Building Code for Design Guidelines - Term Paper Example

Policy Report on Building Code for Design Guidelines Introduction Notably, building codes refer to a set of rules which targets specifying the standards for constructed objects. Some of the constructed objects that are subject to building codes include the non-building structures as well as building structures (Jones & Vasvani, 2017 p345). With building codes also being referred to as building control as well as building regulations, it is worth noting that there are building codes for various scenarios as well as countries. Such various scenarios are the source of the various types of building codes. For instance, when seconding Jones & Vasvani (2017, p345), there are building codes for earthquakes and scenarios related to the fire. The building codes will be approved by the relevant and particular authority, which accounts for the presence of building codes in different states, cities as well as countries. With the above mentioned, this paper seeks to take the lane to address and enlighten on the contextual site, that is Shoreditch Fire Station in Hackney London, compliance with the city building codes. Building codes, polices and design guidelines are essential in the planning and development of a proposed site plan, which it ought to comply with. To start with, the contextual site that is the Shoreditch Fire Station in Hackney London does not comply with the building code regarding the community floor-space. Pulling from Hackney Development Management Plan policies, the policy 31 takes the lane to the building code relating to open space and living roofs. This particular policy target both the residential and commercial units. According to the policy, if a certain site plans to have either a ten plus residential unit or 1000 square of commercial floor-space, the policy expects that the site should fulfill certain requirements relating to communal amenity open space (Dunnett et al., 2012). First, in the case the site is involved with commercial units, based on the above policy, the site is therefore needed to have a communal amenity open space of 4 square meters per employee for commercial development schemes (Morar et al. 2014, p116). On the other hand, according to Woolley (2013), in the case site is has residential units, the policy, therefore, requires the site to have a communal amenity open space of 10 square meters per individual/ resident (. As such and when pulling from the contextual site, it is worth noting that the site with residential units. For instance, for residential, the Shoreditch Fire Station in Hackney London as the contextual site has a Vince court- which is more often a residential unit. Such accounts for the contextual site having a 10 square meter per resident, which lacks within the Shoreditch Fire Station in Hackney London. Therefore, it is clear that Shoreditch Fire Station in Hackney London as the contextual site doesn't comply with the building code relating to community floor-space. Besides, the Shoreditch Fire Station in Hackney London as the contextual site plan does not comply with the building codes relating to the policy of residential moorings. With the policy being inclusive in the Hackney Development Management Plan policies, it accounts that any plan or proposal for a site ought not to impede public access (Albert 2016, p253). However, the contextual site plan impedes public access since the plan does not clearly indicate ways that it will facilitate public access such as the presence of pathways and routes. With such aspects lacking, it is therefore arguable that the contextual site plan hence impedes public access since it is involved with the Vince court-a more often residential unit. Besides, in line with the policy of residential moorings, the Shoreditch Fire Station in Hackney London as the contextual site plan also detrimentally affect the leisure provision, amenity, appearance, and character of both the waterway and surrounding area. For instance, arguably Shoreditch Fire Station in Hackney London as the contextual site plan, it fails to outline various aspects of leisure relating to its surrounding area such as leisure provision, amenity as well as appearance. Such hence accounts for the Shoreditch Fire Station in Hackney London detrimentally affecting the leisure provision, appearance as well as amenity of the surrounding area. Therefore, it is hence arguable that the contextual site plan of Shoreditch Fire Station in Hackney London fails to comply with the building codes in relation to Hackney Development Management Plan policies. What is more, the contextual site plan that is Shoreditch Fire Station in Hackney London fails to comply with the building code in relation to development and transport. In accordance with Hackney Development Management Plan policies, any site plan such as the Shoreditch Fire Station in Hackney London, ought to comply with various policies relating to development and transport (Ferm 2014, p2). For instance, to start with, in accordance to the Hackney Development Management Plan policies, a proposal site plan must maximize safe, convenient as well as inclusive accessibility and movement to its main centers for transport users such as pedestrians, cyclists as well as other public users (Morar et al. 2014, p116). Such will apply for accessibility and movement of the transport users to, from as well as within the proposed site plan and its main centers. Pulling to the contextual site plan, that is Shoreditch Fire Station in Hackney London, it is worth noting that, the site plan lacks outlines that guides about both the accessibility and movement of public transport users such as pedestrians, cyclists as well as drivers. For instance, the contextual proposal site plan does not indicate the route and pathways that transport public users such as pedestrians, cyclists and drivers will use to, from and within the proposal site plan as well as its main centers (Morar et al. 2014, p116). In addition, in line with the development and transport code of Hackney Development Management Plan policies, Shoreditch Fire Station in Hackney London as the contextual proposal site plan lacks to comply with the policy of adequately addressing various transport related essential services. Notably, in accordance with the Hackney Development Management Plan policies, a proposed site plan should adequately address the provision of transport related services such as servicing, drop-off as well as safe pick-up. Additionally, a proposed site plan should adequately address the provision of waiting areas for vehicles such as buses, taxis as well as their personnel vehicle. Also, a proposed site plan must adequately address the parking of their work-operation vehicles and those of their personnel’s as well