Acknowledgement I would like to express my deepest gratitude and thanks to all who have offered valuable help, care, support and advise at various times during the development of this thesis project. Advisor Tom Verebes for inspirational discussions, knowledgable advise, clear guidance and most importantly, his faith in the project. Jacky Lee for experience sharing and constructive comments at critical moments. Janis Law, Theodore Tong, Rachel Au-Yeung, Angel Woo, Jeanie Chiu, Iris Tse for the efficient, quality assembling of models and panel installations. Andy Kwan and Frankie Chan for timely graphics support despite personal commitments. Twiggy Ngo for her patience and understanding over my busiest and most stressful year of student life. Finally, my loving Family and calming Cats for their constant, unconditional and unlimited supply of physical and mental healthcare.
‘In that fuller vision and interpretation of the past or present life of cities [...] and in the clearer forecasts and preparations of the possible future [...] For it is surely of the very essence of the evolution concept [...] that it should not only inquire how this of to-day may have come out of that of yesterday, but be foreseeing and preparing for what the morrow is even now in its turn bringing towards birth�1
1
Patrick Geddes, Cities in Evolution, (Williams and Norgate,1949), 1
Thesis Synopsis “Cities are epiphenomenal: they are the expressions of broader and more remote developments and sets of forces, specifically economic and social ones.”2 – Sanford Kwinter “Atlanta is not a city, it is a landscape.”3 – Rem Koolhaas The thesis aims to devise an alternate planning instrument for urban transformation in view of the growing phenomena of shrinking cities and decreasing densities. Advancing from the legacies of Patrick Geddes and Lewis Mumford’s regional environmental planning approach and the more current emergence of the discipline of Landscape Urbanism, the thesis eschews conventional zoning methods, and instead investigates the potential of deploying a topographically specific ecological approach as the primary instrument of a flexible, performative city replanning model. A series of analytical mappings are generated through applications of associative computational graphic spaces, which in turn, are channelled into the formation of a set of correlated systems of programmatic territories, infrastructural arrangements and building typologies, each driven by the latent performative qualities of the site’s topography. The project conceives of a remedial terrain to evolve the city of Yubari, an aging and depleted city that was once a prominent coal-mining site in Hokkaido, Japan.
Sanford Kwinter, “Urbanism: An Archivist’s Art?”, Requiem for the City at the End of the Millennium (Barcelona: Actar, 2011), 58
2
3
Rem Koolhaas, “Atlanta”, S,M,L,XL (New York: Monacelli, 1999), 835
Sentience in Cities and Urban Conditions I would like to build my thesis upon two quotes, one by Sanford Kwinter and the other by Rem Koolhaas. The first one, by Sanford Kwinter, says “Cities are epiphenomenal: they are the expressions of broader and more remote developments and sets of forces, specifically economic and social ones”, which I find relevant to the growing global phenomena of Shrinking Cities and Decreasing Densities and brings forth the question of how do we as architects and planners engage with the tendencies, dynamics and complexities that shape our city. Tracing back to the legacy of the Study and Surveying of City by Patrick Geddes, there was a shift away from seeing cities as standardized, mass productive industrial paradigm, to conceiving city as organic, ecological systems. The field condition diagrams by Stan Allen also exemplifies the reading of cities as intricate interplay of various dynamic, fluid systems associated to technological shift from analog to digital, and the substitution of standalone objects by field conditions as primary organizational model for urban environment. Despite
the clear dissimilarity between the media for communication, both precedents demonstrate a strong sensitivity towards the toolbox available of their time to sense and respond to their respective contemporary urban conditions. Yet almost 100 years after Geddes’ proposition of the Neotechnic city, we are now facing the growing Global Phenomena of Shrinking Cities and Decreasing Densities. Famous case of Detroit is one of the most prominent examples of how indeterminacy and rapid change in contemporary world can be key determinants of a city’s evolution or deterioration. Whilst there have been scattered emergence of urban farming to rectify the decaying city, the remediation is comparatively unplanned, almost accidental and disorganized. From an architectural and planning perspective, I would like to discover ways to orchestrate such remediation and inform a more sentient and adaptive re-planning approach for these failing, post-industrial cities.
