[Re]claiming Totterdown

Research Aim: To design low-budget interventions into the streetscape in order to instigate change within motorists’ behaviour to reclaim the streets for the community, creating a healthier and safer pedestrian environment.

THE CLIENT: Totterdown Residents Environmental and Social Action Community Interest Company (TRESAcic)

THE TEAM: Elliott Ballam, Christopher Trant, Tom Beazley, Habib Patel

The client for the project was the Totterdown Residents Environmental and Social Action Community Interest Company (TRESAcic). With this project, TRESA seek to improve the streetscape environment for the community by slowing down the speed of the traffic flowing through the narrow, residential Totterdown streets.

The aim of this project was to create interventions that will instigate change in motorists’ behaviour within the area, providing a safer pedestrian environment and with that [re]claiming the streets for the community to utilise.

Initially we carried out a thorough site assessment of the existing issues, which led us to develop a masterplan strategy for the area. Throughout the project, we consulted with the community at numerous public events, and our engagements highlighted many facilities that the community could benefit from, such as on-street bicycle storage, recycling centres and community spaces. Alongside addressing the traffic issues, the designed parklet interventions into the streetscape incorporate these community aspirations. The project was presented to the client at their monthly TRESA Meeting and to the community at the Totterdown Arts Trail, where we also made a prototype parklet for the visitors and neighbourhood to inhabit.

UWE Master of Architecture students:  Elliott Ballam, Christopher Trant, Tom Beazley, Habib Patel

Client: Totterdown Residents Environmental and Social Action Community Interest Company (TRESAcic)