ARC 6981 Project 3: Re-appropriating the post-industrial landscape through community-led development
OS
Will Roberts May, 2017
This portfolio follows the progress of “Project III: Re-appropriating the post-industrial landscape through community-led development�. The project is an element of the ARC6981 Urban Design Project module within the University of Sheffield Master of Urban Design course. Project III asked us to propose a design for a community-led development, primarily through the mechanism of community land trusts (CLT), in the UK city of Sheffield. Communities are struggling to
find ways of creating enough affordable housing to meet current and future demand. Concurrently, there is a need to reduce pressures on government provision. The potential of CLTs are proving to be a popular template that appeals to policy-makers on both sides of the aisle, and also with citizens wanting to have more of a direct role in shaping their communities. The Open Square project we developed in this module is a bold plan that aims to create a sustainable neighbourhood in the city centre. The plan works
on different intervention scales from community-led placemaking, large scale residential, retail development, to the creation of modern cultural and public spaces. A main focus for our group was to not only propose material solutions but to understand the feasibility in social and economic terms. That’s why we looked at phasing, shareholder character development, partnerships, participation, management, and operations in addition to physical development.
Table of Contents 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
Visions of a New Neighbourhood Conceptual Development of Open Square Context 1 Context 2 Urban Analysis Political Potential Organizing and Storytelling Phase 1: Setting the Stage Phase 2: The Introduction Phase 3: Home Sweet Home Phase 4: The Transformation Phase 5: Opening the Square The Program Public Spaces Spatial Impact The Management Hierarchy Interactive Model & Public Exhibition Critical Reflection
Visions of a New Neighbourhood Open Square is a new inclusive neighbourhood in the Sheffield city centre that provides affordable housing, vibrant public space, independent retail, co-working spaces and a cultural hub for the community. The location, in the city centre, presents an opportunity to act as a test model for how post-industrial cities can transform underused land into a diverse and attractive environment for its residents.
Open Square will allow people to strengthen bonds with neighbours through participative development of the neighbourhood, social activities, workshops, skills training, and co-working spaces. Furthermore, the title “Open Square� hopes to promote sociability, interaction, and a sense of inclusion between neighbours.
For centuries the town square has represented the place where people gather, build networks, foster relationships, and contribute to the economic development of the city. This proposal will bring that concept to Sheffield in the form of a diverse and inclusive neighbourhood.
Parkin and Sons Building, Wellington Street
The Open Square
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ARC 6981 - Project 3: Re-appropriating the post-industrial landscape through community-led development
Conceptual Development of Open Square Our principles: Open to opportunity Open to economic growth Open to diversity Open to participation Open to innovation Open to sustainability Open to art
Will Roberts - Open Square
Open Square represents an opportunity to build a real sense of community in the Devonshire Quarter and give the city centre a new (local) identity.
Taking the city from cars and giving it back to the people. Open Square aims to re-imagine how disused land can be converted into a community asset.
Central. The place acts like a magnet for people from within and around the site.
Transform the public space into an experience
Accessibility. It connects the square with the existing streets.
Great opportunity to use the land for affordable housing.
Character. A vibrant place that extends to the streets and surrounding context.
From parking to gathering. A new place that connects people with the surrounding context.
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Context 1
City Policies and Sites
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20
40
60
80
100
Transportation
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20
40
60
80
100
City Centre Quarters & Heritage
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20
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ARC 6981 - Project 3: Re-appropriating the post-industrial landscape through community-led development
Context 2 This is the graveyard of lonely context. I produced a series of demographic and context maps with some key statistics in the early stages of the project for the intro presentations. Nearly all of it was left off of the final boards, and for good reason (they never got polished, didn’t illustrate our proposal, could be distracting, etc.). However, I found it a challenge to adequately answer indepth questions from the audience and tutors when we didn’t have the space to illustrate our analysis and/or was told it wouldn’t be useful for the public. My personal believe is that providing a range of information types is helpful for the public because nothing puts people off more than being talked down to. I strongly disagree with the notion that as professionals we need to simplify everything to being an almost cartoonish set of icons. Most people can read. Know the audience, treat them with respect, and try to empower them.