Edinburgh Outlook Tower, Patrick Geddes
Field Conditions Diagram, Stan Allen
Abandoned Parkard Complex, Detroit
“In One Neighborhood, Signs of Hope and Challenges“
Image Source: Zach Fein
Image Source: Fred R Conrad, New York Times
Trajectory of Ecologically Sentient Approach The second quote I would like to reference, “Atlanta is not a city, it is a landscape� by Rem Koolhaas, signifies an emerging trend of using landscape instead of architectural objects as primary medium for making and ordering of urban conditions and settlement patterns. Dating back to the legacy of Regional Environmental Planning of Patrick Geddes, Lewis Mumford to Ian McHarg, there has been a long tradition of deriving organizational structures informed by specific conditions of natural environment.
Relatively recent Landscape Urbanism projects including Downsview and Fresh Kills Park Competition exemplified the trend of using landscape to articulate diverse and potentially incongruous infrastructure, events and indeterminate urban futures for large post-industrial sites. Common in these projects is a layered, flexible and strategic urbanism as a response to the open-endedness and radical changes typical in contemporary urban conditions.
Valley Section, Patrick Geddes
Parc de la Villette, OMA
Potomac River Basin Study, Ian McHarg
Freshkills Park Competition, James Corner & Stan Allen
Graphic Space of Landscape Urbanism Projects Worth noting in the mentioned seminal projects are their powerful media of documentation and representation. The detailed diagrams of various systems, programmatic and planning regimes, overwhelmed with information, all present an understanding of enormous complexities and intricate interweaving of natural ecologies with social, cultural and infrastructural layers. Evident in more recent drawings is the utilization of computational capacities in exhaustive data processing,
arrangement of multi-layered operations and extensive use of colours as systemic media of information. Aided by the analytical and generative nature of Rhino-Grasshopper environment as a contemporary toolbox and platform for data processing, manipulation of systems and complex geometries, the drawings in this project can present more intricately the performative qualities of a landform and the responsive generation of design works such as programmatic arrangements, layout of networks and forming of buildings.
Potomac River Basin Study, Ian McHarg
Potomac River Basin Study, Ian McHarg
Taking Measures Across the American Landscape, James Corner & Alex MacLean
Freshkills Park Competition, James Corner & Stan Allen
Shrinking Cities as a Dynamic Global Phenomena Returning to the physical context of Shrinking Cities as a persistent and growing global phenomena that signifies the open-endedness and indeterminate nature of the contemporary world. Although reasons might vary, the phenomena can commonly bring physical changes that are sometimes radical to Sprawl, Urban Fabric, Types and Forms of Built Structures to cities.
Here is a series of maps indicat-
ing the change of settlement area and building footprints of Detroit (Deindustrialization, Suburbanization, Racial Conflicts, Population Flights); Halle/Leipzig in Germany (Deindustrialization, WWII, Demolition & Redevelopment); Manchester in UK (Deindustrialization, Economic Downturn, WWII, IRA Bomb) and Hakodate in Hokkaido, Japan (Competition, Aging, Depopulation) over previous decades.
Emergence and Disappearance of Shrinking Cities, 1940s - 2000s Source: Shrinking Cities Initiative
Global Map of Shrinking Cities, 1950 - 2000
Source: Shrinking Cities Initiative
Manchester, UK
Deindustrialization, Economic Downturn 1845
1894 to 1964
Manchester Ship Canal England’s 4th most important port
Preston Cotton Mill, Lancashire “Archetypal Industrial City” - Friedrich Engels
Gained City Status Population at 300,000
1853
Trafford Park First industrial area in Britain
1910s
Royal Cotton Exchange Economic & trading dominance by colonial rule
1920s
Indian National Congress
1930
World Economic Depression
1940 1954 to 1976 1966 to 1972
Container Revolution Rapid economic decay of harbor and downtown
Boycott of British goods
Decline of cotton industry
World War II
Air raid destroyed many warehouses
Demolition by City Council
Removal of many decaying apartments
1968
1982
Hacienda House-Club Transforms into pop culture, music and party city
Royal Exchange Theatre Cotton trade discontinued, converted into theatre
1987
1996 Salford Quay Leisure Docklands converted for leisure and shopping IRA Bomb at center of Manchester Regeneration of streets and plazas in Downtown
2002
Commonwealth Games
Host of international sport and leisure events
Sprawl, 1950s - 2000s
Urban Fabric, 1950s - 2000s
Population, 1950s - 2000s
Source: Shrinking Cities Initiative
Detroit, USA
Suburbanization, Deindustrialization and Population Flights Founded as French Outpost
1815
Industry Begins
1850s
Population at 2,000
Rapid growth commences
1909 1911 Hudson’s Depoartment Store Opened in a high-rise with 50 escalators and lifts Woodward Avenue First street in US to be paved with asphalt 1913 1925 to 1929
Ford Assembly Line Boom of automobile manufacturing industry From 1940s
Michigan Theatre Entertainment area at junction for railways and st.
