Poundbury, Model village in Dorchester, England
Poundbury is a planned neighborhood in Dorchester, England, that combines homes, shops, workshops, and offices within a compact layout. The streets follow a network of small squares and narrow lanes lined with buildings featuring stone or rendered facades.
Construction began in October 1993 on land owned by the Duchy of Cornwall, with guidance from King Charles III and architect Léon Krier. Additional phases followed in subsequent years, expanding the original concept across adjacent parcels.
The area was designed so that homes and workplaces sit close together, allowing residents to walk to their daily destinations. Shops are spread throughout the neighborhood rather than gathered in a single commercial zone, encouraging foot traffic and casual encounters.
Streets lack traffic lights or painted road markings, so pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers share the space and adjust their behavior accordingly. Visitors can walk freely through the neighborhood and explore the various squares and commercial lanes at their own pace.
Some workshops and manufacturing units sit directly next to residential buildings, allowing passersby to see through windows how furniture or food items are made. This close proximity between craft activity and everyday life is rarely observed in modern settlements.
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