manifestations of the city :
HO CHI MINH CITY
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manifestations of the city :
HO CHI MINH CITY
STUDIO PASOLA
MASTER OF ARCHITECTURE 01, [ 2016 ] CENTER OF studies for ARCHITECTURE (COSA), UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA (UiTM)
Copyright Š 2016 by PASOLA STUDIO
All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher. PASOLA STUDIO Urban Design Studio Master of Architecture 01 Universiti Teknologi MARA Kampus Puncak Alam Selangor, Malaysia
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63
PREFACE
PHUONG 2
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13
PHUONG 1
14 28 38 50
TESSERACT OF MONTAGES: THE RE-ANIMATION OF MOVIE, ARCHITECTURE & PLACES EXPERIENCES
A. A. Ahmad EMBELLISHING THE EXPERIENTIAL URBANISM THROUGH CREATIVE ETHNO-TOURISM
S. K. Samat PERIPATETIC CITY: A PURSUIT OF KNOWLEDGE MOMENT
M. H. Abd Rahman RE-STRUCTURING SAIGON’S URBAN GASTRONOMY
N. I. Hamzah
BREAKING THE HABITS: [RECIPROMORPHOSIS RECIPROCATE THE DYNAMICS OF URBAN FUTURE] SENSITIZING PHAM NGU LAO STREET
A. A. Ahmad Nawir
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BIOPHILIA: ORIGIN OF ACTIVE COMMUNITY
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ACTIVATING PATHS AROUND BEN THANH AREA
100 110 122
C. K. A. S. Abd Whayab
F. F. Muda OCULUS HUB: EXPLORING VERTICAL URBAN TOPOLOGY
M. S. Shahdan THE LIVED EXISTENTIAL SPACES: UNBOUND GENIUS LOCI OF BEN THANH, HO CHI MINH
N. N. Razali BEN THANH SURVIVAL: ENVIROMENTAL [RE]ADAPTATION
N. Mohd Yunus
CONTENTS 135
PHUONG 3
136 152 168 180 192 204
EMBARA: SAIGON’S YOUTH ARCADIA
A. Anas SPACE SIMULACRUM: A PARADOX OF CONCEPTUAL NOVELTY
H. H. Hamzah SIDEWALK CITY: ROMANTICISING THE SIDEWALK (OF HO CHI MINH CITY)
M. A. Mohd Amdan
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PHUONG 4
220 242 258
HO CHI MINH CITY PHUONG 4: REVIVIFYING RESILIENCY BY A HOLISTIC CATALYST TO CULTIVATE A THRIVING CITY
L. H. Shamsul SPACE CONUNDRUM: INVOKING AWARENESS IN THE CITY
M. A. N. Razali PLAYSCAPES: GENERATE ALTERNATE YOUTH BRAND SPACES IN HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM
M. H. Ab Razak
THE TRANSIT[ITIONAL] SPACES: AMELIORATING THE EXPERIENTIAL LANDSCAPE OF HAI BA TRUNG STREET
M. S. Shahdan EUPHORIC CITY: MULTI-LAYER PUBLIC REALM AND LIVABLE WATERFRONT AS COMPONENT IN STIMULATING HAPPINESS THROUGHOUT THE CITY
P. F. W. Megat Kamaruzaman DOTHI ETAPE: JOURNEY THROUGH THE EXPERIENCES OF PERFORMANCE AND ART
S. A. Syed Albakri
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CONTRIBUTORS
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Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
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EDITORIAL BOARD CHIEF EDITOR SS Zubir
EDITORS Fairuz Reza Razali Zaharah Yahya Jamsyid Idrus Fairus Kholid Hazirah Hamzah
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
PREFACE For this semester March-July 2016 the Masters of Architecture students at UiTM visit Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam to work on the urban structure of these cities. Both cities are remarkable in their own ways—even among Asian cities—in their experimental use of public space that broadens the traditional notion of a living city and suggests innovative, contemporary solutions for place making. They reorder our perception of the city and its institutions, and socializes the urban condition. The cities’ many voids, are utilized at their maximum capacities and extensive interconnected green spaces adorn their public realms. This Advanced Urban Design Studio challenges the postgraduate students to demonstrate the understanding and ability to design and conceptualize an architectural/ urban project in their selected cities, with the emphasis on inserting small size urban incubators that contain programmes reflecting the potentialities of these spaces. The propose spaces could be anything from media or film spectacles to small neighbourhood festivals and public viewing together with housing acupuncture. This studio will advance the student’s ability to experiment, to create their own or group ¬defined conceptual approaches and to develop a novel and original project that reflects the student’s freedom within an engaged discursive environment. The scale of the student’s intervention differs radically from the previous urban design studio and demands a new and innovative architecture that is able to respond to the fluid and amorphous condition of public space. Cross programming, new adaptable structures for the public, novel systems of transport and goods delivery are addressed in the urban design the student produce in this semester for the two cities in Vietnam.
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Phuong 1
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Tesseract of montages: The re-animation of movie, architecture and places experiences. A. A. Ahmad
Centre of Studies Architecture, Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia
Abstract “From a lump of clay a vessel is made, what makes it useful is space within the vessel, for a room, we make doors and windows, but what makes a room habitable is the empty space within it� [1]. The quote from Lao Tzu perfectly describes a space which is not empty but which is a gap. Jonathan Hill [2] describes these spatial gaps are inherent in fragmentations. In film, we perceive arrangements of montages. Montages are spatial exercise where fragments from other sites are brought to a new location while at the same time maintaining to some extent the essence of the original fragments. Same principal apply when we perceive places, we perceive places through series of fragments. Fragments in this sense are a piece of the city which perhaps could be the foods in the city, buildings in the city or people in the city and many others. This is perhaps due to the fact that our visual perception is fragmentary in nature. A single glance is not sufficient to take in everything. Similarly in a film by a cinematographer and visual director, the scene is viewed through a series of glances. In film, there always going to be choreograph and script or screenplay whereby contains within it opening scene, build- up plot or suspense and climax or surprise. This is perhaps the ingredients or prescriptions that make watching movies an interesting, exciting and enjoyable experience. Unlike place, though places do contains series of fragments and montages but rarely its choreographed or programmed to behave and to be experiences like watching movie experiences where by every second, every moment of the scene in the movie give the viewer very different, unique and distinct experience. This paper try to approach places and urban design in screenplay or filmmaking approach by borrowing and reconstructing the screenplay frameworks as an approach to reconstruct and reanimate the places existing diverse relationship and experiences to its occupants and derive is used as a strategy to enhance the occupant’s experiences and the vibrant quality of the place. Keywords: fragments, spatial gap, montages, screenplay, place relationship, choreograph, movie experience, screenplay framework, derive.
