URBAN UPDATE
31th July 2015
Main news
from the Urban Design Group
Jobs – New Zealand, Guildford, Bournemouth, Cambridge, London,
Gloucestershire, Bristol, Hertfordshire, Southampton, Oxford
National Urban Design Conference - Introductory Brochure Available
Global Population forecast to rise yet further
Weather in the City – How Design Shapes the Urban Climate – New Urbannous
Video
Five urban design mistakes that create unhealthy and inactive communities
Switching off street lights at night does not increase car crashes and crime
Child obesity reduced when they spend more time with friends
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The National Conference on Urban Design 2015 - Bristol 8-9-10 October
“the most beautiful, interesting and distinguished city in England“ John Betjeman, 1961
Conference introductory brochure available to download
http://www.udg.org.uk/events/national-urban-design-conference-2015
Do we have what it takes to make good decisions?
Over the past week the BBC reported on research on how ants cooperate to move heavy items of food (Cheerios) back
to their nest. Apparently when undertaking the task, around 10 percent of ants at any one time work as leaders and 90
percent cooperate as pushers or pullers, with the roles rapidly changing and interchanging, as new information on the
right direction is made available. (see…. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/33692054) This striking demonstration of cooperation is in extreme
contrast to human societies, which, while critically dependent on cooperation and well-informed decision making, can
find it hard to deal effectively with anything other than pressing short-term issues. Government by crisis is often the
default, and knee-jerk policy making the norm. To deal with long-term challenges such as resource depletion, climate
change, energy shortages seems very difficult. A review article on decision-making published in New Scientist provides
an explanation of why decision making is so difficult. The problem is often that people who know the way to go are
ignored or distrusted by the majority; (it has also been suggested that some people are naturally disposed to conspiracy
theories and their thinking is characterised by dogmatism, gullibility and closed mindedness which in turn makes them
more likely to listen to extreme "alternative" sources of information). In larger groups, the information known by the
majority tends to acquire a uniformity which drowns out the insight which only a few individuals may have. So if the
knowledge and understanding of the majority is wrong or unreliable then the wrong decisions will be made. By contrast,
smaller groups naturally have a diversity of opinion and information and are likely to make better decisions because
they are attuned to dealing with that diversity intelligently and rationally.
For work in the built environment this research implies that large multidisciplinary teams formed of silo-based specialists
are likely to perform less well than smaller teams of well-trained professionals with a broader skills-base. It also
qualifies the value of community involvement. There will be some issues over which the community are expert and
others where their knowledge will be limited. Skill will be needed to get the right balance.
Urban Design Current Edition – Available to
UDG Members by Subscription
Urban Design Awards
– Developer Award
For decisions at a policy level there is a further problem. The knowledge on which decisions are based is embedded in
policy and guidance, and this would be fine were policy and guidance to be kept up to date, and regularly challenged
and refined in the light of latest research. But this is rarely the case. Instead the pattern is for policy and guidance to
trail best practice by 10 to 20 years or more. Some practitioners feel that far from encouraging best practice in the built
environment, the administrative operation of governments can be obstructive and uninterested. It is something that
should concern us all.
Further reading
New Scientist - Decision Making – lessons from Behavioural Science
https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg22730310-300-after-the-crash-can-biologists-fix-economics/
Decision accuracy in complex environments is often maximized by small group sizes
http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/281/1784/20133305
– Public Sector Award
Conspiracy theorists - Study commencing
at the University of Warwick
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/what-turns-someone-into-a-conspiracytheorist-study-to-look-at-why-some-are-more-receptive-to-such-theories-10427940.html
Do you know any developers or
public bodies who you think
should enter the 2016 awards?
Where do you read
Urban Design? Photo
competition!!
if so
please let them know and
please encourage them to enter!
