Where we build. Does it matter?

Living and working in rural Australia I see a lot of the country and how people live. It never ceases to amaze me that the biggest investment that most of us will make (your house) is generally a result of legislation and economics. How you aspire to live, what your needs are and your aesthetic values hardly enter into the equation.

In this instalment I’ll discuss the first, essential part of our built environment. The land it occupies.

Let’s say you buy a block of land in a subdivision. It’s location, size, aspect and ambience is mostly the result of legislation. The local council regulates land use, density, open space, remnant vegetation, access, etc, etc, etc. The remaining wriggle room is left to the developer, who naturally, tries to get the most out of their investment. The subdivision of the land, location of roads, services, amenities is all carefully planned to get the greatest number of blocks possible. Since land development is a risky business, most developers play it safe, minimise the risk and go for maximum numbers and a safe return on investment.

So, what’s missing here? Mostly everything. Any regard for climate, views, topography, vegetation, orientation, privacy, communal space, circulation, doesn’t exist. Or if it does it’s usually a happy coincidence.

The result is that most land subdivision is the same thing with different street names, competing on price. So the very foundation of the biggest investment you’ll ever make is already missing most of the things that matter.

In the past, the European village has served us well as a development model. A close packed core with human scale, changes of level, views, private space, public space. In short, respect for place and people. And around the village? Open space.

So, with some obvious adaptation, could this be a desirable model to take into the 21st century? Or has humanity changed so much that we need a totally new approach? Or is today’s development strategy OK?

Now I want your opinion, whether you’re an expert developer, a real estate agent, an architect or someone who owns a block of land somewhere, let me know what you think. Maybe you’ll tell me that cheek by jowl, ramshackle buildings and crooked streets don’t work any more? Or maybe there’s someone out there who wants to do something new? I’d love to hear from you.

Regards
Victor

Victor Pleshev Director Interface Architects Ilford NSW Australia
T: +612 6358 8511