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Design Diplomacy taster menu
Design Diplomacy
taster menu
Contents
What is Design Diplomacy? PAGE 1
Introduction PAGE 3
Site Schemes PAGE 4
- One- Two- Three
Before and After PAGE 8
Next PAGE 12
Taster Menu PAGE 13
- Straight Conversion- Back to Back Conversion- Side by Side Conversion- 1950’s Classic (remains at risk) - Three Storey Townhouse (released for repair)
Contact PAGE 24
Residents from the Welsh Streets Home Group met officials and architects in June 2012 and discussed concerns that visiting Empty Homes experts had unwittingly forced a fragmented approach to place-making on their neighbourhood. Representatives from the Welsh Streets Home Group (WSHG) suggested that with more local knowledge, the proposed designs could be improved.
It was agreed that WSHG would generate some community-led designs for discussion, so that when the next round of design consultations took place, there would be an opportunity to merge the interests of a community divided by regeneration. This was the beginning of Design Diplomacy, devised by Nina Edge as a new approach to place-making and community building.
Design Diplomacy combines creative and design training with practices from marketing, conflict resolution and mediation.
The idea was embraced to the point that the committee of the Welsh Streets Homes Group unanimously agreed to move their funds from a war chest (the legal fees fund) to a peace initiative (the Design Diplomacy project).
The project began in September 2012 by residents and is aimed at ;• Resolving existing difficulties in devising a scheme with support from across a currently divided community
• Removing legal and procedural delays to delivery of area renewal
• Increasing the choice and quality of homes available on the Welsh Streets clearance zone
• Encouraging diversity and reducing exclusion; accommodating different choices in house types and allowing for differences in income & family structure
• Achieving regeneration whilst retaining and returning valuable assets: the people, buildings, businesses, mature trees and community spirit that made the Welsh Streets special
design diplomacy
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iNTRODUCTIONA small number of homes in the Welsh Streets are to be spared demolition. They are due to be repaired for re-use, following intervention by Empty Homes experts and lobby groups. The Welsh Streets Home Group (WSHG) who have campaigned to see alternatives to demolition, and Save Britain’s Heritage who have prevented clearance progressing, are now working with Liverpool City Council and Plus Dane to test the market before confirming the houses saved. This will feed into a council process called Neighbourhood Renewal Assessment (NRA) which will decide if the change of plan is ‘desirable, offers wider housing choice, contributes to the area and is deliverable’.
As 16 houses in Kelvin Grove and 16 in Madryn Street look likely to begin a new life as refurbished homes, and Plus Dane consult on their plans to develop the cleared site there are doubts that is the best - or the only design option available. The saved homes will be isolated in a development that’s markedly different from the Princess Park Conservation Area in which the Welsh Streets are situated. There is agreement that more choice is desirable, yet concern that the current proposals do not offer enough variety to attract a mixed community. With hundreds registering their interest re-occupying existing houses it seems 32 homes withdrawn from clearance might not be enough. The area’s uncertain future has undoubtedly damaged confidence, yet despite that people recognise it a desirable place to live or visit.
We asked Liverpool Architects Constructive Thinking to generate some drawings, costs and site ideas, so that people can take an informed decision about all possibilities - including more refurbishment. It seems 2, 3, 4, 5 and even 6-bedroomed homes, with annexes, home offices, garages and gardens CAN be made for the same cost as new build. With a little extra effort homes can be as energy efficient as new build properties. Our architects are already providing eco-refit for housing associations in Liverpool including Plus Dane & Riverside. They use local supply chains, (including the joiner on Park Rd) If money invested in regeneration was spent as locally as possible another kind of neighbourhod renewal would be a spin-off.
While the Council reappraise their options, we are tabling some sample designs for public discussion and feedback. They can be viewed at presentations, online and in the local shops. The drawings we present at the moment are not proposals, they are sample ideas for people to consider, add to and discuss. If there is little interest in refurbishment then there will be no point pursuing retention of houses on the site. If there is - then we would encourage the inclusion of refurbishment in proportion to demand.
We are bringing community resources, adaptation to ground conditions, a range of prices and a range of tenure types to the table. A heritage developer has offered investment into refurbishment and initial feedback is encouraging. So there is choice to be made - include more retention of homes, trees and people or not…
Liverpool City Council will look at the taster designs during ongoing NRA appraisals. If the ideas meet the council’s criteria, they are open to recommending adaptation of current proposals to accommodate change.
site schemes
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site scheme one
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Keeps a few streets, adding self-build plots to complete existing rows. The housing density is reduced - by increasing house sizes, parking, and gardens and providing community areas for recreation. The streets are not used as through routes, and with the large trees retained, this scheme retains a strong park side and heritage feel.
