Active frontage

Bradford City Centre Design Guide, Supplementary Planning Document, published in 2006, defines frontage as: ‘…the front face of a building where it has its main door windows.’ It defines active frontage as: ‘…ground floors with windows and doors onto the street which create interest and activity. This normally means shopfronts but can include atriums and foyers.’

Urban Design Guidelines for Victoria, published by The State of Victoria Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning in 2017 suggests that active frontage: ‘Refers to street frontages where there is an active visual engagement between those in the street and those on the ground and upper floors of buildings. This quality is assisted where the front facade of buildings, including the main entrance, faces and opens towards the street. Ground floors may accommodate uses such as cafes, shops or restaurants. However, for a frontage to be active, it does not necessarily need to be a retail use, nor have continuous windows. A building's upper floor windows and balconies may also contribute to the level of active frontage. Active frontages can provide informal surveillance opportunities and often improve the vitality and safety of an area. The measures of active frontage may be graded from high to low activity.’

Glasgow City Development Plan, Published by Glasgow City Council in 2016, defines active frontage as: ‘Building frontage where there is an active visual engagement between those on the street and those on the ground floors of buildings.’

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki

• Atrium.
• Elevation.
• Façade.
• Foyer.
• Frontage.
• Primary and secondary frontages.
• Primary shopping area.