Full details of how to apply:

Developer Award
Deadline 21 August 2015
http://www.udg.org.uk/content/urban-designdeveloper-year-award-2016-opportunity-enter




Public Sector Award
Deadline - 21 August 2015
http://www.udg.org.uk/content/public-sector-award
The Urban Design Group will award two prizes
to the best photographs taken during
this Summer and submitted before 5th
September 2015. The idea is to show
interesting or original places in which
members have read the journal. The
competition is open to individual UDG
members and the photograph (only one per
member) should be submitted as a jpg at
300dpi for a minimum size of 190mm width,
with your name, and the location of the
photograph . The author of the best
photograph, to be chosen by the Editors, will
be given a year's free subscription to the
journal; the runner-up will be sent a
recent book about urban design and invited to
review it for the journal. Both photographs will be published in the journal and online on the UDG website.
Deadline 5th September - please email your entry to
Administration@udg.org.uk
Other events
Latest Lectures
on UrbanNous
The number of events is on the wane as we
approach the holiday period, but there are still
events to go to for those that seek them…
New
Weather in the City – How Design Shapes the Urban
Climate
Sanda Lenzholzer
PROJECT OF THE WEEK
http://www.urbannous.org.uk/climate-and-city-design.htm
All urban designers, architects planners, and highway
engineers should have a knowledge of this subject.
Shorncliffe Garrison Masterplan
Academy of Urbanism
http://www.academyofurbanism.org.uk/events/
BOBMK Events
http://bobmk.org.uk/our-programme/
Next events autumn
MADE
Tibbalds
Urbanism: Improving quality and value
The importance of product, land and money
Yolande Barnes - Savills
http://www.urbannous.org.uk/urbanism-quality-and-value.htm
Garden Cities Past and Present.
Potential morphologies explored.
Dominic Papa S333 Architecture and Urbanism
Shorncliffe Garrison is a large complex of barracks,
training ground and other buildings owned by the MoD
outside Folkestone. Located strategically on heights
overlooking the English Channel, the site has a long and
rich military history dating back the 18th Century.
http://www.urbannous.org.uk/garden-city-morphologies.htm
http://www.made.org.uk/events/calendar/
Museum of Walking
Mindfulness through movement
Saturday 22 August 2015 10.30am –
12.00pm Start: Brockwell Park, London SE14
(meet outside the Lido) £15
http://www.museumofwalking.org.uk/events/mindfulness-through-movement/
PTRC
https://www.ptrc-training.co.uk/Training/UpcomingCourses.aspx
An Introduction to Highway Design &
Construction
The Principles of Traffic and Transport 20-Week
Evening Lecture Series, London and Bristol
Urban Design London
Events coming up – extensive programme some
free, some charged/£175+VAT (Free for
subscribers)
Garden Cities: Is there a Business Case?
Jim Coleman, Buro Happold
http://www.urbannous.org.uk/garden-city-economics.htm
Health and Urban Design
Lucy Coleman, GLA, TFL
http://www.urbannous.org.uk/health-and-urban-design.htm
UrbanNous Catalogue available on-line
Highlights include Christopher Alexander, George
Ferguson, Hans Monderman and scores of others.
www.urbannous.org.uk
Jobs
Principal Urban Designer - Auckland Council, New
Zealand
http://www.udg.org.uk/jobs/international-urban-design-organisations/principal-urban-designer
Candidates wishing to relocate internationally are
encouraged to apply.
Opportunities for creative Urban Designers - Savills
Urban Design - Southampton - Oxford
http://www.udg.org.uk/jobs/opportunities-creative-urban-designers-savills-urban-design-southampton-oxford
http://www.urbandesignlondon.com/?page_id=3251
Housing Skills: Reviewing Housing Design
9th September
Cycling Infrastructure Skills: Commissioning
cycling projects – design and construction?
10th September
Design and Conservation Team Leader (Post 10.099),
Guildford Borough Council
Guildford
http://www.udg.org.uk/jobs/london-and-south-east/design-and-conservation-team-leader-post-10099-guildfordborough-council
Urban Designer/Masterplanner - EDP
Gloucestershire
http://www.udg.org.uk/jobs/south-west/urban-designermasterplanner-edp
Design South East / Kent
Design
Urban Design Officers (x2) Royal Borough of
Kingston upon Thames
The masterplan for the 1200 home site reflects the site’s
strong military heritage, responds to the site’s complex
topography, existing grid of streets and buildings, existing
site features and key views to the downs and the sea.