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
1
Introduction
Ho Chi Minh City commonly known by Saigon or by the abbreviations HCMC is the former capital of the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam). HCMC was shaped by multi-layered history and society that structure and stratified their economy, city and people. Economic and geo-political shifts heavily informed and transformed HCMC and vice versa. Saigon once branded as Diamond of the Far-east, a place where westerners could partake of exotic women, trinkets & cuisine while enjoying the comfort of French influence. HCMC now is the most populated city in Vietnam with population of around nine million. Progress aside, Saigon is steeped in tradition, a living monument to the past that wears its culture proudly on its sleeve. Saigon houses a unique mixture of past and present. The introduction of Doi Moi policy (economic liberalisation) has further boost and transformed HCMC society and city with the influx of foreign investor and the emerging of new rich and elites Vietnamese often call as Viet Keus. These Viet Keus with their own imagination and ambition developed their own new lavish niche market and VIP treatment lifestyle especially in entertainment, while the westerners only sought out place that allowed them to experience the exotic quality of HCMC, to reminisce, re-imagine and re-live their memories. This duality of in between western nostalgia and Viet Keus imagination perhaps the main catalyst that creates and propagates the growth of places like Bui Vien Street, a place for them to have entertainment, leisure and pleasure. It is their Utopia. It is a place where they come to have fun, enjoy, relax, entertain and experience the uniqueness and exotic colours of varied culture, sadness and happiness in the life span of Saigon.
Figure 1(a) Key plan of Bui Vien Street
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Figure 1(b) Figure ground of Bui Vien Street
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Site Setting
Bui Vien Street famously known with many different names due to its multiple assorted chameleons like behaviour. Bui Vien Street is like a city with many heads. This area is the home to a lot of hotels, motels, restaurants, cafes, art galleries, handcraft shops, pubs, nightclubs, karaoke bars, travel centres and travel services for foreign backpackers. Bui Vien Street has become a familiar address and the gathering place of foreign visitors to the city and the young Viet Keus [3]. Bui Vien Street also notoriously known as one of the famous hotspots for entertainment and pleasures activities [4]. It seems like Bui Vien Street have and behave in different variety of persona depending on time due to the living rhythm in Bui Vien which is always fast and noisy, especially at night. During the daytime, Bui Vien street function normally or at least seems to function normally as commercial mix used shop, hotels, motels, restaurants, cafes, art galleries, handcraft shops, travel centres and travel services being the most noticeable buildings with foreign visitors spotted going out to travel to other places but at night, Bui Vien street become busy with the young Viet Keus hanging out, relax, have fun and gathering, hookers and pimps fishing for clients and foreign visitor return to Bui Vien Street to relax, have fun, entertain and experience the pavement life and the nightlife of Saigon.
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
Figure 2(a) The government vision: Thu Thiem master plan as new CBD and city centre. By 2025, Thu Thiem in District 2 will become the new commercial and business district (CBD) and the new city centre replacing HCMC [5]. Government intention to shifts the current city centre and business district to District 2 hypothetically, will divide and shift the people attraction while at the same time giving rise to new entertainment and leisure hotspot. No doubt this will also ignite the deterioration of Bui Vien Street as an entertainment and leisure utopia and pleasure business hotspot and long behold, will bring down together with it all the economy activities related to it and the life in the city itself. Bui Vien Street as it is now is already in a form of constellations of various different kind of city with various different rhythm of city life depending on time. It is believe that the city ability to contains, portrays and shape shifting its life while at the same hidings parts of its city life to be discovers and explores will be the key for Bui Vien Street to maintain and improve its significant as an entertainment and leisure utopia.
Figure 2(b) Hypotheticals predicted scenarios
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Potentials and Dilemmas
Imageability: Bui Vien as it is nowadays, perceived in a form of constellations of various different kind of fragments borrowed from the past, present and future, taking inspiration from working examples in existing cities; some scientific, others picturesque; some antique, others contemporary; some may be rational, whilst others disordered with various different rhythm of city life depending on time. These diverse fragments of characters and images of the place creating a complex diversity of activities and cultures which in return generating the vitality and vibrant quality of the place. This constellation of fragments contribute to the endless ways and methods ones can experiences city, thus creating a kaleidoscopic screenplay montages. However, this quality is experiences in almost linear and on street layer only. In some part of the city especially in back lanes, this quality are not visible.
Figure 3(a) Linear, monotonous and one layer of montage experiences. Morphology: Bui Vien originally was established as military settlement, in around 1800, Bui Vien was overtook by the government (Viet Cong) and the buildings were converted into shop house and housing to cater the war refugees and victims but the lands still owned by the government. The original layout consisted of 3 compartments called “ gian “ each have courtyard at the centre and shop at the front facing the street. In 1986, Doi Moi policy was implemented whereby the tax was
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
imposed on buildings based on the width of the buildings thus, reducing the shop houses width in Bui Vien to a single “ gian “ (approx. 3.5m width). Rapid urbanization and migration as a result of Doi Moi policy led to shortage of housing. Thus makeshift dwelling were added to the rear and top of the buildings. This creates a conditions of multiple different community existed within one building creating unique vibrant culture & customs within the city. Nowadays the buildings are taller and longer but retain the slender footprint and high occupation density. Before the new land law was introduced in 1993, the land cannot be trade and own by government. After the new land law was introduced, only special elite people whom the call Ho Khau can buy and sell the land thus creates single ownership of lands and buildings situation which is very good for development because the lesser amount of approval needed to own the place.
Figure 3(b) Building morphology in Bui Vien From the morphology of the buildings in Bui Vien, it is clear that the culture of shared living and the idea of space (volume) as a commodity already ingrained in the Vietnam society can be exploited to convert part of the building frontage into commercial or mix- use spaces to further intensify the vibrant and programmes in the city.
Figure 3(c) The single ownership, fine grained building with various different users and different programmes intertwined This morphology also transformed the existing buildings typologies floor plans into deep floor plan that creates dark spaces and ventilation dilemma which is not very comforting for living. Multiple different communities that existed within one building creating, accessibility, common spaces and privacy dilemmas.
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Figure 3(d) The dark spaces, accessibility and common spaces dilemmas Land use: The area along the street is a high income area, very vibrant and hotspots for peoples watching and to hangout. This area is very actives and hotspots for peoples, thus contributes to the economic prosperities on the city. This is also the high income area where most of economic activities concentrated. This area needs to be improved and allow for expansion in order to sustain the economic prosperities & helps to increase the socio economic in the city. The fine grained building blocks, programmes and activities along the street and back lanes can acts as catalyst to the economy and vibrant quality of the city. The biggest and most advance nightclub, small and mix used business whereby the rhythm and street life quality are very unique and exotic can be exploit to act as nodes of attractions.
