Attention to detail : Streets
DRAINAGE — WHAT NOT TO DO
Failure to properly drain a pavement:
Encourages mosses, algae and other vegetation
Creates dangerous slip hazards in icy conditions
Damages paving by standing water
Do not provide steep long falls (>5%or 1:20) or shallow ones (>1% or 1:100).
Do not place gullies and drains in odd locations
Do not provide insufficient below-ground capacity Collaborate with a competent drainage engineer
Do not drain at surface level onto surroundings
DRAINAGE — BEST PRACTICE
Paving must provide a sound surface usable in all weather.
Design paving falls to direct surface water away from buildings and into drainage system.
Create acceptable gradients and cross-falls for pavements - max 2.5% / 1:40, min 1% / 1:100.
Integrate gullies and drains at consistent low points and neatly, around soft landscaped areas.
Implement Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems where possible - planted Rain gardens, permeable paving, infiltration and attenuation systems, filter drains, swales, ponds.
UTILITIES: WHAT NOT TO DO
Do not locate utilities prior to design development
Avoid 'spaghetti' junctions constraining design heavily
Avoid kinks and random changes in direction
Reduced depth of fill will compromise tree planting, drainage and paving
Do not locate services in areas of the green medians / boulevard where tree planting is required.
Do not allow contractors to adjust planned lines of services
Utilities: BEST PRACTICE
Locate utilities after design development
Plan, larger trenches of multiple cables where possible
Locate trenches within pavement and shared space street with concrete block paving to minimise impact of future utility work on the longevity and maintenance of the proposed design.
Plan service locations to avoid clash with tree avenues.
Use root protection barriers where trees are close to services.
Plan tree zone locations and protected from start of the project, do not locate services in these zones
MANHOLES : WHAT NOT TO DO
Avoid locating manholes covers before the design
Avoid random and scattered locations and ugly covers
Avoid manhole covers at key kerb / edges junctions or in between soft and hard
Avoid covers within soft landscape and planted areas
Avoid hard covers in areas of play on the way due to obvious safety issues
Avoid excessive concrete joints to paving edges, cracked small pieces of paving or wide mortar/ concrete joint
Avoid covers set at incorrect height for surroundings
MANHOLES: BEST PRACTICE
Design first! Locate covers in appropriate discreet locations.
Use recessed manhole covers wherever possible, to minimise visual impact, infill to match adjacent paving bond.
Align manhole covers neatly and preferably within hard landscape. Ensure lid is parallel to paving pattern.
Minimise size of frame where possible
Consider weight of manhole cover and maintenance (lift and slide or 2 person operation/ shallow depth pave in pedestrian areas subject to weight loading).
SIGNAGE : WHAT NOT TO DO
Do not overuse signage or place signage in random locations. This creates conflicts in movement patterns and clutter along the street.
Don’t clutter the street, combine sign faces on one post where possible. Sign faces to be minimum regulation size.
Signage should not be placed behind trees or other elements that can obstruct its view.
SIGNAGE : BEST PRACTICE
Advisory signage is to be restricted to the minimum required to assist in wayfinding.
Use alternative wayfinding measures to reduce need for excessive signs - e.g., clear landmarks, clear sight-lines, clear path & street hierarchy of designed routes.
Clear street name and gateway signage positioned to assist legibility and clear way-finding.
Signage design to align with strategy provided on previous spread
Attention to detail : Public Squares
UTILITIES : WHAT NOT TO DO
Do not locate utilities prior to design development
Avoid 'spaghetti' junctions constraining design heavily
Avoid kinks and random changes in direction
Reduced depth of fill will compromise tree planting, drainage and paving
Do not scatter ventilation shafts and / or substations within key spaces or soft landscape (e.g.. on routes, gardens, central open space, social hubs).
UTILITIES : WHAT TO DO
Locate utilities after design development
Structured design and single, larger shared trenches accommodating multiple cables
Locate trenches within appropriate areas to minimise impact of future utility work on the longevity and maintenance of the proposed design
If required, carefully embed ventilation shafts and / or substations within the design (e.g.. hidden corners, perimeter, within furniture).
MANHOLES : WHAT NOT TO DO
Avoid locating manholes covers before the design is fully developed!
Avoid random and scattered locations and ugly covers
Avoid manhole covers at key kerb / edges junctions or in between soft and hard.
Never locate covers on steps!
Avoid covers within soft landscape and planted areas.
Avoid hard covers in playground for safety issues.
Avoid covers set at incorrect height for surroundings.
MANHOLES : BEST PRACTICE
Design first! Locate / place manhole covers in appropriate locations after design is fully developed.
Use recessed manhole covers wherever possible, to minimise visual impact. Multiple surfaces can be laid into covers — eg. pavers, rubber)
Align manhole covers neatly and preferably within paving. Ensure lid is perpendicular / parallel to paving pattern.
