Mapping the townscape TALES OF THREE CITIES [ARC 3113]
ORCHARD ROAD
Orchard Road is a tourist and shopping belt, with the road laden with eccentric looking shopping centres. It got its name from the orchards and plantations that existed in the area until the turn of the 20th century.
MAPPING THE TOWNSCAPE Characterise the Urban Forms Establish Significance of Serial Vision Illustrate the Urban Distinctive Character Three Cities: Tales of Wish
Figure-ground study Characterise the Urban Forms
FIGURE GROUND STUDY Urban grid - surrounding site, organic, no distinct pattern, not uniform - along Orchard Road, some attempt at a fishbone grid, with exception
FIGURE GROUND STUDY Solid-void relationship - coarse-grain, voids are positive space; fine-grain, solids are positive space & voids become negative space
FIGURE GROUND STUDY Scale - on right side, built form is smaller & more humanized compared to massive blocks on left side
FIGURE GROUND STUDY Scale - no smooth transition between scales, sudden burst in size, glaring contrast, two distinct halves
FIGURE GROUND STUDY Continuity of open spaces/built forms - lower part, compactness of grid, a lot more open spaces diffuse between the built forms, better grid permeability
FIGURE GROUND STUDY Continuity of open spaces/built forms - upper part, increase of footprint and grid size, continuity greatly reduced
FIGURE GROUND STUDY Typology - Mostly linear, some prominent enclosed spaces, eg. Ngee Ann City.
Usability of open spaces Characterise the Urban Forms
Usability of open spaces At ‘fine grain’, the local character of having a diversity of activities like clothing, food, services & commodities are present along the street.
Boundary of public and private domains are blurred because of the strong frontage the activities have towards the streets, as defined by the character of the shoplots.
Activities on site formalises over time, creating a permanent local culture for the place.
Usability of open spaces At ‘coarse grain’, diversity of function disappears as the street transforms into a high end shopping boulevard Distinct feeling of privatisation of spaces with the retails closing themselves up behind facades and going into the buildings rather than being directly exposed to the street. Open spaces in front of the shopping malls now become positive spaces for informal activities. This is good example in urban planning for human experience, however in terms of urban structure it fails to capture and reinforce the local character
Movement pattern Characterise the Urban Forms
Movement pattern A web of streets & travel modes that maximises connectivity, e.g. MRT, bus, taxi, pedestrian networks (covered pedestrian walkways, through blocks linkage, underground pedestrian links, elevated pedestrian links).
Orchard Station
Somerset Station
Desirable places where multiple networks overlap. Inherent complexity of connectivity.
Cullen’s serial vision Establish Significance of Serial Vision
Cullen’s serial vision
The road at ‘coarse grain’ is inconvenient to cross, and requires 2 trips. Hence the need for 3 serial visions.
Fine grain
The build up to Orchard Central from the Penang Road Open Space. Orchard Central is an example of an eccentric building form, but with a relatively small building footprint.
Fine grain
Note the presence of ‘low key’ buildings, such as the al fresco café and the colonial style buildings. Also note the accessibility to/from another street (Emerald Hill Road).
Fine grain
The build up to Mandarin Oriental. Note the glimpse of the upper faรงade from afar. Also note the lack of pedestrian traffic albeit the wide pedestrian pavement.
Coarse grain (L)
The reveal of Ngee Ann City and Wisma Atria. The colour of Ngee Ann City’s façade easily makes it the stand out building in Orchard Road. Wisma Atria is a eccentric building with a large footprint.
Coarse grain (L)
The ‘peak’ junction, the node of Orchard Road, intersecting with Scotts Road and Patterson Road. Note the abundance of large scale, eccentric building at this intersection.
Coarse grain (R)
Walking towards the Paragon. Note the intense volume of pedestrian traffic in this area.
Coarse grain (R)
The reveal of Lucky Plaza, one of many examples of a building in Orchard Road that strives to stand out with its eccentric form. Also note the high volume of pedestrian traffic.
SIGNIFICANCE AND POETICS • The spaces in ‘coarse grain’ can be seen as a amplification of ‘fine grain’. The difficulty in crossing the road, eccentricity of the buildings, as well as their footprints, and the pedestrian and vehicular traffic are amplified in ‘coarse grain’. • The diversity of functions in ‘fine grain’ is also absent in ‘coarse grain’, where the buildings are monotonous in function. • The need for segregation between ‘fine grain’ and ‘coarse grain’ points out the unnatural, sudden shift is urban design. One more close to traditional place-making (fine grain), and another seems forced and out of place with the local character (coarse grain).
Abstract city Illustrate the Urban Distinctive Character
Abstract City
The heart of Orchard Road is like a peak, an intersection where the most eccentric buildings meet, a node that radiates an aura to its surroundings.
Abstract City
It displays a sudden contrast to one of its surrounding context: the east side of Orchard Road, which continues to develop naturally.
Abstract city
The heart of Orchard Road is abstract. In contrast with its surrounding context, its development is forced upon, instead of a gradual evolution. Heavy intervention is involved, making the urban design of the area seem unnatural and out of place.
Collage city layer
Scale
Permeability
Usage
Area of Focus
New/Old
Field of view
Collage city layer
Scale. Unlike the humanised scale of the built form at the fine grain, the coarse grain incorporates an amplified scale of massive blocks that is both intimidating and out of place with the surrounding context.
Collage city layer
Permeability. The lack of a fishbone structure at coarse grain limits the variety of angles from which the user can explore the area, and the limited pathways also force the users in certain directions.
Collage city layer
Usage. The monotonous function found at coarse grain will become boring and uninteresting over a period of time, and the focus on tourist and the upper class of society segregates certain classes of society out of the area.
