Re-humanising critiques of suburbia

This paper presents a conceptual framework for analysing how patterns of development in suburban residential areas support or discourage activity within their public realm. The public realm in traditional patterns of suburban development is thought to offer few opportunities for anything other than necessary activities. It is argued that more variety in the types of residential setting should be provided because research suggests that people at different stages in the life cycle demand a great variety of residential settings. The need for higher densities of development also means increasing scope exists to generate a greater variety of social spaces whilst it is thought that the increasing diversity of household types should be reflected in the product of housebuilders. The framework discusses how we can analyse residential settings to consider the types of activity promoted or inhibited through the pattern of layout. A number of typologies are presented illustrating the types of space that might be considered instead of a continuing emphasis on providing only private gardens and car parking spaces