23Architecture and landscape

23.1General power station architecture

The CEGB, under the Electricity Act 1957, was required to pay attention to the appearance of new power stations, both in architectural concept and in matters of detail for its environmental amenity suit­ ability. In so doing the executive architect would seek to exploit the engineering form of the plant and its supporting structures. The prime architectural objec­ tive would be to ensure the best possible appearance of the project, including buildings, structures and plant as seen from such viewpoints as are predominent in the public’s perception of a power station, and to present a confident and consistent image as part of the CEGB’s corporate design policy.

The executive architect plays a major role through­ out the planning stages of the project, hopefully influencing both client and critic for the common good. In the implementation phase he is required to contri­ bute to the design of both the plant-dominated struc­ tures and the buildings that are primarily occupied by people.

I'he landscape architect will study and assess the effect of the project upon the landscape. He will identify the ‘landscape objectives and prepare a strategy plan showing the key landscape elements. He will design the various elements in his plan and will parti­ cipate in their implementation by specialist contractors. Long term maintenance of the landscape plan differs from virtually all other power station maintenance commitments simply because the schemes mature and possibly wither, naturally.

23.2 Landscape considerations

Power generation is now largely a rural activity, with the burden of the visual and operational effects falling on the countryside. Although the cost of the necessary work is small by comparison with the overall project budget, the significance of environmental issues in the planning and consent procedure is large, and growing. The best power station design is the one for which consent can be obtained, and to achieve this economi­ cally in landscape terms, a range of expertise and activities is required. The proposed site must be visually analysed by the appointed landscape architect, who will seek to minimise adverse effects of the project. His skill will identify features to be emphasised or hidden, and his landscape scheme should pay due regard to the quality of the locality and its inhabitants.

Any existing woodlands both on and adjacent to site should be examined by a forester, and his recommen­ dations incorporated into the landscape plan, Forest plantations may need to be converted from timber cropping to permanent woodland regimes if their screening value is important. Ecological and wildlife

Architecture and landscape

considerations must also be adequately reported on by a specialist, and provision made for the protection of important or unique features of the proposed site.

Early commissioning of environmental specialists is vital if basic site layout decisions are to reflect the broad context of the site. In addition, wide ranging consultation with local authorities and such bodies as the Royal Fine Art Commission is required. This may be perceived as increasing the time and effort required to reach a final solution, but a better and more accept­ able scheme will result. Landscape work outside the site boundary should also be planned for where particu­ larly sensitive views are identified.

23.3 Preparatory works

Preparatory landscape work is work to be undertaken early in the project in order to safeguard or enhance final results. This consists of the identification and adequate protection of existing features to be kept (trees and woods, watercourses, rare habitats) and the conservation of topsoil by the proper design of storage mounds. Topsoil stacks should be kept as shallow as possible in order to minimise degradation and loss of soil life. Stacks may stand for several years before re­ use, and must be sown with grass and kept mown in order to reduce weed propagation.

Excavation and grading to achieve the desired opti­ mal land form is the main part of the preliminary works stage. Storage or disposal of topsoil and subsoil should y*be integrated into the scheme design, for example, b the construction of earth mounds, banks or terraces to final profiles from surplus materials. Double handling later in the project should be avoided wherever pos­ sible. Where soil is to remain undisturbed, early tree planting should be considered in order to gain growth in the early years. Suitable sites are the main access roads and junctions, car parks, off-site planting, and the outer fringes of contractors’ working and storage areas. Particular attention should be paid to buildings which are inhabited from the start of the project (such as hostels, construction offices, visitor reception facili­ ties). This is partly because a good standard of external environment in such places is a counterbalance to harsh working environments elsewhere, and partly to demon­ strate the standard which it is intended to achieve at the completion of the project. Although landscape pro­ vided around temporary buildings may be sacrificed at the end of the job, it may be fully justified for its humanising effects during the years it exists.

23.4 Landscape layout

Landscape work within the scope and ability of a power station construction can rarely be used to hide major structures. Hence the idea that the purpose of land­ scaping is to screen ugliness is true only in a very small degree. It is best perceived as a base setting from which

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