The consultation is now closed - results will be posted here mid July
Cambridge welcomes thousands of people every day. The key to ensuring that all visitors to the city can find their way with ease and enjoy the experience, is a comprehensive and co-ordinated system of on-street signage including elements such as signs, maps, markers and information boards.
A partnership led by City Centre Management and involving Cambridge City Council, Cambridgeshire County Council and the private sector, is developing a new street signage system for the city to achieve this aim.
Why are we doing this?
Currently, pedestrian navigation in Cambridge is not clear and co-ordinated as we would like it; it is difficult for new visitors to navigate into and around the city centre.
Also, Cambridge has, over a period of time accumulated a collection of different street signs, maps and markers and as such the message and identity given to visitors is not consistent.
This, combined with different styles of street furniture, has lead to a fragmented and cluttered appearance in the street scene.
The key aims of the Cambridge Street Signage Project are:
- to provide a comprehensive and co-ordinated system of on-street signage elements such as signs, maps, markers and information boards
- to rationalise the existing signage within the city and reduce street clutter
- to provide the city with a 'family of signage' which is well designed and improves the image of the city to visitors
- to provide information which makes it more desirable to walk in and around Cambridge
- to connect the retail circuit and support independent retailers; key to the distinctiveness of Cambridge
What are we proposing?
Our proposals involve a series of linked nodes and fingerposts across the city.
A node is a tablet style sign, which contains a map and destination list as shown in the example for Christ's Pieces. A fingerpost is a direction sign, which links the nodes together.
The proposals have been developed following a series of workshops with a wide variety of organisations and groups.
Through this process, initial design proposals have now been completed that are intended to be site specific ie, the choice of materials and colour should relate to the locality.
You can see a larger version of the proposed sign design.
Where are the trial sites?
We are now piloting these ideas at two trial sites in Christ's Pieces and at the bottom of St Johns Street.
We would like to hear your comments to ensure we get everything right before we commit to a scheme for the whole central area.
Accessibility
The design process for the Street Signage Project has included consideration of access issues.
Attention has been given to the map height, type size, colour contrast, use of icons and pictograms and careful consideration has been given to the siting of any structures on street.
Design of the signage
Cambridge has a unique charater, which gives it a series of place and distinctiveness. The design of the signs recognises the need to have a range of signs for different situations, which respond to context and sit comfortably within the streetscape; a 'family of signs' which enhance the image of the city to visitors.
The design for the directional and information panels have been developed to reinforce the identity of Cambridge through a consistency in style, material choice and colour.
Our aim has been to provide a high quality, elegant and contemporary design solution. We believe this has been achieved by choosing materials and colours which relate directly to the city.
The stone used in the construction of many buildings in Cambridge is Ketton stone and a very similar coloured stone will be incorporated into the information panels. The bronze finishes to all the signs relate in colour to the street lamps in the historic City Centre.
The map itself is constructed using vitreous enamel, which is very durable, hardwearing and more vandal resistant.
Map design and content
Cambridge has a historical layout of narrow street and links between destinations can make the place difficult to understand.
The map design and content have been designed specifically for Cambridge. The sign design aims to achieve the right balance between actual routes and distances with a stylised map, which contains key destination information.
The design of the map aims to:
- enable the user to easily read where they are and where destinations are located
- provide clear and legible connections through the city
- provide clear, attractive mapping which encourages self exploration
The maps have been designed for each location to provide detailed localised information and wider information to remind the visitor where they are in relation to key landmarks and illustrate the 'walking times' between locations.
The maps are set out as a 'heads up'; which means they are orientated with the map turned on each side so that what is at the top of the map is what is in front of you.
This means that north is not always at the top, experience shows this is a more intuitive method of showing information making it easier for people to find their way.
The design study has looked carefully at potential attractions and destinations to include on the maps and has prioritised these to keep the number at a practical level to ensure the map is clear and legible.
We have selected destinations for the maps that we think most visitors will want to find.
Locations for the new nodes and map panels
The design study has reviewed all existing signage information and existing and proposed routes.
It has examined the most suitable places that signs need to be placed, and has identified clear simple routes within and connections to, the central area.
These are places where people naturally congregate, arrive or need to have directions where there are difficulties in finding a route.
The proposed locations for the new nodes and fingerposts is demonstrated in the map; you can see a larger version of the map.
Have your say
The consultation is now closed. The results and any updates will be posted here mid July
If you have any further comments regarding Cambridge City Centre, please email ccm@cambridge.gov.uk or telephone 01223 457450.