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PROJECT 1 : ONLINE SKETCH JOURNAL
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Task One: Through online virtual studies on the case study city, students are expected to capture interesting and meaningful sketches and photographs related to social (urban life) and spatial (nodes etc.) contexts of these towns. It is imperative that the sketches should contribute to the understanding of urban patterns and spaces.
This task relates to the one above, in the way that the students are expected to document the city spaces. This is a location based study to establish the relationships and roles of the three urban design elements, especially focusing on the urban structuring principles. Urban patterns and sense of place should be given key focus. Students work on this task individually. Data collection to be done through online and /or experiential research.
SINGAPORE . KUALA LUMPUR . AMSTERDAM
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PARALLELS
Teluk Ayer, Singapore
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Between two rows of buildings sits a linear road named Telok Ayer street with trees as one of the in-between elements. They co-relate in harmony providing functionality and creating livability towards the community. Greeneries are kept clean and fresh; buildings alike. Both function parallelly but aim as one to provide benefits to people.
SHIFT OF EMPHASIS
Chinatown, Singapore
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Observing the difference between the older form of the shophouse and the newer buildings at the intersection roads of Chinatown, one notices a gradual shift of the modern forms from background to foreground. The visual transition demonstrates the overshadowing image on the scale and of a new modern face for Singapore, far along the background whilst the nearer older building begins to fade its name; history and culture of Singapore.
BALANCE
Reflections at Keppel Bay, Singapore
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By allowing the flourish of greenery throughout the complex, they appear to merge with the adjoining park as one continuous sweep of urban parkland. The strong sense of character reflects the identity of the country – a city in a garden. The sense of balance is achieved – what is taken should be returned. The decency of decisions into implementing the consideration of continuity of a certain aspect as to green spaces; diversifying ‘cultures’ of man and nature as one.
HUMBLE
Kallang MRT Station, Singapore
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Within the greenery context of an urban landscape, there sits a linear structure that splits the landscape into two, breaking its unity silently. Elevating off the ground but not taller than the trees, the structure is orientated in a way not to stand out but to pay respect to its natural context by considering the damage to the nature should be minimal and the visual weightage of the trees should be maintained.
SUBSTITUTION
Haji Lane, Singapore
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Newer shophouses house newer industries, which care less for the integrity of the five-foot way, extending their shop spaces by displaying their products along the passageway. The use of five-foot way is replaced and therefore disrupts the ease of movement throughout the passageway of space.
DUALITY OF SPACE
Kasturi Walk, Kuala Lumpur
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What was made as a pass-through space in between two old buildings was found interest as a space for opportunity later. Steel columns and polycarbonate roofing are incorporated along the stretch of Kasturi Walk whilst providing shelter and coverage for the whole space, eventually creating a new type of spatial quality – a public realm. Thus, the long stretch of pathway exists as a pass-through space and a space for commerce at the same time.
REKINDLE
River of Life, Kuala Lumpur
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Once a flow for river throughout the valley, now a popular attraction. The river plays part into diverging life and continuing the flow of life within the valley. The soothing, calm, linearity of the stream which connects the whole of Kuala Lumpur throughout, transcends into a new charm, giving the quality of life a certain meaning of character.
FOCUS POINT
Medan Pasar, Kuala Lumpur
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The formation and curation of this open public space – Dataran Medan Pasar allows the urban realm to become a legible diverging point – a landmark. The relationship of the presence of space and human is established through the sense of connection in relation of man and material. It evokes the constant dialogue of human life intertwines with the space within.
LINKAGE
Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur
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The intersecting junction at Bukit Bintang spreads and networks its road connectivity seamlessly. Diverse use of transportation medium – the road and the rail tracks also co-relate with each other in regulating traffic efficiently. The ease of movements into diverging and converging its traffic flow to aid in getting to the destinations desired.
CHANGE OVER AGES
Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, Kuala Lumpur
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The shophouses fit the modest epitome in respond to the slower movement, relaxed pace as compared to people within the bustling modern building, reflecting the change in general pace in life, as well through the respond in building form and function. Spatial typology varied throughout time as it deems to fit necessary usage – efficiency in spatial planning.
BREAKING LINEARITY
Borneo Sporenburg, Amsterdam
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The rows of residential dwellings are disrupted by a sudden placement of a massive structure at the midpoint of the stretch of the island, breaking the apparent linear pattern of the housing arrangements. The emphasis towards the built form of the landmark also breaks the constant visual peripheral, affecting the harmony aspect in the sense of views and vistas.
COLLECTIVITY & INDIVIDUALITY
Plot 18 Houses, Borneo Sporenburg, Amsterdam
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The buildings give the impression of it being a standalone unit. Stacked side-by-side together, these houses varies its façade play throughout the whole stretch, giving a sort of character of Borneo Sporenburg island. The spatial typology pattern is multiplied throughout the building providing efficient usage of space for the residents within.
MOVEMENT
Python Bridge, Borneo Sporenburg, Amsterdam
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Water restricts movement across to the other side of the island. The large body of water is then used to be integrated along with the curvilinear structure that allows the flow of movement – connection between two islands. In respond to slither pattern of a snake and the wavy motion of the water, this eye-catching infrastructure not only acts as a sense of character of place, but also an aspect of easing movement.
CONTINUITY & ENCLOSURE
Seinwachterstraat, Borneo Sporenburg, Amsterdam
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Sense of continuity is created by repeated private houses which serve as residential areas arranged linearly along the street. The sudden enclosure is created by the vast scale of solid building which stands as landmark at the end of the street as opposed to the proportion of the modest housing height, creating a contrast in scale and proportion.
A BLEND OF TWO REALMS
Borneo Sporenburg, Amsterdam
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In between the public park and the residential buildings sits a linear pathway which intersects and separates the nodes of the island. The pathway links the two realms together by providing circulation towards the spaces. The quality of space changes when accessing from one realm to another as well.
PROJECT 2 : THEORIZING THE CONNECTIVITY
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Task Two: In our case study city, select and analyse an urban design project at a street scale for its various typologies of in-between spaces. The analysis comes from three perspectives, namely, the theoretical rigor, contextual aspects and the cultural translation into urban form at the selected city, as outlined below:
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a) The theories that is employed by the city authority or the designers.
b) The historical/contextual underpinning must answer the questions of
i) how does the city respond to modern and postmodern ideas and theories in urbanism and
ii) what spatial (urban) structures constitute to the place making aspects in the city.
c) The understanding of urban design comes from underpinning the FORM and CONTENT phenomena. On the tangible or the hard side study on specific typology of urban form: built form / open spaces, activity and movement patterns; and on the intangible side: context, geography, demography, economy, culture and urbanity. Hence the presentation should clearly specify such understanding under these categories. It is also important that the student understand how such theories merge with the existing context in the given city.
d) Formal and content narratives on various typologies of in-between spaces.
Hence the presentation should clearly specify such understanding under both categories, the tangibles and intangibles. Presentation is also key and an assessment criteria. The content, composition and way of writing should exemplify the above (urban design and contextual understanding).
PROJECT 3 : MAPPING THE TOWNSCAPE
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Task Three: The students are required to document the spatial form of the city to note the key spatial experience that is driven by the urban form and content. The objectives are:
a) to characterize the urban forms through morphological studies
b) to establish the relationships and roles of the three urban design elements, form, activity and movement patterns, through Serial Vision and
c) to identify distinctive aspects or typologies in their layout offering to the characteristics of a ‘in-between-ness’ in the contemporary context.
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