Figure 3(e) The high income area, very vibrant
Figure 3(f) Fine grained building blocks & programmes
The housing island disconnecting the vibrant quality of street life from expanding into the back lanes thus kills the pedestrians’ flows and creating dead spaces. The back lane does not act or forming a spine connecting both ends to the main road for the active and vibrant quality and programmes from the main street to flows and grows into the back lanes.
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
Figure 3(g) The housing island
Figure 3(h) Disconnection of street
Massing: Most of the building blocks are very fine grained which allowed good permeability for pedestrians, street life and businesses to grow. Because of the nature of the juxtaposition and shared living inside the buildings, the facade and balcony already function as access road into the buildings. By injecting new programmes and bringing up the street to the facade, the space will create voyeuristic spaces which will attract more people.
Figure 3(i) Fine grained building and abundant potentials for voyeuristic spaces Accessibility: Easy access from the city centre and many complicated back lanes and shortcut inside the urban labyrinth are very good because its creates easy escape routes and favourite places for the pedestrians and business to grow.
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Thesis Statement
Doreen Massey [6] suggested, in our current age of globalisation and information, the significant of distance was reducing. Therefor the idea of place locality and identity almost lose its significant. Places are now fragments of other places from past, present or future allowing it to create itself, to read itself and to form its own meanings from borrowed fragments [7]. Though places as a fragment does not have significant in meaning or relation to context, but when experience collectively they form a series of fragments akin to a screenplay of montages in movies. Thus relationships are form between place and its occupants. Places are no longer bounded area but collections of montages of relationship (a screenplay of movie).
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Hypothesis: fiction follow form
By borrowing and reconstructing the screenplay frameworks as an approach to reconstruct and reanimate the places diverse relationship and experiences to its occupants and derive is used as a strategy to enhance the occupant’s experiences and the vibrant quality of the place. The Bui Vien street vibrant and active quality with the fine grained quality of the buildings and programmes itself will act as catalyst in further enhance the places vibrant quality. Architecture and places then will be enjoy and experience in the same way people enjoy and experience movie where by every second, every moment of the scene in the movie give the viewer very different, unique and distinct experience. Architecture and places will never be boring again. There will always be surprises in the architecture and places. There will always be different things to do, explore and gains in architecture and places. The architecture and places will never be the same again.
Figure 5(a) Screenplay, architectural montages and derive relationship frameworks
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
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Design Intervention
6.1 Theoretical framework Following the screenplay framework or choreograph which contain within it opening scene, build- up plot or suspense and climax or surprise as way people experiences places, part of the city are marked and identify as opening scene, build- up scene and climax scene. Taking derive method as tool to choreograph the experiences of places [8], the opening scene then further define as moods of place or the places itself that creates attraction and repulsion into the places. Build- up scene then define as spatial gaps and non- places or transitional places [9] where people use only to reach a certain destination. Finally climax scene then define as surprise, shock or pleasure inside the place.
Figure 6.1(a) Theoretical frameworks 6.2 Strategy In order to design places that one can enjoy and experience in the same way people enjoy and experience movie, four main strategy was devised which is firstly creating connection between main street and the back lane so that the program and vibrant quality from the main street can grow and expand. Next is the intensifying of the existing montages like experiences in the places itself by devising multiple layers of montages experiences and multiple ways montages can be experienced. Then the concept of fiction follow form is applied. Next is choreographing surprise, unlike movie where the surprise experiences ones gets while watching it does not have to be permanents and not intended to be permanent and the setting or the structures and ingredients of the movie itself such the props, actors, backdrops and etcetera are temporary and some are not even real. In contrast to choreographing surprise in a city or places whereby everything is real and made with intention to last. To further study the idea of manufacturing
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Figure 6.2(a) Design strategy: generating montages experiences (fictions follow form).
Figure 6.2(b) Design strategy: choreographing surprises.
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
Figure 6.2(c) Design strategy: materialization
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Figure 6.3(a) programmatic sequence strategy Typically to the foreigner and the young viet keus, Bui Vien Street was considered as a place for them to have entertainment, leisure and pleasure. It is their Utopia. From that, new programmatic sequence strategy was devised. In this new programs entertainments, leisure and pleasure will be the main programs in the site that involved collaboration of existing local bars, pubs, nightclubs, cafes, restaurants, hotels, brothels, salons and parlours as the main key player and the service provider in the industry. These collaborators then partner up with the collaboration of online dating site and social discovery service base on location as their advertisements medium and platform for them to connects and look for clients and vice versa. Once the deal has been made between the service provider and the clients, the next partner which is the collaboration of online advertisement, review about places and rental spaces will provides suggestions and information about the places to the clients and the services provider also will be provided with the information about clients.
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Conclusion
A places as a container or a collections of fragments and montages from the past, present and future, taking inspiration from working examples in existing cities; some scientific, others picturesque; some antique, others contemporary; some may be rational, whilst others disordered would offer the poetics of utopia, but the juxtaposition and layering of many montages into a whole places would allow the place to be free of the unchangeable finality of utopian. A place lacking of prescription of remembrances, shifted contexts, recycled meanings, metamorphoses thus, allowing the place to create itself, to read itself and to form its own meanings from borrowed fragments.
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References [1] Lao Tzu, 1891. Tao te ching: sacred book of the east, vol 39, chapter 11. Sacred-texts Taoism [Online]. Available at: http://www.sacred-texts.com/tao/taote.htm [Accessed at 01 July 2016]. [2] Jonathan Hill, 2005. Action of Architecture. Routledge, Taylor and Francis Group. [3] News VietNam Net, 2013. Sleepless night on the “Street of Foreigners” in Saigon [Online]. Available at: http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/vietnam-in-photos/77521/sleepless-nighton-the--street-of-foreigners--in-saigon.html [Accessed at 04 April 2016]. [4] Tuoi Tre News, 2013. “Red light” districts in Ho Chi Minh City. [Online]. Available at: http://tuoitrenews.vn/features/8067/red-light-districts-in-ho-chi-minh-city [Accessed at 04 April 2016]. [5] Saigoneer, 2014. Future Saigon: The One Ho Chi Minh City. [Online]. Available at: http://saigoneer.com/saigon-development/1898-future-saigon-the-one-hochi-minh-city [Accessed at 16 May 2016]. [6] Doreen Massey, 2001. Space, Place and Gender. 3rd ed. University of Minnesota Press. [7] Architecture + urbanism, 2016. Colin Rowe (1920-99) and Fred Koetter: Collage City [Online]. Available at: http://architectureandurbanism.blogspot.my/2010/04/colin-rowe-1920-99and-fred-koetter.html [Accessed at 09 July 2016]. [8] Mapping Weird Stuff, 2009. Psychogeography [Online]. Available at: https://mappingweirdstuff.wordpress.com/2009/06/14/mapping-weirdstuff-psychogeography [Accessed at 20 March 2016]. [9] Marc Auge’, 1995. Non- places: introduction to anthropology of super modernity, 1st ed. Verso.
