Design Checklist
- Buildings are located as close to the street boundary as existing or planned street frontage patterns allow
- Commercial uses are located on ground floor areas that front the street
- Any ground floor residential units that front the street are carefully designed to provide adequate privacy for residents
Overview
For a street to have a sense of place, and not just be a movement zone for vehicles, due care must be given to the design of the buildings and front yards that line its edges.
In denser urban environments a clear and contiguous 'wall' of buildings along the street edge, with minimal front yard setbacks, is optimal for creating an active, interesting and engaging streetscape. Of primary importance when designing for this type of built environment is the interaction between the lower levels of the building and the street. The building should be designed to create activity and interest at the street level through the provision of commercial, retail or hospitality activities on the ground floor level.