I have long admired Ken’s ability to put his finger on the key topics that are not front and centre for the architectural glitterati but are
pertinent, prescient and even a bit poetic at times. This column kicked off the new year with a timely reminder that a bit like dogs –good design is not just for
Christmas – but if created with foresight and thought – it can last for-ever.

Richard Steer, chairman of Gleeds Worldwide

Streets fit for people and not just for cars

The spate of cycling deaths on London’s roads underlines the need for long-term infrastructure planning

The New Year is often a time to think about the 12 months just gone and consider the changes you need to make to ensure the coming year is a happy and prosperous one. For Londoners concerned with the built environment, this period of reflection will sadly include a reminder of the challenges we face as we try to keep pace with a city that’s constantly reinventing itself.

In just one two-week period late last year, six people lost their lives while cycling through London’s streets. In addition to the inevitable questions about safety and the calls for quick, preventative action, there is also a need to ask how we plan to support moves towards more sustainable transport options in the long term.

The networks that connect communities underpin the work that we, as architects, do to create buildings, streets and spaces that are fit for tomorrow. People should feel as if they can move through a city with ease and comfort and an holistic approach to infrastructure planning is needed to bring this ambition to life.

I believe the one area that requires consistency is our collective commitment to high quality design

Through good design we can remove the need for vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians to jostle for position on our roads and make getting from A to B much less challenging that it often is now. After decades spent accommodating more and more motor vehicles, we’re now returning to a time of putting people first.

London’s complex mix of the old and the new gives us the ideal opportunity to achieve this. High streets that have been redesigned to force cars to move more slowly and allow pedestrians to move around safely attract shoppers and visitors and create places for people to meet. Oxford Circus, for example, has been transformed through the removal of clutter from the pavements and by introducing clear routes and crossings for people.

Regeneration schemes, such as the Heygate Estate at Elephant & Castle, promise wider reaching benefits. The scheme aims to reconnect communities that have suffered because of past errors which left them isolated from their surroundings, and shift the balance away from a dependence on vehicles. Instead, the focus is on the benefits that can be derived from having easy access to an integrated public transport network and open spaces that encourage social interaction. Walking and cycling are promoted through the provision of appropriate facilities and safe, family-friendly cycling lanes.

There are no easy answers to the challenges we face as we move towards more sustainable transport options and the infrastructure needed to support them. And of course, we’ll only find solutions if we work with local communities to understand the issues. However, I believe the one area that requires consistency is our collective commitment to high quality design. This is something that Sir Terry Farrell is looking into as part of his review of architecture and the built environment in England. His findings are expected shortly and I would welcome any recommendations that help us break down barriers in communities and connect people quickly, safely and sustainably.

Ken Shuttleworth is the founder of Make Architects