Explain how the environmental and cultural aspects influence in designing of building?

Answer 1

CONSERVING AND ENHANCING THE CULTURAL HERITAGE Strategic Objectives: a) Develop a sound knowledge and understanding of the archaeological, historic and built environment resources. b) Participants were in agreement with this objective and commented that change should be managed in accordance with this objective. c) Conserve and enhance the resources of the archaeological, historic and built environment. d) Participants felt that this does not go as far as the Loch Lomond & Trossachs Building Plan. It was observed that there are potential conflicts in sourcing materials locally within the Park (eg landscape impact in quarrying of sand and gravel and potential impact on archaeological monuments hitherto unrecorded). e) Kit housing is likely to be an option, with use of construction timber grown in the Highlands. The key issue will be the design, and local sourcing of expertise. f) There could be significant benefits in terms of local employment. g) Any deconstruction of existing buildings within the area should enable re-use of local materials - this would reduce transport and waste implications and landfill costs. It was highlighted that ruins do have enjoyment value and that dykes have a key impact in cultural landscapes. h) Promote awareness and interpretation of the value of the archaeological, historic and built environment. i) This needs to cover the evolution of the park; its economy and landscape. j) New development and management of public space in settlements should complement and enhance the character, pattern and local identity of the built and historic environment. Participants felt that this element needs further teasing out. Sustainable Development should be related at different levels - planning, management, and design - through the Building Plan, Local Plan, Sustainable Development Guidance, and Settlement of Statements. Best Practice: The Park presents an opportunity to pioneer good practice. Accommodating values: The timing is particularly good as the UK Government has recently signed up to the European Landscape Convention, which places much emphasis on public participation. Different people value and perceive the Park in different ways: eg for its wild landscape, for its regenerated pinewoods. The Park Plan should accommodate these differing perspectives and avoid following the approach established in English National Parks which are managed in a particular way. There should be local and national community involvement over what we would like to see happen to the landscape within the Building in the next five years. Cultural heritage aspects within the Plan: Cultural heritage elements should be referred to under other topic areas to help cross reference relevance between topics - for example the cultural heritage aspects relating to deer management, forestry etc. There is a danger in the Plan of compartmentalizing different topics - topics should be covered separately but the interrelationships highlighted as well to give a stronger 'flavour' for the Park. It was observed that the Environmental Report provides a matrix which helps to relate issues to each other. The challenge will be giving the document cohesion. It may be that relationships could be built in through diagrams and use of case studies. IMPROVING THE QUALITY AND SUSTAINABILITY OF DESIGN Scope of Design Guidance: It was stressed that design guidance should go beyond housing to include road engineering, street lighting, and area based approaches. Requirements/expectations placed on other authorities (Local Authorities, Scottish Environmental Protection Agency etc) must be clearly defined, to ensure that this element of the Park Plan will be binding. The Park Plan needs to define more clearly what is required of a Sustainable Development Guide - taking into account how it will be used and how it will gel with Sustainable Design Guidance prepared by Local Authorities. Again Local Authorities are key partners. In order to make the guidance binding there would be a need to priorities. In order to make the Guidance useful it would need to stretch requirements over and above the base line requirements under 5 building regulations but be realistic so as to be achievable. The Park Plan offers a strong opportunity to unify and develop best practice. Design Skills within the Cairngorms Park Authority: The Park Authority was encouraged to engage broadly over the development of design guidance given the limited capacity in-house. Village Design Statements: These would provide a useful mechanism to adopt in the Park. The Village Design Statement prepared for Tar land would provide useful lessons particularly as there was a high level of public participation and buy-in to the approach. There has however not been any follow-up. Strengthen links between Design, Civic Pride and Community Planning: There is much scope here to engage local residents in developing a sense of pride by identifying the particular features and details that enhance the character of buildings within the area. There is much local interest and knowledge that can be brought into the process of public engagement. The Plan could do more to cross reference this element on design guidance to communities. There is a resource implication here as this will require the Park Authority to find out what communities value, and help identify and present features of significance. Understanding the Special Natural and Cultural Qualities Qualitative evaluation: Reference was made to the UNESCO Convention on the intangible cultural heritage. The emotional response that the landscape evokes is hugely varied, and the Park Plan should ensure that work is carried out to help develop the range of understanding of what the landscape in the Park means to people. It was noted that the HLF is currently initiating research into qualitative values, and that 'landscape' is a current priority for the Arts & Humanities Research Council. It is likely that Aberdeen University and the McCauley Institute will hold research information in this area. Mind mapping was identified as a useful tool for gathering information on values and also for presenting interrelated data. Qualitative evaluation of special qualities associated with the Park should come through strongly as a theme within the Park Plan. Intangible qualities are easy to omit because they are harder to identify and are fragile. They must be sufficiently accommodated within the Park Plan. Historic Environment Record: A Historic Environment Record for the Park was considered to be a fundamental requirement. Listed Building Survey for the Park: the Park Authority was urged to engage with Historic Scotland and the RCAHMS. Both organisations hold, and are collecting on an ongoing basis, key information on Historic Environment assets within the Park area. The RCAHMS is currently undertaking an Audit of the evolution of the landscape within the area. Area based significance: Clusters of buildings within the landscape were mentioned as being a significant part of the landscape and that the Park Plan might endorse or facilitate the designation of conservation areas within the rural setting to afford some protection to these assets. Culloden battlefield was referred to as an area of significant cultural interest, within a rural context and designated as a 'Rural Conservation Area'. Land Management Contracts (LMCs): it was noted that LMCs have too little financial support and that they currently only cover agricultural land. Much land is not covered and the Park Plan should encourage best practice in this area - particularly in relation to forestry and moorland which is not covered under agri-environment LMCs. Document structure: It was noted that the list of activities under this section mixes together products, processes, explicit actions and more strategic objectives. It was noted by way of 6 responses that the Park Authority anticipates the Plan in general to become more focussed. Explicit outcomes will be monitored against targets. Key partners: It was noted that the professional institutes should be included as key partners in implementing the Park Plan. SUMMARY Key themes and issues arising were as follows: Ø Guiding principles - emphasis on conservation within broader sustainable development Ø Housing - Need and Capacity - represents a major challenge for the building Plan Ø Special Qualities - Emphasis on Understanding and making links with Community Ø Significance of European Landscape Convention and emphasis on public participation Ø Relationships between Building Plan/Local Plan/Design Guidance Ø Park as a Place to Pioneer, establish best practice and make well informed decisions Ø Emphasis on Place Making within the Building Ø The document provides a good basis on which to develop greater focus and ensure that cultural heritage and sustainable design aspects are fully integrated into the Park Plan.