The document summarizes a training event on Building for Life 12 (BfL12). It discusses the remodelling of BfL12 to make it more accessible, promote early design dialogue, and help stimulate demand for better quality homes and places. BfL12 features 12 questions to prompt discussions around connections, working with the site context, and creating well-defined streets and spaces. Case studies and potential BfL12 awards are mentioned. The training aimed to explain how BfL12's questions can add value and facilitate quality and growth, rather than be a assessment tool.

1. BfL12 Training
Leeds, March 19th 2013
Sue McGlynn, Garry Hall and Phil Smith

2. About&OPUN:&
• "We"operate"as"a"charity"with"low"overheads"
• "Design"review"
• "Not"for"profit""
• "Trusted,"independent"and"impar=al"""

3. OPUN"is"posi=oning"itself"as"the"leading&provider"of"""""""
BfL"12"training"in"the"region"working"in"partnership"with"
NoFngham"Trent"University"

4. The&role&of&Architecture&Centres:&
BfL12"training""
Support"and"advice"–"enabling"
Championing"the"use"of"BfL12"locally"
Built"for"Life"–"key"opportunity"for"local"centres"

5. Design Quality and
Subjectivity – all a
matter of opinion?
Phil Smith

6. The principles that
underpin Building for
Life 12
Sue McGlynn

7. Our vision is to
improve the urban
design quality of
house building in
England, helping the
country to build more
and better homes and
communities…

8. Introduction: Searching for character
How can we create places with a distinctive
character and their own sense of place?

9. The&&quest&&for&&character&

10. Movement
and
landscape
The DNA of
place
Streets
Neighbourhood
Open spaces/gardens
Building elements/materials

11. Settlement form: Movement and landscape
Urban form and functions
Building form:
Details & materials

12. 1. Linking landscapes for humans + wildlife
Balancing movement, access and ecology
Tight urbanism v’s landscape
Hanham Hall, Bristol Whitehill Bordon Masterplan

13. ‘Feel and function’:
Integrating sustainable drainage + waste
Upton – Northampton
Making landscapes: Swales, permeable surfaces and even waste treatment can shape character

14. Making space for green and blue infrastructure

15. 2. Using landscape to generate character areas
Neighbourhoods"defined"by"landscape"and"topography,"Sherford"

16. Green corridors and streets
Green routes for the whole movement network
– from rural edge to town centre

17. 3. Connections: Street spacing and walkability
Connected streets and routes make places walkable
and increase use of public transport
!

18. External&and&&
internal&links&

20. Streets are long-lasting elements of place
A key influence on place making and local identity
Streets: Give access and the potential
to experience places

21. Streets as attractive, social spaces…
Designing for the car but not letting it take over the social uses of
the space.
Standard highways geometries make places look the same

22. Street design, street width, building placement:
Varying character in a neighbourhood
Long or short streets, wiggly or straight?
Front gardens or no front gardens? A walkable space or car-dominated?

23. 4. Varying character by varying house
types and styles

24. 5. Time and personalisation add to character
at the largest and smallest scales
De Dijk, Rijswijk

25. 6. Density and perception of density
Density: A measure not a quality

26. 7. A sense of community focus
Community spaces
The Triangle, Swindon Ypenburg, The Hague
- Allotments / community gardens
- Play space
- Facilities for sport

27. Landscape structure
Urban structure
Site structure

28. Building for Life 12:
Transition and
Remodelling

29. Why"the"Update?"

30. • "Comprehensive"spending"review"–"dissolu=on"of"CABE""
• "Slimmer,"less"resourced"Cabe"at"the"Design"Council""
• "NPPF"and"Housing"Strategy"
• "Growth"agenda"""
• "Quality"agenda"""
• "Fewer"resources"across"the"board"""
• "Deregula=on"–"red"tape"‘witch"hunt’""
• "Localism""

31. The&quality&picture&–&how&
was&pracCce&responding?""

32. CABE"(2007)""

33. CABE&(2010)&&

36. BfL&was&not&delivering&the&
change&expected""""

37. Could&we&add&value&by&
designing&out&issues&with&
BfL&2008?"""

38. Higher&res&v&lower&res&
Points&chasing&
Assessment&rather&than&
dialogue&based""

39. “…move'away'from'the'standards2based'
approach'and'back'to'being'a'star9ng'point'
for'nego9a9ons…”"""

40. Published"21st"Nov"2011"
Meant"to"‘get"the"
na=on"building’"

41. “This'Government'recognises'that'
what'we'build'is'just'as'important'as'
how'many'homes'we'build”"""

42. “Tools'such'as'Building'for'
Life'set'out'some'of'the'
features'that'are'useful'to'
consider'when'designing'
new'homes'and'
neighbourhoods”"""

43. “We'also'see'an'
opportunity'to'adapt'
exis9ng'successful'toolkits,'
such'as'Building'for'Life,'to'
support'communi9es”"""

44. “This'Government'aEaches'
great'importance'to'the'
design'of'the'built'
environment”"""

45. “respond'to'local'character”"""
“create'safe'and'accessible'
environments'”"""
“will'func9on'well”"""
“add'to'the'overall'quality'of'the'area”"""
“establish'a'strong'sense'of'
place”"""

46. “promote'or'reinforce'local'
dis9nc9veness”"""
“address'the'connec9ons'
between'people'and'place”"""

