Design principles
Facing the street or park
In all projects, housing adjacent to the street or public realm should ‘face' it, both functionally and visually.
Hence:
Housing should always present well visually to the public realm and overlook it. On a corner site, the housing should present well to both street frontages.
Where a project abuts another public place, such as a local park, the adjacent housing should also face that place. The detailed design of the dwelling should therefore respond to this principle.
Only in extreme circumstances should housing turn its side or back on the public realm, and then only as little as possible. These circumstances need to be agreed with the department and the design of the dwelling should respond appropriately.
In general, the approach should be ‘front to front’ and ‘back to back’.
Reasons:
- It is normal for houses to face the street.
- It is usually less attractive and thereby unacceptable to present a side or back of a dwelling to the street.
- Facing the public realm encourages and allows ‘neighbourhood watch'.
- Back to back relationships, which do not 'expose' backyards, may improve security while improving privacy.
Last updated 25 February 2009
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