The “Role” of the Design Code
Introduction
The design code has a long history of playing varied ‘roles’ in different cities based on their policies, developments, contexts, and cultures, and has been adapted to the development and regeneration of cities, although controversially. However, it is worth mentioning that the design code is a unique urban governance tool, which refining and updating, may eventually add value to urban development.
The “role” of design code in various countries
Some design codes have a lengthy history and have been formed in various ways, resulting in different laws and principles in various nations. Building rules in Germany, according to Logan (1976), were initially employed primarily for structural safety and fire codes, but progressively grew and began to proliferate to encompass the layout and usage of new features, as well as building heights. These designs and principles evolved until the end of the nineteenth century when construction and planning codes began to emerge as a response to increasing industrialization and changes in urban fabric. In contrast to Germany, Paris in the nineteenth century already had clear and rigid regulations, particularly in terms of architectural style, which comprised building facades, balconies, etc.
Paris Uniform Architectural Style Code- Allen (2018)
As a consequence, Hakim (2001) contends that architectural styles of the period were determined by prescriptive standards and that such codes were mainly for aesthetic purposes, allowing architects to design attractive slum flats. The UK’s generic codes originated in the Middle Ages as a means of addressing the safety issues associated with urban housing during the Industrial Revolution. However, due to the complexity and imprecise nature of the codes at the time, the most well-known Essex Design Guide, the Housing Design Guide, was introduced in early 1973.
Sloping frontage in Essex Design Guide- Archive (2013)
This guide was written in response to various Local Planning Authorities in England at the time, and it recommended a new approach to planning as a method of Carmona (2023). It also states that it wasn’t until the New Labour government took office in 1997 that design code achieved breakthroughs, owing to the government’s encouragement to look at form-based codes and the concept of a design code being employed. It can be seen that the earliest design codes played different roles in different countries, but what they all had in common was that they were influenced by political and cultural contexts, and were used as a standard for solving current problems, such as housing and aesthetics, and they were inadequate because they were not based on an urban development to formulate several norms and considerations, and they were not adjusted according to urban renewal to optimize.
Design code shift in the UK
The slow rate of house growth in the UK following 2018 prompted fears that’s more attractive’ design would become increasingly important, and in 2021 the National Model Design Code was published. To avoid disagreement and make the guidance simple to comprehend and apply—including via the use of illustrations—it expands on the Code’s framework to produce urban planning and offers a variety of comprehensive directions on local design codes, regulations, and guidelines (MHCLG, 2021). Carmona (2023) clarifies that while this law is inconclusive in certain places and at regional scales, the overall driving force is in favour of a healthy environment. However, many designers were surprised when the design code was introduced. They viewed the standards as akin to design restrictions that restricted and inhibited their originality and ideas, and they questioned several of the principles as being outside the scope of the building code (Loftus, 2023). Architect Sarah Allan, still (as cited at Spocchia, 2023) emphasises that a design code is merely a set of guidelines and that not all development projects require one. She further contends that a design code does not restrict a designer’s work. Since the design code was established from the start, it serves just as a guide to assist in the construction of something stunning and long-lasting. Pilot programmes can be used to improve the code. It is imperative that designers and developers participate in the design code and utilise their knowledge to refine the information to assist in repairing and improving the city.
Pilot Projects in the UK
The government initiated a six-month pilot programme after the NMDC was released, to assess, revise, and modify the development of these requirements through these pilot programmes. Currently one of the pilot projects, Greenwich Millennium Village contains around 2,000 units of residential space in addition to an abundance of green spaces and eco-parks.
Eco Park at Greenwich Millennium Village- Greenwich Millennium Village, (n.d.).
Greenwich Millennium Village – www.hta.co.uk, (n.d.)
The design fully utilises passive heating and daylighting, which may lower resource consumption. Additionally, 80% of the materials are recycled, and 30% less money and water are used, all of which contribute to increased sustainability. In this lively district, houses are surrounded by gardens, plazas, and recreational areas. Tree-lined streets connect each neighbourhood, fostering a diverse and inclusive community (Greenwich Millennium Village, n.d.). The fact that the pilot programme was successful is not surprising, and even if the design code has generated controversy, it does function as a standard that promotes sustainable and environmentally friendly development; the future direction of the code will depend on how it is applied and modified.
In conclusion, local culture, shifting political views, and evolving economic structures have impacted the evolution of the design code in virtually every city historically. But in the UK, it is being developed and applied gradually. Even though the design code still has a lot of issues, it is clear that as pilot projects are implemented and designers gradually adapt to it, the code is becoming more and more developed, and perhaps in the future it will play an essential ‘role’ in the city developing. It might eventually play a crucial “role” in the development of cities.
Reference:
Archive, T.J.J. (2013). Peak District National Park Building Design Guide 1976: Suburban housing sloping frontage. [online] Flickr. Available at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jrjamesarchive/9313727494/in/photostream/ [Accessed 19 Dec. 2023].
Carmona, M. (2023). Coding urban design: Constructing a wireframe for a place-focused urbanism. Progress in Planning, p.100775. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.progress.2023.100775.
Greenwich Millennium Village. (n.d.). The Masterplan for Greenwich. [online] Available at: https://www.greenwichmillenniumvillage.co.uk/masterplan.
Hakim, B.S. (2001). Julian of Ascalon’s Treatise of Construction and Design Rules from Sixth Century Palestine. Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians, 60(1), pp.4–25. doi:https://doi.org/10.2307/991676.
Loftus, H. (2023). Architects should get involved with design codes – before it’s too late. [online] The Architects’ Journal. Available at: https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/opinion/architects-should-get-involved-with-design-codes-before-its-too-late [Accessed 19 Dec. 2023].
Logan, T.H. (1976). The Americanization of German Zoning. Journal of the American Institute of Planners, 42(4), pp.377–385. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/01944367608977742.
MHCLG (2021a) Ministry if Housing, Communities and Local Government, National Planning Policy Framework, https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1005759/NPPF_July_2021.pdf〉.
Spocchia, G. (2023). Design codes not a straitjacket, says government architect. [online] The Architects’ Journal. Available at: https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/design-codes-not-a-straitjacket-says-government-architect [Accessed 19 Dec. 2023].
www.hta.co.uk. (n.d.). HTA Design – Greenwich Millennium Village. [online] Available at: https://www.hta.co.uk/project/greenwich-millennium-village.
