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July 2012
Aberystwyth Consultation Success
The Urbanists recently participated in a public exhibition in Aberystwyth, to give the local residents the opportunity to see, and have their say on the proposed physical regeneration of Town Square. The space is the crossroads of the medieval town, at the heart of the town's retail offer and has long been a popular meeting place within town centre. The event took place over the 5th and 6th of July and attracted well over one hundred people to participate in the design process.
The ambitious proposals are based upon a set of aims and objectives set out by the design team and local stakeholders. These included creating a more pedestrian friendly space, reducing traffic speed, removing unnecessary clutter and ensuring that the scheme is robust, durable and low maintenance.
The vision indicates the use of materials on the carriageway which help tie the whole space together, emphasised through banding centred from the existing clock tower and leading the eye towards the feature seating area in the corner of the square. The choice of materials is important to help blend the scheme in with the wider context of Aberystwyth as set out in the town's Public Realm Strategy, also produced by The Urbanists.
The corner of the square is south facing and sheltered from the worst of the elements making it ideal for resting and people watching; and the proposals make the most of this by increasing the provision for seating through a bespoke feature bench against the blank gable walls.
Removing unnecessary clutter helps to create a more flexible and usable space which provides opportunities for small events or markets to take place in the square as an extension of the existing Market Hall located just 30 metres away along Upper Great Darkgate Street.
The proposal also provides the opportunity to introduce an exciting lighting scheme to give life to the existing clock tower and blank gable walls through projecting images and lights which can be controlled remotely.
The proposals were met with a positive response and a positive write up in the local paper, The Cambrian News, which can be viewed here.
