Good Design
Nowhere do we feel the value of good design more than in our own homes and the spaces around them. We eat, sleep, work, rest and play here. In a progressively complex and changing world, our homes represent stability and security.
The link between poor housing and poor health is well established. But only now has the true cost to society of poorly designed homes been quantified.
Well-designed, Beautiful and Accessible neighbourhoods are where people feel safe and benefit from lower crime and higher house values. They are where residents can feel a sense of social identity and civic pride, where they are encouraged to interact and are Connected with their neighbours in ways that help to strengthen the community. In such places, there are benefits to people’s health, prosperity, good will, morale and self-esteem. New neighbourhoods like these, with well-designed homes, spaces and facilities, can also retain and improve the appeal and identity of an existing area. Good quality public space helps to increase public outdoor activity while the beauty of these spaces also helps to attract people and promote happiness.
Good design is not just about the aesthetic enhancement of our environment, it is as much about improved quality of life, equality of opportunity and economic growth. Good design also does not cost more when measured across the lifetime of the building or place.
We all need the space to live our lives. In family homes, kitchens with the space for a table can bring family members together, over meals, homework, games or around a computer. Homes should be flexible, too, to adapt to a household’s changing needs over time. The design of the Blackwood house allows fully Accessible flexibility due to the open plan layout and flexible/adaptable components installed throughout to create an inclusive design suited for all.
The natural surveillance provided by passers-by, or by windows and balconies overlooking streets and open spaces, is enough to deter most crime and vandalism. Well-designed neighbourhoods promote this casual policing, which can work alongside more formal schemes for watching over one another’s homes.
Thoughtfully sited car parking and bicycle storage, as well as well-integrated refuse and recycling bins, contribute not only to a sense of order but also reduce litter, vandalism and theft. Police services award Secured by Design certificates to homes and developments whose design deters crime. It considers the materials and design of entry points such as doors and windows, the deployment of burglar alarms and video entry systems, and the natural surveillance offered by windows to open spaces.
Distinctive design can also lead to improved perception of the exterior of the house and surrounding environment as well as impact how people feel about the homes sense of worth and place. Natural light helps to create more natural, appealing spaces and is Connected with the outdoors.
Good planning and design bring out the character of a neighbourhood and strengthen its sense of identity. They create a sustainable mix of uses – homes, shops, businesses and civic facilities – that encourages walking, cycling and social interaction, which can also be a powerful deterrent of crime and unsociable behaviour.
The whole community feels the benefit of the commitment to good design and good green space. Greater biodiversity, better air quality and a healthier population are just some of the rewards. Evidence from deprived areas with higher levels of physical inactivity among residents showed that ‘investing in the quality of parks and green spaces is an important way to tackle inequalities in health and well-being and to encourage residents to move around under their own steam.
Blackwood aims to maximise the idea of good design for new and refurbished developments through the above and further principles detailed within the various sections within this guidance. By maximising good design principles, developments can create a sense of value and pride for people while still being Affordable and sustainable.