Darling Associates Architects’ Post

Clackamas County Circuit Courthouse - A #PublicPrivatePartnership at the #AAJConference, Designing for Change: Architects #Transforming the #JusticeSystem On Sep 26, Debbie Spradley, Nancy Bush, Jon Kindrachuk, and Sean Link will be discussing the process and the details of the Clackamas County Courthouse project, which is being delivered via the PPP model: The remarkable growth of Clackamas County, Ore., rendered the existing county courthouse inadequate, and the financing modalities and schedules of yesterday impractical. The solution was a private-public partnership dedicated to crafting a trauma-informed courthouse. Our design for the new Clackamas County Courthouse rises to the needs of both modern civic and workplace life by prioritizing accessibility and connectivity, with thoughtful interior organization and connections to nature throughout. This works to foster community both internally — with common spaces, intuitive wayfinding, and clear sightlines — and with adjacent services, reducing the stress inherent to needlessly complex civic buildings. This responsibility to community and connection extends to the environment itself, with special care given to make the courthouse resilient to natural extremes and wildfires, while implementing a thoughtful water management system.

 Architecture and Design Scotland (A&DS) article features our landscape scheme in Alloa as part of the town centre regeneration, that brings housing and resident living into the town centre, benefitting from the convenience of amenities close by, but also that acts as a catalyst for other improvement projects for the town. The landscape provides a secure yet welcoming series of courtyard spaces for residents supporting continued independent living for older people, and contributes to the public realm enhancement for the town centre. Read more here: https://bit.ly/TCLSLi

📍 Moor Lane, Bolton. Step Places faced an extremely tight funding deadline for securing planning permission for the Moor Lane site, in part due to its significant strategic importance within the 2017 Bolton Town Centre Framework. A 'key intervention area' and not to mention a vital route for improving pedestrian movement across the town, the site was already of significant interest to local politicians, stakeholders and the community. On top of all that, half of the site lies within the Town Hall Conservation Area, and in the setting of two important listed buildings. Our challenge was therefore... 🏘️ Get the design absolutely right ⌛ Do so incredibly quickly Intrigued? Find out how we did it - in partnership with Step Places, Bolton Council, AEW Architects and Bolton at Home - in Part One, Chapter Two of EK Unlocked... https://lnkd.in/e2A9uqj5 #planning #development #architecture #housing #housingcrisis #greatermanchester #gmca #placesforeveryone #moorlane #ekunlocked #bolton Original image credit: AEW Architects

Wynwood, known for its unique blend of repurposed industrial charm and vibrant urban culture, is now at a critical juncture. The proposed Live Local Act looms large, potentially opening the floodgates to towering developments that defy the carefully crafted regulations that have defined our neighborhood's character. This legislation could pave the way for projects like Bazbaz Development's 48-story tower, a stark departure from the current 12-story limit set by the Wynwood Neighborhood Revitalization District rules. Such changes threaten to overwhelm our narrow streets with increased traffic and infrastructure demands, jeopardizing the very essence of what makes Wynwood a thriving community. #compassrealestate #realestate #luxuryrealestate #agentsofcompass #compass #realestateagent #compasseverywhere #realtor #architecture #luxuryhomes #condo

Goldfish & Bay is proud to contribute hydraulic and fire engineering expertise to Urban Property Group’s Little Bay project, recently granted DA approval. This development not only addresses Sydney’s housing needs with the inclusion of affordable homes but also reflects a commitment to thoughtful urban design. Our role involved integrating efficient hydraulic and fire systems into a layout designed by Hill Thalis Architecture & Urban Projects Pty Ltd, ensuring that technical precision supports the project’s architectural and environmental goals. Advanced stormwater solutions, in particular, complement the site’s coastal features, reinforcing its connection to the natural landscape. This project is a step forward in balancing housing, sustainability, and design excellence. Congratulations to Urban Property Group and the talented collaborators driving this meaningful initiative. Follow the journey here: https://lnkd.in/gQNGpezH Goldfish & Bay | Urban Property Group | Arcadia Landscape Architecture | Richards Stanisich | #LittleBay #HousingDevelopment #SustainableDesign #HydraulicEngineering #FireEngineering

