An internationally acclaimed designer is in Scotland today to help create a blueprint for the towns and cities of the future.
Andres Duany, who drew up designs for rebuilding work in Louisiana and Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina, is set to run design workshops, known as ‘charrettes’ in Dumfries, Aberdeen and Fife. The projects are taking part in a Scottish Government initiative to develop sustainable communities that offer residents a high quality of life on a low-carbon footprint.
Teams will be working on large and small scale projects, from reshaping existing neighbourhoods to creating new housing developments, community facilities and transport links to offices and schools. A major urban expansion is envisaged for the North side of Aberdeen, with the possibility of building 7,000 new homes in a series of live and work neighbourhoods.
The Ladyfield project in Dumfries looks to offer up to 400 new energy efficient homes and large and small business premises to allow people to live within walking distance to work. In Fife plans are being developed for to extend Lochgelly with 1,750 new homes and environmentally friendly connections to the existing town centre.
In June 2008 the Scottish Government launched the Scottish Sustainable Communities Initiative to encourage the creation of communities where people can have a high quality of life while reducing their carbon footprint. Eleven projects across Scotland were selected in May 2009 and awarded recognition that they are working towards creating a Scottish sustainable community.
The eleven projects are: An Camas Mor in Aviemore, Craigmillar in Edinburgh, Grandhome & Whitestripes in Aberdeen, Knockroon in Cumnock, Ladyfield in Dumfries, Lochgelly in Fife, Maryhill Locks in Glasgow, Raploch in Stirling, Speirs Locks in Glasgow, Tornagrain near Inverness, Whitecross in Linlithgow.
Mr Duany will work with three projects – Ladyfield in Dumfries, Grandhome & Whitestripes in Aberdeen and Lochgelly in Fife. The charrettes will run for three weeks in March 2010 and will involve intensive events focusing on project design.
Andres Duany is a founding principal at Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company (DPZ). In the years since the firm first received recognition for the design of Seaside, Florida, in 1980, DPZ has completed designs for close to 300 new towns, regional plans, and community revitalisation projects.
