Date: 14 April 08
Author: Caroline Ednie, Web Editor
Email this Article
| Click to Print
"Design at the Heart of House Building" is the fifth study in the series of Social Research reports published by the Scottish Government, undertaken by the Policy on Architecture.
The research focuses on investigating how private sector developers across Scotland conceive design and how they engage with design quality in the development process for new housing. The main aim of the research is to provide evidence on the current status of design in the house-building industry in Scotland, and suggests how to promote design as a key factor in driving house-building in the future. This derives from the wider UK and Scottish policy context for housing and urban design, which the research reviewed as the basis for implementation.
Despite this clear policy and guidance context, there was, however, no prior definition of ‘good design’ by the Research Team, but the understanding of design quality and how this was achieved in practice comes from the house-builders themselves, which is seen as an important element of the approach to the subject.
The objectives of the study were to:
-Explore whether there is a clear vision and understanding of design and design policy amongst the key stakeholders;
-Understand issues surrounding skills and training in design in house-building organisations;
-Identify examples of good practice where house-builders have overcome barriers and successfully placed design at the heart of their house-building programme;
-Disseminate such examples of good practice within the house-building industry to further promote the value of design more effectively so that house-building in Scotland becomes a design-led activity.
The study was carried out by the academic research team in 3 phases: an email questionnaire to reach as many Scottish private house-builders as possible; interviews with senior management and design staff of a sample of responding companies; and a series of case studies of good practice.
To download the report click the following link: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/202545/0054006.pdf
For earlier reports visit: http://www.scotland.gov.uk
Images: Demonstration project: Renfrew Riverside – Aerial view of site
Feature Image: Demonstration project: Renfrew Riverside – Masterplan and proposed housing