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Peripatetic City: A Pursuit of Knowledge Moment M.H. Abd Rahman
Centre of Studies Architecture, Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia
Abstract Since the Vietnamese economy transformed into market economy, community life has been improved greatly especially for people living in big cities like HCMC. The rapid economic development has attracted workers from different provinces including children with many kinds of jobs such as shoe polishing, lottery ticket selling, street vendors and doing domestic chores. Many parents have to take their children out of schools and let them work to contribute to family's income. Besides parents who are not aware of importance of education and think "No food leads to starvation while no education is still alright" force their children to quit schools and go to work. [4] This spatial turn has led to the emergence of various types of new educational spaces on different scales – from transformed old classrooms to ‘schools without classrooms’, from constructions of urban ‘knowledge moments’ to virtual learning networks, from local ‘learning pathways’ to global de-territorial spaces of learning; from inclusive educational facilities for all citizens to exclusive mega projects for high-tech knowledge workers. Many of these projects are purposefully trying to fold in pedagogic moments across the urban fabric. The blurring of lines between work, live, learn and play display today’s planning logic of new urban districts. The rationale behind this new extension of learning spaces into the urban landscape is understood by the author to be a result of the widely shared dogma of ‘life-long learning’. To be successful, the concept of life-long learning needs, in addition to institutional reform, the ubiquitous presence of spatial, medial and psychological attractors, that will incite everybody to make ‘learning’ a part of their daily lives. [1] Keywords: children, education, knowledge moments, learning pathways, spatial turn
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
1
Introduction
Its former name was Saigon. Long time ago many tourists viewed it as “a pearl of the far East”, which may reveals its splendid beauty. Its current name is an expression of great commemoration of Ho Chi Minh Uncle, who was the leader of the nation. It also was once known as Prey Nokor, an important Khmer seaport prior to annexation by the Vietnamese in the 17th century. Under the name Saigon, it was the capital of the French colony of Cochin China and later of the independent republic of South Vietnam 1955–75. On 2 July 1976, Saigon merged with the surrounding Gia Dịnh Province and was officially renamed Ho Chi Minh City after revolutionary leader Hồ Chí Minh (although the name Sài Gòn is still unofficially widely used).The metropolitan area, which consists of the Ho Chi Minh City metropolitan area, Thủ Dầu Một, Biên Hòa, Vũng Tàu, Dĩ An, Thuận An and surrounding towns, is populated by more than 9 million people, making it the most populous metropolitan area in Vietnam. The city's population is expected to grow to 13.9 million by 2025. [5] Viet Nam is now on its way to becoming a middle income country. But the global financial crisis, climate change and increasing disparities among regions and different groups in society have been considerably affecting the implementation of child rights in Viet Nam.
Figure 1: Collage scenario of site
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Site Setting
Phạm Ngu Lao Street and Bui Vien is located in District 1 of Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon, Vietnam. It was named after Phạm Ngũ Lão and Bui Vien, the national hero. The intersection of Phạm Ngu Lao and De Tham streets are referred to as the backpacker district of Saigon. Today, Bui Vien Street is one of the roads most familiar and famous for tourists. The many bars and cafes in this district are conveniently located near Saigon's city centre. In the Vietnamese language, this area is called "khu Tay ba lo" (Backpacker's area). [5] Like other ancient streets in the city centre of Vietnam, Bui Vien Street characterized by a wide range of shops and houses multifunction bustling along the roadside. Since the economic and tourism boom 20 years ago, Bui Vien Street has been restructured. The antique shop is no longer a feature of the region again. Instead, the individual shops, restaurants, theaters, shops and small hotels water, outdoor activities style combines Vietnam and Europe become characteristic of the neighbourhood, make a Bui Vien street differential and other roads in Ho Chi Minh City. The people of Ho Chi Minh City, also known as West Street Bui Vien Street (Street for the West).
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Figure 2: Key plan of Bui Vien Ward
Figure 3: Figure ground
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
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Potentials and Dilemmas
Dol Moi, which was implemented in 1986, drastically changed Vietnamese society, economically, socially and politically. These changes allowed a market economy to emerge, sparked remarkable economic growth, and reduced the overall level of poverty. The living standard of the entire population has improved as a result of these economic developments. Poverty reduction has not occurred equally across all regions of Vietnam. Since Vietnam’s economic opening in the mid-80s, the problem of working children in large cities such as Ho Chi Minh City has become increasingly visible to the international community. The number of working children has increased and the types of children included in the definition of working and street children are changing. Street kids are some of the most vulnerable people in our societies. They are often taken advantage of by adults, especially adults who offer to take care of them. Many become shoe-shine boys or sell sunglasses, lighters and even drugs. But none of these items yield a high profit and some boys will end up selling themselves, maybe begin to take drugs themselves or drink alcohol. [4] Figure 4 below highlight the statistic of street children issues within the site.
Figure 4: Fact and Data Street Children
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Figure 5: Tourist statistics in Bui Vien Street Based on the figure 5 the statistics show an increase of international visitors from all over the world highlighting the potential of an economic development rise of the site. With this increase it will create more job opportunities to local resident and citizen from all over provinces to come and work. The magnetic attraction of the street Bu Vien street area result of density of people activities along the street that support the economic enhancement of the area. As a result the population of Bui Vien will increase rapidly. However this rising economic activity will create a stressful community and with lack of public spaces, the local and children will face intense environment.
