Feng Shui • Feng shui is the study of how humans interact with their environment. • The aim is to create environments where the people living and working there can best succeed. • Feng shui is based on the idea that people react to their environment and this can affect their emo=ons, mood and thoughts. • We might for example feel different in a cathedral compared to a café. • In the experience of feng shui people respond to colours, shapes, sizes of spaces, plants, flowers, views of nature, ligh=ng, art, materials and imagery. • In Congleton the aim of using feng shui is to create an atmosphere that is posi=ve and sa=sfying to live and work in as well as likely to aFract new people to the town.
Simon Brown • Ran the first feng shui courses in the UK. • WriFen many best selling feng shui books. • Worked with Bri=sh Airways on the design of their Waterside headquarters. • Helped The Body Shop create their shop redesign. • Been involved in the design of many airport terminals. • Started as a design engineer and then trained in Oriental Medicine before star=ng a career as a feng shui teacher and consultant. • Currently the chairperson of the Feng Shui Society.
Aims • To create an atmosphere that aFracts people to Congleton. • To make Congleton an aFrac=ve and beau=ful place to live and work. • To help Congleton func=on as a town where people can shop, work, meet and socialise. • To build on the historical character of Congleton and respect its heritage. • To help Congleton find its own dis=nc=ve character and develop a reputa=on. • To encourage the kind of changes that would make Congleton a happy place to be.
Opportuni=es for Change Where can we improve and regenerate the town and create the most posi=ve benefits • MountbaFen Way. • Market Square. • Bus sta=on. • Train Sta=on. • Main shopping streets. • The derelict mills. • Parking. • Links to the canal. • Vegeta=on.
MountbaFen Way ISSUES • Currently feels cold, hard, municipal, fast and industrial. • Cuts through the town separa=ng the town centre from the leisure facili=es. • Creates a poor impression of Congleton for all those passing through. • Nothing to en=ce drivers into the town.
MountbaFen Way SUGGESTIONS • Plant trees either side of MountbaFen Way. • Grow hedges in the centre and at the sides of the road. • Con=nue with the beau=ful flowers. • Display posters highligh=ng the benefits of visi=ng the town. • Create parking facili=es that make it easy to stop and try the shops and cafes. • Build an interes=ng and landmark bridge across MountbaFen Way from the town centre side to the leisure facili=es and park.
Market Square ISSUES • Built into a pit below street level. • Cold, hard, municipal atmosphere. • Cannot see all the stalls and retail units. • Does not have a fes=ve, fun or happy atmosphere. • Lacks character.
Market Square SUGGESTIONS • Built at street level above a new car park. • Create a tradi=onal town square. • Use style of LiFle Morton hall to create a unique atmosphere. • Give the market and appe=sing, fresh, colourful atmosphere. • Make the market something that will be a talking point in the area. • Include a café to make the market a place people would want to spend =me. • Make sure the market is exposed to sunlight.
Bus Sta=on ISSUES • This is the first impression of Congleton for visitors arriving by bus. • It has an uninteres=ng, bland, cold, hard, municipal atmosphere. • Cannot see the way to the town centre or market square clearly. • Open, exposed, unprotected feeling.
Bus Sta=on SUGGESTIONS • Grow vines across the Morrisons and Library walls. • Plant lots of trees. • Display aFrac=ve pictures of Congleton. • Clearly sign people into Capital Walk and on to the town centre.
Train Sta=on ISSUES • This is the first impression of Congleton for visitors arriving by train. • The grey colour scheme and bunker style architecture creates a depressing image of Congleton. • The sta=on creates people’s impression of Congleton who are passing through. • The sta=on does not reflect the nature and aesthe=cs of Congleton. • There is nothing to en=ce or aFract people to visit Congleton. • The sta=on is situated too far from the town centre for an easy walk.
Train Sta=on SUGGESTIONS • A maroon or more aFrac=ve colour would create a beFer impression. • Plants and flowers would brighten up the sta=on. • Posters showing the most aFrac=ve aspects of Congleton would arouse greater interest in the town. • A bus service co‐ordinated with the trains would make it easier for passengers to visit the town. • A marke=ng campaign might be coordinated with the train operator to inform passengers of the delights of visi=ng Congleton.
Shopping Streets ISSUES • Some of the streets felt a liFle bare. • Retailers claimed trade was slow. • A lack of people in the streets and using the shops, cafes and restaurants. • All the interes=ng shops and cafes are not visible to people driving through Congleton. • Shops close early. • The shuFers create a run down inner city atmosphere in the evening.
Shopping Streets SUGGESTIONS • Create a strong retailers associa=on to agree on closing =mes, shop frontage, shuFers, crea=ng a shop plan of the town, marke=ng Congleton as a retail des=na=on on the internet, exploring shopper friendly parking and decora=on. • Brighten up the streets with trees and vegeta=on. • Add colour with window boxes with flowering plants. • Encourage outdoor ea=ng for Bridge Street.
Derelict Mills ISSUES • Creates a slightly depressing impression of Congleton. • Appears run down and decaying. • UnaFrac=ve.
Derelict Mills SUGGESTIONS • Think of these mills as a huge adver=sing opportunity to Congleton. • Use the mills to aFract drivers and passengers into the town centre. • Use the art of trompe l’oeil to make the buildings more aFrac=ve.
Images to Promote and Iden=fy Congleton
Images to Promote and Iden=fy Congleton
Images to Promote and Iden=fy Congleton
Acknowledgements I would like to thank and acknowledge all those who helped Dragana and myself compile this report. Dawn Gibbons Peter Cooper David Dingle Margaret Williamson John Bearmoor Fiona Hampton Jackie McArthur Sally‐Anne Holland David Watson.
Made Possible by A very special thank you to Dawn Gibbons who inspired and sponsored this report. Her enthusiasm and posi=vity were the seeds for the ideas that blossomed here.
Recommend
More recommend