Good Design
When contemplating good design it is important to be holistic in one’s approach to the subject. Good design is not just about outward appearances, although that is definitely an aspect, but rather good design represents a combination of factors that shape both the utility of a space, along with the perceptions of residents. Well-designed projects become assets, rather than liabilities for the neighborhoods in which they are constructed. They can create sources of pride for communities that have been long forgotten or neglected over time, as well as increase safety and accessibility for occupants, even while reducing energy usage and containing costs.
Growth of Good Design
“Until the 1980s, almost all low-income housing in the country was built by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, designed with an eye to quantity, not quality (Casselman, 2007).” Today, however, many of the country’s affordable housing projects are built either by local agencies or private firms, such as the Michaels Development Company. CCLF plays a critical role in developing these projects, by providing them with the financing necessary to ensure success, often doing so in the earliest stages.
As more communities incorporate new “inclusionary zoning” policies into their planning ordinances, good design is becoming a tool used to enhance neighborhood vitality, and serve as a counterpoint to the NIMBYism that, unfortunately, often accompanies affordable housing developments.
What is Good Design
If architecture is communication, as some insist, then the city is a vibrant discourse, reflective of the people who call it home. Our buildings are statements about who we are and what we have to say, which is why good design is so important. Put simply, design is a reflection of us. According to Affordable Housing-Design Advisor, a collaboration between the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, The American Institute of Architects, and a number of advocacy and community development organizations, there are four main criteria that define the essence of good design. Other local resources on good urban design include:
- Design Matters-City Design Center at the University of Illinois at Chicago
- Urban Design Strategy Report-Chicago Metropolitan Planning Agency (CMAP)
Projects Should:
- Promote Healthy Enviornments
- Enhance the Neighborhood
- Accommodate User Needs
- Understand and Respond to Context
By meeting these four basic criteria, developers can ensure that they have created a space that is not only valuable to the resident and neighborhood in which it is located, but also helps to challenge negative assumptions about the quality of affordable housing.
CCLF partners with the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation in it's promotion of good design principals. CCLF works for the preservation and enhancement of the built and natural environments. Recognizing that design does matter, and that well-designed projects are important assets, CCLF identifies underserved areas and works to improve and enhance those spaces through its lending capabilities.
