the case study selection criteria needed to codify what was being celebrated. there was a need to clearly state on what basis the case studies were chosen. a set of questions were produced turning principles from several publications into shorthand, notably english partnerships' "urban design compendium", "by design: urban design in the planning system towards better practice"., and urbed's "building the 21st century home". the author of these was design for homes' david birkbeck who worked with cabe's dr edward hobson and proposed them to home builders federation's mark rice. these 20 questions were eventually published as the "building for life criteria" in july 2003, following input from the civic trust's liz wrigley and cabe's alex ely.