YESLERTERRACE::Seattle,Washington

urban design case studies

THEDEVONSHIREQUARTER::Sheffield,England
TheQuarterhasseenarenaissanceoflifeduetoseveraldynamicmixeduse,urbaninfilldevelopmentprojects.
Eachprojectintegrateswiththeexistingneighborhoodandreinforcedthesenseofplacebyfurtherstitchingthe
fabricoftheexistingcommunityasanidentifiableplace.Each projectcontributesamixofresidentialunits,
boutiqueshops,bars,restaurantsandcommunityuses.

HAMMARBYSJOSTAD::Stockholm,Sweden
Thisprojectexemplifieslargescaleurbandesignprinciplesand visionthataretheresultofsolidmasterplanning
andstrongpublicleadership.Itincludesmultiplesustainableelements,adiversecollectionofneighborhoods,
socialhousingandathoughtfulpublicrealmsystem.

EMPIRESQUARE::London,England
Integratedurbandesign,landscapeandarchitecturalthinkingtranformsthisirregularthreeacreblockintoa
distinctiveandmemorableurbanneighborhood.Althoughrelativelysmall,EmpireSquareinformsthepotential
foroneofthehighrisesectorsofYeslerTerrace.Throughthoughtfuldesign,theaffordablehousingcomponentis
integratedandindistinguishablefrommarketrateunits.

GREENWICHMILLENNIUMVILLAGE::London,England
Thisprojectoffersamixofinspiringopenspaces,pedestrianwalkwaysandcontemporarydesign.The
architecturereflectscontemporarysustainablepracticeswithtwentypercentofthedwellingunitsreservedfor
socialhousingwhichisindiscerniblefrommarketratehousing.

The Devonshire Quarter

Sheffield,England

TheDevonshireQuarterislocatedinthecenterofSheffield,England,inatraditionallyindustrialand
residentialneighborhood.AfterWWIIthe demolitionofderelictbuildingsleadtoaseriesofdisjointed
developmentsduringtheearly1980sthatcreatedtheopportunitytoreinventthedistrict.Recent
developmentsaremixeduseandmuchmoreurbaninnature.Housingcomponentsachievedensitiesofup
to180dwellingunitsperacre.Asaresult,DevonshireStreetisnowknownforitsindependentshopsand
varietyofpubsandbarsthathaveenergizedtheQuarterasanalternative,hipurbanvillage.Theareahasa
populationofover1,000andisexpectedtogrowtomorethan5,000.Significantpublicrealm
improvementsstrengthentheconnectionbetweentheQuarterandtheSheffieldcitycenter.
DevonshireQuarterofferslessonsofhowinfilldevelopmentthat providesapropermixofopenspaceand
landusescombinedwitharangeofpublicrealminitiativescancreateavibranturbanneighborhood.

buildings
TheDevonshireQuarter
Contemporaryarchitectureisrespectfully
integratedwiththeexistingurbanfabric
whileformingtheedgesoftheQuarter.
Neighborhoodretailandserviceslocated
alongmixedusestreetscreatesafe,active
urbanenvironments.
Thecourtyardlocatedontheroofofthe
retailspacescreatescommonspaceand
contributestostormwatermanagement.
Surroundingbuildingsareappropriately
scaledtoframethespaceandofferasense
ofenclosure.
Thecourtyardcontainsavarietyofuses
includinggardens,seatingareasandopen
lawn.Hedgesseparateprivatespacefrom
publicspace.
Balconiesprovideprivateopenspacefor
residents.
Signaturearchitectureintheplazacreatesa
senseofplaceandidentity.
Locatingthestairtoweratthecornerofthe
buildingandenclosingitinglasscreatesan
iconicelementwhileofferingviewsand
reinforcingeyesonthestreet for
security.

spaces
TheDevonshireQuarter
Theintegratedsystemofopenspaces
contributesmuchtotheidentityandorder
oftheDevonshireQuarter.Openspaces
createinternalnodesthatarelinkedby
viewcorridorsandpedestrianwaysto
historiciconsofthecity,St.GeorgesandSt.
Mary'sTower.
DevonshireGreen,thelargestopenspace
intheQuarter,isvisibleandaccessible
fromallsidesandservesastheinformal
centerofthecommunity.
Thegentlyslopingandterracedlawn
encouragesleisurelyuseaswellas
orientationandseatingforperformances.