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Theory
The traditional spatial setting of the classroom catering to a teacher-led, institutionally driven pedagogy has remained unchanged for centuries. The deeply entrenched idea of the classroom as a spatial setting where teaching and learning transact, makes it easy for educators take it for granted. Seemingly radical theories about dissolving the four walls of the classroom, as the quintessential place of learning since centuries, is gaining support by some very down-to-earth institutions and limited to knowledge inside of classroom. So the introduction of the pedagogy involves taking the classroom outside to experience first-hand knowledge moment as physical, social, urban, virtual and deterritorial spaces and places where structured and unstructured modes of learning, social interactions and representation of knowledge is orchestrated largely in a self-organized manner. [3]
Figure 6: Conceptual diagram of theory
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
An educational paradigm which had broad implications on the spatial turn in pedagogy is the concept of lifelong learning. New theories of ‘space’, i.e. ‘relational space’ or ‘social space’, that started emerging in social theory in the 1970s attacked and successfully challenged the prevailing notions of ‘absolute space’ or ‘container space’. [2] They have been excersing profound and ongoing influence on other disciplines like economics, geography or even spatial planning which until then had little or no spatial understanding of phenomena. If and how these new spatial concepts had influenced pedagogic theory remains to be researched systematically, however, the new trends in pedagogic practice and rhetoric clearly display their rising influence in the design of educational spaces.
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Thesis Statement
5.1 A Pursuit of Knowledge Moment The project looks at how education urbanism can be the catalyst for urban restructure through concept of city as classroom and program the town needs. A successful city shall be refine as the methodology of education to the streets elements such as back of cities, lanes and the inactive open space which can be transform to a more victorious manner. With the support of all responsible body, the city transition program is ensured to be operational in term of acting bodies, government and the community organization itself. A variation typology of program and events shall be the injecting rush of sugar to the exciting tourist prospect and local community. By bringing the back lane to its maximum attraction of education urbanism.
6
Hypothesis
The existing back lane only acts as access for the service and local using for residential. But it has potential to an urban spine that act as children to educated and same time attract tourist to visit the enclave spot. ‘Back lane as interactive spine’ is an approach to attract the people towards the site. The have some of existing back lane is injected with attractive program and activity with new spatial imaginaries of education, thus creating an identity for the back lane. In an effort to ensure that the surrounding areas are continuously active on weekdays and weekends, new programmes and activities focussing on kids, should be implemented. To create an urban space that are educational and joyful, both of the private and public sectors need to play their roles in carrying out programmes to suit the children’s' needs. Playful skills learning spaces will provide opportunities for the children to enhance their problem solving skills as well as technical skills. In conclusion, these learning pocket spaces, will allow the children freedom in experiencing new social identity in a creative and playful surroundings. Their participations will provide them to expand their ideas and challenge their boundaries, to guide the community to a more healthy and active living environments.
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Design Intervention
7.1 Framework Parameter Indicator
Figure 7: The circuit enclave based on character children From figure 7 show that there circuit indicate enclave based on initial analysis such as space syntax analysis (there average of congested vehicle and pedestrian) and land use for the site. There most important thing that indicated enclave is based on picture children character and also the surrounding of space. For example the picture children running through narrow space that indicated that the comfortable place where children like to running and based on map the narrow space can indicated the enclave A, E, H is the best place to point. From the indicator enclave of children there are new programs and activities can be injected to rejuvenate the area are based on the picture and activities children that been identify from database on figure 1 such as street vending and shoe shinning. Each enclave have the on new program that connect all the circuit to become the peripatetic city.
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
7.2 Strategy
The program is divided into 3 part there is housing, public realm and school.
The enclave that been indicated based on the program and children character.
Extension of link (bridge) to connect each program to one integrated common space above ground and redefine the area for public realm. This will separate children with negative environment.
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Conclusion
In conclusion, the proposed design intervention of creating learning pathways and introducing knowledge moments to children of Bui Vien Street will educate and intensifies their skills and knowledge. This intervention will also provide a unique public realm that is designed around the characteristics of the children as well as catering to the needs of the children themselves. This intervention will also acts as a core program that that anchor the increase of tourists to the site therefore sustaining and boost the local economy and environment.
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References [1] Ian Banerjee, “Educational Urbanism: The strategic alliance between educational planning, pedagogy and urban planning”, ISRACentre of Sociology, Vienna University of Technology, Paniglgasse 16, 1040 Vienna. 2010 [2] Ed, B., Tony (2000) Lifelong learning: Making it work. An adult learning Australia discussion paper. Available at: http://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED442927 (Accessed: 15 July 2016). [3] JAMIESON, P. DANE, J. LIPPMAN, P.C.: Moving Beyond the Classroom –Accomodating the changing pedagogy of higher education. In Proceedings of 2005 Forum of teh Australasian Association for Institutional Research, 2005 [4] Fern, P. and Abroad, S.S. (2006) ‘Migrant working children in Ho Chi Minh City: Emerging trends between ’ by Paige fern. Available at: http://digitalcollections.sit.edu/isp_collection/308/ (Accessed: 15 July 2016). [5] Ho Chi Minh City (2016) in Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ho_Chi_Minh_City (Accessed: 15 July 2016).
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Embellishing the experiential urbanism through creative ethno-tourism.
S. K. Samat
Centre of Studies Architecture, Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia
Abstract Cities and Cultures is a critical account of the relations between contemporary cities and the cultures they produce which in turn shape them. The term culture, for instance, can mean the arts or a way of life. The current Ho Chi Minh City is the commercial city of Vietnam. There were great development of industrial activities, tourist hub, and also known as the city with the highest slum rate. Terms such as "creative economy," "creative class," and "cultural economy" are becoming more common among urban planners. These terms reference a variety of types of jobs, people, and industries, including the sectors of visual, performing, and literary arts, as well as applied fields like architecture. Whatever label is used, this use of terminology linking culture and the economy indicates recognition of the connections among the fields of planning, economic development, arts and culture. Framework of uplifting the open public area and potential existing development shall intensify the web work of the city thus creating a connection between tourist and local. To amplify the cultivation of existing environment, the public realm is restructure with fusing the development with mix usage programming. The area is reform as a creative and tourism program area. Most of the site is develop to encourage the tourism success attraction. This paper explores how urban design can work to create places that offer rich, provocative experiences with environmental processes in order to expand, maintain, and reclaim connections with environmental processes. Keywords: culture, art, transformation, experience, sustainable, public realm
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
Figure 1.0: Allez boo bar, unashamedly flaunts its tropical kookiness on a prominent street corner.
