Browsing by Author "Platt, Stephen"

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4

Citation - WoS: 5
Citation - Scopus: 5
Better Quality Built Environments: Design Review Panels as Applied in Cambridge, England
(Routledge Journals, Taylor & Francis Ltd, 2019) Durmaz-Drinkwater, Bahar; Platt, Stephen
This paper describes how design review panels operate in England, focusing on three panels operating in Cambridge. It considers two questions: whether design review panels contribute to improving the quality of the built environment, and whether they are an important element of the design process. The analysis focuses on the quality and process of urban design, based on face-to-face qualitative interviews with planners, developers and panel members. In conclusion, despite the several shortcomings, the paper argues that the panels contribute to better dialogue between the different actors of the process, and hence can improve the quality of built environments.
Citation - WoS: 4
Citation - Scopus: 3
Do Perceptions of Neighbourhood Change Match Objective Reality?
(Routledge Journals, Taylor & Francis Ltd, 2020) Durmaz-Drinkwater, Bahar; Platt, Stephen; Can-Traunmuller, Isin
This study analyses neighbourhood change, its impact on the character of Soho, and to what extent perceptions of change match objective reality. Focusing on three streets (Berwick, Old Compton and Wardour Streets), the research (2008-2018) compares objective evidence of ground floor uses with the perceptions of people living and working in Soho. There was a close match between perceptions and objective measures of change on 4 out of 7 indicators: type of use, business name, locality and business ethnicity. The paper discusses these changes in terms of commercial gentrification that threatens Soho's character.
Citation - WoS: 38
Citation - Scopus: 46
Post-Earthquake Decision Making in Turkey: Studies of Van and Izmir
(Elsevier Science Bv, 2016) Platt, Stephen; Drinkwater, Bahar Durmaz
This paper addresses post-disaster response and recovery in disaster management and recovery in Turkey. It discusses the findings from a real-time event, the Van Earthquake, and a scenario planning exercise in Izmir. The field work after the Van earthquake of 2011 focuses on recovery and housing relocation; and the Izmir scenario planning exercise conducted with AFAD personnel and others explores how information is used and decisions are made at different stages of response and recovery. Findings from both Van and the exercise point to a focus on immediate decisions at the expense of long-term planning that it would be sensible to address. In conclusion, this paper recommends an approach to post earthquake management in Turkey that balances the immediate needs of speed in rebuilding the infrastructure and economy with longer-term planning goals of maintaining and enhancing quality of life and improving not only the safety, but also the resilience of the urban fabric. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Citation - WoS: 9
Citation - Scopus: 12
Urban Development Process and Creative Clustering: the Film Industry in Soho and Beyoglu
(Palgrave Macmillan Ltd, 2016) Drinkwater, Bahar Durmaz; Platt, Stephen
The article focuses on the urban development process that contributes to creative clustering of the film industry in Soho and Beyoglu. It explains how different policy-led and organic development processes have shaped location patterns of creative clusters. It also discusses the role of urban design in the formation, growth and sustainability of creative clustering. The findings of this cross-national study suggest that the overall quality of place that attracts and retains creative clusters is related to place-making processes, including both policy-led interventions and organic dynamics of the places. The study strongly suggests that sustainability of creative clustering results from the successful integration of public policy with organic change and policy-led initiatives, if informed by, and backed by local community and business interests, which can counterbalance the negative effect of market forces on clusters. Although there is little that urban design itself can do to initiate clustering, once the conditions favouring clustering have developed organically, then urban design, stewardship and coordinated action between the urban actors all have a role in supporting the continued existence of co-location and economic prosperity of these clusters.