Housing should ‘fit in' to the neighbourhood and not unduly draw attention to itself.
At times there may be a need to find a thoughtful balance between the housing 'being like the rest' and 'being itself' in order to meet the department’s brief.
It is a question of how, if possible, to meet the department’s needs within the 'pattern' of the neighbourhood, where such a pattern is clear.
The design should demonstrate this by fundamental design issues such as form, scale, variety, attention to detail, appearance, setbacks and general relationship to the public realm.
This principle does not require stylistic imitation of adjoining houses, nor does it require an 'in your face' assertion of a different style, particularly if it is just for the sake of difference.
It does require that the project avoid doing things that stands it apart from everyone else in ways associated with lower quality outcomes, like:
- clothes lines in front gardens
- group parking of cars in front areas
- group rubbish bin enclosures in front gardens.
Reasons:
- 'fitting in' can help avoid the stigma sometimes associated with public housing
- it can support the dignity and sense of self-esteem and normality of residents
- it can reduce the opposition in some neighbourhoods to any form of medium density housing.
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