urban space – Bomax https://bomax.co.uk Innovative Street Solutions Mon, 23 Mar 2015 12:42:03 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.8.2 Five of the Best Urban Spaces https://bomax.co.uk/five-best-urban-spaces/ Mon, 31 Mar 2014 11:49:07 +0000 http://www.bomax.co.uk/blog/?p=57 The post Five of the Best Urban Spaces appeared first on Bomax.

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Five of the Best Urban Spaces

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Creating a functional and beautiful urban space involves the design and coordination of all the things that make up our cities and towns. Buildings, streets, public space and landscape are the elements that have to be considered when designing the ideal urban space. Any development or regeneration work must be carried out in a way that is sympathetic to the existing buildings and landscapes. This is particularly true in conservation areas. Here are five examples from around the world of how to make good use of public spaces.

Puerta Del Sol

The Puerta Del Sol originated as one of the gates in the city wall that surrounded Madrid in the 15th century. It’s located in the very heart of the city. The square is actually almost semi-circular in shape and owes its current form to the major renovation work carried out between 1854 and 1860. All work since has been carried out sensitively allowing the area to maintain its character. Due to its city centre location and stunning architecture the Puerta del Sol is a fine example of how to utilise public spaces.

Princess Street Gardens

Princess Street Gardens is a lovely place to sit in the summer and people-watch whilst overlooked by some of Edinburgh’s most beautiful buildings. Green areas are essential in all large cities and this is one of the finest you’ll find anywhere.

Du Pont Circle

DuPont Circle is a traffic circle, park, neighbourhood, and historic district in Northwest Washington, D.C. At its centre is an elegant marble fountain which currently serves as a popular meeting point for locals and tourists alike. The DuPont Circle utilises the space expertly and has numerous trees planted around an otherwise urban area.

Millennium Park Chicago

Built on a site that was controlled by the Illinois Central Railroad for almost 150 years, Millennium Park is seen by the people of Chicago as the crowning glory of their city. The 24.5 acre Millennium Park is a magnificent modern park with state of the art facilities, unique public artwork and beautiful gardens.

London Olympic Park

Transforming wasteland on London’s East End into an international sports venue was a massive undertaking. From transport to and from the village to ensuring roads and pathways are adequate required planning on a mammoth scale. The resulting Olympic park, with its landscaped wildflower gardens, stands as a monument to the overall success of the games.

Street Furniture has come a long way over the last few years, making communal areas such as squares, parks and streets come to life. Bomax supplies a wide range of Urbastyle Street Furniture.

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]]> Tips for creating the perfect conservation sympathetic urban space https://bomax.co.uk/tips-creating-perfect-conservation-sympathetic-urban-space/ Mon, 31 Mar 2014 09:39:15 +0000 http://www.bomax.co.uk/blog/?p=52 The post Tips for creating the perfect conservation sympathetic urban space appeared first on Bomax.

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Tips for creating the perfect conservation sympathetic urban space

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Look around most towns and cities in the UK and you will find examples of poor planning. Buildings of special architectural or historical significance overshadowed by concrete structures such as multi-story car parks and out-dated shopping malls.

In order to create urban spaces that are sympathetic to the special architectural and aesthetic qualities of the area it is important that we learn the lessons of the past. There are of course many examples where urban regeneration has preserved or even enhanced the surrounding area. Good preparation is the key to ensuring that urban spaces in conservation areas work for the communities who live in them.

Plan and Visualise

The planning stage is paramount when it comes to blending old with new. Edwardian and Victorian structures are often listed, however it is not enough to simply protect these buildings in isolation. For example tall buildings are unlikely to be sympathetic to their surroundings and can dominate a conservation area. Any planning applications submitted should always contain a detailed description of how it will relate to the area.

Demolition

Demolition of unlisted buildings can sometimes help the character of an area, but in some cases it may diminish it. It is important that each case is considered on merit, for example what will the proposed development contribute to the area and how will it blend with its surroundings? Space between buildings, materials used, design and scale are all important factors when deciding on replacing old buildings with new.

Alterations

It is important to remember that urban spaces are there for us all to enjoy, they are places where communities live, work and socialise and should not be treated as museum pieces. If an extension can be undertaken sensitively without destroying the character of the building then there is no reason it shouldn’t go ahead. Changing the use of a building can also bring economic benefits but again needs to be done sympathetically – keeping original features like windows and doors where possible.

Green Areas

Landscaping green open spaces brings beauty and environmental benefits to urban areas. Making improvements to paved areas and introducing street furniture that is in keeping with the area can also add real value.

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