Collage city layer
Area of Focus. The entire coarse grain in a way acts as a singular entity which aims to attract the user, distorting the usual and organic pockets of attraction found in the traditional urban structure.
Collage city layer
New/Old. ‘Course grain’ consist of mainly new developments, hence this issue of abstraction. On the contrary, ‘fine grain’ consist of older and new buildings, and properly represents traditional place making.
Collage city layer
Field of View. In ‘coarse grain’, the form-focused buildings are too wide for the human vision. A superhuman field of view is required to frame the entirety of the eccentric facades, tearing the limits of our peripheral vision.
Collage city layer
In summary, our study shows the shortcomings of abstract city as compared to traditional place making in Singapore. Though URA’s planning guidelines takes great consideration of many aspects, there are inevitably flaws in forcing an idea upon a place instead of maintaining and reinforcing the natural and original urban structure.
COMPARING the three cities Three Cities: Tales of Wish
COMPARING the three cities Intangible Morphological Dimension
Singapore -
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Social Dimension
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Hong Kong
Modular block based on grid line for lane sufficiency Compact living due to continuous vertical buildings
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Limits to public expression and personal freedom Business friendly policies and stable political environment
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Manhattan
High rise and vertical built form Grid as generator – tree-lined promenade as major axis
Numbered streets and avenues makes travelling easy Difficult to get lost
Bringing together places to live and work Mixed use to capture and recreate the energy and unique urban character
Exhibitionism, incompleteness and competition are the chorality of Manhattan Quickly changing and adapting internally to new demands
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COMPARING the three cities Intangible Perceptual Dimension
Singapore -
Visual Dimension
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Hong Kong
Less visible wealth gap in street live. Diversity of economy Less pollution High cost of living
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The blending between nature and the built environment
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Manhattan
Hectic urban lifestyle, most intense street in the world Pollution is an issue
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More crime compared to Hong Kong
Visually more striking and more vibrant
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Orientation of the street grid is rotated to focus on harbour views Iconic skyline and eye catching architecture
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COMPARING the three cities Intangible Functional Dimension
Singapore -
Clean environment, no drinking & eating in stations or trains
Hong Kong -
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Temporal Dimension
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Has deep history and cultural value Mix of traditional and modern
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Manhattan
Public transport is cheap, clean & efficient Much more service oriented Public transportation serves just about the whole territory
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Lost historical buildings
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More spaces and urban greenery compared to Hong Kong More tranquil and less crowded spots
Ornate building detail and grand boulevard
COMPARING the three cities Tangible Built Form
Singapore -
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Hong Kong
A ‘town garden’, with large open spaces and more greenery Restrained but beautiful city
Activity/Function
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Movement Pattern
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No slouch in transport, easy to get around
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Concentrated city, no far travelling No existing street grid Buildings shaped like tower blocks
Manhattan -
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Grid as generator for building blocks Street organised in perpendicular avenues
Informal trading (bargaining) Local activities and places to discover Diverse Narrow but intense, narrow pedestrian alleyways
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Divide circulation of traffic from pedestrian walkways
most lovable city Three Cities: Tales of Wish
MOST LOVABLE CITY Lee Seng Kiat. I like Hong Kong as it is an easily digestible city due to its small size and encompassing public transportation. Interesting places that are in close proximity to each other, when combined with pleasant pedestrian walkways, makes a very walkable city. The magnificent skyline would not be possible without great consideration for the skyscraper guidelines in the city, which is impressive given the constant temptation to build higher. I also love the no-nonsense culture of the people, that I feel is also reflected in its efficient and ingenious architecture. Eugene Lim Yen Yong. I really like Manhattan because of the balance it achieves between diversity and consistency. From afar, the iconic skyline created by the differing heights and variety in built forms do nothing to tell you about the very organized grid of streets and alleyways till you actually pass through the city. Such a disciplined urban structure makes for an easily understandable transportation network for both pedestrians and vehicles, and this couples nicely with the variety of functions and built forms to create an infinitely interesting streetscape that is found nowhere else. Chuah Phaik Lin (Rachel). Singapore is the city I wish for due to its rich pedestrian walkway network. Being a pedestrian oriented city, it is developed for the people. The continuity of strong street frontages that connects the pedestrians to the activities happening in the buildings creates constant interaction between people and architecture. The ease of movement around the city provides a convenient lifestyle. Safe and uncluttered pathways protect the people from congested traffic, making the journey pleasant. I enjoyed walking around Singapore during the trip as I felt safe. Tong Chia Sin (Esther). The city that I would wish for is Manhattan. Because of the perpendicular grid, streets are named after avenues and numberings. I also enjoyed walking in the streets of Manhattan as the pedestrians circulation are prioritised by having wide walkways that is separated from traffic. Visually the architecture in Manhattan is large scale, proportional and solid, giving a majestic effect. Iconic skylines, ornate building details and grand boulevard that displays historical architecture can be seen throughout the city. At the centre of the city is the Central Park, a main public open space for the people to enjoy greenery in an urban jungle. Tan Zhe Shen (Jason). Singapore is my kind of city, instead of an urban jungle, I prefer living in a town garden. Wide public open spaces are found throughout the city. Vegetation shade and cool the spaces, and brings the city to life. The organisation of the city is not as good as Manhattan and Hong Kong as the built forms are diverse. There is a unique feeling in every street as each building has its own character, which makes the city special. The spaces are interconnected from underground commercials to multi-storeyed plazas, permitting different routes of circulation.
END. gam sia. Group members: Lee Seng Kiat
0302202
Eugene Lim Yen Yong Chuah Phaik Lin
0301435 0302069
Tong Chia Sin
1101A12324
Tan Zhe Shen
0312723