Housing HousingTenure Tenure(average (average%) %)
Site Site
Privately Privately Homeownership Rented Homeownership Rented Housing Tenure (average %)
Socially Socially Rented Rented
6.2 6.2
Shared Shared Ownership Ownership Other Other
5959 32.6 32.6 Privately Socially 58 15.6 24.7 58 15.6 24.7 Homeownership Rented Rented
Sheffield Sheffield
0.4 1.81.8 0.4 Shared 0.9 0.9 0.8Other Ownership0.8
Site
6.2
59
32.6
0.4
1.8
Sheffield
58
15.6
24.7
0.9
0.8
Basic BasicDemographics Demographics
Site Site
Median Average Density MedianHouse House Average Density(Number (Numberofof Price Household Price HouseholdSize Size Persons Personsper perHectare) Hectare) Basic Demographics ££
Sheffield Sheffield
££
149,750 149,750 Median House 161,665 161,665 Price
2.3 2.3 Average 2.4 2.4 Household Size
Density (Number of 68 68 per Hectare) Persons
39 39 Median Age
170 170
£
149,750
2.3
170
21
Sheffield
£
161,665
2.4
68
39
Total Living Total Living Score Income Employment Education Score Income(scores: Employment Education Health Crime Crime Housing Housing Environment Environment Indices of Deprivation higher score = moreHealth deprived)
0.05 0.06 25.55 0.43 1.81 42.69 67.69 0.05 0.06 25.55 0.43 1.81 42.69 67.69 Living Total 27.4 0.17 0.14 31.06 0.40 0.22 22.80 19.84 27.4Score 0.17 0.14 31.06 Income Employment Education0.40 Health0.22Crime 22.80 Housing 19.84 Environment 31.4 31.4
Sheffield Sheffield
Will Roberts - Open Square
2121
Site
Indices IndicesofofDeprivation Deprivation(scores: (scores:higher higherscore score= =more moredeprived) deprived)
Site Site
Median MedianAge Age
Site
31.4
0.05
0.06
25.55
0.43
1.81
42.69
67.69
Sheffield
27.4
0.17
0.14
31.06
0.40
0.22
22.80
19.84
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Urban Analysis
POSITION: I was primarily interested in the investigation of how communities, especially those in the urban core, can become more democratic, sustainable, and enticing places to live. Furthermore, I wanted to take a mechanism like CLTs that are used frequently for smaller scale projects and expand it to a whole district over a long timescale. I also hoped to identify how CLTs could trigger and shape further developments through partnerships with public, private, and nonprofit entities.
Activity Area
Landmark
Pedestrian Path
Quality Public Space
Prominent Road
Minor Road
Activity Area Vacant, Unused, Underused, Disused Space
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Landmark
Prominent Road
Quality Public Space
Minor Road
Pedestrian Path Barrier
ARC 6981 - Project 3: Re-appropriating the post-industrial landscape through community-led development
Political Potential
The chart below categorizes all of the design interventions planned at Open Square, along with generalized planning goals from city development policies. By linking the two we are able to better understand how the actions of Open Square will work to create a better Sheffield. The interventions are not prioritized as far as feasibility and impact, nor are they
placed in dedicated spaces around the site. Rather, they are shown here to act as a list of possibilities that can be applied at a variety of phases, if the opportunity presents itself.
ha ng rg y e
at eC
En e
Cl
INTERVENTIONS
im
PO L
IC Y
GO AL
S
Ai rQ ua lit M y icr oCl im W at at er e Co Flo ns er od va in tio g W n as te Gr ee n/ Op Fo en od Sp ac Bi e od ive rs Gr ee ity n Ch Pu ar ac bl ic te r Sp St a c re e et En Al vir te on rn m at en i v Pe eT t de ra str ns ian p Sa Ro ort fe ty ut es Re du ce d Ac Pa ce rk ss in ib ilit g W ell y -B ein Pl g ac e/ Ch De a sig ract er n/ Ar Liv c h in g C itec tu it M re ixe y /A es d Co th Ur et m ics ba m un n Vi ity He lla ge rit ag e Af fo rd ab ilit y
Icons have been used to categorize similar intervention impacts and have been placed where they may apply
in the program (shown on page 13). Policy sources include: Sheffield Urban Design Compendium, Sheffield Plan: Our City Our Future Draft Sustainability Appraisal and Strategic Environmental Assessment Scoping Report, Sheffield City Centre Master Plan, Sheffield’s Core Strategy, and Sheffield City Policies and Sites.
