Some reasons why greenspace in the high density housing estates of the 1960s and 1970s remain a problem

As we move into a time when the building of medium to high density housing is once more fashionable, it would seem essential that we learn from past mistakes. Yet on all too many recent high-rise schemes in the UK, we see a repetition of past patterns in relation to how the external environment is considered. Evidence as far back as the 1970s from post occupancy evaluations of such estates showed that the inhabitants were often initially delighted with their new accommodation just as today, but that within a short period the external environment became perceived as a problem, which led to reduced levels of satisfaction and in many cases the ultimate rejection of these environments as suitable settings for modern residential life (DOE,1972). That the post occupancy research continues to be ignored by the designers of social housing remains a cause for concern.

In many schemes in the UK today it appears that the developers' solution to this problem is to have no 'external spaces' within the boundaries of their site! Where children will play, or older people can sit in the sun as they wait for friends, and where they will see greenery, are forgotten factors. It could be argued that such issues are the city's responsibility, but in the present financial regime they have no spare money to buy, design or look after the land required if such 'places' are to be provided. The increasing evidence of a link between health and greenspace (Grahn, 2003) alone should cause a rethink of this situation - the cost to society of sick, older people continues to rise, yet we know that daily exercise increases health levels and we know that looking out at greenspaces has a positive effect on the human mind and through that on the body (Ulrich, 1999).

There is an urgent need to rethink the role of this local open space in high density housing in general because of the EU's guidance on the need to develop all expanding cities as the 'Compact City'. If we cannot get the older high density schemes to work properly as a satisfactory setting for daily life, then what hope is there in the new developments now on the drawing board and being built at similar or greater densities?

In the main there is still a lack of proper consideration being given to the experiential aspects of the external environment around the home.

Source: http://www.thesteelvalleyproject.info/green/Places/residential/high-rise.htm