Design criteria for the re-development of the three sites situated on
the eastern side of Market Street, Bracknell.
Bracknell Town Centre was largely built in the 1950's and 1960's and consists
of many high-rise self-contained individual buildings, several multi-storey car
parks and a partly enclosed undercover inward looking shopping area. Many
of the buildings utilise stone and curtain walling fenestration with facing
brickwork also being extensively used.
Several of the original buildings have been redeveloped and refurbished with
similar external fenestrations. The town presents a modern image of strong
individual self-contained buildings, with many now in need of replacing, not one
of low-rise linear buildings using traditional architecture. Market Street
is typical of the town with buildings such as Time Square, Millennium Centre,
Westerly Point and the Columbia Centre, being of the more modern type, together
with a mix of the old 1950's and 1960's buildings. New buildings should be
of modern styling and, of a height and scale such as not be intimidated or lost
in the general ambience of the street, and be an individual building of a
quality to enhance and promote what is considered a major thoroughfare within
the town.
Bracknell Forest Borough Council has for some considerable time sought to
implement the regeneration of Market Street and the recently granted outline
planning approval for the Bracknell Town Centre Scheme should allow this to
happen. The details are set out in the Town Centre Design Framework, and in the Master Plan
"'A new vision for Bracknell Town Centre". In both of these
plans our sites are shown as being buildings of a height and scale comparable
with our proposals, with many of the other existing tired and redundant
buildings also being re-built to provide individual self-contained buildings.
Against this background our architectural team have designed the buildings of
a height to give presence to the western elevation of the town, masking the
unsightly 1960's multi-storey car park to the east and enabling the residential
elements contained within the scheme to enjoy good sunlight angles and
interesting views. The buildings have been staggered in height to create
an interesting skyline and to take cognisance of the existing telephone exchange
to the northern end of Market Street. The principle elevations being
constructed with stonework at ground floor level and facing brickwork
above. Reflective glass curtain walling has been incorporated to give
emphasis and to create a more diversified interesting street scene.
The buildings will clearly have a strong presence when viewed from the West
and thus considerable importance has been attached to the roofscapes and the
upper levels of the buildings. Elaborate overhanging roofs have been used,
with different treatment being given to each building and to each element within
the building, creating as it does the impression of individual buildings yet
with an element of continuity in the design and that of an evolving townscape.
At ground floor level large window openings have been incorporated for the
proposed retail units giving light and life to the street scene at pedestrian
level.
The residential element of the building has been set back from the public
footpath thus creating an open space in front of the building giving a friendly
approach to the residential entrance and affording the opportunity for
landscaping and street sculpture.
Small 'Juliet' balconies have been incorporated to each of the residential
units. These create interest to the elevations giving individual identity
to each flat unit and provide an important amenity to occupiers.
The building has again been designed with a strong horizontal emphasis at
ground floor level using rusticated stonework with large windows to the retail
units bringing light and interest to the street scene.
Access to both the commercial and the residential elements of the upper parts
of the building has been taken from the proposed new pedestrian walkway,
creating movement and interest and providing a safe entry and exit to and from
the building.
The first four floors of the building, being for commercial and leisure use,
have been partially fenestrated with a bold curved curtain wall element creating
a focal point and a light feeling to the building, whilst faced brickwork with
inset windows have also been utilised to integrate the elevation with the
proposal for building A.
The upper floors of the building, being for residential use, have been
fenestrated with curtain walling reflecting the treatment below and giving a
light and airy feeling to the building maximising the views which will be
enjoyed and creating a varied and interesting elevation and skyline.
At ground floor level large window openings have been incorporated for the
proposed retail units giving light and life to the street scene and the proposed
new walkway at pedestrian level.
Entrance to the residential units has been designed off the new pedestrian
walkway, creating a safe ingress and egress from the residential element and
bringing life to the new pedestrian element.
An overhanging canopy at first floor level has been introduced, giving
protection to the shopper and providing a platform for the residential element
of the upper storeys of the building.
The main façade of the building has been broken down into relatively narrow
vertical bands giving the impression for a series of buildings of a scale
appropriate to a pure residential building. The materials proposed being
faced brickwork and self-coloured rendering, with individual windows set into
their own opening.
Small 'Juliet' balconies have again been incorporated to each of the
residential units. These create interest to the elevations giving
individual identity to each flat unit and provide an important amenity to
occupiers.
Consideration has been given within the design to 'Planning Out Crime' with
the ground floor elements of all elevations being visible by the occupants of
the buildings and also the presence of retail activity at ground floor level.
The principle of the design, massing and scale is the same as was previously
submitted in our earlier Planning Application and subsequent Appeal No. 623579,
which was felt by the Inspector to be in line with the principles and aims of
the Bracknell Forest Borough Council Town Centre Plans.
To illustrate our proposals visitors to this website should click on the
appropriate buttons above to view an aerial view of Market
Street into which we have set a computer generated image of our proposed
building, together with other computer generated street elevations.