Combined Heating Power Systems EcoDistrict Solar Power Sustainable Building Materials Green Roof Green Wall Greywater/Rainwater Collection Permeable Pavement Bioswales Community Gardens Devonshire Green Improvements Street Trees Devonshire Lane Place Making Bike/Ped Facilities Discourage Motor Vehicles Road Diet Green Ways Car-Sharing Parkin and Sons Cultural Landmark (library, public complex) Square/Urban Living Room Ground Floor Retail Living in the City Centre Different Typologies Shared Common Spaces Young Adults/Families
Will Roberts - Open Square
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Organizing & Storytelling Critical Context Analysis: The site area was of special interest to me because, as opposed to other projects this year, I was quite familiar, at least on a superficial level, with the context. Also, I wanted to intervene in an area ripe for development and challenge how Sheffield seems to be pursuing a cookie-cutter globalized retail core. The site is struggling for identity and needs a plan for a resilient and sustainable future. We wanted to pursue and apply what we know about basic English residential preferences into a more communal style of living in the city centre. Additionally, the transformation of numerous surface-level parking lots posed an opportunity to make a statement about the future mobility and eco-conscious behavior of city residents while also exploring sharing programs and its effect on the design of urban areas.
Community of interest
Stronger community
People join the initiative
Individual Discuss process Set strategies
Community of place
Community of practice
Campaigning and fundraising
ÂŁ
Shared vision Planning process
Negotiation with City Council
Open house event
Formalize plan for the next 1-5 years
Implement plan of action
Budget
OS
Establish partnerships
Advertise / Selling-renting units Support from partners Community building
CLT development framework
Site visit walking map
Movement on site Our main story telling device were these characters that illustrate how the actors directly contribute to the development of Open Square. We also wanted to highlight how the typologies and diversity of the space can cater to an evolving community.
Masterplan sketch Page 7
Characters used to tell the story of Open Square. I wanted to have the names changed, create more diverse people, and alter the graphic style but to no avail.
ARC 6981 - Project 3: Re-appropriating the post-industrial landscape through community-led development
Phase 1: Setting the Stage The phase breakdown below was one of the most critical aspects of our presentation. We developed the idea of using characters to illustrate the changes over time and across scales. We hoped that the audience could relate to a character and follow their story to see how Open Square responds to a diverse set of lifestyles. I’m not totally convinced that the execution was as successful as I had it in my head but I think it was a great attempt that we were able to then plug into other parts of the project. To Sheffield University
The funding was a large hurdle for us. That task passed through numerous people and attempts. Jose was able to pull together a really interesting flow chart thing to illustrate the fluidity and diversity of support. At the last minute I added the icons, milestones, and re-organized the table for a more clear presentation. With a project of this scale and complexity I think we would have really benefited early on from creating a shared document that clearly outlines our intervention phaseby-phase with consistent fields to fill. Although we were all on the same page it was difficult in the end to pull it all together and stay consistent.
Just a quick stop to have lunch before going to the University.
Oh! That’s a cool alley. It’s a pi y that it is underused.
Morning! And welcome to My Hostel.
Today is my first CLT mee ng, I’m so excited!
This parking area should become a public space.
This is good; the bus stop is near the Hostel.
Oops! I’m late for my CLT mee ng.
Will Roberts - Open Square
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Phase 2: The Introduction
Second shi� for today. It is ring but I will have an extra salary. There is nothing like a cold beer a�er work on Division St. Tea me, let’s see what is going on Division St.
Finally home!
I live and work in the same place. What else can I ask for? Since I moved to this neighbourhood I don’t need my car anymore.
To the Moor
Let’s drink a coffee at the café before the mee ng
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ARC 6981 - Project 3: Re-appropriating the post-industrial landscape through community-led development
Phase 3: Home Sweet Home
morning! checking out today? I like ska ng here but Devonshire park has so much more poten als.
To City Centre
This alley is really nice.
One coffee to go, please
A quick stop at home to get rest a�er studying.
With the CLT we are planning new projects for the community.
Thanks to the community gardens, I can eat healthier and spend some quality me with my daughter
Will Roberts - Open Square
This cool pub is my new hunt a�er work
I will open a new car club and my car will be the first shared car for the residents
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Phase 4: The Transformation
To West St.
New events are coming, stay tuned! Perfect day to come and hang out at the park with my new girlfriend and watch a movie!
Just moved from London. It is great to live at city centre and in such an aordable neighborhood.
