The environmental design of residential street systems

Research undertaken at Melbourne University has led to the development of a quantitative framework for the integrated design of residential areas and their street systems. Aspects of the work are described in three parts: environmental quality of streets, environmental capacity of residential areas, and a framework for residential area design. In the first part, the fundamental conflict between the level of traffic service for urban streets and measures of environmental quality is discussed, and a rational method of street classification for design is proposed, such as classification identifying a direct relationship between design elements and the environmental quality of a street. The concept of the environmental capacity of residential areas is introduced in the second part and proposed as a fundamental parameter for design of such areas. The final section draws together the first two treatments to form a single framework for residential area design, clearly illustrating the interrelationship of the various planning parameters and the environmental treatment (a).