Planners and
developers attending the second session of this year’s
4x4 making places 2004 forum were urged by eco-friendly champion
Bill Dunster from Zed Factory to dramatically reduce carbon
emissions.
Dunster, whose Surrey-based practice is working with the Bioregional
Development Group to design buildings with ‘Zero fossil
fuel emissions’, predicted problems 20 to 30 years ahead
due to a scarcity of gas and oil. “Unless planners and
developers start to think of the consequences of building
without full support features such as water and power, the
costs of new housing will become prohibitive,” he said.
The architect delivered his message to a 350-strong audience
at Leeds Metropolitan University School of Architecture where
the theme masterplan mania focused on ‘Getting started
– how do we make it happen?’
The forum, launched by Ian Tod of Allen Tod Architecture in
2001 heard Simon Smithson of Carey Jones Architects on plans
for a mixed-use development at Bridgewater Place in Leeds
- the current site of the Aireside Centre retail park. Smithson
outlined the processes involved through collaboration with
CABE and praised the benefits of best practice workshops held
with Leeds Civic Architect John Thorp. These workshops are
becoming a feature of the Leeds approach with collaboration
between developers, designers and council setting aspirations
for the larger sites.
Thought provoking presentations:
From left, David Lock, Tom Lonsdale, Roland Stross, Bill Dunster,
Simon Smithson and Ian Tod.
Huddersfield-based
Tom Lonsdale of Camlin Lonsdale Architects explained the landscape
architect’s perspective on Bridgewater Place in a presentation
titled ‘Bridging the void – or just avoid?’
Outlining a challenge posed by the UK’s only remaining
Norman bridge in Monmouth, Londsdale explained how a lateral
solution succeeded in appeasing conservationists, ensured
a freer flow of traffic through the village and created additional
public space alongside the river.
Arguably the most controversial view of the night was from
David Lock who is involved in Yorkshire Forward’s Renaissance
programme in Huddersfield and who said: “Consultation
is all very well, but there are times when you just shouldn’t
ask the public!” He also explained that with the widening
of the EU and an expected influx of Eastern Europeans, current
developments should be embracing a wider picture than that
of the residents of today. The point of skilled professional
was to be able to understand this bigger picture.
Questions from the floor were varied and explored why eco
friendly debate developments were not being built. Dunster
brought out key points on the need to establish worldwide
supply chains for the products needed to create zero energy
developments, helping to contribute to lower costs here but
also in countries such as Russia and China which had severe
climates, increasing standards and a reliance on fossil fuels.
He also argued that much higher densities should be encouraged
around transport nodes and that higher density could be used
to offset increased costs from higher energy performance.
The panel’s consensus view, chaired by Developer, Roland
Stross of St James Securities, was that development was in
the hands of a very a small number of financiers – the
large pension funds – who need to understand the economics
of eco design.
The third session on March 18 shifts the focus to ‘Experience
- what can we learn?’ and is chaired by
Andy Carver from the Arts Council. Speakers are Steve Smith
of Terry Farrell & Partners, Mark Ryder of developers
ISIS, Maud Marshall from Bradford Centre Regeneration and
developer Roger Zogolovitch.
The final week on March 25 looks at ‘The bigger picture
- are we making places that last?’ It features Fred Koetter
of Koetter Kim masterplanners and designers; Peter Clegg from
Feilden Clegg Bradley Architects LLP; Lesley Chalmers of English
Cities Fund (ECF) and Alan Simpson, Urban Renaissance Champion
for Yorkshire Forward. The Guardian’s Architecture and
Design Correspondent, Jonathan Glancey chairs the programme.