Minimise size of frame where possible.
Set height of cover appropriately and to fit with levels strategy.
LIGHTING : WHAT NOT TO DO
Do not forget to adapt lighting to the design and character or use of areas.
Do not provide insufficient level of light, making spaces unsafe.
Do not create light spills into the adjacent dwellings.
Do not space fittings randomly or too close together.
Do not create clutter or over provide lighting columns.
Do not use low quality or over designed light fittings.
LIGHTING : BEST PRACTICE
Provide safety and security to key spaces. (Lighting levels calculations by lighting specialist).
Introduce functional and decorative lighting appropriate to the character of the public square.
Provide quality light fittings that are robust, durable, modern, minimal and belong to a coordinated palette.
Locate all fittings in a neat manner, with consistent spacing, along inner edges of soft planting and to corners.
Consider building mounted lighting in key areas and accent lighting to trees and site furniture.
DRAINAGE : WHAT NOT TO DO
Failure to properly drain a pavement:
Encourages mosses, algae and other vegetation
Creates dangerous slip hazards in icy conditions
Damages paving by standing water
Do not provide steep long falls (>5%or 1:20) or shallow ones (>1% or 1:100).
Do not place gullies and drains in odd locations
Do not rely on draining into open ground
Do not provide insufficient below-ground capacity Collaborate with a competent drainage engineer
DRAINAGE : BEST PRACTICE
Paving must provide a sound surface usable in all weathers.
Design paving falls to direct surface water away from buildings and into drainage system as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Create acceptable gradients and cross falls for pavements — max 2.5% / 1:40, min 1% / 1:100.
Integrate gullies and drains at consistent low points and neatly, around soft landscaped areas/edge of the plaza.
Implement Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems where possible - eg. permeable paving, attenuation
Attention to detail : Neighbourhood Parks
LIGHTING : WHAT NOT TO DO
Do not forget to adapt lighting to the design, character or use of areas. Small local parks adjacent to residential many not require lighting.
Do not provide insufficient level of light, making spaces unsafe.
Do not space fittings randomly or too close together.
Do not use low quality or over designed light fittings.
Lighting: BEST PRACTICE
Provide safety and security to primary routes and key spaces within larger village greens. (Lighting levels calculations by lighting specialist).
Provide quality light fittings that are robust, durable, modern, minimal and belong to a coordinated palette.
Use low level lighting (e.g.. bollards) along key routes, and garden areas, with columns (6m height) for larger spaces.
Locate all fittings in a neat manner, with consistent spacing, along inner edges of soft planting and to corners.
DRAINAGE : WHAT NOT TO DO
Failure to properly drain a pavement:
Creates dangerous slip hazards in icy conditions
Damages paving by standing water
Do not provide steep long falls (>5%or 1:20) or shallow ones (>1% or 1:100).
Do not place gullies and drains in odd locations
Do not rely on draining into open ground
Do not provide insufficient below-ground capacity
Collaborate with a competent drainage engineer
Do not drain at surface level onto surroundings
DRAINAGE : BEST PRACTICE
Paving must provide a sound surface usable in all weathers.
Design paving falls to direct surface water away from buildings and into drainage system as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Create acceptable gradients and cross-falls for pavements - max 2.5% / 1:40, min 1% / 1:100.
Integrate gullies and drains at consistent low points and neatly, around soft landscaped areas.
Implement Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems where possible - permeable paving, infiltration, etc..
UTILITIES : WHAT NOT TO DO
Do not locate utilities prior to design development
Avoid 'spaghetti' junctions constraining design heavily
Avoid kinks and random changes in direction
Reduced depth of fill will compromise tree planting, drainage and paving
UTILITIES : BEST PRACTICE
Locate utilities after design development
Structured design and single, larger shared trenches accommodating multiple cables
Locate trenches within appropriate areas to minimise impact of future utility work on the proposed design
Manholes — WHAT NOT TO DO
Avoid locating manholes covers before the design is developed!
Avoid random and scattered locations and ugly covers
Avoid manhole covers at key kerb/edges junctions or in between soft and hard.
Never locate covers on steps!
Avoid covers within soft landscape and planted areas.
Avoid hard covers in playground for safety issues.
Avoid covers set at incorrect height for surroundings.
Manholes — WHAT TO DO
Design first! Locate/place manhole covers in appropriate locations.
Use recessed manhole covers wherever possible, to minimise visual impact. Multiple surfaces can be laid into covers - pavers, rubber, etc.)
Align manhole covers neatly and preferably within hard landscape. Ensure lid is perpendicular / parallel to paving pattern.
Minimise size of frame where possible.
Set height of cover appropriately