1
Introduction
Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnamese: Thành Phố Hồ Chí Minh), commonly known as Saigon (Vietnamese: Sài Gòn) or by the abbreviations HCMC or HCM, is the largest city in Vietnam and the former capital of the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam). Following the fall of Saigon in 1975, Saigon was renamed Ho Chi Minh City. However the old Saigon name is still used by both Vietnamese and foreigners, especially when referring to the most central part of the city to which most tourists flock. The connection between foreigner and local is important catalyst of tourism industry, which attract various tourist from different nation of the world. The attractiveness in every site and place are developed by its own identity utilized that give maximum potential of its instigation without changing the purity of Ho Chi Minh sense of place. Site located in westernized area which situated the Allez boo bar building (Figure 1.0) where the culture came from different background multiracial community. The building structure with bamboo-lined walls, a rattashaded bar and shisha pipes. A ceaseless influx of backpackers and the late-night action upstairs ensures its popularity. This area need well designation on how arts and culture affect the value of place with the connection between open public area. In an age of urban sprawl, multiple usage of public space and proliferation of the sites of cultural expression, it seems odd to expect public spaces to fullfill their traditional role as spaces of civic inculcation. [1]. This will enhance the public gathering and expression as the participation sparked by meeting and mingling in public area. As the symbolic commercial heart and magnet for foreign investors, Ho Chi Minh City can achieve the higher rate of population. In essence, Ho Chi Minh city aim need to focus on emerging as liveable city, UN-Habitat explained, for promoting socially and economically vibrant and environmentally sustainable cities across the world by focusing attention to the need for better spatial planning that gives due attention to streets and public area. [2]
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2
Site Setting
District 1 is the financial and commercial hub of Ho Chi Minh City. It is well established urban area. Most travellers will spend the majority of their time here. Basically every street in District 1 built and designed since 1946 was by the French. Most buildings constructed since the French colony era still standing now, with most renovated recently. One of the most famous historical tourism sights in District 1 is Pham Ngu Lao area. Several attracting location such as iconic landmark of Crazy Buffalo and facing junction with Bui Vien street and De Tham street. The ‘Pho Tay’ (street of foreigner), common name of the area covering the streets of Pham Ngu Lao, Bui Vien, De Tham and the neighbouring areas, in Pham Ngu Lao Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. A lot of hotels, motels, restaurants, travel centers and travel services for foreign backpackers. The area become a familiar address and the gathering place of foreign visitors. Varied culture quality brings by the backpackers and the locals has the potential to be levitate for making a successful urban culture festival tourism destination in the near future.
Figure 2(a): Key plan
Figure 2(b) Pham Ngu Lao Ward.
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
3
Potentials and Dilemmas
The intersection road Pham Ngu Lao ward is one of the most popular area among locals and foreign backpackers. It is where Vietnamese and foreign backpackers culture meet. Locals call it “ Khu phu tay ba lo” or Saigon Backpackers, a hot spot for foreign tourists to stay in Vietnam. The area becoming more and more popular around the worlds as the ‘town’ of guesthouses, restaurants and abundance of other services for low priced tourism. The potential of the intersection road of Pham Ngu Lao main road and the Bui Vein street shows as the De Tham connect as secondary road with located in between the shoplots and industrial services building. Due to this site potential, an idea of injecting creative program shall manage to be progress. The existing asthetic attraction of art & culture structure buildings such as Allez boo bar and Crazy buffalo restaurant act as the structure of art & culture leisure programing attraction. The connectedness design process fundamentally requires an awareness and understanding of the various systems affected or created by design and more importantly, the relationships between them.[6] The experiential design can use direct experience to reconnect contemporary western societies to a natural environment that become hidden through industrialization and modernation.[3] The official statistical data showed that the population of Ho Chi Minh City almost doubled after a decade of development. In 1985, the population of the city was over 3.7 million. It increased to over 6.2 million in 2005 and 7.2 million four years later (2009), although the total area Ho Chi Minh City unchanged over the past decade.[6]. The magnetic attraction of the street Pham Ngu Lao area result of density of people activities along the street that support the economic enhancement of the area. It is criss-crossed by small alleys connecting the ends of the area to form ‘labyrinth’. The highest priority in Ho Chi Minh City action plans is solving the socio-economic infrastructure’s bottle-necks, starting with the urban traffic issue.[4]. The transport infrastructure in Pham Ngu Lao area which cover the De Tham & Bui Vien streets are undeveloped, the lack of a transportation network and high speed of urbanization of the area are main reasons that have made the traffic issue worse. Urban traffic needs are increasing with the process of industrialization and urbanization, as mention by Phi Vinh Tuong.[5]. The secondary main road and the alley in pham ngu lao ward need to restructure to achieve more lively experiential environment. The absence of existing green sustainability approach is really visible in the area. The area is lack of means in cooling affect due to lack of trees along the street thus making and displeasing view of landscape image.
Figure 3.0: Data on Tourist (Source: Wikipedia)
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4
Theory
Diversity in tourist activities will promote a physical impact in the environment and atmosphere of the backpackers area itself. Thus the needs of backpackers tourist as such as facilities of hotel, retail, food, services, street and infrastructure must cope in relevance of the activities of tourism in the place. Connectedness theory was considered by Schultz, from quote phrase by him: Philosophers talk about this in terms of ethics, or morality. Sociologists talk about culture, values and the ways in which societies interact with nature. Conservationist talk about land ethics, and the experiences that result from encounters in nature. But at the core is the individual, and his or her understanding of his place in nature.[5] Arts and culture strategies help to reveal and enhance the underlying identity, the unique meaning, value, and character of the physical and social form of a community. With the existing poor vagabond character of local Vietnamese surrounded with majorities of wanderer character of the foreigner backpackers itself induce in a spatial transformation of bohemian enclave. These existence shall encourage the revenue generator which shall sustain the preservation of culture itself in aesthetic manner. Terms such as "creative economy," "creative class," and "cultural economy" are becoming more common among urban planners, arts administrators, economic developers, and business and municipal leaders. These terms reference a variety of types of jobs, people, and industries, including the sectors of visual, performing, and literary arts, as well as applied fields like architecture, graphic design, and marketing. Whatever label is used, this use of terminology linking culture and the economy indicates recognition of the connections among the fields of planning, economic development, and arts and culture. The concept of experiential space is being emphasize in this projects as conceptual program to capitalize and nurturing the culture as formation of connection series of public area in emerging the levitation of bohemian backpackers area of Ho Chi Minh City. The purpose of the project is first of all to reflect on the concept of public space in the contemporary culture, the development of citizens’ responsibility for these spaces, as well as stimulating their initiative to take part in the positive reinvention of their urban surroundings. In term of economic, to offer them the possibility to promote their work. It will changes people's perception from being simple visitors of an event to becoming an active part in it. The urban culture festival promote local and international artists, creative people and to encourage people to get in touch with them; to communicate and play together. The interaction through art and culture can be a common language for everybody. A community’s sense of place is not a static concept; rather, it evolves and develops over time, reflecting the spectrum of social values within and around the community.
