The development of a process-based methodology for assessing the visual impact of buildings

Commissioned by the Building Research Establishment (BRE), the objective of the study was to assess the feasibility of identifying criteria that can be used to assess the visual impact of buildings in a manner that is not only acceptable and meaningful to developers and architects, but also to a broader audience that includes, amongst others, the public. The first stage of the research involved an extensive review of the literature and consultation with experts in both Europe and the United States in order to identify a comprehensive set of criteria that should be included in a visual assessment methodology. The second stage "tested" these criteria through interviews with developers, consultants, architects, planners, conservationists, and members of the public. It was concluded that although there are some differences between the various groups there are sufficient areas of overlap to make a visual assessment methodology feasible. However it is suggested that such a methodology should be process-oriented focusing on how rather than just whether criteria have been integrated into building planning and design.