CONTENTS Acknowledgements vi Introduction 1 1. Design quality in the Netherlands 9 Context 9 Consensus culture 9 SuperDutch 12 Policy for architectural quality 13 Design quality in Vinex housing 17 Sustainability 19 Skills and training 21 Design quality in the Netherlands 22 studies of lousing in the Netherlands The Eastern Harbour District, Amsterdam 2 5 Ijburg, Amsterdam 33 Vathorst, Amersfoort 43 Leidsche Rijn, Utrecht 51 Ypenburg, The Hague 59 2. Design quality in the United Kingdom 69 Context 69 Policy for quality in the UK 69 Density 78 Design codes 80 Sustainability 81 A true Cinderella: skills and training in the UK 85 Design quality in the UK 86 Low- and high-rise doll's houses and Dan Dare steel and glass towers? Design quality in the Thames Gateway 90 Case studies of new housing in the UK Accordia, Cambridge 97 The Greenwich Millennium Village 105 The Staiths, Gateshead 113 Donnybrook Quarter, London 121 3. Learning from the Netherlands 129 Context 129 Methods of implementing design quality 129 Design quality through spatial, social and cultural diversity 134 Design quality through architectural and sustainable design 139 Design quality through urban design 142 nmendations for implementing design quality in new housing 146 Conclusions 147 Notes 149 Bibliography 156 Index 162 Image credits 167