CARACTERÍSTICAS DE LAS RESIDENCIAS PARA ESTUDIANTES

DICE

The aim of this chapter is to explain what DICE is, what the work is that they have carried out and to outline the literature they have produced.

DICE stands for Design Improvement Controlled experiment. It was formed as a consultancy from what was called the Land Use Research Unit. It is headed by Professor Alice Coleman. Professor Coleman has a number of employees, some part-time and some full-time as well as geography students on placement which help her with her research. There are two parts to the DICE work, firstly their work involves a controlled experiment, as their title suggests, carried out for the DOE and secondly they are a consultancy which can be asked for advice or to create schemes. DICE is active at present in both these fields.

In 1988 Professor Coleman was appointed by the DOE as a consultant to test her ideas that design improvements on run-down estates can themselves reduce the disadvantages suffered by residents and affect behaviour. This decision followed discussions between Coleman and DOE officials and ultimately the then Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher. On

3rd November 1988 Nicholas Ridley, the then Secretary of State for the Environment, according to the Prime Minister's instructions, announced that there would be a full-scale trial of Coleman's methods. It was envisaged that each trial would take 2-3 years and would be evaluated over a five year period. At first it was thought that the trial would involve three estates and would be London based. The DOE were to pay for the works where money was not available from the local authorities.! Following a number of site visits and considering that there had not been enough interest in London, the search for suitable estates was widened to the whole country.

Ultimately DICE has involved the redesign of seven selected estates. Three of the estates were announced in 1990-91: Rogers (Tower Hamlets), Avenham (Preston) and Bennett Street (Manchester). The other four were announced in 1991- 92: Ranwell (Tower Hamlets), Kingsthorpe (Nottingham), Durham (Sandwell) and Nazareth (Birmingham). A design disadvantagement and abuse survey was carried out for each estate and resulting from these surveys a scheme was drawn up to remedy the deleterious designs in consultation with tenants and council officers.2 The first estate to be announced was Rogers Estate on 19th October 1990. Announcing the allocation of £4.5 Million to the estate Mr

Spicer said

I am delighted to approve today the first of Professor Coleman's experimental schemes-on the Rogers Estate in London. Professor's Coleman's theories on design improvement are important and need to be tested out in practice....The conclusions will have wide implications for housing policy and I am sure that the other authorities involved will be eager to press ahead with their schemes^

As a special case DICE was included as part of Estate Action following the Prime Minister's instructions. The experiment is being evaluated by Price Waterhouse for the DOE.

Price Waterhouse have been collecting data since 1991 so as to provide a comprehensive before and after study. The study is intended to be five years in length. The housing authorities are sent a form every quarter upon which to record their statistics. The statistics that have been requested relate to a number of subject areas; firstly lettings which includes the number of voids, the length of time it takes to relet, the number of offers that are made before they are relet, whether offers were to people who had no choice but to accept, why tenants leave and rent loss through voids. Secondly management performance including the numbers on housing benefit, the expenditure

on repairs, whether the turnover is speeding up or slowing down and the relationship between emergency and cyclical repairs. Thirdly tenancy including who is moving in and who is moving out, how many want to transfer and the number of mutual transfers and outstanding requests for transfer. Other categories include environmental quality, perception of tenants of management and efficiency and changes in management methods. In addition the fire service, the police service and the DSS are consulted in each case. A MORI poll was also carried out before and after the changes. This poll included questions on the households, health, education and crime (both actual and fear of). For each DICE estate there are three control estates in each area. Price Waterhouse are establishing indicators to ascertain whether or not the estates have fulfilled their aims. Within this study it is proposed to use similar indicators, on a smaller scale to evaluate the success of the projects on Mozart and Rogers.

In addition to this work for the DOE DICE has begun to market itself and has produced a number of fact sheets relating to different aspects of their work. These are aimed at residents and tenants associations. Leaflet number one introduces the methodology of design disadvantagement. It states that 'The design of your home can be bad for you '. Sharing space leads to anonymity which makes intruders feel safe, different entrances provide escape routes, without defensible space criminals feel they can come and go unseen and most importantly bad design makes it difficult to bring up children properly and some become anti-social and delinquent. They suggest that those who are concerned calculate the disadvantagement score and if it is high and they want it changed they should contact the chair of their Tenants' association, local councillor, MP and housing manager. At the invitation of one of these DICE will come to have a look and a professional survey report may be requested which is relatively cheap. They suggest that their ideas are proven.

for houses and blocks. Leaflet Four looks at methods of estate improvement. They identify that design improvement is the only approach that attacks the root cause of the problem, is a natural approach, stabilises environmental problems, eradicates social problems, decreases crime and leads to future savings. It is astonishing that such claims have been made before a comprehensive evaluation has been completed. There seems to be some recognition that other approaches may be useful if carried out in conjunction with design improvement. Leaflet Five looks at the financial benefits of Design improvement. There is said to be no ongoing costs, there are savings in housing administration as turnover decreases, there are less communal grounds to be cared for and there is less vandalism and graffiti. In addition there are also said to be related savings in education, fire, police, national health and social services. Leaflet Seven deals with the problem of open space and leaflet eight looks at the importance of individual gardens. Gardens provide an activity, promote care for living things, encourage decision making and

initiative, encourage self expression, help form

communities by increasing contact, create defensible space and teach children to respect others property.4 it is in the capacity of a consultant that Coleman and DICE have been employed on the Mozart Estate at present. They have drawn up a scheme for further phases of redevelopment which has received Estate Action funding. DICE is due to publish its own evaluation of the projects.

An evaluation of the DICE project and principles is of paramount importance as the principles are being used untested.

Summary

DICE stands for Design Improvement Controlled Experiment.

DICE is both a consultancy and a controlled experiment funded by the DOE.

The DICE project has involved the refurbishment of seven estates to Coleman principles and is being evaluated by Price Waterhouse.

DICE Consultancy has produced a number of leaflets to be used as a marketing tool in promoting their services to the public and to local authorities.

References

1 Action for Cities News Release 612 3/11/88, Trial Scheme for Run-Down Housing Estate, (see Appendix 3) 2 Estate Action (DOE) Annual Report 1991/92

3 Department of the Environment News Release 573 19/10/90, First Test Of Professor Alice Coleman's

Special Experiment to Improve Run-Down Housing Estate (see Appendix 3)

4 DICE Consultancy, Kings College:

Leaflet 1 Design Disadvantagement Fact Sheet

Leaflet 2 Good and Bad External Design and Layout (Houses)

Leaflet 3 Good and Bad Design and Layout (Blocks) Leaflet 4 Methods of Estate Improvement

Leaflet 5 Financial Aspects of design Improvement Leaflet 6 Not yet finished

Leaflet 7 Open Space