PLACE LOGIC provides urban design advice by combining data driven analysis of urban form with masterplanning expertise while remaining neutral on matters of style. Our approach has been validated through extensive analysis of existing urban areas so that the important lessons from these thriving and resilient places can inform key decisions about the design of new neighbourhoods.
PLACE LOGIC emerged at the outset from a long standing relationship between ADAM Architecture and the Urban Design Studies Unit (UDSU) at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow. In 2008 ADAM Architecture was introduced to a new approach to street network analysis known as the Multiple Centrality Assessment (MCA). All approaches to street networks analyse how ‘central’ different street segments are within a network using different calculation methods. However, existing approaches treated street networks like social networks, focusing solely upon the number of links or streets between different points in the network, whereas MCA also considers the most fundamental quantity of how we experience space – distance. Through researching existing places, the USDU have since found strong correlations between the values of street centrality and other key qualities of places such as footfall, land use, density, real estate values, and levels of crime.
ADAM Architecture were intrigued by the potential applications of this new approach to their masterplanning work. Related approaches such as transport modelling methods cannot be easily integrated into the concept design phase of masterplanning projects since they require detailed information that may not have been defined. Moreover, plans change quickly at this early stage and transport modelling, which requires a significant amount of time to undertake, can’t respond easily to test ideas. On the contrary, street network analysis only requires few inputs and can be undertaken alongside an iterative urban design process, providing interactive data driven conclusions about the potential behaviour of masterplans when it is needed.
ADAM Architecture secured a knowledge partnership with the UDSU, known as a Knowledge Transfer Account (KTA), to commercialise the approach. This process involved reviewing the language used to describe the analysis, considering how it would be integrated into existing design processes, identifying potential partners and clients, and setting up a commercial entity, PLACE LOGIC, to make this valuable tool available to all. PLACE LOGIC became a trading name of ADAM Architecture, supporting several of its projects, but acting independently. Since its creation, PLACE LOGIC has since engaged with multiple organisations including international design consultancies, local authorities, architecture, urbanism, highways engineering and planning practices, and charities. The relationship between ADAM Architecture and UDSU remains, and they are currently undertaking a Knowledge Transfer Partnership funded by Innovate UK to develop a tool to measure walkability of new and existing places.
PLACE LOGIC can help find ways to revive existing urban places; can help identify the best locations for the creation of new urban places, and can then help to improve the quality of those places, making them more walkable and more resilient for the longer term.