The co-working spaces have opened many opportuni es for my job. Working with other people has been very posi ve for my thesis research.
Picnic me at Devonshire Green with my family.
Now I can live so close to my work for a very reasonable price. I like so much the view to the square from my studio.
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Aordable rent, perfect for my budget. Here I can open my own bakery!
ARC 6981 - Project 3: Re-appropriating the post-industrial landscape through community-led development
Phase 5: Opening the Square
The museum is nice. I will recommend it to my guests.
��er the grocery store, I will go to the square for a visit to the museum. New home, new life with my fiancé!
This library is great and so close to my place. The square is the perfect space for me to organise community events. I bought my new apartment and I have my office is on the ground floor.
Day off work, me to play some sports with my kids.
What a wonderful day! Coffee at the community gardens is a must.
Will Roberts - Open Square
I will buy my bread and go home.
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The Program
Program axo explosion
Open Square section Page 13
ARC 6981 - Project 3: Re-appropriating the post-industrial landscape through community-led development
Public Spaces
THE VIEW : A new take on the traditional square
The View square will act as Sheffield’s living room, where the community can gather and grow. Its “open� nature, allows flexibility to host many activities such as festivals, concerts, civic acts, and so on. Additionally, the day-today relationship to housing, local craftspeople, and shops will give it a sense of community, safety, personality, and informality that will resonate with the traditionally alternative and artistic Sheffield.
Devonshire Lane / The OPEN gallery
The community placemaking project aims to activate and give a fresh identity to the underused passageway. Working with local artists and community members, Devonshire lane will become a pilot project for a new way of experiencing art in the city.
A new Wellington St
Wellington Street is one of the most important yet unexplored axes of Devonshire Quarter. Open Square will lobby for, and partner with, the Sheffield City Council to execute placemaking, stormwater, ecology, and pedestrian-oriented improvements. This will allow pedestrians and cyclists to appropriate the street and connect Open Square to existing residential zones.
Seeding Community
This intervention will re-appropriate an unused industrial courtyard into a sustainable community asset. Open Square will reuse this space for community interaction and as a platform for urban gardening activities. The agricultural education program here will be a prototype for future phases.
We originally wanted to create a matrix (each area with these axos, a section, and context character photos) for every public area (I think we are missing one or two primary spots) but we ran out of time and space on the boards.
Will Roberts - Open Square
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Spatial Impact
We chose to explore numerous scales of intervention within the site; ranging from event planning, tactical placemaking, and large development. I was hoping to have time to research and discuss the potential exportation and implementation of an Open Square concept to other city centres and postindustrial cities around the UK but we just couldn’t handle to stretch that thin on three A0s. I also was hoping to analyze how CLTs can potentially manage larger social networks ,while also trying to propose how they could build capacity to leverage for large scale change in governance, economic, and ecological systems. I’m very interested in the point at which this framework could possibly become bureaucratic and lose its ability to relate to the original community, both physical and social, in which it was created.
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ARC 6981 - Project 3: Re-appropriating the post-industrial landscape through community-led development
The Management Hierarchy
I think my hostel could use better branding and maybe some improvements to the entry. I don’t have enough money to pay for it right now but I know an investment would bring in more customers and I could pay back the loan quite quickly. Maybe the design team can get me started.
I just moved to Sheffield and I’m looking to explore and make some friends. Maybe I’ll check out a few of the clubs at Open Square. Perhaps something will lead to a job because I’m super broke
I’m doing my PhD research on the social implications of Sheffield’s housing shortage. I think programs like Open Square should do more to meet the demands of the homeless. Maybe I’ll bring it up at the monthly meeting and see where it goes...
I’ve been loving my bike commute to work but there are a few dangerous areas that may be impeding others from cycling more. I’m going to chat with the cycle club to see if there’s anything I can do.
I would love to host an experimental participatory art exhibition in the public square. How do I set that up and can I get any help to pay for it?
1
Trafalgar Terraces
Exchange
Parkin & Sons
Our Hostel
Wellington View
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3
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o on Ec
y
g olo Ec
y
So
t cie
Miscellaneous Groups/Clubs
Equity
Sustainability
n tio s u t l h o es Rig cy tR ty r’s i c i s e ca s l r k f o r e v n v o hic W Di Co Ad Et
ts en Ev
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lub
Technical Assistance
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Safety
ing
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4 Budget & Finance
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ab
ain
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Business Improvement District
ility
Ch
air
ity
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Elected Volunteer Board
Tenant Services Economic Development Safety Budget & Finance Equity Sustainability
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Any individual who lives or works in Open Square has an equal opportunity to shape the community.