Surroundingresidentialandretailuses
overlooktheopenspaceensuringconstant
publicmonitoring.
Diverseopenspacesallowforavarietyof
uses,passive,activeandplayful.

connections
TheDevonshireQuarter
Streetsactasconnectorsbringinguserstoa
varietyofspaceswithinthecity.
Multimodalstreetsaccommodatelight
rail,buses,automobiles,bicyclistsand
pedestrians.
Storefrontfaadeheightsandmaterialsare
scaledforthepedestrianuser.
Narrowstreetwidthsandproperbuilding
massingcreateapleasantandhuman
scaledenvironment.
Activeusesfrontthestreet,creatinga
vibrant,safeurbanenvironment.
Permeablefacadesallowlightspillover
ontothesidewalkandconstantmonitoring
ofpublicspaces.
Contemporaryarchitectureisscaledand
proportionedtocomplementtraditional
architecture.
Newdevelopmentterminatesstreetview,
andpedestrianthroughwaysform
gatewaysintothedevelopment.

innovation
TheDevonshireQuarter

Siteelementssuchaslights,signs,traffic
signalsandregulatorysignsareintegrated
andconsistent,reducingclutterand
creatingabetterpedestrianenvironment.
Thedistrictnameengravedinthelightpole
reinforcesidentity,andcreatesastrong
senseofplace.
Indirectfixturesreflectlighttothe
sidewalk,creatingasofterambianceand
contributetodarkskyprotection.
Trafficsignalsareplacedonpolesadjacent
tothestreet,allowingforunobstructed
corridorviews.

Hammarby Sjostad

Stockholm,Sweden

TheurbandesignofHammarbySjostadisbasedonStockholmcitystandardsintermsofstreetwidth,block
sizes,densitiesandlanduses,thusintegratingitwiththecitythroughfamiliarityofscale.Thetraditionalcity
blockstructurecombineswithcontemporaryarchitecturalstylesthatrespondspecificallytothewaterside
contextandpromoteintegratedsustainabletechnology.
At18dwellingunitsperacre,thegrossdensityisrelativelylow.Thisisdueinlargeparttothevarietyof
openspaces,pedestrianconnections,andsustainablefeatures.Theprojecthassucceededbeyond
expectationsinattractingfamilieswithchildrenandisamodel forlargescalesustainabledevelopment
practices.Amongtheampleamenitiesprovidedforfamiliesarethreeschools,apreschoolandnursery,a
library,asportscenterandchildren'splayareas.Amixofspecialtyshops,bars,restaurants,and
entertainmentvenuescoupledwithmultiplepublictransitoptionsmaintainanurbancharacter.

buildings
HammarbySjostad

Buildingheightsandmassingcapitalizeon
viewsandsolaraccess.Uniqueandiconic
buildingsidentifynodesofactivity.
Tallerbuildingsformaconsistentstreet
edgealongmaincorridors,whilelower
morepermeablestructuresalongthewater
edgeencouragepublicaccessandactivity.
Buildingsdefinestreetedgesandactivate
thepublicrealm.
Highdensitiesandamixeduse
developmentpatterncreatesactive
environmentspopulatedwithpeople,
creatingasenseofcommunityandsafety.

spaces
HammarbySjostad

Openspacesystemisorganizedbyan
internalcanalthatlinkstotheriver.Semi
privateopenspaceislocatedattheinterior
ofblocks,linkedbypedestrianwaystothe
waterfront,urbanparks,naturalopen
spacesandthedevelopmentedges.
Pedestrianboardwalks,quaysandlinear
parkscontributetothevarietyofopen
spaces.
Seatingareasandlawnengageto
encouragepassiveandactiveusesina
singlespace.
Architectureisappropriately scaledto
frameopenspaces.
Residentialbalconiesoverlookopenspace
toprovideviewsandpublicmonitoring
whileactivatingandindividualizingthe
facades.
Architecturalelementscreateasenseof
placeandidentityanddiversemeansto
engagewiththespaces.

