The Burbs

Artwork from Ross Racine

"The subjects of my work may be interpreted equally as models for planned communities or as aerial views of fictional suburbs, reflecting the dual role of the computer as a tool for urban planning as well as image capture. Encouraging a reflective attitude by its perpendicular and distant viewpoint, the aerial view is used here to comment on society's occupation and transformation of the natural landscape.

In addition, the obviously invented nature of these suburbs exaggerates existing situations and drives the subject matter into the investigative domain of science fiction. Examining the relation between design and actual lived experience, the works subvert the apparent rationality of urban design, exposing conflicts that lurk beneath the surface. These digital drawings are a comment on the fears as well as the dreams expressed in suburban culture."

Just Seat it

Fixed individual seats offer little in choice of where you sit, what you look at and who you sit with.



Seats can sometimes be tables.......



...........and sometimes so uncomfortable people would rather sit on the floor.

Seating can sometimes be found in the narrowest of places.

Sometimes seats are steps.........................

......and sometimes you dont need seats at all.

People will sometimes sit on mint humbugs.

Seating - Dewsbury Town Hall

The benches outside Dewsbury Town Hall are wide enough for two people to sit back to back. This allows people more choice of where to sit and according to Willian H Whyte allows for a more 'socially comfortable' space, therefore a more used space.

Public Space - Olso Opera House

According to Wired magazine the public space surrounding, incorporated within Oslo Opera House was designed with skateboarders in mind.

Dragor, Denmark

Dragor, an historic village built to the modern principle of maximising solar gain.





Interspersed with small shared surfaced spaces.

Portfolio - Street Analysis

Urban Refine - Rules of Thumb

New blog launched!

Urban Refine - Rules of Thumb intends to act as a place to store all those practical masterplanning tips that my brain is continually forgetting.

There is a link to the new blog at the side of this page!