As well as ensuring designs are robust and of a high quality, they should all take into account maintenance budgets, ensuring the space is designed in a way to reflect its ongoing maintenance needs. Without being able to keep on top of the necessary maintenance, the area will soon begin to show signs of neglect and disrepair. Working with residents, design teams and key contacts in charge of maintaining the site should all be involved in the process to ensure that they can design a space that meets their needs, but also to agree ways in which they can maintain it.
The redesigning of the courtyard outside Chadworth House in EC1 was resident-led, and a new fountain was installed as part of their requests for the space. The fountain, despite being popular with residents, was turned off by the local housing ALMO shortly after installation as they requested a grille to be installed to address health and safety needs. The design was adapted in order to install the grille, but is still not in use due to electrical supply problems on the estate. Maintenance of the water feature continues to be an ongoing issue with the housing ALMO.
The design itself was creative, worked well in the space and was popular with residents. However, if maintenance plans had been addressed and agreed before the designs for the space were signed off, the plans could have been changed or adapted beforehand, money would have been saved and the residents could have agreed on a more appropriate feature if necessary.
