building in context

The Building in Context TOOLKIT grew out of the publication 'Building in Context' published by EH and CABE in 2001. The purpose of the publication was to stimulate a high standard of design when development takes place in historically sensitive contexts. The founding principle is that all successful design solutions depend on allowing time for a thorough site analysis and character appraisal of context.

The Building in Context TOOLKIT aims to:

to help local authorities plan for already developed areas in the most efficient way, while making them more attractive places in which to live and work and conserving our cultural heritage
promote sustainable new and re-used development that doesn't sacrifice what future generations will value for the sake of short-term and often illusory gains
to communicate to professional and community groups a wider understanding of how new interventions (such as new buildings, structures and spaces) can take place more successfully in historic areas
to help those making decisions that affect sensitive areas to reach effective and balanced decisions and a more efficient service
to help local communities with the process of taking long term decisions about their built environment in a confident and sustainable way

Building in Context: Appraising a proposal

It is true that there is a subjective element in judgements about design quality and people often disagree about what they like. Such differences of opinion and matters of personal taste should not be allowed to obscure the fact that it is possible to arrive at opinions about design quality that are based on objective criteria. There are many ways of doing this, but any such process is likely to include asking questions based on the following principles. These principles encompass both the quality of the building itself and its quality as a contribution to the urban design of the neighbourhood in which it is situated:

The eight Building in Context principles are:

A successful project will start with an assessment of the value of retaining what is there

A successful project will relate well to the geography and history of the place and lie of the land

A successful project will be informed by its own significance so that its character and identity will be appropriate to its use and context

A successful project will respect important views

A successful project will respect the scale of neighbouring buildings

Principle 7: A successful project will use materials and construction methods which are at least as high in quality as those in the existing context

Principle 8: A successful project might create new views and juxtapositions and add to the variety and texture of the setting

Download the full Building in Context Toolkit with supporting material below:

Building In Context Toolkit Checklist - pdf - 629kb
Building In Context Toolkit Foreword - pdf - 91kb
Case Study Poster for reference: Horsebridge 1 - a model development - pdf - 2,447kb
Case study Poster for reference: Horsebridge 2 - poster - pdf - 2,462kb
Case Studies: Creative refurbishment of the terraced house - pdf - 1,309kb
Case Studies: Old Haymarket, Liverpool & The Piggeries, Frome - pdf - 1,652kb

The Building in Context TOOLKIT contributes to local and national initiatives that will enable:

future generations to have an opportunity to enjoy the built environment in a condition at least as good as that we currently enjoy
people who live in and visit England to enjoy, appreciate and learn from the built environment
those people who care for and manage the built environment

To find out more about the Building in Context training event programme which accompanies the Building in Context Toolkit and information on facilitating your own Building in Context training event CLICK HERE.