Section E
Utility
1 Fitness
As identified in the AUDE Higher Education Estate Management Report 2020, the pandemic introduced a seismic shift in the world of work, with many people now working successfully from home. Combined with changes in teaching and student expectations for continued blended learning, this has changed the nature of how space is used on campus.
Design considerations of scale, context and wider environmental character are important for long-term viability. A range of focused and flexible spaces will ensure future resilience to changes in programme and climate.
A landscape design should consider the level and intensity of usage, together with the ability of an external environment to accommodate this flux in usage. This includes the management and maintenance of the landscape as it grows and evolves.
Diagram adapted from Modes of learning – towards an open learning environment by Arda Kalenci.
Diagram adapted from Space and learning: lessons in architecture 3 by Herman Hertzberger.
Suggested prompts
Do users have enough space to work productively and the right spaces to work in?
Can office space be reduced and reconfigured to meet changing working patterns?
Can redundant office spaces be used for student-facing activities or to meet the needs of other sectors, such as commercial laboratories or business incubator units?
Has outdoor space been considered and given a programme of uses?
Are spaces flexible, and can they be adapted to accommodate a variety of uses and styles of teaching?
Can spaces foster innovation in teaching styles?
Can spaces be adapted to accommodate large lecture theatres (more than 100) when the need arises?
Can spaces be easily adapted to create digitally rich environments?
Has user comfort been assessed to inform the scale of the space?
2 Access
The connectivity of a landscape should be examined at the global and detail levels. Understanding and promoting positive links through the landscape, between buildings and departments, ensures a more legible and social environment for all users. An inclusive landscape design recognises peoples’ individual needs and responds with universal design measures.
Sustainable modes of movement must be prioritised, together with an understanding of the wider urban context with respect to public transport, cycling and walking networks. At an ecological level, landscape and water networks are equally important, providing key environmental connections to enrich landscapes and enhance biodiversity.
Photo by Nigel Young (Foster+Partners).
Suggested prompts
Is the space accessible?
Are there physical elements that might limit or enhance personal mobility in the forms of walking, using a wheelchair or pushing a pushchair?
Is the space legible? Is it evident how you can move through a space without having to take an illogical detour?
How much does a facility's location affect its usage? For example, is a computer room located on the ground floor used more than one on the first floor? What uses would contribute most to the activation of the public realm?
Have direct physical and visual connections towards the external landscape been considered?
Could pedestrian modelling help to optimise access and use?
3 Utilisation
Space should be articulated to provide the right balance between collective and individual activities and provide places to work.
The uses applied to a landscape will differ for each institution, but at a fundamental level, they can be considered as places that promote positive social interactions, activity and wellbeing, supporting the holistic needs of the university community and the wider public.
Extending the programme of internal building uses to external landscape can increase the potential usable area for students and staff and add valuable variety. There should be appropriate provision of shelter from extreme climate conditions, along with measures to improve the thermal comfort for people using an external space.
Landscapes can also play a significant role in a university meeting its sustainability targets. Strategies can include energy collection or generation, combined with water conservation.
