Coding urban design: Constructing a wireframe for a place-focused urbanism

Abstract

This paper explores the nature and use of coding in urban design, both conceptually and as a tool for delivering a greater attention to place-focused urbanism. It discusses how these practices have been used on both sides of the Atlantic before conceptualising this role in the light of different ‘model’ coding prescriptions and processes. The paper draws from two major pilot programmes, 17 years apart, that examined the use and potential of codes in England, alongside evidence on the spread and effectiveness of coding in the country. The work is particularly relevant internationally as the only known large-scale and longitudinal evaluation of coding practices in urban design. Ultimately, the evidence points to the value of codes as a distinct urban design governance tool that can establish a ‘wireframe’ of essential urbanistic elements with the potential to optimise place value.