A sports court, community orchard and kitchen garden cover existing vacant plots.This type of scheme has a strong community flavour, reactivating vacant plots for food planting and play. In this example there are 24 demolitions, 129 new homes created by remodelling existing homes and 23 new self-builds.
site scheme two
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This shows a mixed area where standard new homes are flanked by self-build plots, all with gardens. Blocks of original houses are remodelled, giving a choice of size and price. Car parking areas and garages inside terraced homes reduce on-street parking. Planters prevent through traffic, giving the terraces a courtyard feel - this fosters street play, the social glue for which ter-races are renowned.
Vacant plots are used for housing and a community garden with raised beds is placed beside a children’s playground. Trees are retained and new shops included. A rich and varied environment.58 demolitions, 37 new builds (including 17 self-builds ) and 157 remodelled existing homes.
site scheme three
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Keeps less existing homes, but increases their size and variety. There are shops, workspaces and a community garden complete with seating. This option shows more new build homes, some on extra-large plots - larger plots could accommodate two smaller homes for singles, or homes with bungalow annexes for families who want to be close, but not too close.
Blocks of new and old houses site side-by-side as often seen in this area. It plans for an ageing population and first time buyers. 124 new homes created 56 new builds (including 6 self-builds and large plot sites), 68 remodelled existing homes and 110 demolitions.
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BEFORE and
AFTER
2004
2012
2 UP 2 DOWN
2012 1950’S classic
2004
2012
20123 STOREY townHOUSE1950’S classic
2004
2012
12
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next...
Taster menu
Straight Conversion
Back to Back Conversion
Side by Side Conversion
1950’s Classic
Three Storey Townhouse
14
15
75
/96 m
²
STRAIGHT CONVERSION
diningroom
diningroom
lounge lounge
kitchenkitchen
bathroom bathroom
bedroom
bedroom
bedroom
bedroom
bedroom bedroom
2 or 3 Bedroomswith loft conversion
16
side by side CONVERSION
4/6 bedrooms with loft conversion, garage or home
office. Can include annexe.
17
1
58 m
²
side by side CONVERSION
kitchen breakfast
diningroom
loungehome office/
garage
wc
utility
cup'd
2Area: 80.324 m2
Ceiling Height: 2,600.0 mm
cup'd
bathroom
bedroom
bedroombedroom
bedroom
bathroom
2Area: 78.215 m2
Ceiling Height: 2,400.0 mm
BACK TO BACK
18
to back CONVERSION
4 bedroom 2 bathrooms garage or
home office. Can include annexe.
BACK TO BACK
19
to back CONVERSION
lounge lounge
diningroom
diningroom
garage/home office
garage/home office
sitting roomsitting room
utility utility
bedroom
bedroombedroom
bedroom
bedroom bedroom
bathroombathroom
bedroom bedroom
bathroombathroom
19
5 m²
20
Still under threat, if you want to live in a 50’s
classic speak up!
Kitchen
Hall
lounge
dining
Bedroom 1
Bedroom 2
Bedroom 3
WCBathroom
Landing
1950’S Classic
21
88 m
²
lounge
kitchen
hall
breakfast/
morning
room
dining
room
cellar
cellar
bedroom
bedroom
bathroom
23
2
30 m
²
3 STOREY TOWNHOUSE
be
dro
om
be
dro
omb
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roo
m
ba
thro
om
roo
flig
ht
ove
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roo
flig
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ove
r
ARCHITECTSCONSTRUCTIVE THINKING
LINE DRAWINGSTERRY LAU
DESIGNJESSY EDGAR
DIYIC BOARDSDESIGN BEVERLEY DALE
TEXT NINA EDGEDIYic PROJECT ROB MACDONALD
SUPPORT COMTECHSA
PHOTOGRAPHYMARK LOUDON
STUART CLARKEJULIET EDGAR
NINA EDGESANDY VOLZ
JUDE MCGLOUGHLIN
SAMPLE MODELSHED KM AND URBAN SPLASH
TEXT & DESIGN DIPLOMACY PROJECTNINA EDGE
LOCAL LIAISON BARBARA SMITH
© Welsh Streets Home Group 2012Welsh Streets Home Group C/O Toxteth Town Hall,
15 High Park St, L8 8DX
