Studio Egret West’s Post

When we first started talking about our design codes, we thought it was a critically important but niche topic. Turns out it is of interest to far more people than we anticipated. Design codes are key to maintaining the integrity of placemaking, particularly on strategic sites where development will take place over many years. Led by Sharon Giffen, the ECDC team have worked in depth on the design codes for Earls Court testing these through consultation and collaboration throughout.

How can we design buildings to be proud of, with their own identity, all whilst maintaining a cohesive sense of place? And how can we ensure the landscape knitting the buildings together is inclusive and welcoming to all? From the Table Park’s green centerpiece to Lillie Sidings’ industrial-inspired public square, to questions of sitewide design — you’ll find answers to it all in the #EarlsCourtDesignCode. Throughout the next 19 years, this code is our comprehensive guide to making the Earls Court masterplan a reality. At the heart of the Earls Court’s design code is a highly unusual collaborative journey. Led by Sharon Giffen, the team developed it alongside the local community and various stakeholders, with masterplan architects Hawkins\Brown and Studio Egret West. The result is a collaborative set of principles and an inclusive design approach for this new piece of city. But with a new government in power, what does the future of design codes look like today? As the debate on beauty, design and design codes evolves following recent government announcements, we are excited to convene a roundtable of experts in the industry to discuss our experiences, lessons learned and the future of design coding. The event, on Wednesday January 15, will be chaired by Esther Kurland of Urban Design Learning, and bring in contributions from Vicky Payne who helped peer-review the code, and Marko Neskovic from Hawkins\Brown. We look forward to sharing our key learnings from the session. #EarlsCourtDesignCode #designcodes #builtenvironment

One of my favorite type of design projects to work on is mixed-use developments in an urban setting. The combination of retail and housing for this project are key in creating appealing, lively, and walkable neighborhoods. After identifying the building massing, reviewing the zoning regulations, and any municipal design guidelines it’s time to sketch! It’s easy to get overwhelmed by a blank page, but personally I find it best to get it all out on a fresh roll of trace when working on initial concepts. Design is iterative and the creative process is messy at times, but that’s half the fun. #valerearchitects #architecturesketch

Since inauguration, a troubling series of executive actions have sought to limit rights, freedoms, and inclusion across many facets of American life—this mandate for classical architecture is yet another move to stifle diversity and self-expression. This action to reinstate an executive order for federal buildings undermines the very purpose of design—to serve and reflect the people within it’s community. The built environment should reflect the communities it serves—not a one-size-fits-all mandate. Reinstating this order favoring a “style” limits diversity, ignores local context, and strips communities of their right to shape meaningful spaces. Architecture is about how well a building functions, supports the community, and enhances its surroundings. Mandating one aesthetic diminishes innovation and disregards the stories that make each place unique. We must advocate for inclusive design processes that empower communities to shape their own spaces. No single style can capture the complexity of the human experience. #CommunityDrivenDesign #InclusiveArchitecture #BuiltEnvironment #DesignMatters

At PAD studio, as we embark on an exciting new design year, we are thrilled to share our latest Insight post, "In Practice: Understanding Paragraph 84e," now live on our website. This article delves into the intricacies of Paragraph 84e of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), a policy that allows for the development of isolated homes in the countryside, provided they meet exceptional standards of design and sustainability. In this Insight, we explore: - The evolution and significance of Paragraph 84e. - Our approach to designing homes that reflect the highest standards in architecture and enhance their immediate setting. - The crucial role of design review panels, like Design South East, in ensuring the quality and sustainability of these projects. - The importance of a committed and realistic client in achieving successful Paragraph 84 applications. We are currently working on two exciting Paragraph 84e projects to be submitted in 2025: one in the New Forest National Park and another on the Isle of Wight. Both projects embody our landscape-led approach and commitment to sustainability. This post is the first in a series of three Insights. Stay tuned for the next two posts, where we will delve deeper into our ongoing projects and the collaborative process that makes these exceptional designs possible. Read the full Insight here: In Practice: Understanding Paragraph 84e https://lnkd.in/eGh8Cqrp #Architecture #Sustainability #Design #Paragraph84e #PADstudio #LandscapeLedDesign #Innovation #Quality