48. Remodelling&BfL&was&not&a&choice,&but&a&necessity&if&it&
were&to&survive&and&remain&relevant.""

49. Our vision is to improve the urban design
quality of house building in England, helping
the country to build more and better homes
and communities, by:

50. 1. Providing a clear quality framework (clarity
and certainty for industry)

51. 1. Providing a clear quality framework
2. Promoting design dialogue at the start of
the process

52. 1. Providing a clear quality framework
2. Promoting design dialogue at the start of
the process
3. Help stimulate consumer demand for and
recognition of better quality

53. 1. Providing a clear quality framework
2. Promoting design dialogue at the start of
the process
3. Help stimulate consumer demand for and
recognition of better quality
4. Reward house builders for good design at
point of sale

54. • "Remodelling"BfL"was"not"a"choice,"but"a"necessity"if"it"
were"to"survive.""
• "Could&we&remodel&in&a&way&that&secured&industry&
support&but&also&added&value?"""

55. Industry&frustraCon…&

56. “Rubbish”

57. Building for Life 12:
The questions and
how it works

59. Status&of&Building&for&Life&&&

60. 3 sec=ons
12 ques=ons
60 good"prac=ce"recommenda=ons""""

61. Landscape structure
Urban structure
Site structure

62. • "12"ques=ons"(ra=onalisa=on)""
• "More"accessible""
• "Designed"for"community"
engagement""
• "StarCng&point&for&discussions"""
• "No"scoring"regime""
• "Avoid"reds,"minimise"ambers,"
aim"for"greens""""

63. Start&the&process&with&all&quesCons&set&at&
‘amber’"""""
We&recommend&that&local&authoriCes&avoid&
fixed&thresholds,&i.e.&only&approve&12&‘greens’&&
12"‘greens’""
versus"
11"‘greens’"and"1"(robustly"jus=fied)"‘amber’?""

64. Underlying&principles:&
Building"for"Life"must"be"seen"as"facilitator"of"
quality,'speedy'growth"""""

67. Q1.&ConnecCons&
• "Prompts"you"to"think"beyond"the"red"line"
• "Suggests"overlooked"routes"as"best"prac=ce"
• "Warns"against"insular"developments"–"this"
would"score"a"‘red’"if"no"good"explana=on"is"given"

71. Q6.&Working&with&the&site&and&its&context&
• "Prompts"discussion"of"site"analysis"
• "Role"of"landscape"in"adding"character"
• "Highlights"the"need"to"integrate"natural"and"
human"systems"–"lots"of"research"to"support"this"
as"important"

74. Q7.&CreaCng&well&defined&streets&and&spaces&&
• "Recognising"the"value"of"the"street"as"the"key"
structural"element"of"urbanised"areas"
• "Role"of"landscape"in"defining"streets"and"spaces"
• "The"importance"of"perimeter"block"forma=on,"
logical"building"lines"and"corners"

78. Trn corner

79. Q9.&Streets&for&all&
• "Natural"signpost"to"MfS"–"user"hierarchy""
• "Prompts"put"emphasis"on"design"to"influence"
behaviour"
• "Also"talks"about"overlooking"

83. Q9.&Car&parking&
• "Stresses"convenience"–"as"this"is"how"people"
WILL"park"
• "Prompts"suggest"parking"in"the"street"as"an"
op=on"
• "Emphasis"on"overlooked"parking"too"

88. Q11.&Public&and&private&spaces&
• "Steers"discussion"to"le`"over"spaces"and"
ownership"
• "Prompts"you"to"think"about"loca=on"AND"
quality"of"amenity"space"
• "Fenced"play"areas"are"not"recommended"

92. Q12.&External&storage&and&amenity&space&
• "Gets"you"talking"about"these"issues"at"an"early"
stage"
• "Prompts"talk"about"bikes"and"bins,"but"also"the"
realis=c"use"of"garages"too"
• "Steers"you"away"from"unsecure"cycle"storage"
etc"–"overlaps"with"crime"preven=on"agenda"

98. Case&Study:&Manor&
Kingsway,&Derby&

100. Image credit: OPUN/HCA

101. Image credit: OPUN/HCA

102. Image credit: OPUN/HCA

104. Built&for&Life&awards&&

105. • "Built"for"Life"will"reward"developers"at"the"point"of"
sale"for"good"design.""
• "Annual"league"tables"–"possibly"the"first"being"
published"in"2014"to"give"the"industry"=me"to"respond."
• "Launched"6"February"at"Westminster"with"Nick"Bowles"
MP"and"Lord"Carlisle"""
• "Significant"interest"from"industry"in"the"scheme"
already"(and"this"is"before"the"launch!)"

106. • "‘12"green’"schemes"independently"verified"by"an"
architecture"centre"will"be"en=tled"to"apply"for"a"Built"
for"Life"licence"from"the"BfL"Partnership."
• "Local"centres"will"be"permided"to"charge"for"this"
service,"but"fees"will"need"to"be"agreed"collec=vely"so"
there’s"consistent"pricing"in"consulta=on"with"Design"for"
Homes"as"price"points"are"sensi=ve."
• "Licences"will"be"charged"per"market"rate"sale"unit"""
• "Local"centres"need"to"iden=fy"Building"for"Life"advisors"
to"undertake"these"reviews.""

107. Site&Visits&–&Using&
BfL12&in&the&field&