Master Plan for the Town of Ellon and Architecture Urban Design Associates UDA Location: Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Date of project: 2008. Client: The Prince’s Foundation for the Built Environment. Role: On-site charrette participant, Design development, model studies, report and Pattern Book production. Planning for Future Growth The Framework Plan for Ellon defines areas for development that will create a series of interconnected walkable neighbourhoods. Each of these will have a variety of uses within walking distance as well as a diverse range of housing costs and types. The goal is to provide all the functions of daily life including employment, living, culture, education, retail, and recreation. By testing the implications of growth across and around the town and with reference to the scenarios set out in the draft capacity study, Imagine Ellon, several key areas emerged as having the most potential to maximize the benefits to the town as a whole. It is important to re-establish the balance between residential development and the amenities that serve residents. The Scottish building tradition is very sensibly based on simple basic volumes, ranging from one- to three-and-a-half-storey buildings. The richness of the forms is accomplished by adding a series of special elements such as dormer windows, perpendicular gables, bay windows, and corner details. These assembled building types are then placed on their individual sites such that they work together to create the collection of urban spaces. This system of public open space is based on existing natural features such as watercourses and burns, wetlands, woodlands, and recreational facilities. It will provide sustainable means for water management as well as amenities within walking distance of all residences.
The height of buildings should be in harmony with the size and scale of each urban space.