Research : Study Tours
Foreign Study Tours
Whilst the starting point of our research was the local vernacular and other UK examples, the quest for further knowledge and exemplar case studies took us to developments further afield.
Foreign tours have included the historical old villages of France and Italy. Extensive tours of Holland, looking at it’s examples of contemporary developments and innovative Home Zones.
A few trips have been made to Scandinavia, which I feel is a good reference for Scotland by way of climate, landscape and culture. Study tours there revealed the importance of orientating buildings to optimise sun and shelter, reclaiming streets and squares for the pedestrian, the uplifting use of colour and the use of natural materials such as wood.
This year I travelled to the USA to study examples of the New Urbanism movement, which draws on traditional, historical examples and best practice for inspiration, in order to achieve more integrated, sustainable communities that are less car dependent.
The future master plan should provide a degree of flexibility to ensure evolving best practice and ideas can be incorporated.