connections
HammarbySjostad

Anetworkofpedestrianpathsencourage
walkingandbikingbylinkingavarietyof
openspacesanddestinations.
Massing,useofglassandopenspace
locationsmaximizelightandviews.
Balconiesoverlookconnectorsandspaces,
addingactivitytotheedgesandincreasing
thesenseofsecurity.
Whereresidencesarelocatedonthe
groundlevel,landscapingandpavement
texturescreateseparationbetweenprivate
andpublicspace.
Buildingsarebuilttostreetandpathedges
formingaconsistenturbanwall.
Pavingmaterialsareusedtodelineate
differentzonesofpedestrianpaths
(storefront,movementandseatingzones).

connections
HammarbySjostad

Streetsencourageallmodesof
transportation,comfortablyintegrating
pedestrians,bicycles,autosandtransit.

Masstransitisemphasizedandincludes
lightrail,busesandferries.The
developmentalsosupportsneighborhood
carshareprogramwithover270members.

Transitstationsareeasilyidentifiableand
accessiblefromthroughoutthe
neighborhood,formingkeynodesof
activityandidentity.

Developmentislocatedimmediately
adjacenttotransitstations.

innovation
HammarbySjostad

Vacuumreceptaclesforrecyclingare
installedthroughoutthedevelopment.
Integratedstairsandrampsprovideaccess
andencouragethecreativeuseofcartsand
carriages.

Coveredcommunalstorageunitsallow
bikestoremainoutsideandprotectedfrom
theelements,allowingeasyaccessand
relievinginteriorspatiallimitations.

innovation
HammarbySjostad
HammarbySjostadintegratesmanycreativeandleadingsustainableconceptsindesignandmanagement.These
notionswillbecomethestandardsforthefuture:
Groundfloorofallbuildingsisbuiltasflexiblespacesuitableforcommercial,communityorleisureuse.
Nativereedsandrushesarepreservedorhavebeenrehabilitated atthewaterfront.
Tramandtransitinfrastructureisincorporatedintodesign,and newbusroutesandafreeferryacross
HammarbySjo havebeenadded.
Carshareprogramincludesmorethan270residentsasmembers.
Fromtheoutset,theprojectgoalwastobetwiceasenvironmentallyeffectiveastypicalnewconstruction.
Successofachievingtargetsismonitoredandsharedthroughoninformationkiosksandcommunity
website.
Sanitarysewageiscleanedandpurifiedatalargesewageplantnearby.Heatproducedthroughthe
purificationprocessisrecycled asnaturalgasatadistrictheatingunit,providinganenergysourceforthe
neighborhood. Nutrientsfromsewagearerecycledforuseonnearbyagriculturalland.
Stormwaterisnaturallyfilteredonsite.
Eachapartmentblockhasrecyclingfacilities.
Anycombustiblewasteproducedisrecycledintoheatenergyforuseintheapartments.
Biodegradablewasteiscompostednearby.
Anenvironmentaleducationcenterbuiltatcenterofdistrictto educateresidents.

Empire Square

London,England

EmpireSquareisaformercitywarehousesitethathasbeentransformedintoanewmixeduse,mixed
incomedevelopment.Thedevelopableportionofthetriangularsiteisjustunderthreeacresandis
immediatelyadjacenttoexistingbuildings.Thenewdevelopment includes572apartmentsand360forsale
unitsachievingadensityof310unitsperacre.Theprojectalsoincorporatesasmallsupermarket,nursery,
fitnesscenter,restaurantandbar.
Thisprojectoffersopenspaceandpedestrianconnectionlessons forachallengingurbansite.37%ofall
dwellingunitsareaffordable.Theseresidencesaredistributed throughouttheprojectandindistinguishable
fromtheotherunits.

buildings
EmpireSquare

Thetwentytwofloortowercreatesnew
urbanlandmarkandoffers360degree
viewsofthecityandestablishesaniconfor
theadjacentneighborhood.

