This Spring, we’re exploring masterplanning in a conversation with Euan McLaren and Darren Park. There’s a lot of ground to cover (physically and theoretically), so we’ve split the discussion into three articles highlighting common themes and approaches. After progressing major masterplans in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Cardiff, and Trafford, the 3DReid team has developed a shared way of working—not a formula, but a rigorous process determined by exploration, imagination and continuity.
For Euan and Darren, no site is empty. While large urban sites may, at first, seem to be devoid of character, they understand that each place is shaped by social, political and environmental forces over time. Euan states “We like to use this idea of the ‘city strata’ in our work. The idea that cities have been built up and informed over distinct time periods. Our work looks to add a new layer to the strata; transforming what is there rather than starting anew”.
“I think projects become interesting when they somehow make these times visible in the final work” reflects Darren.
At Edinburgh Gateway, the team looked to the wider city for inspiration. The former factory site was occupied by a large, redundant shed. To inform an urban grain for the proposed residential led masterplan, they looked at the successful urban characteristics of Edinburgh as experienced through the streets and spaces of the city.
“The council have promoted West Edinburgh as a significant expansion of the city due to its high accessibility. By applying the dense urban models, we created a framework for a more metropolitan edge. The antithesis to the sprawling suburban character often experienced at the peripheries of the city.”
Perimeter blocks define new streets and spaces; an urban crust that conceals generous gardens at their core. “Whilst not borne from the immediate context, it was a contextual response in conversation with the wider city” says Darren.
At Edinburgh Gateway, the team inherited a concept that placed open courtyard housing next to a busy railway line. “Our instinct was to reverse that” says Euan. “We used the urban grain to create this protective urban edge to mitigate the worst of the conditions.” By densifying the edge, 3DReid created human scaled courtyards and gardens. A protected interior to the block. The built forms became a buffer to the elements.
Connection is a major theme evident within the masterplans undertaken by the team at 3DReid. At Edinburgh Gateway, the dense residential led masterplan was justifiable through the site’s good levels of accessibility. It is located on both rail and tram stops. The team are also conscious of the wider impact of the proposal and how they speak to a more immediate context. “We’re conscious of permeability and connections. We’re not creating this self-contained, autonomous place” McLaren explains. “You’re knitting into what is already there”.
This approach is common to other masterplanning schemes led by the pair including The Embankment, Cardiff and Central Quay, Glasgow.
Euan explains that this experience in large scale residential led masterplans has developed an instinctive approach with a body of experience and references. “We understand infrastructural requirements, good street widths and block proportions. Where to place active uses to support densification and vibrant city spaces” adds Euan.
“We have also developed this efficient way of working between ourselves. There aren’t competing ideologies. Part of that is this shared enthusiasm for making good work. And part of that stems from an understanding that you don’t have to start design from zero. We work with references and make new interpretations of them” Darren continues.
“We like to be rigorous – testing and developing ideas quickly by making and drawing” says Euan.
During the early stages of the Edinburgh Gateway project – the team used physical models to explore ideas. Darren finds that there is something incredibly immediate about working with physical models, they allow judgements to be made almost instantly. He continues “It also helps the conversation with others – people react entirely differently to a physical model than they do a set of drawings. It’s more apparent. And it’s an approach that continues into my teaching at the University of Edinburgh”.
This article is one of three in our Masterplanning series. Coming soon—part 2, Bins & Bikes delves into pragmatic concepts and social value, and part 3 Continuity & Quiet, Euan & Darren discuss honouring place and history in their design.
