Understanding the character of Perth and Kinross
To maintain and improve the identity and character of Perth and Kinross we need to understand what makes it special and how it works.
Poor quality maintenance, improvement or new development can damage that character. Examples include:
- damaging unspoilt countryside with excessive signs and advertising, using inappropriate materials
- replicating poor quality buildings can be found anywhere in the UK that do nothing to enhance the special character of Perth and Kinross
- opting for things that look stylish today, but look tired and commonplace tomorrow
- turning characterful main streets, the hearts of our communities, into corridors for cars.
Failing to understand how Perth and Kinross works has other risks:
- housing becoming unsuitable for modern lifestyles
- greenspace failing to meet our expectations for quality of life leading to falling property values
- difficulties for businesses in going about their day to day work
- people not being able to lead reasonable lifestyles
- loss of trade, wealth and jobs.
There is a wealth of information available on Perth and Kinross; its landscape, its economy and its city, towns and settlements. In this section of the guide you will find an introduction and summaries of many of those sources. But you can also study spaces and places themselves using your own powers of observation and reason.
Places and spaces look different and are different. Often this is because they have been created to do different jobs and have a different history. A village that was founded 1000 years ago or more, is different in form and appearance to one that was created in the 18th century, or a residential estate built today. We need to ensure they all function well. We need to ensure they are attractive.
To make Perth and Kinross distinctive we need to make it look more like itself, and less like anywhere else.
We should seek the best ideas available but avoid unimaginative copying from other areas.
We should be enterprising and inventive, and be proud of what we have.
Understanding landscape, loch and river
Perth and Kinross's exceptionally diverse range landscape with 16 different types, ranging from sea to sub-alpine, is in itself very unusual in Great Britain.
Understanding Settlements, Streets, Buildings and Materials
This section of the guide traces the history of the development of Perth and Kinross from the pre-history to the present. It has developed in a series of layers, with each generation contributing something that influences the next. Most of what we see of Perth and Kinross was created after about 1700. It was designed around farming, with planned roads, villages, and market towns all part of that system. However life has moved on substantially since then, and we are putting roads and settlements to very different purposes.
Some settlements are planned, and laid out on a grid with straight roads sometimes with important buildings lying on axis, the ancient settlements have irregular winding roads that radiate outwards from a central point, and sometimes are larger central space. These features define the character of the settlement.
There are comparatively few styles of building; many are government by rules of proportion and are built from local stone, with local detailing. They have a strong influence on sense of place. There is the potential to develop a tradition of high quality contemporary Perth and Kinross architecture.
But probably the thing that makes the biggest difference to the look of Perth and Kinross is the use of local materials for building, walling, roofing, fencing and so on. Up till the arrival of faster, cheaper transport in the form of first the railways and later motor lorries, local communities were built with local stone.
For more information, view Understanding the character of Perth and Kinross (PDF, 2.8mb).
Understanding the economy
Buildings, space and settlements are shaped by the economy. The current knowledge and tourism based economy is very dependent on a high quality environment and public realm to attract both the tourists and knowledge workers that are its lifeblood.
Find out more about Understanding the Economy.
Understanding people
An ancient and enterprising people that were instrumental in the foundation of the Scottish nation and have contributed to world history.
Find out more about Understanding People.
