Abstract
This paper explores the link between the quality of the built environment and its value, in health, social, economic and environmental terms. This is theorized as ‘place value’ which, alongside ‘place quality’, is conceptualized as existing within a virtuous loop in which quality dictates value and value defines quality. To test this, a systematic review brought together wide-ranging international research evidence. The work confirmed a range of definitive associations between the quality of place and its place derived value. It also makes a clear link back from the evidence on place value to the sorts of qualities that enhance or detract from that value. These, in turn, define the constituent elements of place quality.
Highlights
The urban places that most of us inhabit are made up of buildings, streets, spaces and landscape, various land uses and a community of users
In turn, represents a complex amalgam of issues, that is experienced in a relative manner, whilst the complexity of the whole spirals on and on. Cutting through this complexity and relating the issue back to the discussion of value, one way of answering the question ‘what is meant by place quality?’ might be that a high quality place is one which returns the greatest value to its users with regard to meeting and sustaining them in healthy, socially rich and economically productive lifestyles that touch lightly on the environment
It is possible to envision these different qualities as sitting on a ladder (Figure 4) that climbs from those place qualities to be avoided when shaping the built environment; to those where the impact is as yet unknown; to second order place qualities that are strongly associated with the delivery of place derived value of all types; to those first order qualities which are fundamental and which should be required as a means to maximize place value through good design
Summary
The urban places that most of us inhabit are made up of buildings, streets, spaces and landscape, various land uses and a community of users. Cutting through this complexity and relating the issue back to the discussion of value, one way of answering the question ‘what is meant by place quality?’ might be that a high quality place is one which returns the greatest value to its users with regard to meeting and sustaining them in healthy, socially rich and economically productive lifestyles that touch lightly on the environment Reflecting this position, a deliberately broad and unconstrained notion of ‘place quality’ was adopted to guide the systematic review, with studies included as long as they related some measurable aspect of public and/or private value to one or more tangible ‘qualities’ of the built environment, for example, the presence of trees, a mix of uses, walkability, and so forth. A diverse range of physical qualities, and perceptions of those qualities, are studied, ranging from intangible issues such as the importance of a positive sense of place to very
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