2
Issues, ideas, and concerns can be brought up with employers, house representatives, at monthly house meetings, or at bi-annual community assemblies.
3
The first line of inquiry will likely direct the person to a more specific group within the community who can assist them further. These groups can consist of paid or volunteer staff and cover a range of community interests or issues.
4
If a major decision is needed, or funding is requested, the issue will be brought to the budget and finance team to analyze its potential fiscal impacts on the stakeholders.
5
If the issue is commercial in nature the best reference will be the Business Improvement District, whose aim is to provide tools for success while also leveraging for physical improvements.
6
The issue will then be analyzed for any equity and/or sustainability impacts. After advice or approval, the action will be voted on by the volunteer board made up of elected CLT members. Throughout the process there will be a series of public events and opportunities for CLT members to weigh in.
I was never super thrilled with the graphics or depth at which I was able to go with this. I think more time and research could have really made this more detailed and useful.
Will Roberts - Open Square
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Interactive Model & Public Exhibition
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ARC 6981 - Project 3: Re-appropriating the post-industrial landscape through community-led development
Critical Reflection Open Square is an expansive and bold urban design proposal that links existing policy, CLTs, sustainability, transportation, public space, placemaking, housing, and other urban issues into a cohesive development model (the actual feasibility of which probably makes no sense at a real estate level). While there are many things that could have been tweaked or have added depth to the project I am quite proud of the results given the rather extreme constraints that were imposed on the project, mostly being the six week timeline. As with all other projects this year, the ability to successfully form a group, develop a concept, and produce graphics in such a short time was very challenging. More so for a project at this scale.
We could have improved our system for setting internal deadlines and establishing clear expectations and fail-safes for when deliverables were not consistent and needed editing. At the end we realized that we had produced more work than we were capable of fitting on the boards, but there were some major graphical inconsistencies.
throughout the conceptualization and design of Open Square. We should have prioritized that earlier on in the process. I think that having to prepare “presentations” so early in the project was frustrating, distracting, and not helpful for those critical times that could have been spent on engagement and concept development.
I also was really disappointed with my inability to develop more skills in the areas of physical model-making, hand-drawing, rendering, and/or advanced software. Having close to 100% of our modules based on group work with ultra-short time availability pushes us into the boxes we are most comfortable with in order to finish the job and feel as though we are fully contributing to Aside from the critiques highlighted throughout the group. this portfolio there were a few major lessons learned in terms of project management and I think many of the weaknesses can be attributed execution. The first being the importance of to the lack of time. For example, we really identifying roles early on in the process. Although wanted to show off the numerous case studies we it may seem weird to dedicate time to this tricky analyzed to help illustrate our design proposals and conversation, I think making time to talk about organizational structure but it never materialized. existing skills, desired learning goals, and interests Aside from physical precedents and inspiration, we would have made the delegation and production looked into large scale economic models that we much more streamlined later in the process. were hoping to tie in. Specifically, the Cleveland Some of us naturally fell into obvious roles but model (also known as the Preston model in the there were times in the beginning that would UK context, applied in Preston, UK) presented have benefited from a more clear understanding a really interesting and applicable strategy for of group members’ strengths and weaknesses. localized economic growth and intervention. Additionally, discussing decision-making as a group could helped move things along more Another major shortcoming was our near fluidly at the few points of contention. total absence of community engagement
In the end, this felt the closest like the experience I was expecting to have at the University of Sheffield. I think working with feasibility and a defined mechanism was interesting and the ability to take that into a public exhibition was fun. Having a team I could depend on and communicate with was surreal and much-needed. Finally, creating more defined and organized tutorial sessions was very helpful and a massive step up from the first few weeks.
Will Roberts - Open Square
I’m proud I was able to create so much work in such a short time and I think this experience has helped my personal development as a designer. It’s the night of the 25th, two days after the original due date of the portfolio and we have just received the brief. I assumed we would be asked to follow the same format we’ve been asked to abide by all year. I already completed the portfolio because I didn’t have time to wait for the brief as I’m going to a conference on the 29th. I’m excited to dream about my beautiful A5 portfolio I’ve been wanting to make all year.
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