Thepredominantbuildingheight,eight
stories,istakenfromtherooflinesof
existingstructureswhichsurroundsthe
site.

Residentialunitsfacetheinteriorcourtyard
andthestreet,creatingwellobserved
publicspacesandactiveedges.

Thedramaticpavilionfunctionsasa
neighborhoodnodecontainingacaf and
pub,adestinationinthecourtyard.

buildings
EmpireSquare

Streetelevationsarecladwithbrick
facades,integratingintofinegrain
characteroftheexistingbuiltenvironment.

Activeusesareincorporatedatthefirst
levelcontinuingthemixedusecharacterof
thestreet.

Privatespaceisseparatedfrompublic
spacebyraisingtheelevationofground
levelunitsandintegratingaplantingbuffer.

Affordableandrentalhousingiscarefully
integratedwithmarketrate,privately
ownedunitsandareindistinguishablefrom
theexterior.

spaces
EmpireSquare
Aninterconnectedsystemofuniquespaces
contributetotheidentityofEmpireSquare.
Gardens,plazasandterracesarelinkedto
eachotherandthesurroundingcityby
pedestrianwalkways.
Twodistinctgardens,oneatgroundlevel
andatsecondfloorlevelareopentothe
publicfrom6amto11pm.Thegroundlevel
communalgardenadjoinsthebackyardsof
anineteenthcenturyterrace.Thegardens
integratematuretreeswithnewlandscape
toestablishanimmediateparksetting.
Nestingandhabitatboxesencourage
residentandmigratingbirdlife.
Buildingsenclosethegardenonallsides
creatingatranquiloasisfromthebusycity
streets.
Eachdwellingunithasaccesstoabalcony
overlookingthegardens.
Araisedplantingzonereinforcesthe
separationofprivateandpublicareas.

connections
EmpireSquare

Thoughtfuldesignandqualitypaving
materialstransformalleysintopedestrian
walkways.

Affordablehousingunitslocatedalongthe
walkwayshavedirectindividualexterior
entrances,creatingmoregroundlevel
activityandmonitoringofpublicspaces.

Pedestrianwalkwayscreatepermeability
throughthesite,connectingthecornersof
thetriangularblockandlinkspaceswithin.

innovation
EmpireSquare

Plazaspaceislocatedontheroofofasuper
market,andcreatesatransitionbetween
thedevelopmentandthesurrounding
neighborhood.

Sculpturaldesignofventilationshaftsfrom
belowgradeparkingdecksintegratesthem
withtheplazaasanadditiveelement.

Interiorfacingfacadesarecladinwhiteor
texturedaluminum,creatingalight,airy
feelinginthegardenwhilereflecting
naturallightintointeriordwellingunits.

Parkingislimitedto.42carsperunitand
spaceisprovidedfor40scootersor
motorcyclesand317bicycles.

Greenwich Millennium Village

London,England

GreenwichMillenniumVillage(GVM)isa44acrebrownfield sitelocatedontheGreenwichPeninsula.Itis
integratedintothesurroundingurbanfabricbyariversidecyclepath,rivertransportpierandgoodlinksto
buses,tubeandmainlinerailwaystations.Whenfullybuiltout, itwillincluded1,400housingunits,20%of
whichwillbeaffordable.45,000squarefeetcommercialandretailuses,19,000squarefeetofcommunity
usesaswellasastateoftheartschoolandhealthcarefacilitiesarealsoplanned.
Theresidentialportionbuilttodateaveragesanetdensityof118du/acreandrepresentsonepotential
producttypeforYeslerTerrace.Thedevelopmentaimstocutprimaryenergyuseby80%utilizinglow
energybuildingtechniquesandrenewableenergy.Buildingmaterialswereselectedthatrequirelowlevels
ofenergytoproduceandcreateminimalwasteduringconstruction.

buildings
GreenwichMillenniumVillage

Architecturalstyleestablishesthe
neighborhoodidentity.

Buildingsaddressthestreetandpedestrian
pathsestablishingaconsistenturbanwall.

Higherdensitycreatesactivityand
observationenhancingsafetyandsecurity
forresidentsandpedestrians.

