David Birkbeck

we research what works in design, layout and construction, from urban design to comfort and privacy

[David Birkbeck @DesignForHomes]

Appleby Blue Almshouse, Winner of Winners at 76th Housing Design Awards (76th year) now viewable https://t.co/Lo02HuBLfT alongside £1m video library and 14 case studies of 2024 winners complete with case studies and links to Design & Access Statements https://t.co/kc5xmc4Pig

[David Birkbeck @DesignForHomes]

@createstreets @SCP_Hughes Relax because the Government won't need to stop it - construction economics will. That house would cost £5000/sqm to build. https://t.co/NX2kLPBIqj says new-build townhouses in even York's best locations, like the Terry's chocolates site next to the racecourse, peak at £4700/sqm

[David Birkbeck @DesignForHomes]

Our best recent planning minister lets the party who sidelined him in its lurch to populism have it.

[Mike Galsworthy @mikegalsworthy]

Oof - Nick Boles on fire here. 🔥

Best Letter to the Editor I have read in a long time.

[David Birkbeck @DesignForHomes]

@jonathan_gblt Jonathan, That's the back-up for the Uttlesford Design Review panel, launched this week. We're going to tackle s38s with F35s

[David Birkbeck @DesignForHomes]

Modern Methods of Construction + Primeval Thinking on Design. Why design narrow-fronted deep-plan houses with resulting gloomy interior plans (>90% of rooms will be single aspect), and wreck opportunity for PV arrays with faux-Georgian outriders? Style 1 Health & Climate 0

[createstreets @createstreets]

'The aim was to achieve a strong sense of place, based on the character of historic villages in the locality. The development would aspire to create an environment in which community could flourish. It would be energy efficient and built using Modern Methods of Construction. The intention was to set the new homes within a fabric of traditional streets and spaces, enhanced with trees and greenery, and optimised for biodiversity.'

[David Birkbeck @DesignForHomes]

2pm @futurebuildnow Amy Burbidge, design lead @homesengland will join Kevin McGeough headofplace @ebbsfleetdc on @Activehouseinfo intro. Hear what largest public clients in country (50,000+ homes pa) say standards should not lose sight of #daylight #health #carbon #comfort #space

[David Birkbeck @DesignForHomes]

2024 deadline for the Housing Design Awards extended from 5 March to end of the day on Tuesday 12 March. Still a fortnight to upload images and data of your latest scheme with recent planning or PC and join the most potent design resource on the internet https://t.co/zhk9CbjSe3

[David Birkbeck @DesignForHomes]

Worth remembering that RIBA attacked Haussmann's Paris 'arrangements' where "utterly dissociated and discordant people live under one roof" -- in 1876 that was how they explained the new fangled apartment buildings with shared cores emerging...

[Jonathan Gimblett @jonathan_gblt]

For anybody interested in Urban design this is a just published incredibly beautiful and detailed book on Haussmann’s Paris

[David Birkbeck @DesignForHomes]

You could tell Redrow faced changes when you see (left) their new types @ebbsfleetdc despite their obsession with the Heritage range (right). I guess that's aping 1930s and integral garage types done. @Barrattplc been the better developer (since Mark Clare shook it up).

[Peter Bill @peterproperty]

Merged Barratt Redrow has a combined revenue of £7.5 billion, completed, 22,600 homes, is holding 92,000 plot land bank. Brands kept separate. Redrow founder Steve Morgan will sell his 16% Redrow stake. Pretty much done deal. Will raise speculation of more M&A to come.

[David Birkbeck @DesignForHomes]

The Economist demolishes the British love of the Green Belt this week: 38% of the country cannot be built on, just 5% would house 5m new homes, max 9% of country already built on but public think it’s half. @rckarchitects Russell Curtis cited for his work

[David Birkbeck @DesignForHomes]

Last week FT reported affordability now worst since 1876. Today it reports Treasury crisis meeting on councils who won't be able to carry the cost of resulting homelessness. Yet, as FT asks, why do these red lights on dashboard get no attention when compared with inflation. Why?

[David Birkbeck @DesignForHomes]

And the form about ordering tables for the black tie event or offering sponsorship opportunities will be more detailed again... These commercial awards are tiresome. You never even know why the scheme wins on the night because it's 1 pic and a few words.

[D A V I D L O M A X @davelomax]

Writing an award submission.

Describe in 250 words why your project should win, referencing the judging criteria'.

The judging criteria are 326 words long.

[David Birkbeck @DesignForHomes]

What might design codes add to development costs? This page from Amersham's (under consultation) proposes remote parking to avoid cars impacting street scene. But multistoreys cost £10,000+ per home. Then there's carbon in concrete frames. How can this help Net Zero new homes?

[David Birkbeck @DesignForHomes]

@GeorgeWeeks2014 George
They are Funchal's street tree while much of Madeira has spectacular examples turbocharged by mix of sun and heavy rains. You even see them among the vines.

[David Birkbeck @DesignForHomes]

2nd leg of 75th Housing Design Awards in Park Hill, Sheffield tonight. Great updates on houses in Nottingham and nr Grimsby. And North is so adept at recycling its past, whether 60s estates or C19th factories and churches. Just check out the shortlist. https://t.co/7OZHXtexqm

[David Birkbeck @DesignForHomes]

"Reclaim the streets" (in the sky). Deck access gets a Muji make-over at Park Hill phase 2. Guided tour part of the refurbishment of Europe's largest listed building part of 75th Awards event on Wed 4 Oct showcasing ideas worth a proper look https://t.co/VkqWeOUyn6

[David Birkbeck @DesignForHomes]

Greened up parking courts, robust daylit cores, solar shading to modest point blocks, the HDAs' 75th hunt for replicable design moves offers the chance to see what the judges in London (28.09)] coupled to tour of Stirling Prize nominee Central Somers Town https://t.co/9WOvjNHw9o

[David Birkbeck @DesignForHomes]

If anywhere doesn't need help, it's Cambridge. In the past decade a city of 140,000 people has seen more good new communities than Birmingham, Leeds, Sheffield and Manchester combined. Oxford (160,000 pop.) is where help is needed as it's developed a fraction in same time span

[AndrewJTaylor @AndrewJTaylor3]

So ‘a super squad of planning experts�� is being created and sent to Cambridge first. Interested to know what Great Cambs planning think…

[David Birkbeck @DesignForHomes]

@LAnderson_Frank I think Bristol got in early with a net gain biodiversity policy that is a multiple of the incoming national target