Central to this strategy was the retention of some of the
existing open spaces and historic buildings. These form
the focal points within the masterplan and set the tone for
the character of the surrounding development.
A phasing strategy provides positive housing environments
in the interim while development is underway, leading to a
holistic development in the long term
http://www.kentdesign.org/events/
Event Calendar
http://www.kentdesign.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Event-Calendar-2015-16-edited-14.4.15.pdf
Architecture and Design
Scotland
http://www.ads.org.uk/events
London
http://www.udg.org.uk/jobs/urban-design-officers-x2-royal-borough-kingston-upon-thames
Urban Designer / Master Planner – Terence O’Rourke Bournemouth
Bournemouth
http://www.udg.org.uk/jobs/urban-designer-master-planner-%E2%80%93-terence-o%E2%80%99rourke-bournemouth
Senior Urban Designer - Cambridge City Council
Cambridge
http://www.udg.org.uk/jobs/east-anglia/senior-urban-designer-cambridge-city-council
Planner/Urban Designer - JB Planning Associates Hertfordshire
Stevenage, Hertfordshire
http://www.udg.org.uk/jobs/london-and-south-east/plannerurban-designer-jb-planning-associates-hertfordshire
Urban Designer/Senior Urban Designer - Pegasus
Group - Bristol
Equinox North, Great Park Road, Almondsbury, Bristol
http://www.udg.org.uk/jobs/south-west/urban-designersenior-urban-designer-pegasus-group-bristol#
Read more
http://www.urbandesigndirectory.com/projects/shorncliffe-garrison-masterplan
Urban Design around the World
Latest Research, Policy and Practice
Australia
Humans Health Society
Tropical Urbanism to Create More High Rises in Cairns
https://sourceable.net/tropical-urbanism-to-create-more-high-rises-in-cairns/#
UN 015 Revision of World Population Prospects
The current world population of 7.3 billion is expected to reach 8.5 billion by 2030, 9.7
billion in 2050 and 11.2 billion in 2100
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=45165#.Vbn5E7NVikp
Canada
Tiny Homes: Inexpensive and Cute, but Livable?
“Peak Youth” should be wake-up call to world leaders
http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/the-worlds-population-has-reached-peak-youth-this-should-be-a-wakeup-call-to-world-leaders-10426179.html
http://www.alternet.org/economy/tiny-homes-inexpensive-and-cute-livable
New Zealand
Temporary projects leave long-lasting legacy
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK1507/S00561/temporary-projects-leave-long-lasting-legacy.htm
Auckland faces suburban squeeze
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11487267
UK
Urban designers to create proposal for empty space created by East Marsh
tower block demolition
http://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/Urban-designers-create-proposal-space-created/story-27500880-detail/story.html
The politics of sanitation: why we urgently need more public toilets
http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2015/07/politics-sanitation-why-we-urgently-need-more-public-toilets
University of Texas Health experts provide insight on causes of child obesity,
tactics to end it
The more time children spend with friends, the more they engage in physical activity,
which in turn lowers rates of obesity.
https://www.uth.edu/media/story.htm?id=96314036-5330-476c-8a9e-7b12a706a494
The freedom of children to go outside and travel independently will be a major factor in
this. Parental fear of children being killed by drivers, and stranger danger are major
barriers to overcome. Conversely, free choice of schools leading to long travel
distances will place friends out of reach, and consign a child to a car-dependent
lifestyle.
With racial segregation declining between neighbourhoods, segregation now
taking new form
While segregation from neighborhood to neighborhood is decreasing (microsegregation) within metropolitan areas, segregation from suburban communities (e.g.,
towns, villages, and cities) to other suburban communities within the same metropolitan
areas and from major metropolitan cities to their suburban communities is increasing
(macro-segregation).