Buildingsareorientedandspacedto
maximizesolargain,naturallightand
ventilation.

Arangeofdwellingunitsizesallowsfora
varietyoffamiliestolivehere.

spaces
GreenwichMillenniumVillage

Openspaceisorganizedaroundaseriesof
internalcourtyards,linkedbypedestrian
ways.Theinternalcourtyardsfunctiona s
semiprivate,relaxinggardenenvironments
closetoresidences.

Eachdwellingunithasaprivatebalcony
allowingaccesstolightandfreshair.

Openspacesaredesignedspecificallyfor
children,withenclosuresandmultiple
pointsofobservation.

connections
GreenwichMillenniumVillage

Asystemofdiversepedestrianpaths
throughoutthesitelinkspacesandaccess
totheedgesandthesurrounding
neighborhood.

Qualitypavingmaterialstransformalleys
intopedestrianfriendlyconnections.

Streetsprovideseparateautomobile,
bicycleandpedestrianlanes.

innovation
GreenwichMillenniumVillage

Ascreenwallistransformedintoa
sustainablelivinggreenwallthataddslife,
seasonalchange,soundabsorptionand
identity.

Separate,dedicatedbuslanesencourage
useofmasstransit.

YESLERTERRACE::Seattle,Washington

urban design elements

partII
AmongtheurbandesignprecedentsareprojectsthatdonotdirectlycorrelatetoYesler
Terraceasawhole,butofferintriguingideasandcomponentsthatcouldbeintegrated
intothedevelopment.Thefollowingimagesareintendedtoinspireandexpandour
collaborativethinking.

buildings
LowRiseResidential

materials.space.flexiblespace,
attachedanddetached.

form.identity.character.color.

buildings
LowRiseResidential

integratedsystems.roofdrainstobioswales.

scale.edge.proportion.rhythm.

buildings
MidRiseResidential

views.pattern.personaland
communityspace.

urban.dense.mixed.

buildings
MidRiseResidential

dense.multiscaled.proportioned.

children.urban.privateinpublic.

buildings
HighRiseResidential

shape.form.responsetocontext.

contemporaryandhistoric
juxtaposedinharmony.material.

buildings
TowerResidential

identity.views.landmark.

scale.progression.rhythm.layered.

buildings
TowerResidential

terminus.relief.light.

buildings
TowerResidential

personality.edge.

connections
Streets

market.festive.social.

calm.mixed.continuity.

connections
Streets

district.pedestrian.vibrant.

alive.safe.memorable.

connections
Pedestrian

textured.material.intimatescale.

connections
Pedestrian

ceremonial.

connections
Pedestrian

identity.scale.inviting.

gradechange.contemporary.

connections
Woonerf

public private.multifunction.

hierarchy.interaction.mixed.diverse.

spaces
Park

solitude.

contemplative.

spaces
Park

social.external

social.internal

spaces
Park

ceiling.rejuvenate.soothing.

playful.sharedexperience.urban.

spaces
Park

views.

spaces
Park

community.children.health

food.education.pride.

spaces
Park

nourishment.connection.

agriculture.health.

spaces
Plaza

timeless.grand.iconic.elevation.

retreat.rendezvous.personal.

spaces
Plaza

scale.context.form.node.destination.

context.destination.elevation.

spaces
Private

air.skyview.rooftop.

outdoorsinside.

innovation
Energy

renewable.bold.

integratedsystems.

innovation
Stewardship

integratedrecycling.systemic.

innovation
GreenStreets

integratedfiltration.mitigation.

innovation
GreenStreets

verdant.responsible.functional.

education.filtration.

innovation
Nature

ordered.walkablegreenroof.

productive.health.food.

innovation
Transportation

escalator?elevator?enabler!

hub.human.concentration.

innovation
Transportation

multimodal.segregated.safe.

vertical.horizontal.access.

innovation
NoiseMitigation

living.form.pattern.

multifunction.solarenergy.

innovation
Slopes

connected.memorable.proportioned.

innovation
Slopes

multilayered.complex.statement.

clean.iconic.perspective.

innovation
Slopes

ambitious.