Coving is a technique of urban planning used in residential subdivisions. The name comes from coves of green spaces interwoven throughout the area among the homes. It is distinguished by non-uniform lot shapes and home positioning. When blended with meandering roads, lot area is enlarged and road area condensed. Coving is used as an alternative to conventional "grid" subdivision layout in order to reduce costs, such as road surfacing, while improving aesthetics, and effectively utilizing the land.
Coving was pioneered by Rick Harrison, a Minneapolis based Neighborhood Planner
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Before Coving
This image is from Rick Harrison Site Design Studio 2006 Newsletter
After Coving
This image is from Rick Harrison Site Design Studio 2006 Newsletter
Planning Outline
Project: Finding the best method for designing and planning undulating, hilly areas like Pine Valley in Kamloops.
There are 3 methods to examine:
• Coving
• Conventional or grid method
• Clustering
Method:
To determine and improve upon conventional methods of urban planning for Kamloops.
1. Brief History of each method
2. Where have they been used successfully and not
3. Pros and Cons for each method
4. Overall Physiological Effects
5. Community Interaction
6. Safer
7. Visually Pleasing
8. Restrictions
9. Efficient Use of Land
10. Plan for Future Growth
11. Neighbourhood Identity- Will this be unique?
12. Context: How does the development respond to its surroundings?
13. Connections: How well connected is the new neighbourhood?
14. Inclusivity: How easily can people use and access the development?
15. Variety: How does the development promote a good mix of activities?
16. Efficiency: How does the development make appropriate use of resources, including land?
17. Distinctiveness: How do the proposals create a sense of place?
18. Layout: How does the proposal create people friendly streets and spaces?
19. Public Realm: How safe, secure and enjoyable are the public areas?
20. Adaptability: How will the buildings cope with change?
21. Privacy and Amenity: How does the scheme provide a decent standard of amenity?
22. Parking: How will the parking be secure and attractive?
23. Detailed Design: How well thought through is the building and landscape design?
Special Problem:
Kamloops is expanding. One of the biggest challenges is to effectively and efficiently utilize the land but also make it pleasing and unique.
Also:
What makes coving cool? Why should we look at this type of planning? Just look at up the hill to the area above Hugh Allen Dr. Here we see failure of urban design not only were there several problems with the development of the area i.e. the condemnation of several homes due to the fact insufficient research of the land was done to determine the effect of water run off from the above development on areas further down but also its just plain ugly and not at all unique.
Coving can change this. This blog is an exploration on how this can be done and steps through this process.
There are 3 methods to examine:
• Coving
• Conventional or grid method
• Clustering
Method:
To determine and improve upon conventional methods of urban planning for Kamloops.
1. Brief History of each method
2. Where have they been used successfully and not
3. Pros and Cons for each method
4. Overall Physiological Effects
5. Community Interaction
6. Safer
7. Visually Pleasing
8. Restrictions
9. Efficient Use of Land
10. Plan for Future Growth
11. Neighbourhood Identity- Will this be unique?
12. Context: How does the development respond to its surroundings?
13. Connections: How well connected is the new neighbourhood?
14. Inclusivity: How easily can people use and access the development?
15. Variety: How does the development promote a good mix of activities?
16. Efficiency: How does the development make appropriate use of resources, including land?
17. Distinctiveness: How do the proposals create a sense of place?
18. Layout: How does the proposal create people friendly streets and spaces?
19. Public Realm: How safe, secure and enjoyable are the public areas?
20. Adaptability: How will the buildings cope with change?
21. Privacy and Amenity: How does the scheme provide a decent standard of amenity?
22. Parking: How will the parking be secure and attractive?
23. Detailed Design: How well thought through is the building and landscape design?
Special Problem:
Kamloops is expanding. One of the biggest challenges is to effectively and efficiently utilize the land but also make it pleasing and unique.
Also:
What makes coving cool? Why should we look at this type of planning? Just look at up the hill to the area above Hugh Allen Dr. Here we see failure of urban design not only were there several problems with the development of the area i.e. the condemnation of several homes due to the fact insufficient research of the land was done to determine the effect of water run off from the above development on areas further down but also its just plain ugly and not at all unique.
Coving can change this. This blog is an exploration on how this can be done and steps through this process.