Racism & White Flight
Whites flee to suburb, population shrinks
1950s Job Loss & Vacant Factories Led by automated production & plant relocatation 1954 1970s
Northland Mall First suburban mall, favoring vehicular access
Urban Crisis Arise
Unemployment, Murder, Homeless, etc.
1980s Renaissance Center Failed attempt of downtown revival
1996 2000s
Trapper’s Alley Prestige projects in downtown to attract visitors
Urban Agriculture Recent attempts to reoccupy vacant lands
Sprawl, 1900s - 2010s
Urban Fabric, 1930s - 2000s
Population, 1970s - 2000s Source: Shrinking Cities Initiative
Halle/Leipzig, Germany
Deindustrialization, Demolition & Redevelopment 1840 to 1870
1910s Brown Coal Mining, Halle Industrialization begins with printing and trade Bruhl District, Leipzig Key area of growth by trade and social institutes 1920s 1928
New Trade Fair Grounds
1/6 of all German goods traded in Leipzig
Leuna Plant, Halle Largest chemical factory in Europe
World Economic Crisis
Loss of exhibitors, Unemployment rises
1930
1930s
Elster-Saale Canal Infrastructural linking of regional hub cities 1938 1940s 1963
1970s
Halle-Neustadt (City for workers) Most important founding of new city in GDR
Kristallnacht
Expulsion and deportation of Jewish elites
World War II
Air raids detry most of trade fair grounds
Deterioration of plants
Harmful environment and working conditions
1990s 2000
Leipzig Trade Fair and Exhibition Centre Universal trade fair replaced by specialized fairs
Leipzig-Halle Airport Expanded to become an intercontinental airport
2002
BMW Factory, Leipzig New automobile plant along with Porsche factory
2002
Wolfen-nord Demolition of vacant prefabricated concrete blocks
Sprawl, 1960s - 2000s
Urban Fabric, 1960s - 2010s
Population, 1950s - 2000s Source: Shrinking Cities Initiative
Hakodate, Hokkaido, Japan Competition, Depopulation, Aging
1900s
1904 to 1908
Naval Map of Hakodate, 1900 Port city, transportation center, shipbuilding center
Major Fire
1934
Direct Connections to Other Cities
1960s
Suburbanization
1965
Depopulation
1980s
Reconstruction with a checkerboard master plan Losses role as Hokkaido’s transportation hub
Demand for more space and better living quality Rapid fall of birthrate, Aging, Out migration
1935 to 1940
Train Ferry Trains to Honshu loaded on ferry to accelerate transportation of goods
Overtaken by Sapporo Shift of administrative and economic center 1984
Hakodate Technopolis
Repositioning in mechatronics, new plants settle
1988 1988 to 2004
Seikan Railway Tunnel (Honshu - Hokkaido) New railway bypassing Hakodate, ferry route between Hakodate and Aomori discontinued
Map of Historical Cityscape, 2006 Indication of important architectural heritage for a historical renovation area as tourist attraction
2002 to 2005
Bay Hakodate Project Transforming Kanemori Red Brick warehouses into various tourist attractions
2003
2006 Goryokaku Fortress Creation of city’s new emblem to capitalize on being voted as one of country’s favorite cities
Municipal Road Plan 2000 Rationalization of public transport provision due to lack of utilization of municipal streetcar lines 2005
City of the Old
50% population aged 65 or above
Sprawl, 1930s - 2000s
Urban Fabric, 1960s - 2000s
Population, 1970s - 2000s
Yubari, Hokkaido, Japan “From Mines to Tourism”?