Clackamas County Circuit Courthouse - A #PublicPrivatePartnership at the #AAJConference, Designing for Change: Architects Transforming the #JusticeSystem. On Sep 26, Nancy Bush, Debbie Spradley, Jon Kindrachuk, and Sean Link will be discussing the process and the details of the Clackamas County Courthouse project, which is being delivered via the PPP model: The remarkable growth of Clackamas County, Ore., rendered the existing county courthouse inadequate, and the financing modalities and schedules of yesterday impractical. The solution was a private-public partnership dedicated to crafting a trauma-informed courthouse. Our design for the new Clackamas County Courthouse rises to the needs of both modern civic and workplace life by prioritizing accessibility and connectivity, with thoughtful interior organization and connections to nature throughout. This works to foster community both internally — with common spaces, intuitive wayfinding, and clear sightlines — and with adjacent services, reducing the stress inherent to needlessly complex civic buildings. This responsibility to community and connection extends to the environment itself, with special care given to make the courthouse resilient to natural extremes and wildfires, while implementing a thoughtful water management system. https://lnkd.in/ebigCKbc

This was a fun event to bring to life and some great insights were shared from the panelists working in this space. Mid-rise and missing middle housing typologies are incredibly important in delivering on our housing targets but are not a common typology in Victoria. As an outer suburb Local Government, we often get the "that's not feasible" or "markets not there" response when asking for these typologies in our established suburbs and greenfield areas. Some of the key insights from the panelists for me were: - Mid-rise housing is very effective in delivering a lot of housing in a short timeframe (i.e. can deliver 70 dwellings in 14 months construction timeframe) - Great design, close to services/shops, open space and integration of trees is even more important for these typologies to attract buyers and avoid stigma that poorly designed apartments have created in the past - We need more great precedents and mix of missing middle typologies in outer suburbs to set the bar and reframe community's poor perception of denser living - Lack of lot consolidation policy/incentives and inflexible carparking minimums are some of the key barriers to these typologies being feasible and delivered right now - Local, State and Federal Government have a big role to play in setting standards, policy and delivering these typologies and setting the bar for good, liveable design

Philip Thalis says 'We need mid-rise buildings four to six storeys that are no taller than the trees. People living in walkable green streets, with public parks and transport nearby'. It seems that architecture and law are at one on this point. Legally, we need buildings that are human scale, that their owners have an outside chance of managing themselves instead of being compelled to employ expensive professional services to manage the expensive infrastructure they own but can't run. And they need to be standalone buildings, not legally bound to others through unnecessary stratum or community title. #strata #housing #affordability #greencities https://lnkd.in/gNv2952d

Our updated design for the first phase of the Barnsbury Estate in Islington was unanimously backed by the council’s planning committee last week. The scheme for Newlon Housing Trust and Mount Anvil will deliver 134 homes in Phase1a – 32 more homes than the previous consent - for the estate’s existing residents. Plans for the longstanding neighbourhood near Kings Cross, which will be built to new fire safety standards, include a new community centre, children’s nursery, and improved streets, parks, and play areas for all ages. Phase 1a is part of a wider regeneration plan for the 1930s- and 1960s-built estate, that will create up to 540 new homes as well as redeveloping and refurbishing more than 600 others. This will involve upgrading the 1930s red-brick blocks of ‘Old Barnsbury’ and rebuilding New Barnsbury, which was created after the Second World War with PTE’s newbuild proposals - mews homes, mansion blocks and terraces - drawing upon existing architecture and details. PTE Partner Warrick Thomas, said: 'We have designed the masterplan around a network of routes that reinstate historic street patterns and a family of buildings that celebrate the local area.' The plans were approved in a residents’ ballot in April 2021 with almost three in four eligible voters backing our plans in a poll. 

This week’s Salon on Affordable Housing was really a terrific discussion about different strategies for design of affordable housing. Wonderful to share info and see the work of my esteemed colleagues. A lot of the discussion centered around how to drive down costs and innovate. And how to design in such a way that communities can accept affordable housing in their midst. My take was that affordable housing needs to happen at scale, and we need density at transit and high ground. A healthy city has a mix of incomes and uses around transit. Great walkable neighborhoods should be accessible to all. We have a defecit of 135K affordable housing units in Miami Dade county. In previous generations, designers and developers were able to design and integrate housing with dignity for all incomes. I have lived in garden apartments in Miami Beach and other places in Miami and they were designed beautifully with access to green areas and plenty of natural light. There is a pressing need for all of us designers to do better for more people and to advocate for healthier, sustainable and more equitable communities. In this, I believe the Eames motto is correct. We should strive “to make the best for the most for the least”. #designmatters #AffordableHousing #SustainableCities #EquitableDesign #ArchitectureForAll #HousingCrisis #InnovativeDesign #CommunityDesign #TransitOrientedDevelopment #SustainableLiving #DesignForChange #HousingForAll #GreenArchitecture #DesignEquity #ResilientCities #ArchitectsForChange #DesignWithPurpose #InclusiveDesign #MiamiDadeHousing #WalkableNeighborhoods #DesignForGood