The Define Approach to Place Research
Introduction
Celebrating more than 10 years of practice, we have been reflecting on what it is that we do at Define to understand what makes great Places and how we put that into practice.
I joined Define in 2022 to lead on Place Research - a process that has been evolving with the practice. As a lecturer, researcher, Urban Designer and Landscape Architect, I can see how the Place Research approach that has been conceptualised, tested and refined over the last year makes some important links between practice and academic approaches.
This entailed formalising our methodology, with the aim of systematically recording, analysing and comparing our place analysis. Kicking things off, we set up a mixed expertise Place Research steering group to explore and test ideas, using a variety of on-site assessments to provide a real-time understanding of and feel for each Place that could then be applied in theory. Following an extensive exploratory phase, we continuously tested and refined our approach to create a toolkit for the team to use independently for future project Place Research.
This first article provides a brief overview of our overall approach. We also have a number of specific Place Research projects that build on this approach, which will be coming to the website soon, including:
Bournville – contemporary appreciations of this visionary Victorian Birmingham Neighbourhood
Jewellery Quarter – post-industrial transition to mixed-residential of this unique Birmingham heritage area
Balsall Heath – varying functionality of this highly diverse, ad-hoc Birmingham area
Accordia – unique highly contemporary housing development, setting a quality standard for Cambridge and the UK
Upton - led by a prototype design code, this strategic development has set a template for incorporating key layers of sustainability
Wolvercote - contemporary residential neighbourhood that blends with its traditional village surroundings
Ebbsfleet – newly completed, framework led, mixed-developer neighbourhood in former quarry, exploring best practice for health and sustainable living
If you would like to enquire about your own place research project, please get in touch to discuss.
What we do
Our Approach - Feasible, Adaptable, Comparable
Our unique place research approach allows us to efficiently collect and evaluate data to understand the essence of place success. We provide an effective and speedy overall assessment of places where we identify and highlight the key physical and socio-economic factors that influence a place’s quality. We use these evaluations to provide overall support to the planning and design process, supporting our depth of decision making and to pin-point areas for reflection on best-practice.
Our Place Research Categories
From our extensive collective experience, the Place Research team has defined the key layers that we feel have the most significant impact on the quality of a place. We also referred to a range of sources to inform our thinking. This included a critical review of policy and guidance examples, including the The UK gov. National Design Guide (NDG) and Streets for a Health Life (SfHL) – as referred to below.
Following a reflective process, we developed our approach to focus on a holistic analysis. The aim is to provide a solid overview within a relatively quick turn-around, using effective and efficient approaches. This follows analysis using 4 categories.
The categories connect two key scales. At the larger scale, we look at what makes a successful 1. Neighbourhood, via an assessment of it strategic arrangement and allocations.
This feeds in to Local scale analysis of key 2. Streets and Spaces, understanding how their material, space and socio-economic qualities contribute to success.
Our Approach to Neighbourhood Analysis
We start to really understand Places at the neighbourhood scale. This is achieved by viewing the structures that influence how efficient, sustainable and lively places can be. Outputs from this process are used to support strategic scale decisions around the arrangement and provision of neighbourhoods. The aim is to better understand the key strategic planning and design factors which influence the sense of place and level of social-interactions.
Starting with initial desktop-based processes, we collect base info and review and draw up sketch analysis. We use a matrix, with layers of analysis to ensure consistency of analysis and to allow comparison of one place to another.
Each place-research project is undertaken by a mixed discipline team to capture a range of perspectives.
Our Approach to Local Analysis
Streets and Spaces
Streets: form the lifeblood of well-connected places, functioning both as a physical conduit for local, more sustainable movement and as a way to enhance social connection and ownership. We will gather evidence of how street typologies and their qualities of scale and range of functions can influence use.
Spaces: such as Parks, Plazas and Squares provide hubs that enable and promote a diverse range of community activities throughout the year. We will gather evidence on how the qualities of public space, including the extent, location and connection between facilities can influence the extent and types of use. Like the neighbourhood analysis we use carefully defined layers of analysis to ensure consistent analysis quality.
Team discussing their analysis on-site, supported by maps and note sheets.
Overview of Process
Following a pre-site, ‘desktop’ review to identify the main areas of significance. For this, members of our multidisciplinary team, walk around and analyse specifically identified areas, taking photos at key points. Structured analytical notes were taken, informed by group discussion. Back at the office, these elements are drawn up to explain the place analysis into clearly defined visual methods.