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5
Thesis Statement
5.1 Levitating bohemian experiential area. The concept of space differs from culture to culture. Different cultures have characteristic spatial design as expressed in their cities, building, and art. But space itself is universal (transcends culture). The culture itself represent as art and the way of life. The reticulation of art & culture will be catalyst of Ho Chi Minh City festival held yearly the existing basic potential of open public realm is already grasp. The merrier the open public area created, the more opportunities of creative collaboration and exchanging cultivation among local and tourist. Ho Chi Min City will levitate the open public area with bohemian experiential as it is point of connected the culture between local and foreigner in Vietnam. The recognition of art framework shall have no boundary to extract more interest from international venture. The refraction of art & culture will be the catalyst of economic vitality to enhance its art culture and even promoting its tourism. The character of the bohemian can be create relate to site context. 5.2 Identify opportunities for integration and synergy For instance, outdoor gathering area, identified as a strategy to achieve a ‘strong indoor/outdoor connection,’ was also identified to achieve project goals such as ‘project is accessible with areas designed to promote interaction,’ ‘project is integrated into context and community, promoting a culture of trust,’ ‘project encourages time spent in nature,’ ‘project encourages time spent with significant others,’ and ‘project encourages interest in nature.’ By tracing the linkages back and forth between the project goals and the sustainable strategies, a web of interconnectedness was revealed. This provided an understanding of the motivation behind each of the proposed strategies and how certain strategies could be partnered to achieve the most significant impact toward the project goals. The key is to treat the arts as an essential part of the city’s identity. Successful creative placemaking builds the economy at the local level, enhances surrounding non-arts businesses and provides job opportunities and ways for individuals to participate in activities associated with the arts and cultural events. The results bring people together, spark community pride and create a more vibrant place.
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6
Hypothesis
The project looks at how art and culture impact on tourist and local characters, what that might look like in future, and how the public space might foster new collaborations between art and culture to create new inject programming for urban regeneration development to be transform a lively urban bohemian character. When open public area are successful, they will increase opportunities to participate in communal activities. This fellowship in the open nurtures the growth of public life, which is stunted by the social isolation between local and foreigner. A variation typology of program and events shall be the injecting rush of sugar to the exciting tourist prospect and local community. As these experiences are repeated, public realm become vessels to carry positive communal meanings.
7
Design Intervention
7.1 Framework To design a human experience that facilitated connectedness, the design process itself and the designer must have a high level of connectedness. A structure idea essential underlying the urban restructure system in this project. Uplifting maximum development, occupy utmost potential development of the site thereby increasing commercial value and activity on site. Approaching the potential spot of greenery upmost prospective to ensure a greatness of the green city roaring by the state vision. In Ho Chi Minh City, plot ratios and building heights are matters for negotiation, not known rules. Transparency is not a feature of city government in a one-party state. Densities could easily be increased by redevelopment within the existing scale with a maximum height. Places that make people look and feel good, with good places to work and eat, attract good people who want to live in those spaces and interact with other good people. Mix used restructuring program, the new development for the facilities and program is fuse in term of usage and operation to replicate further the existing mix use program with the new propose urban injection scheme.
Figure 4.0 Built form review
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
7.2 Strategy The following table provides a more detailed summary of the approaches that could be taken in urban development and regeneration, which focuses on community, especially ethnic and minority groups.
Consideration of local, Multiple cultures.
Local (including marginal) cultures at the centre of and integral to planning. Takes account of cultural diversity ( including religious diversity) Recognition of multiple histories/heritages. Multiple representations (e.g in museums, galleries, festival programming, marketing) Recognition of hybrid and multiple identities ( including those of second and third generation immigrants)
Involvement and empowerment of local stakeholders.
Democratic and community oriented (including ethnic and marginal communities) Bottom up approach Gives a voice to all stakeholders Predominantly anthropological and ethical in approach. Supporting local (including minority and marginal group) participation in the arts and cultural activities. Fostering civic pride, a sense of local identity and ownership.
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Emphasis on everyday life practices
Emphasis on ‘quality of life’ (including safety and security) Awareness of intangible aspects of culture (e.g oral histories and hidden traditions) Access to public spaces (physical and psychological, e.g safe spacesfor woman and kids) New, more ‘tolerant’ spaces for social interaction (e.g community centers, support groups, local events, bars) Spiritual and sacred spaces Emphasis on place identity and place marketing (incorporating ethnic diversity) Retention of local ‘authenticity’ (i.g supporting traditions, customs, celebrations)
Creative and experiential approaches.
Creative approaches to development (e.g with input from different cultures) High ‘creative’ and ‘bohemian’ indices Animation of cities through culture and creativity ( e.g ethnic festival, carnivals) More exhibitions and events that confront dissonance in new ways.
These four main categories form the basis of cultural planning framework with the first three categories being a prerequisite for more locally oriented, people-centered development. However the fourth category adds an important dimension once these prerequisite have been met, which is to provide unique and exciting experiences, which help people to transcend the ordinariness of everyday life (e.g through the arts, architecture, festivals or creative industries). These have the benefit of attracting tourists to a location and developing an external place identity that is attractive and competitive.
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
7.3 Hypothetical Programs It was thought that architecture could play a strong part in achieving connectedness through the design of human experience. Architecture can facilitate connectedness and encourage sustainable behaviour. However, connectedness is not created through the simple application of sustainable design strategies or technologies, but through the design of human experience and architecture that encourages connectedness.
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Conclusion
Experience is a way of minding and mending the gap between cultural practices and natural processes in urban settings. Experiences with natural processes will forge life-long bonds with the processes, raising awareness and potentially creating advocates for continued reconnection. A variety of strategies, appropriate for various typologies, are employed to reconnect people to these systems. Strategies that employ experiential, sensory, and eidetic features are particularly successful and can provide a good framework for environmentally connective design; this advocates for what is potentially a new type of urbanism to follow landscape urbanism, eco-urbanism, and the like: experiential urbanism, facilitating a type of hyper-awareness of surrounding environmental systems and a celebration of their adjacencies with the urban fabric. If some of the richest experiences come from unusual or shocking designs, then perhaps today's landscapes need more of these designs until a tipping point is reached in respects to our present relations with natural processes. These landscapes start a dialogue, thus making people more aware; instead of being an afterthought, an unfortunate truth in many of today’s urban landscapes, natural systems should begin to be thought of as a type of infrastructure. Just like transportation or commerce, it is another system to integrate into the larger picture, another piece of the urban puzzle. If designers want people to see connections, they must present connections, not just free-standing, disjointed nods towards nature.
