Destination Douglas

Douglas is different in many ways to the rest of the Isle of Man.

It is the capital, more urban, yet it has a resonance with the wider island.

It is the capital, more urban, yet it has a resonance with the wider island.

It is the island’s front door or shop window. It is the first taste of the Isle of Man for many visitors, and for residents it is a commercial centre and a place for entertainment.

As such it has to be different things to different people. People will engage with it on different levels, and this can be revealed through a range of stories to interpret Douglas.

This presentation will explain our thought process in developing our early ideas for the regeneration of Douglas town centre.

Your thoughts, comments and input is very much welcomed. It is, after all, your capital.

Most of the Isle of Man is countryside. The island is essentially a rural place with small settlements of strong communities.

Charming

Elemental

Timeless

Rural

Rugged

Traa-dy-Liooar

Charming

Elemental

Timeless

Rural

Rugged

Traa-dy-Liooar

These are some of the words that have been used to describe the Isle of Man outside of Douglas.

By contrast, these are some of the words that have been used to tell us about people’s ambitions for Douglas town centre.

Welcoming

Urban

Civic

High Quality

Pride

Cosmopolitan

Sophisticated

Confident

Our conclusion is that the town centre project should emphasise this contrast between Douglas and the rest of the island and that it should have a contemporary urban style.

However, we are also clear that the project must be absolutely unique to Douglas and be timeless enough to prevent it from dating.

The intention is to draw influences from the island’s landscape, history and people.

The island is blessed with some outstanding scenery, and an amazing range of natural colours from huge skyscapes, seascapes and landscapes, elements of which are glimpsed from the town centre.

By studying these colours, it is possible to create palettes of colour which belong to the locality and relate to the town, but which have been designed to work well with the architecture and townscape.

This is not a new concept, it has been used in the past to select the colours used in the Manx tartans.

Many of the buildings in the town centre are rendered and painted, mainly in pale shades of white and cream. This makes the buildings seem rather “flat” and the streets that make up the shopping area all merge into one long street with very little definition along its length. The town centre has been described as unwelcoming.

This proposal is about making the town centre more lively, colourful and “warm”.Colour schemes for each street could help to define them and help people to orientate themselves.

Douglas is a unique place with a unique history and telling some of the town’s stories to visitors would help to emphasise that uniqueness. Even some of the darker periods in the island’s history have stories of which we can be proud. This is just one example.

The Isle of Man has a history of telling it’s stories in stone.

The Isle of Man has a history of telling it’s stories in stone.

This can continue in Douglas town centre.

As part of the town centre project, we need to consider how we help visitors to find their way around and find everything we have to offer.

Alongside this practical information we can use the opportunity to further enhance the town’s unique identity.

As night falls in Douglas, most of the familiar landmarks, structures and spaces disappear into the background, concealed from view by darkness or bathed in the orange glow of street lighting.

The strategy for lighting Douglas aims to transform perceptions of the town after dark. It will showcase the many assets and landmarks of the town, providing a means by which people can orientate themselves and a greatly enhanced level of visual stimulus which encourages safe and enjoyable evening activity.

These are some examples of how lighting might help to raise the profile of some of the town’s most distinctive architecture and streetscapes.

These are some examples of how lighting might help to raise the profile of some of the town’s most distinctive architecture and streetscapes.

These are some examples of how lighting might help to raise the profile of some of the town’s most distinctive architecture and streetscapes.

These are some examples of how lighting might help to raise the profile of some of the town’s most distinctive architecture and streetscapes.

We invite your views on the ideas and concepts presented here. Douglas is your capital irrespective of where you live of work in the Isle of Man. Once we are satisfied that the project is heading in the right direction, the next step is to develop an overall design for the town centre.

We invite your views on the ideas and concepts presented here. Douglas is your capital irrespective of where you live of work in the Isle of Man. Once we are satisfied that the project is heading in the right direction, the next step is to develop an overall design for the town centre.