Design Concept

Urban Design

The basic ingredient in creating a distinctive new settlement is the arrangement of spaces.  An awareness of the distinctive heritage of the area and how the roads, parks, squares and public spaces are formed is a fundamental tool in informing any new layout. 

The Square

All villages need a centre; a focal point where people gather and community activities take place.  In Deeside, as throughout Scotland the square or village green is a distinctive and traditional feature.  Not only are its location and the activities which take place there important, but also its connections to the surroundings.

Streets

Radiating from the square a network of streets leading to other parts of village and connecting to the wider road and footpath network create the basic urban farm.  Near the centre these should reflect a more urban character with buildings possibly 2 or 3 storey high fronting the pavement and containing the street itself.  Traffic should be controlled and pedestrians given priority through the design of road surfaces and street furniture.  Car parking must be accommodated elsewhere.  Street junctions offer opportunities to form smaller squares and civic, hard landscaped spaces.  The housing mix in these central areas should be varied although reflecting the higher densities created by these physical forms.

Moving away from the centre streets open out with more front garden introduced.  The proportions of these plots are critical to maintaining the traditional Deeside character and the avoidance of driveways and garages is essential to avoid creating the “anywhere” suburban style of the late 20th century.

Nearer the perimeter of the village the streets evolve into roads in the countryside, tree lined with walls and hedging enclosing large gardens.  Open landscaped areas mix with detached housing creating a gradual and logical transition from village to countryside.
The primary function of the street plan is to create safe, clear and attractive pedestrian and cycle routes which discourage car use and provide “active” public spaces for informal meeting and interaction as well as providing clear routes to the key facilities such as the school.

Open Spaces

The Park site contains various landscape features which provide historical links and amenity opportunities.  In keeping with the traditional of large open community space in the Deeside village centres these elements provide the perfect opportunity to recreate this fundamental characteristic at Park and we propose locating the village centre beside them for this reason. Along the eastern boundary overlooking the Dee large detached dwellings are set amongst trees repeating a pattern of buildings seen at other locations such as Banchory, Ballater and nearer Aberdeen at Cults and Bieldside.  The buildings along the South Deeside Road take their design references from the agricultural steadings prevalent in the area.  Set in open grassed areas with tree plantings and drystone dyking defining road edges and ownership boundaries these buildings are designed to fit into the landscape character of the South Deeside Road and respect the importance of this attractive tourist route.

Land Use

In line with the basic objectives of this new village a mixture of land uses, and housing provision is recognised as a fundamental requirement for creating the balanced community.  Provision for a school; serviced units and larger retail facilities have been made in the village centre.  A garden centre and ‘Country Ways’ shop are also included in this area with the possibility of horse riding and livery provision.

Office use can be incorporated in the higher density units in the centre.

Employment opportunities are accommodated in the “steading” buildings concentrated along the South Deeside Road.  These could form business start up or general Class 4 uses such as office space.

Housing provision will cover a wide range of type and tenure.  Varying needs forms a key objective in all the housing being considered recognising the need for people to extend, or alter their existing home rather than move.

The ability to work at home will also inform the mix of housing as will lifestyle requirements such as allotments or large gardens.

The overriding philosophy is to create a stable sustainable community.

The Vision - Design

An indicative masterplan has been developed for the site based on these key principles.  A copy of this can be viewed here.

We are also looking for your comments on this indicative masterplan which is work in progress.  Click here to give us your thoughts on the indicative masterplan.