In a modern economy, cities and towns offer the best chance of achieving development that can be sustained over the long term. Higher density living underpins successful public transport infrastructure, efficient provision of services, strong local economies and walkable neighbourhoods.
The urban environment is not static; it evolves, requiring a perpetual cycle of investment and renewal with the ebb and flow of economic conditions, political priorities and a climate that will be uncertain and changing. LDA Design is one of the best placed practices to advise cities and towns how to adapt for climate change and mitigate their impact on the environment. Our apporach has prompted planners to rethink the location, nature, density and scale of developments to better achieve low carbon or climate resilient outcomes. It leads us to think about masterplans in a different way. A requirement to reduce waste becomes an opportunity to generate energy or influence construction practices; concerns around obesity lead to embedded play and better quality leisure spaces; a desire for community cohesion leads to local food production. We can recommend planning policies or priority projects, design solutions to immediate challenges or opportunities and show how the full spectrum of sustainable development can be addressed in an integrated way.
The practice understands all dimensions of cities and towns. We recognise the importance of establishing their role, identity and relationship with landscape setting. We have developed compelling visions for entire settlements and have provided clients and communities with frameworks and action plans to deliver them. We promote sites for major change and take these projects through to delivery. In some cities and towns we have built wonderful parks and created new streets and spaces for all, while in others we have worked with hard-pressed local communities to start the renewal process. We are building urban environments that consider nature as well as people. Increasingly, our masterplans are realised in specific architectural and public realm commissions and we play a major role in renewing and developing infrastructure through our environmental impact assessment skills.
