s diverse needs. I wonder if there could be more examples of how cities overcome challenges like funding or technical issues when using design codes. That could be helpful for understanding how to make them work everywhere.
I also liked how the blog talked about making cities more welcoming and greener. The King’s Cross project is a great example of how design codes can improve everyday life with pedestrian-friendly streets and parks. It shows that design isn’t just about buildings – it’s about creating spaces where people feel connected and comfortable. This ties in well with Marshall’s (2020) observation that well-structured streets and public spaces enhance neighborhood interaction and strengthen community ties. I think it would be great to explore how smaller cities or those with fewer resources could apply similar ideas. Customizing design codes to fit different situations could make them even more useful.
The part about Skerningham Garden Village was also inspiring. It shows how design codes can help with sustainability and create communities where people want to live. The focus on green buildings and engaging with the community stood out to me. I think it might also be interesting to talk about how cities can balance growth and environmental protection to make sure they develop responsibly.
Overall, this blog does a great job explaining why design codes are important. It shows how they bring structure to urban planning while improving the quality of life for residents. Adding more about how to handle challenges and adapt to different places could make it even stronger. This is such a valuable topic, and the blog makes it easy to understand!
References
1. Carmona, M. (2019). Design governance: theorizing an urban design sub-discipline. Journal of Urban Design, 24(1), 1-22.
2. Marshall, S. (2020). Streets and patterns: The structure of urban geometry. Routledge.