Enhancing the sense of place: insights from urban design practices in harbourside regeneration

Abstract

The UK has made efforts to rebuild its cities’ image through harbourside regeneration projects, aiming to enhance citizens’ sense of local identity in recent decades. This endeavour requires systematic research on effective urban design strategies, especially for renewal projects, to restore a sense of place (SoP). Hence, this study proposes a conceptual framework for SoP with measurable urban design elements combining both scholars’ and place users’ perceptions. To begin the research process, we summarised ten design elements for SoP and seven levels of SoP based on a literature review. Then, we conducted an on-site questionnaire survey to collect place users’ perceptions on SoP. Subsequently, we developed a SoP conceptual framework by combining insights from prior studies and on-site users’ perceptions. To test the conceptual framework and extract feasible urban design strategies for forming a strong SoP, we investigated three representative harbourside regeneration projects in the UK with high levels of SoP. The core design strategies employed in these projects are summarised in this paper along the following three dimensions: (a) mixed land use of residence, work, and tourism complemented by various supporting public facilities; (b) rich spatial relationships based on high degrees of accessibility, permeability, and rational urban tissue and development density; and (c) a distinctive place character formed by public space, architecture, and landscape design. These strategies would complement each other to develop a SoP design guideline based on a unique image, diverse activities, and reasonable forms. This study’s findings can be instrumental in the empirical assessment, design, planning, and policymaking for promoting SoP in regeneration projects.