Growth of Coal Industry
Central to national war effort and recovery
1920 to 1930 1959
Peak of Population
1960
Industrial Hertiage Tourism
1960 to 1970
Population over 116,000
Benefitted by Japan’s domestic tourism boom
Shift in National Energy Policy Energy demand changes from coal to oil
From Faded Attractions 1980s Economic bubble burst and competitions abroad
Competitive Disadvantage
Plenty of better tourist destinations around
Geographical Disadvantage
Infrastructural Upgrade
Bridges, Highways, Replacements for tourism
International Fantastic Film Festival Attempts to revitalize Yubari through tourism
Museums and theme parks needed accessibility 1981 1987
From 1990s
From 1990s
Hokutan Closing Last Mine
Removing vital source of local revenue
Net Out-migration
Loss to larger cities in and out of Hokkaido
Natural Population Shrinkage Higher mortality rates than fertility rates
2006 2007
From 2007
Agricultural Success
Gain fame and capital by high quality cantaloupe
From 2008
Population and Reasons of Demographic Change
Declare Financial Collapse First municipality since 1992
Layoffs of Public Employees
Cut cost for municipal, yet reduced tax revenue
Economic Contraction
Increased taxation for reduced local service
Social Decline
Stress in Welfare and Health-care provision
Aging and Depopoulation Hokutan Shimizusawa Power Plant
Coal Mine Museum
Tourism - Industrial Heritage & Skiing
Coal History Village Theme Park Economy - Cantaloupe
Cultural - Film Festival
The Yellow Handkerchief of Happiness Memorial Park
Yubari, Hokkaido A key coal-mining city of old, now decaying, aging and bankrupted Yubari, the chosen site of this project, is previously one of the largest coal-mining cities in Hokkaido. Located approximately 70km away from Sapporo, Hokkaido’s capital city, it is a valley in the mountains and at the end of train line. Recently declared financial collapse in 2006, it is currently depleted of almost all economical activities with the exception of limited agriculture. The valley topography has now become Yubari’s only valuable and prominent asset. Her downfall can be traced back to the change of national energy policy from coal to oil in 1980s, leading to the collapse of coal-mining industry, Yubari’s dominating source of income. Failure in developing industrial heritage tourism afterwards, combined with natural population shrink-
Location
age and net out-migration to greater Sapporo area, the city has entered a relentless spiral of economic depression, poverty, aging and depopulation. It is a powerful example of how a town heavily dependent on a single industry can be highly vulnerable to rapid change and indeterminacy of urban conditions. Sentiments aside, the Japanese authorities regard the rebuilding of Yubari as an important example for many regional towns and cities also experiencing industrial transformation and near-catastrophic depopulation. I would like to explore, through the methods learned from earlier research of environmentally sentient planning approach, the possible remediation of such shrinking and decaying towns.
Sprawl, 1960s - 1990s
Data: Mapping Japanese City Spaces Image: Shinichi Ito, extracted from “Yubari: Ghost Town” on Monocle Films
Full Terrain Topography The full terrain topographical model and drawing shows the current settlement pattern of Yubari and its correlation with topographical suitability for habitation. With the colours and densities of hatches and topographical outlines indicating various orientations and surface conditions, patches of steep slope, territories with gradients suitable for agriculture and urban settlements are indicated in green and purple. Overlaid on such topographic analysis are the analytics of connectivity and network distances of current built structures. Indicated in orange are municipal anchors and grey is general residential or small-scale shops. Dotted lines between them indicate the closest anchor to each general building; the colour indicates the number of general blocks each anchor is attached to. Outline of anchor blocks follow the same colour coding system to indicate direct distance with their nearest counterpart. Learning from such analysis, the area bounded by the black rectangle offers a great diversity of landform and sufficient density of key buildings as a promising site of initial intervention.
1:5000 Model of Full Terrain Topography and Settlement Pattern
Topographic Analysis On the right are various analytic diagrams to unveil the latent topographical potentials of the chosen area. Ranging from Hill-shade and Sprawl based on Road Network Distances of Space Syntax Analysis; Conditions of Gradient and Surface Curvature; Orientation and Aspect; and Associative Shortest Linkages between Long Continuous Flat Edges. Here, the four drawings demonstrate a gradual development from pure analysis of landform performative qualities to the initial generation of associative networks.
