Tag Archives: design quality

A Ruralise ‘Reader’

Posted on February 22, 2013 by Matt Wood

It’s been a while since my last post, the final installment of my Forest Village epic. The piece was well-received: specifically one international journal has picked up on it and I have done a re-write for publication, hopefully in their … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture/Design, Norfolk DNA | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on A Ruralise ‘Reader’

We Need More…But Not More of the Same

Posted on November 29, 2012 by Matt Wood

Given the imminent arrival of the Leveson Report, Planning Minister Nick Boles’ foray into the difficult territory that is UK green-field development did well to make Newsnight last night. During most of the day I had been following the opening … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture/Design, Development/Land-Use | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on We Need More…But Not More of the Same

Nice ‘Big Roof’

Posted on September 30, 2012 by Matt Wood

It’s been a while since my last post – nothing since May to be precise. A ‘white-paper’ inspired by the Government’s self-build initiative soaked up all available writing-time for a couple of months, and then I was holding off in … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture/Design | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Tayler and Green #12 – The Legacy

Posted on February 21, 2012 by Matt Wood

Tayler and Green worked for Loddon throughout the 1960s, but also completed residential projects in the New Towns of Hatfield and Basildon, a large development of three-storey houses and flats at Camp Road in Norwich, and an office building in … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture/Design, Tayler & Green | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Tayler and Green #12 – The Legacy

Tayler and Green #11 – Critical Regionalism?

Posted on February 16, 2012 by Matt Wood

A pervading narrative in UK housing-design is that of ‘local distinctiveness’. The idea that new homes should ‘fit in’, or ‘reflect local character’, is enshrined in national and local planning guidance. For house-builders – and most of the local authority … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture/Design, Tayler & Green | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Tayler and Green #11 – Critical Regionalism?

Tayler & Green #10 – Refusing to Indulge the Un-Homely

Posted on February 13, 2012 by Matt Wood

In a most arresting passage of Alan Power’s essay in ‘Tayler and Green 1938-1973: The Spirit of Place in Modern Housing’, he describes one of the main differences between Tayler and Green’s approach and the ethos of ‘mainstream’ Modernism. It … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture/Design, Tayler & Green | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Tayler & Green #10 – Refusing to Indulge the Un-Homely

Tayler and Green #9 – Composition

Posted on February 10, 2012 by Matt Wood

Tayler and Green’s preference for terraces over more conventional semis was partly due to their impact in the landscape. Tayler had come to believe that semis looked wrong in a rural context – like ‘a row of pointed teeth, with … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture/Design, Tayler & Green | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Tayler and Green #9 – Composition

Tayler and Green #8 – Pragmatism and Decoration

Posted on February 5, 2012 by Matt Wood

Much has been written about how Tayler and Green’s work for Loddon fits so snugly into the Norfolk landscape, but a desire to ‘fit in’ was not a major driving-force behind their choice of forms and materials.

Posted in Architecture/Design, Tayler & Green | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Tayler and Green #8 – Pragmatism and Decoration

Tayler and Green #7 – A Kit of Parts

Posted on February 2, 2012 by Matt Wood

Loddon Council’s most pressing need, reflected in its initial briefings to Tayler and Green, was for family homes (one four-bed house for every seven three-beds), but very soon the Council introduced single-storey two-bed units into the mix, for older residents. … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture/Design, Tayler & Green | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Tayler and Green #7 – A Kit of Parts

Tayler & Green #6 – From Semi to Terrace

Posted on January 30, 2012 by Matt Wood

Despite Tayler and Green’s stipulation about not working rigidly with standard Minstry house-types, the first two projects for Loddon Rural District Council (five pairs at Leman Grove in Loddon and seven at College Road, Thurlton) were closely based on their … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture/Design, Tayler & Green | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Tayler & Green #6 – From Semi to Terrace