Poundbury

 Poundbury Trip

Sophie Wiseman

For my professional practise module we went on a trip to Poundbury, Dorset with the university. I was surprised that I hadn't heard of Poundbury before as I live about a 40 minute drive from there when staying at my current permanent address. The first impressions of the site were that it was very clean, had wide open roads and the architecture was relatively new in most areas and followed a traditional theme. 

The most interesting part of the trip was being told about the extensive planning process by some of the designers and how well regulated the area is. It was fascinating to hear how everything must be planned and accepted before construction takes place and even the front gardens must be kept to a minimum. 

I find the concept of Poundbury to be exciting as it forms different spaces across the site, and there is a sense of community. Also, I was glad to hear that the sit included more affordable housing. However, I think if I were to live in Poundbury I would want more room to be creative with my house, instead of having it look the same as the rest. In addition, I would like there to be more social areas, apart from the field and playground. 

Overall, the visit was great for insight into the process of planning such a large project like this and observing the effects it has on the community. The feeling I got when I first entered Poundbury was surreal and almost felt like being on a movie set, something I'll never forget. I wonder if there will be any more designs like Poundbury in the near future.