Hillshade, Network Distance and Sprawl
Continuous Edges, Retained Roads & Paths Along Slope
Gradient & Curvature
Orientation & Aspect
From Analytics to Generative Operations The layered drawings on opposite page illustrates the orchestration between analytical systems, simulation and projection of shrinking behaviour, generation of associative networks, and programmatic systems in functional territories. To explain in greater detail, the operation started with a topographic subdivision by contour perpendiculars at fixed distances (in this case, 150m). The grid is deployed to sense and avoid territories prone to landslide due to steep slope and high surface concavity. It also informs the selection of moderately steep territories for agriculture and ranges of flatland for urban settlement. Current road networks and built structures were examined through space syntax analysis to identify key nodes and network distances for the simulation of shrinkage and removal to various extents. Generative operations then come in more purposefully. Circulation networks linking continuous flat edges of different programmed territories were generated with gradients suitable for pedestrian, cycling and vehicular navigation, such pathway networks also serve as the new guides for subdividing agriculture and settlement territories. Analysing the topographic conditions of re-ordered plots would then inform the arrangement of various programme typologies by a matrix of their favourable topographic criteria.
1:2000 Layered Model
Topographic Analysis, Programmatic Territories & Associative Network
Industrial Core, Residentials & Communal Open Space Key Municipals, Anchor Industries, Various Types of Residentials, Artscapes and Sports Fields at Flatlands or Territories with Minimal Slopes
Ecological & Productive Green Space:
Agriculture, Parks, Campgrounds and Remediation Fields based on Topographic Conditions such as Gradient, Size and Orientation
Circulation Network:
Linkage Between Continuous Edges of Desired Green Territory, Flattest Path Along Slopes with Gradients for Pedestrial, Cycling and Vehicular Use
Sprawl & Footprints:
Retention or Removal of Existing Roads and Built Mass based on Vicinity & Network Distance from Anchor Buildings
Topographic Analysis:
Territory with Gradient Suitable for Agriculture, Settlements and Industrial Use
Topographic Analysis:
Territory with High Degree of Concavity, Prone to Landslide and Strong Runoff
Surface Grid:
Contour Perpendiculars per 150m Distance for Analysis
Multiple Futures of a City The ability to derive multiple possible configurations with various performative qualities is crucial in view of indeterminate contemporary urban conditions. Below are screenshots of interactive operations including sprawl and footprint simulation through space syntax analysis, selection of programmatic territories based on gradient ranges, associative networks such as minimal path systems, their variations, and other networks of paths with diverse gradients along slope suitable for different types of transportation. Illustrated in the drawings on opposite page, are 5 examples of infinite possible results of various combinations of parameters. Whilst each of them differs in extent of shrinkage, area and ratio of programmed territories, they altogether demonstrate a coherent set of outcome derived from the same framework of analytics and generative operations. Although which configuration should be considered most desirable can vary based on decisions by diverse stakeholders, the tools developed here could serve as an interface between such diverse parties to facilitate the selection, alternation, and verification of an abundant range of possible outcomes.
Generative Operations in Grasshopper
300
300
200
200
100
100
Retained Road Length 0
14%
0
100
0
N
0
Agriculture Gradient Range (1:X) 2.5
0
7.5
10
Rehab Program Distribution 0 8% 11% 5%
200
100
Retained Road Length
0
100
0
5.5
10
Rehab Program Distribution 26%
0
20% 11%
100
Configuration 3
300
200
100
Retained Road Length 32.5%
0
100
Retained Building Footprint 0
0
N
12%
100
Agriculture Gradient Range (1:X) 0
2.25
6.25
10
Rehab Program Distribution 0
45%
100
20%10%
100
Configuration 5
15%
100
Agriculture Gradient Range (1:X) 0
N
N
0
Agriculture Gradient Range (1:X) 3.25
20%
Retained Building Footprint 92%
0
Retained Road Length
100
Retained Building Footprint 0
10
100
Configuration 2
200
0
9.0
25% 10% 6%
0
300
60%
100
3.0
Rehab Program Distribution
300
0
100
15%
Agriculture Gradient Range (1:X) 0
100
Configuration 1
100
25%
Retained Building Footprint
16%
N
0
Retained Road Length
100
Retained Building Footprint 0
2.25
10
Rehab Program Distribution 0
45% 10% 4%
100
Configuration 4
Major Plan and Valley Section Model The Valley Section model below and the major plan on opposite page shows in greater detail the inhabitation of different topographic conditions through a range of programmatic typologies. They can be read as the overlaid result of the layered drawing of analytical and associative systems generated. Here one can see altogether the actual landform, territories more likely to suffer from landslides due to severe concavity and steepness, territories suitable for various types of green or settlement programmes highlighted in green and pale orange, the orientation and steepness of a particular cell through the alignment and darkness in colour of hatched lines. Gradients of purple indicate various footprint sizes of productive anchors. Current buildings and roads to be retained are indicated in gradients from red to orange whilst those to be removed are in pale yellow to blue. Such colour range follows the convention of space syntax analysis representing network distances and connectivity.
