WHAT WE DO
Sylfaen Cynefin is a not-for-profit limited company providing professional services in urban and rural design, landscape and architecture. We work mainly in the community sector for local groups, Communities First Partnerships, Local Authorities, Housing Associations and others.
Our service includes design and feasibility advice in the inception, feasibility, delivery of 'built environment' projects, such as play areas, street schemes, Home Zones, environmental projects, estate, village and town strategies, refurbishment and new-build projects and buildings, rural and urban. We provide site context analyses, development frameworks and undertake research.
Some of the projects that our staff has achieved are presented on the 'Projects' pages.
A Unique Approach
We always work with local people, mostly residents in communities. We want to get it right with them.
We are specialists in making spaces, indoor and out, where people of all ages are comfortable - in busy parts of town or in their own private back yard.
We have vast experience in how places work. What makes good ‘people places’; where it is safe to play; where the best places are for different types of buildings; where doors and windows should be; how to make homes and businesses safe and secure to live and work in; why some routes are better than others; and how to make streets ‘people places’ too.
We start with access, convenience, safety and sustainability. For our community clients, ‘sustainability’ is firstly about making projects last. Social and economic sustainability count first. All the rest - good design, local materials, energy saving, facilities that communities can be proud of, and lots more - are provided as a matter of course, when we get to the detail.
Our design values promote sustainable projects that meet the needs of people in communities. In this context, ‘sustainable’ means maximising the resource efficiency of projects, maximising the long-term manageability of built resources by local people (e.g. low running costs and maintenance) and providing built resources that make a positive and lasting contribution to the living environment.
We work hard on what it feels like to go from space to space; to get from home to play area, to school, to the shops, to the bus. And on where to park the car; where the kids can play; where young people go; and how local shops can be sustained.
Our strategic work with local communities delivers achievable action plans for sustainable mixed-use development, where residents can readily gain access to places that provide for ‘basic daily needs’ - from a pint of milk and a paper through to access to the jobs market. Most times, that is best done by seeking to establish good ‘mixed-use town’ - (usually) mainly residential, with community and commercial elements.
The practice uses a participative methodology that encourages self-organisation and self-management by local people and/or by users. Our work is always ‘tested’ and improved by local people and other stakeholders.
The service provides and supports community development and consultation
We seek to establish a consensus of support within our client communities.
Typically, our strategic work provides:
· A walkabout with local people to tell us of their needs and concerns in their own way.
· An Audit and Analysis of existing natural and built resources of communities
· A Schedule of Projects identified and agreed with the community;
· Indicative schemes for community projects;
· Approximate Cost Estimates.
· A Phasing and Priority List agreed by the community as the basis for their Action Plan
· Documents and reports in a form suitable to support funding applications
In all cases, we would expect to generate strategic proposals: -
· To improve the range, quality, vitality and sustainability of the social and economic resources of the community
· For improved residential quality and safety of streets, the estate environment, public spaces and other roads;
· For improved quality, privacy and security of individual homes;
· To consolidate the collective integrity, social and economic sustainability, integration and the physical composition of neighbourhoods, their homes and businesses.
Conclusion
Sylfaen Cynefin Cyf. is privileged to work with communities in
We work to help provide sustainable projects for local people and maintain excellent working relationships with our client groups.
We look forward to further supporting communities with our services.
The images on this page are, from the top,
Holyhead, Gwelfor Community Centre Communities First and local young people (2 pictures);
Caernarfon, Cae Llwybr for Tai Eryri HA, with tenants (3 pictures)
Aberaman Home Zone (Newydd HA, then with CDS)
Oxford, Cowley Road (4 Pictures). Our staff carried out the concept scheme with East Oxford Action (SRB), soon implemented by Oxford CC.
And below, our 'model' for good town - what we endeavour to achieve
©2006 8 Salubrious Passage Abertawe/Swansea SA1 3RT 01792 64 64 67
