A successful city has streets that people feel connected with. The way a street looks and feels is determined by everything from the front of its buildings forwards.
First impressions count, and the perceived quality of an apartment development is strongly influenced by the design of the approach or transition between a public street and private building. A well-designed approach can enhance the safety of users, reduce management costs and create long-term success. In urban centres, apartments may have commercial uses at the ground floor. In such cases, the clarity of a residential entrance at ground floor is important.
This section provides advice on the elements of the apartment building and site design that contribute to creating a successful street, including:
- an interface to a public street
- boundary treatments to edges
- safety, activity and overlooking
- shared driveways or accessways