1:500 Valley Section Model
Legend Topographic Analysis Topographic Grid Surface Curvature (Concave - Convex) Agricultural Land (Steep - Flat) Settlement Territory (Steep - Flat) Aspect (E-S-W-N) Continuous Flat Edges Short Steep Edges
Syntax Analysis & Sprawl Simulation Retained Road (Centrality) Removed Road (Centrality) Original Sprawl Reduced Sprawl Retained Key Blocks Removed Key Blocks Removed Normal Blocks
N
Retained Normal Blocks
Programmatics Courtyards Meadow Orchard Parks Remediation Field Market & Sports Fields Artscape & Plaza Retention Ponds Paddle Fields Strip Cropping X-Large Greenland Large Sized Greenland Medium Sized Greenland Small Sized Greenland Greenland Contour & Curvature Large Agricultural Buildings Medium Agricultural Buildings Residentials Large Industrial Buildings Medium Industrial Buildings Small Industrial Buildings Rooftop Contour & Curvature Industrial Cluster Outline
0
100
Associative Pathways Direct Footpath on Agricultural Land Flattest Footpath on Agricultural Land Direct Footpath in Settlement Territory Flattest Footpath in Settlement Territory Direct Vehicular Path Between Industrials Flattest Vehicular Path Between Industrials Vehicular Path within Industrial Anchors Links between Industrials and Retained Road
200
300
Valley Section Model
Mid-High Gradient Territories
Low-Mid Gradient Territories
Large Scale Agriculture Facilities
Residential Blocks and Growsheds
Low Gradient Territories and Flatlands
Zone of Municipal and Industrial Anchors
Anchors, Residential Blocks and Farms
Anchors and Plaza
Matrix of Programmatic Typologies Another objective is to derive programmatic typologies and built forms more responsive and coherent with the topographic conditions they sit on. To quote from Kenneth Frampton in his publication Towards an Urban Landscape, “There is a pressing need to transform certain megalopolitan types into landscaped built forms�. Whilst the clear influence of modernist rigid, abstract forms allows buildings in post-industrial, decaying cities to be planted almost anywhere, the rich topographic potentials unveiled by the advanced analytical and generative tools now suggest a greater possibility for programme types and built forms to closely follow, diminish or exaggerate topographic conditions and activate the latent performative capacities of both landform and new building types. On opposite page is the matrix of various typologies present in the major plan, sorted in categories of usage and their desired set of topographic conditions, ranging from gradient, surface curvature, plot area and orientation.
Towards an Ecologically Sentient Urbanism I shall return to the two starting quotes as a conclusion to the presentation. If cities are expressions of various sets of forces and if architectural objects alone are insufficient as a medium for negotiating highly indeterminate urban conditions, maybe it is favourable to deploy topography as an alternative medium to sense various site conditions, arrange infrastructures and programmes, and derive more landscape informed building typologies to utilize the latent topographical potentials. Whilst a vast majority of shrinking cities suffer from their inability to adapt due to their homogeneity of industry and programme typologies, the unique and rich topographical potentials of each site can help derive flexibly sets of heterogeneous systems, arrangement and building types. Indeed both growing and shrinking cities are complex, dynamic and organic entities. In view of the increasingly pressing concerns of environment, economical and social uncertainty, both types of cities could benefit from a more ecologically sentient planning approach. Growing up in a generation with strong cultures of exchange, sentience and systems thinking, aided by the abundance of toolbox available, I do not consider such ecologically sentient approach a surrender of the architectural discipline, but the maturation and remediation through more sophisticated ways to read and shape cities.
