Children at play: designing for health or safety

1
Children at play designing for health or safety?

• The role of design to modify behaviour

2
Outline

• What is CABE Space
• Urban design at a glance
• Relevance of cluster themes to CABEs work
• How urban design facilitates health, play, risk
  taking an example from Germany

3
What is CABE Space?

• A specialist unit within the Commission for
  Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE)
• Sponsored by the Office of the Deputy Prime
  Minister and Department for Culture, Media and
  Sports
• A small central team with a wide range of
  partners across the country
• A champion and advocate for high quality public
  space, especially urban green space

4
Urban design a very quick guide
5
(No Transcript)
6
(No Transcript)
7
Particularly common poor examples
8
Short statement here
9
By design guidance accompanying PPS1

• Character
• A place with its own identity
• Continuity and enclosure
• A place where public and private spaces are
  clearly distinguished
• Quality of the public realm
• A place with attractive and successful outdoor
  areas
• Ease of movement
• A place that is easy to get to and move through
• Legibility
• A place that has a clear image and is easy to
  understand
• Adaptability
• A place that can change easily
• Diversity
• A place with variety and choice

10
By design guidance accompanying PPS1

• To promote character in townscape and landscape
  by responding to and reinforcing locally
  distinctive patterns of development, landscape
  and culture.
• To promote the continuity of street frontages and
  the enclosure of space by development which
  clearly defines private and public areas.
• To promote public spaces and routes that are
  attractive, safe, uncluttered and work
  effectively for all in society, including
  disabled and elderly people.
• To promote accessibility and local permeability
  by making places that connect with each other and
  are easy to move through, putting people before
  traffic and integrating land uses and transport.

11
By design guidance accompanying PPS1

• To promote legibility through development that
  provides recognisable routes, intersections and
  landmarks to help people find their way around.
• To promote adaptability through development that
  can respond to changing social, technological and
  economic conditions.
• To promote diversity and choice through a mix of
  compatible developments and uses that work
  together to create viable places that respond to
  local needs.

12
CABE Spaces interests
13
CABE Spaces interests children

• Children and young people are among the most
  frequent users of public space
• Perceived as villains, vandals or victims, not
  legitimate users
• Accommodating their needs and aspirations
• Harnessing their imagination
• Promoting a sense of ownership and care

14
CABE Space interests behaviour

• Parks may be perceived as more dangerous
• Reducing territorial use between groups
• Combating this perception with active care,
  management, stewardship
• Clearer designs and layouts

15
CABE Spaces interests risk

• Risk aversion potentially stifling creativity and
  innovation in design
• Dominant safety concerns and liability leading to
  a belt and braces approach
• Degree of trust between people about their use of
  space
• Urban design to achieve greater interaction

16
CABE Spaces interests risk
17
Interests public health
Blood Cholesterol gt5.2 mmol/l
Physical inactivity
37
46
6
Obesity
13
Attributable risk for heart disease (UK)
19
Blood Pressure gt140/90mmHg
Smoking
18
Short statement here
19
Talking about portrait images
20
Looking at a specific example Freiburg, Germany
21
Designed but not designed places
22
Elements of unexpected play
23
(No Transcript)
24
The danger of play
25
Engaging the users
26
(No Transcript)
27
Proximity of place space
28
Mixing routes, paths, play
Short statement here
29
Permeability moving through the neighbourhood
30
Incidental, slack space
31
Features in a playful landscape
32
Housing and public/private space
33
(No Transcript)
34
Streetscape that balances users needs
35
School environment
36
Thank you

• Edward Hobson
• www.cabespace.org.uk