Urban surface design

Aesthetics - scale

In urban design, scale refers to the size relationship between elements within structures and the surrounding ‘space’.

Frequently it is also the surface elements within the ‘space’ that contribute to a visual perspective.  Consequently it is important to make size choices that are suitable for the setting and the scale of the design.

Modern surface water management in urban contexts can bring about some counterintuitive scenarios – small spaces may be the confluence of several water flows and have to accommodate very large quantities of water being, on the other hand large open spaces may have little water to channel as a result of high levels of infiltration.

ACO’s systems vary from very high capacity channels to very low however it is important to understand that options at the surface are not necessarily dependent on the underlying hydraulic capacity.  The largest ACO Qmax has the highest capacity in the range and might be expected to have a consequentially large profile at the surface, this is not the case as Qmax surface options include a variety of discrete slot inlets. Similarly a shallow but wide MultiDrain could be used where a relatively low capacity is required but a wider surface presence is desired.