“Cities are epiphenomenal: they are the expressions of broader and more remote developments and sets of forces, specifically economic and social ones.” – Sanford Kwinter
“Atlanta is not a city, it is a landscape.” – Rem Koolhaas
Final Board and Models
Appendix
Other Reserches, Works, and Jury Reviews
Cities as Networks Graph & Spatial Network
Minimal Path System, Frei Otto
Toulouse-le-Mirail, Georges Candilis
Lower Manhattan Expressway, Paul Rudolph
Nervous System of the World, Michael Weinstock
Synaptic Pattern, Herve Conge
Rockford Replanning, Lugwig Hilberseimer
Hydrological City for Qatar, EmTech, AA
There have been multiple graph and network theories as attempts to find out organizational patterns and inter-relationships between various components within certain systems or boundaries. Some conceive such network patterns as circulation pathways, others distribute usage and occupancies along the lines. These all points to a growing trend - architecture and urban conditions are conceived not as much in terms of space, but rather as networks and interface. ‘Cities are dynamic nodes on extended multiple networks through which energy, information and material flows’ - Michael Weinstock ‘Yes, networks can be seen to have space [...] Architectural or Urban space can be modelled or conceived as if within or part of a network’ - Brett Steele
Space Syntax
Interface Map of Somertown, Bill Hillier
Public Space & Axial Map, Bill Hillier
Integration Map of London, Bill Hillier
Lagos Transportation Network, EmTech, AA
Space syntax encompasses a set of tools and theories to analyze likely social effects of certain spatial configurations. The basic principle is that spaces can be examined as network of choices and represented through maps and graphs to describe the how well is a point, segment or space connected and integrated to others within the system. It is normally used to predict the frequency of usage of certain segments within the whole network system. Hence it can evaluate the accessibility and find shortest path of a certain space from any other points within the complex network system. In other words, it depicts a spatial logic probabilities of societal encounters. ‘The modern city is a multiplex superimposition of network infrastructures... The incremental evolution of the urban realm is necessarily a narrative of its infrastructural progress’ - Jack Self
Shrinkage, Remove, Reorganize Demolition & Reorganization
Plan Voisin, Le Corbusier
Mission Grand Axe, OMA
Shrinking Magdeburg, Hubert Hoffmann
Green City outside Moscow, Ginzburg & Barshch
Tokyo Bay Plan, Kenzo Tange
Shrinking Berlin, Oswald M.Unger
There are various plans, with diverse aggressiveness, to dismantle, reorganize or implement new orders to urban conditions deemed obsolete and dysfunctional. Corbusier’s tabula-rasa approach in Plan Voisin has it flaws, with Koolhaas demostrating greater awareness to the historical context by selectively preserving heritage. Utilizing shrinkage as potential,
Melun-Sénart, OMA
there are plans for phased demolition, retreat and “passive” renovation to bring more green space into urban fabric. Unger plans for Berlin maintains identities of retracted urban islands. Tange’s Tokyo Bay Plan organizes spatial, programmatic and material dispositions to respond to dynamics of growth and decay.
Cellular Automata
Basic Rules & Patterns
Conway’s Game of Life
Cellular Automata are discrete, abstract computational systems broadly used as models of complexity and representations of non-linear dynamics. It defines survival and emergence of cells in the next iteration according to the neighboring conditions of each cell. The thesis aims to deploy the intelligence to simulate and project
possible outcomes of figure-ground pattern over time, based on densities and proximities of existing site conditions. Coordinating with space syntax analytics this will progress to derive rules of removal to generate informed strategies and timeline for taking down under-utilized structures to better reorganize clusters of void spaces.
