Mount Victoria: a pattern for development

Abstract

Urban renewal, rehabilitation, conservation; three of the great number of terms frequently used to refer to the means of dealing with the problems of progress in the urban environment. These terms loosely describe the options available when an urban area has reached a stage where some form of action is necessary be it to meet the demands of the future, to prevent decay, or to preserve the qualities of the past. At various times in the history of towns, as decay takes place and the demands of society change so too, must the built fabric respond to these influences. Unfortunately there is often no more than a loose planning statement as to future development policy; this often results in little or no action, or development which is unsympathetic to the needs of the population and the built environment. Prior to any planning policy being formulated there must be an understanding of the factors which influence development and the effects of such development on the area in question; both of which depend on an understanding of the inherent nature and qualities of the area. The basic aim of this paper is to gain an understanding of the character of an urban environment and the qualities of the built fabric that contribute to this. A single street in an inner city suburb has been taken for detailed study to establish a general discipline for the whole area. The general nature of the suburb and the street have been studied to place them in context followed by the more detailed analysis of townscape qualities and the elements of the built fabric that combine to give the street a sense of identity, a distinct character in the total environment.