The Scottish Government

Description

Aims and comments

Time

1. Introduction

• Thank you for agreeing to take part in the second part of this research project, (should take about 25 to 30 minutes)
• Research commissioned by the Scottish Executive with the aim of understanding more about the building professions' views of the Policy on Architecture published by the Executive in 2001
• Anonymity of respondents and MRS (Market Research Society) Code of Conduct
• Permission to audio record
• INTRODUCTIONS: NAME, WHAT THEY DO, ORGANISATION THEY WORK FOR

Warm-up.

5

2. Current standards of Design

• How would you rate the current standards of design in Scotland (PROBE FOR DIFFERENCES IN DEVELOPMENT TYPE e.g. Greenfield housing developments etc) Why do you say that?
• How would you rate the current standards of design in Scotland compared to other places such as England, Ireland and Europe. Why do you say that?
• What standard of design should we attain to? (PROBE FOR COUNTRIES WHERE THE LEVEL OF DESIGN IS BETTER AND WHY IT IS BETTER)
• What would you say we are (in Scotland) doing well?
• What would you say we (in Scotland) could do better?
• How do you think this could be achieved? (PROBE FOR MORE GUIDANCE FROM EXECUTIVE, BETTER EDUCATION/TRAINING, PROMOTION & RECOGNITION, i.e. publicity and design awards)
• Do you think there is a coherence in design standard across the Local Authorities in Scotland? (IF NOT, WHY NOT?)
• Why is this happening/how could this be achieved?(PROBE FOR EXECUTIVE's involvement)
• Can you give me a couple of examples of current good design in Scotland?
• What makes it a good design?
• Can you give me an example of current poor design in Scotland? (PROBE COULD BE ONE BUILDING OR A TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT STYLE)
• What makes it a poor design and who is responsible? (PROBE FOR DEVELOPERS, PLANNERS, ARCHITECTS)

3. Professions' views of public awareness of architecture

• How aware do you think the general public are of architecture and good design?
• How do you think they perceive current standards of design? (PROBE FOR CONSERVATIVE, IMAGINATIVE, APPEALING)
• Do you think the general public can recognise good design?
• Is it necessary to involve the public in the design process? Why is it necessary?
• Would you say it is important for communities to be involved in the design process for their local area? (PROBE FOR WHAT LEVEL) Why, why not?
• Can you think of an example where the public have been involved in the design process? If so, did this work, not work?

• How would you increase awareness of architecture and good design in the general public? (PROBE FOR TRAINING/EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS ( e.g. art classes, social ed classes), VISITING PUBLIC BUILDINGS SUCH AS THE NEW PARLIAMENT BUILDING IN CLASS TIME) How would you engage the public more?

4. Planning System

• Do you understand the planning system process? Do you think everyone understands it (including the general public)? (PROBE FOR DIFFERENT LEVELS OF UNDERSTANDING ACROSS THE DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES)

• What impact has the Scottish Planning Policy ( SPP1): The Planning System had on the work you (your organisation) do? (PROBE FOR POSITIVE/NEGATIVE/NO IMPACT/LEVEL OF INVOLVEMENT WITH THE POLICY)
• What do you think of the current planning system? (PROBE FOR TOO SEVERE, NEEDS TO BE RELAXED/EXECUTIVE SHOULD APPLY A MORE UNIFORMED PLANNING POLICY)
• What works well?
• What doesn't work well?
• How important would changes to the planning system be in improving the quality of design?
• What changes, if any, are required to the current planning system and how would they improve the quality of design? Why?
• Would design be better without the current planning system?
• What's the alternative to the current system?

5. The Design Process

• Who has an influence over the future of design? Who has the strongest role? ARCHITECTS, CLIENTS, ENGINEERS, CONTRACTORS, LOCAL AUTHORITY, LOCAL COMMUNITY, SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
• Who do you think the policy is aimed at? Should the policy name change, to reflect the number of industries it is aimed at? (TITLE OF POLICY AIMED AT ARCHITECTS)
• Do you think that if the policy changed its name other industries would be more likely to feel part of the design process?
• Are non-architect industries taking a narrow view of their role in the design process?

6. Future of the Policy

• Do you think the policy goes far enough/needs to go further?
• Where do you think the policy should go now? (PROBE FOR HOW IT SHOULD BE DEVELOPED, WHAT AREAS NEED TO BE DEVELOPED)
• What influence do you think the Policy will continue to have in the future?

7. Architecture and Design Scotland - the New Body

• Are you aware of Architecture and Design Scotland? (Probe for when it will be established, where it will be based)
• What do you think this new body will be responsible for?
• Do you think the existence of this new body will have a positive/negative affect on the quality of design in Scotland?
• Which issues, if any would you like to see this new body develop in its first few years?