Syntactic Refabrication
Evolution of Urban Fabric and Network Arrangements Yubari, Hokkaido, Japan
Sprawl, 1960s - 2010s
Location Source: Mapping Japanese City Spaces Google Maps
0
Nodes of Intensities & Zoning by Proximity
500
1000
1500
2000 (m)
Game of Removal and Syntactic Refabrication
T=0
T=1
T=2
T=3
T=4
T=5
Figure-Ground Simulation: 1. Removal of Structures based on Neighboring Conditions and Proximity to Nodes
T=0
T=1
T=2
T=3
T=4
T=5
Forming Islands and Networks: 1. Grouping of Conserved Structures by Proximity into Islands 2. Connect Clustered Structures and Islands with Minimal Spanning Networks
T=0
T=1
T=2
T=3
T=4
T=5
Syntax Analysis: 1. Change of Nodes and Network Conditions 2. Identify Critical Locations for Institutional Redistribution
T=0
T=1
T=2
T=3
T=4
T=5
Load Distribution: 1. Frequency of Usage of Various Road and Pathway Segments over Time
Syntactic Intervention: 1. Connection and Integration of Emerging Void Spaces 2. Define Relationship of Deminishing “Grey Space” and Emergent “White Space” 3. Identify Locations for Infill or Relocation of Institutes and Green Spaces
First Jury, 12 Feb 2015 w/ Tom Verebes & Dr. Eunice Seng Comment Sheets and Boards
Shrinkage Simulation, Topographic Analysis, Reconnection Through the space syntax and network distance analysis, the project was pushed forward by simulating shrinkage phenomena based on two rules. Sequence on left simulates random removal whilst sequence on right simulates retreat from lowest to highest proximity from key municipal buildings (red blocks). Results captured on this page indicate the gradual change in rough outline of urban sprawl (dark grey) versus that of vacant and abandoned land (turquoise). On oppsite page are refined versions of shrinkage simulation based on proximity to nodes of intensities across different sites. Layered diagram on furthest right illustrates a sequence of decision making process from topographic and network distance analysis to removal and reconnection machanisms based on topographic condition of each property and piece of land. On following two pages are initial renders of retreat and removal plans for two selected segments along the city spine.
T = 0.1 Remaining buildings = 178
T = 0.1 Remaining buildings = 178
T = 0.2 Remaining buildings = 158
T = 0.2 Remaining buildings = 160
T = 0.3 Remaining buildings = 139
T = 0.3 Remaining buildings = 142
T = 0.4 Remaining buildings = 119
T = 0.4 Remaining buildings = 124
T = 0.5 Remaining buildings = 99
T = 0.5 Remaining buildings = 104
T = 0.6 Remaining buildings = 79
T = 0.6 Remaining buildings = 85
T = 0.7 Remaining buildings = 59
T = 0.7 Remaining buildings = 67
Top to Bottom: Original State to full removal 20% increment per film
Top to Bottom: Original State to full removal 20% increment per film
Topography Analysis, Retreat by network distance, Reconnecting Abandoned and Vacant Land
Second Jury, 23 Mar 2015 w/ Tom Verebes & Dr. B.S. Jia Comment Sheets and Boards
Generative Networks, Subdivision and Periodic Occupation Algorithms for generative network was then refined to form irrigation channels to and from abandoned lands (blue and green lines below) with a view to convert them as urban farms to produce food and resources for the aging local community. On right are two voronoi grids representing key buildings and clustered abandoned lands, a cellular automata algorithm was deployed within the grid to simulate a shifting occupation pattern based on neighboring conditions over time. When these patterns were overlayed, cells with darker tones implies a higher frequency of occupation over time, hence suggesting a higher importance or development potential. The series of drawings on opposite page resembles a revised version of deploying generative logics responsive to topographic conditions. The operation stems from gradient analysis and flat territory selection to placement of critical nodes and associated pathway systems such as pedestrian, vehicular and cycling routes. The project then focused on the proliferation of topographic conditions through analytical mappings and deploy landscape as a medium to generate and organize production territories and networks.
Urban versus Green Territory and Network distance of normal buildings from Nodes
Topographic Analysis: Gradient and Curvature
Topographic Analysis: Cell area and Orientation
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Performative Systems associated to topographic information: 1. Terrain of flat to intermediate gradient for occupation 2. Selection of larger pieces of continuous flatland for anchors with greater footprint 3. Generation of internal pathways for anchors and connections to green belt 4. Generation of pathways according to gradients of green land for subdivision
Variations in configuration: Area ratios of Activated Green versus Urban Development
Variations in configuration: Area ratios of ew Anchors and Intermediate Development
Systems of topographic analysis and associative programme territories. Starting from grids based on contour perpendiculars to gradient and curvature analysis, from shrinkage simulation to pathways, greenery, residential to industrial networks.
Land Use Typology Matrix suggesting appropriate land uses for certain combinations of topographic conditions, including area, orientation, surface curvature and gradient.
Plan for Remedial Terrain for Yubari up till Third Jury Review
Topographical Conditions and existing settlement patterns of the entire city.
Third Jury, 14 May 2015 w/ Tom Verebes & Dr. B.S. Jia Comment Sheets and Boards
Bibliography 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33.
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The University of Hong Kong Master of Architecture Thesis 2014-2015