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-07/asa-wrs072815.php
USA
World’s First Underground Park to Open 2018
http://www.theyucatantimes.com/2015/07/worlds-first-underground-park-to-open-2018/
City of Chico’s online building permit system deemed success
http://www.chicoer.com/general-news/20150729/city-of-chicos-online-building-permit-system-deemed-success
Why Cities Must Keep Tapping Into the Wealth-Building Capacity of
Communities
https://nextcity.org/daily/entry/cities-equity-economic-development-wealth-building-communities
The Difference between a Sociopath and a Psychopath – the ability to plan and
premeditate
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/the-difference-between-a-psychopath-and-a-sociopath-10422016.html
Either way, you probably don’t want to meet them, and yet with up to 1 in every 25
people exhibiting these traits, you inevitably will.
Switching off street lights at night does not increase car crashes and crime
No evidence of an association between reduced street lighting and night-time collisions
across England and Wales.
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/news-articles/0715/290715-switching-off-street-lighting
3 Traits Shared by New York's Most Walkable Streets
http://www.citylab.com/design/2015/07/the-3-traits-shared-by-new-yorks-most-walkable-streets/399653/
Other research has found that new lighting schemes reduce crime more in the day time
than at night, and it is suggested that people respond to a better looking neighbourhood
How Urban Designers Can Get Smaller Cities Walking
with smart new lighting columns by behaving in a more mutual way – it’s the broken
window theory again.
http://www.citylab.com/design/2015/07/how-urban-designers-can-get-smaller-cities-walking/399545/
What University Presses Have Done for Urban Design
Teaching med students about health disparities builds their confidence
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/teaching-med-students-about-health-disparities-builds-their-confidence-300120879.html
https://nextcity.org/daily/entry/university-presses-urbanist-books-cities-planning-design
Aquariums deliver health and wellbeing benefits
https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/news/aquariums-deliver-health-and-wellbeing-benefits
Built Environment
Five urban design mistakes that create unhealthy and inactive
communities
 Erecting too many fences and barriers
 Failing to find out what residents really want
 Forgetting about the extra services (eg secure bike storage, or concierges)
 Designing green spaces nobody wants
 Failing to design a friendly neighbourhood first
http://www.theguardian.com/housing-network/2015/jul/28/urban-design-mistakes-unhealthy-inactive-communities
Low Carbon Neighbourhood Planning Guidebook Published by the Centre
for Sustainable Energy
https://www.cse.org.uk/downloads/reports-and-publications/policy/community-energy/energy-advice/planning/renewables/low-carbon-neighbourhood-planningguidebook.pdf
Research by the Universities of Plymouth and Exeter have shown that viewing
aquarium displays led to noticeable reductions in blood pressure and heart rate,
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3179422/Stress-getting-Try-watching-fish-aquarium-Research-shows-tranquility-rub-humans-not-boost-mood-lower-blood-pressure-heartrate.html
This should come as a great reassurance to those of us concerned over rising sea
levels. We simply enclose our towns and cities in Perspex bubbles and relax as we
watch the fish swim by.
Movement
The Keys to Designing Cities With Fewer Traffic Fatalities
 Keep cities compact
 Reduce traffic speeds
 Create streets that are for people, not just cars
 Make public transportation safe, affordable, and convenient
 Use data mapping techniques to identify problem spots and target design fixes
http://www.citylab.com/design/2015/07/the-keys-to-designing-cities-with-fewer-traffic-fatalities/399686/
Politics Philosophy Economics
The Rise of the Second City – Report by Grant Thornton
Full report
http://www.wri.org/sites/default/files/CitiesSaferByDesign_final.pdf
http://www.gtlongread.uk/
Commonwealth games boosted Glasgow economy by £100 million, but not
Scotland as a whole
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/commonwealth-games-glasgow-event-provided-100m-boost-to-citys-economy--but-barely-benefited-scotlandas-a-whole-10408714.html
Chart on UK house prices and ownership
http://www.theguardian.com/money/ng-interactive/2015/jul/23/who-owns-the-uks-housing-wealth
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