as visitors who can be more often their customers. However, Shoreditch Fire Station in Hackney London as the contextual proposal site plan does not adequately address the provision of the above mentioned transport-related services, which hence contributes to its non-compliance. Further to mention, Shoreditch Fire Station in Hackney London as the contextual proposal site plan lacks to comply with the building codes regarding high-quality design. According to the Hackney Development Management Plan policies, a proposed site plan ought to comply with high-quality design building codes. The high-quality design building codes account that a proposed site plan should be able to retain, enhance as well as create features such as open spaces, townscape features as well as characteristic rooflines. These features will positively increase as well as contribute to the area character. Besides, the high quality design Hackney Development Management Plan policies assert that, a proposed site plan setting ought to be of a height as well as massing which particularly responds to and it is compatible with the various aspects such as landscape, town space, urban setting as well as adjacent building (Yang et.al 2013, p5433), which the contextual particular proposal site plan fails to indicate, hence the likelihood that these features are lacking. Further to mention, the Hackney Development Management Plan policies on high quality design requires that a proposed site plan setting and context will provide and ensure aspects such as adequate sunlight, open aspects as well as daylight to not only all of its part but also to the adjacent building and land (Ali & Al-Kodmany 2012, p384), which the contextual proposal site plan lacks to outline. Such will, in turn, ensure that proposed site will not be obtrusive to the adjacent buildings. Additionally, the Hackney Development Management Plan policies high-quality design general building codes require all proposed site plan should include both the waste and recycling storage facilities on-site. What is more, all proposal site plan should be designed to provide an inclusive and safe environment which is accessible to all individuals even the physically challenged. Lastly, Hackney Development Management Plan policies high-quality design general building codes will require all proposed site plan to be designed in a way that incorporates the principles of designing out the crime which will hence make on-site be based on a safe environment(Akadiri et al. 2012, p126). However, when relating to above mentioned high-quality design codes and policies to the contextual proposal site plan, it is worth noting that the Shoreditch Fire Station in Hackney London as the contextual proposal site plan does not comply. Such is since Shoreditch Fire Station in Hackney London as the contextual proposal site plan lacks to outline its various incorporated out-crime designs and designing that enable accessibility for physically challenged individuals. Besides, it lacks to outline its waste storage facilities on-site. These, among other above mentioned, accounts for the contextual proposal site plan being non-compliance to the Hackney Development Management Plan policies on high-quality design. Recommendations With the above-mentioned noncompliance of the Shoreditch Fire Station in Hackney London as the contextual proposal site plan to Hackney Development Management Plan policies on the various building codes, it is recommendable for the site to embrace various steps to improve and ensure the site safety as well as high design quality. To start with, the Shoreditch Fire Station in Hackney London requires outlining various aspects such as the height of its building and ways which will ensure that it’s building offer sunlight, daylight as well as open space to both its parts as well as the adjacent buildings. Worth noting is that, when doing the pre-stated, there is the need for the contextual proposal site plan to inquire about the advisable and recommended height of buildings that align with the building codes. Besides the Shoreditch Fire Station in Hackney London as the contextual proposal site plan should also indicate and include waste storage facilities and crime-out designs within the site which will make the site be based on a safe and free environment (Victoria, 2013). Further to mention, in relation to development and transport, the Shoreditch Fire Station in Hackney London as the contextual proposal site plan should illustrate and incorporates transport features such as parking space and areas for its personnel vehicles, route, and pathways for pedestrians and cyclists as well as transport means for physically challenged individuals within the site. These transport feature should target movement to, from and within the site plan as well as its main centers. Summing up, the above have significantly enlightened on the whether or not the Shoreditch Fire Station in Hackney London as the contextual proposal site plan complies with the building codes, and the level at which as well as the various steps and strategies that it ought to embrace. References Jones, S. and Vasvani, V., 2017. Compliance with the building by-laws and earthquake safety in urban areas of Bihar: progress, constraints, and challenges. Environmental Hazards, 16(4), pp.345-362. Ferm, J., 2014. Delivering affordable workspace: The Perspectives of developers and workspace providers in London. Progress in Planning, 93, pp.1-49. Albert, K.M., 2016. Open access: implications for the scholarly publishing and medical libraries. The Journal of Medical Library Association, 94(3), p.253. Morar, T., Radoslav, R., Spiridon, L.C. and PĂCURAR, L., 2014. Assessing pedestrian accessibility to green space using GIS. Transylvanian Review of Administrative Sciences, 10(42), pp.116-139. Victoria, P.O., 2013. Inquiry Into The Application Of the Safer Design Principles And the Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design. Yang, B., Li, M.H. and Li, S., 2013. Design-with-nature for multifunctional landscapes: Environmental benefits and social barriers in community development. International journal of the environmental research and the public health, 10(11), pp.5433-5458. Ali, M.M., & Al-Kodmany, K., 2012. Tall buildings and the urban habitat of the 21st century: The global perspective. Buildings, 2(4), pp.384-423. Akadiri, P.O., Chinyio, E.A. and Olomolaiye, P.O., 2012. Design of a sustainable building: A conceptual framework for implementing sustainability in the building sector. Buildings, 2(2), pp.126-152. Dunnett, N., Swanwick, C. and Woolley, H., 2012. Improving the urban parks, play areas, and green spaces. London: Department for transport, local government, and the regions. Woolley, H., 2013. Urban open spaces. Taylor & Francis. Read More