“For too long developers have been throwing up high-density homes that look more to profit than people. But the secret to better building isn’t rocket science” says TV architect Laura Jane Clark in the Big Issue.
“The vertical city was an idea by the Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier, where he combined homes with shops, salons, nurseries, play spaces and even a fantastic swimming pool on the roof. Yet when this model was adopted to create high-density housing in our cities in the 1960s and ’70s, in order to cut costs the communal elements were removed, including the shopping and the hairdressers, the entertainment and, of course, the rooftop swimming pool.”
Cites Norwich Council estate Goldsmith Street as an example of a modern success story. And Cumbernauld as an example of a pedestrian heaven, that didn’t work out.
“Joined-up thinking with developers, architects, landscape architects, town planners and builders is the way ahead, ensuring future residents are foremost in the design, with each member of the team asking themselves “would I like to live here?”” Doesn’t sound unreasonable, does it?