New Concepts, Findings & Opportunities

Abstract

Before discussing specific findings, it may be useful to review, in general terms, about what this book has been. First, design review is defined as a governmental function the purpose of which is to manage the physical development of a geographical area in a manner which reflects public determination of what that area should look like in the future. Design review is nearly universal in the US and the UK. Design review covers virtually all exterior aspects of buildings. Evaluation criteria are expressed in many verbal phrases and tend to focus on the visual relationships between a proposed project and its surroundings. The review processes are highly diverse in the US, ranging from simple checklists to elaborate and lengthy sequences of meetings and revisions. In the UK, the process is based on a combination of many overlapping sets of design guidance and case-by-case requirements which are generated ad hoc The percentage of design reviewers who have professional training in architecture or planning ranged from about 55% down to about 10%. Eighty to eighty-five percent of design review decisions require the exercise of personal discretion. Two-thirds to perhaps 85% of design reviewers go beyond review to actual design. Many, if not most, ideas used in design review are vague.