If you can get a handle on it, it's probably a door. I'm wary about doors. And doorways. Doors are anticipated architectural technologies. They grant access, they permit exits. What's critical to note about doors is that they maintain the logic of the architectural frame. They are systemic agents granting mobility within familiar fields. As such, like the solutions we often offer to our most persistent civilizational challenges, doors allow us to shuffle within the already-known, to move the pieces around in the name of innovation, while maintaining the design. Doors 'behave'. You know what doesn't 'behave'? Cracks. Architects don't design cracks, don't anticipate cracks. Cracks are not part of the furniture; they are the excessiveness of the frame. Design's ecstasy. They are neither external to the frame nor internal. They are not 'solutions', not guarantees, not final answers. But something about them marks deterritorial tensions, and obliquely trace out new realities. We are entering deeper intensities as we map out carnivals for 2025. We are calling into space Organizing Communities in/for Italy, Kenya, USA, Australia, India, Brazil, and the West Bank. Join hundreds of people around the world on Sunday, May 26, at 8:30pm (Indian time), for the 4th monthly co-sensing series, Dreaming Together, as we organize carnivals for the minor gesture. In courage, Bayo Akomolafe Registration: https://lnkd.in/gCCqYThF

https://lnkd.in/eVNe7SGw Thank you Bayo for sharing very interesting perspectives: 1. He cautions against relying on "doors" as solutions to our challenges. Doors maintain the existing system and framework, only allowing superficial change or innovation within familiar boundaries. 2. In contrast, he advocates paying attention to "cracks" - the unexpected, unplanned openings that disrupt the existing design. Cracks hint at new realities and possibilities beyond the current frame. Ed Morrison calls it porous boundaries. 3. As his organization maps out "carnivals for 2025", they are entering deeper intensities and calling in Organizing Communities across various countries. 4. He invites people to join an upcoming monthly co-sensing series called "Dreaming Together" to organize these carnivals for the "minor gesture" - likely referring to small actions that can lead to significant change. Co-sensing involves practices like dialogue, active listening, suspension of judgment, and tuning into subtler dimensions of knowing beyond just the rational mind. The aim is to access a deeper, more holistic understanding as a foundation for co-creating new realities. By inviting people to a "co-sensing series" as they organize "carnivals for the minor gesture", Akomolafe seems to be pointing to a participatory, emergent approach to social change - one grounded in collective sensemaking and imagination. The co-sensing likely allows the "cracks" and openings for transformation to be discovered and acted upon. 5. He uses an extended metaphor of doors vs cracks to make a philosophical point about the nature of true change and innovation. Real transformation comes not from anticipated "doors" but from unexpected "cracks" that challenge the status quo. This ties into his work around emergence and new possibilities. Jo'Anne Langham #strategicdoing20

Final design submission for Architectural Design (Arch5580): 𝘐𝘯𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘋𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯 - 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺. After exiting the structured environment of the education system, many individuals with special needs or disabilities face uncertainty and isolation. The proposed center stands as a beacon of hope, offering a vital lifeline and a positive experience, providing safe and inclusive spaces where individuals can continue to socialise, learn and thrive, regardless of their abilities or challenges, filling a crucial gap in support services within Chatham. It is not just about physical movement; it is a metaphorical exploration that encourages individuals to learn and embrace each stage; from kitchen garden - store - kitchen - to cafe.

Los Angeles’ new Resident Protections Ordinance, introduced on March 12, 2024, is a game-changer for tackling the affordable housing crisis. Here’s what developers and building owners need to know: Key Highlights: Replacement Requirements: Demolished housing units must be replaced with equivalent affordable units. Tenant Protections: Tenants have rights to remain, relocate, or return if demolition does not proceed. Affordability Covenants: New developments must ensure affordability for at least 55 years. Priority Populations: Focus on housing for those displaced by government actions. Streamlined Processes: Reduced barriers and expedited approvals for affordable housing projects. READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE: https://lnkd.in/gKKbPg-n Ready to generate profit from your vacant land? Learn more & Check if your project qualifies: https://lnkd.in/gUA5PbC2 #architecture #archilovers #architecturephotography #architecturelovers #architecturaldesign #buildings #cityscape #modernarchitecture #architectureschool #architecturaldigest #architectures #landscapedesign #interiordesign #artchitecture #architects #urbandesign #architektur #architettura #homedesign #skyscraper #concrete #house #building #architecturedetail #sketch #drawing #architecturaldrawing #3dmodeling #rendering