Figure 5.0 Illustration of bohemian enclave
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
9
References [1] M. Christine Dwywer, “How the arts and culture sector catalyzes economic vitality”,2000. Available at: https://www.planning.org/ research/ arts/briefingpapers/vitality.htm. (Acess date: 6 May 2016) [2] Ash Amin, “Collective culture and urban public space”, 2006. Available at: http://www.publicspace.org/es/texto-biblioteca/eng/b003- collectiveculture-and-urban-public- space. (Access date: 6 May 2016) [3] Gwendolyn Anne Worfgang, “Minding the gap”, Direction of Douglas Pardue, 2007 [4] Uffe Elbaek, “The Art of Life”, 2013. Available at: (http://valuesandframes.org/category/arts/) (Access date: 6 May 2016) [5] Dr. Joan Clos, “The relevance of street patterns and public space in urban areas”, UN-Habitat working paper, april 2013 [6] Anthony W. Layne, “The role of Connectedness Theory Sustainable Architecture”, Spring research conference, 16 - 18 April 2007.
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Re-Structuring Saigon’s Urban Gastronomy N.I. Hamzah
Centre of Studies Architecture, Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia
Abstract Since Vietnam‟s doi moi economic reforms were first implemented in the late 1980s, petty trading activities have reappeared and now flourish, gaining increasing visibility on the nation‟s town and city streets. Throughout the region, growing rural to urban migration and the lack of formal-sector jobs means that street economies have become increasingly persistent as more people capture in between spaces in which to establish viable livelihoods weaving an integral feature of the cityscape in Ho Chi Minh. However, in recent years, state discourses about the “modernization” and “civilization of the urbanizing capital resulting in various bans on the activities of these itinerant vendors who are increasingly becoming associated with notions of backwardness, underdevelopment and disorder [1]. A lack of harmony exists among urban planners and government officials on what to do with the complex issue of informal street vending and sidewalk usage. Since Ho Chi Minh City has taken to clearing vendors in the name of tourism, this proposal uniquely positions itself at the nexus of street vendor management, local community and urban development and hopes to capitalize on restructuring Saigon‟s urban food culture. As it has been quoted before, „One cannot claim to have known a culture until one has understood and seen the lifestyles of the people. It is always a joy to stroll around the bustling crowded city street, buying fruits from street vendors and eating the meals cooked by the people” Keywords: street vendors, foods, tourism, sidewalk life, culture
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
1 Introduction Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC, former Saigon) is the economic capital of Vietnam which accounts for a large proportion of the economy of Vietnam, it is situated beside the Saigon River towards the northern part of the Mekong River delta. HCMC which name commerates Ho Chi Ming, the first leader of Vietnam, is located at 10°45'N, 106°40'E in the southeastern region of Vietnam and the city covers an area of 2,095 km. Often described as the "Pearl of the Orient" with its spacious, tree-lined boulevards, balmy weather and French colonial architecture. Ho Chi Minh City formerly named as still also referred to as Saigon is the largest city in Vietnam. It was once known as Prey Nokor, an important Khmer seaport prior to annexation by the Vietnamese in the 17th century. Under the name Saigon, it was the capital of the French colony of Cochinchina and later of the independent republic of South Vietnam 1955-1975. On 2 July 1976, Saigon merged with the surrounding Gia Dinh Province and was officially renamed Ho Chi Minh City after revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh (although the name Saigon is still unofficially widely used). This cosmopolitan hub of Vietnam has experienced remarkable economic growth and in recent years, increasing attraction as a luxury destination. Yet what visitors remember and residents note as the aspect truly definitive of Vietnam and HCMC is the ubiquitous, bustling street activity and sidewalk life found on the largest roads and smallest alleys.
Figure 1 Ho Chi Minh City Arial View
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2 Site Setting Situated in the Co Giang ward, along the famous De Tham and Co Giang Street, the proposed site unofficially marks the southern perimeter of Saigonâ€&#x;s burgeoning backpackers enclave in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. With an estimated area of 39.2 acres, the street is enliven with numerous street activities with and out and out labyrinth of small lanes, interconnected winding trails, where the locals of Saigon lead their daily lives. The site are mainly covered by residential uses and mixed used buildings, with a few institutional and industrial land use with the main area identity of Co Giang street market where it serves the surrounding perimeter of the site and its community. Taking the advantage of the localâ€&#x;s favourite sidewalk market, this proposal is designed to restructure and vitalize the street food corridors of Ho Chi Minh City and improving the local economy sector to benefit the local community surrounding the site.
Figure 2(a) Site Images
Figure 2(b) Site Perimeter
Figure 2(c) Site axial map
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
3 Potentials and Dilemmas The street food scene in Saigon permeates every district, neighbourhood and alleyway creating one, gigantic open air restaurant. Known for its authencity, Co Giang Street Market is a local favourite street food corridor, becoming the cultural fabric of Co Giang Ward [2]. Walking through Co Giang ward, the sight of vendors intensifies to a point where you feel you are transported to a time gone by where the hardworking locals buy everyday necessities from street vendors out of convenience and familiarity. It is also mainly made up of residential area with intricate pathways that can promote experiences of the culture and life of the local people. The strong main axis along the stretch of De Tham street connects the park to the waterfront that goes through the Backpackerâ€&#x;s District to Co Giang market. The local outdoor market with more than 200 units of street vendors are made up by 75% of the local resident where systematic mechanism for food preparation, transportation and trading are applied. The proposed site also consist of 3 institutions and a student hostel of HCM University of Technology which can provide the needs to create new injection of educational and social programs to cater to the students.
Figure 3 On-site sketch of Co Giang street depicting typical vendors lifestyle Despite that management problems such as inadequate access to clean water for preparation, insufficient waste removal and sanitation services and physical risk from lifting heavy loads of goods arose among the hectic Co Giang street market where it stays from dawn till noon and continue to serve as a street food corridor from late evening to late night leads to unhygienic market conditions.
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4 Theory The Urban Incubator Theory [3] is a theory revolving the concept of transforming a neglected part of the city into an innovative hub of sustainable business and start up to create a more attractive and vibrant neighbourhood. A nucleus such as a market place will nurture the surrounding elements for birth and growth of upcoming economic and new programs within the present urban periphery. It creates a symbolic representations and fantasies to signify an identifiable and imaginary (sense of) place identity [4], whilst emphasising people‟s cognitive mechanisms within urban spaces. It could relate to gastronomy which is the study of relationship between food and culture, art of preparing and serving rich and appetizing foods and also economic architecture where it emphasize the role of architecture in the process of building the economic potential of space.
Figure 4 Theoretical Breakdown From the economic point of view the space can be treated as a product that fights for appearing in the tourist‟, potential inhabitants‟ and investors‟ consciousness. The space treated as the object of demand and supply becomes an element in a marketing game to be an economic value where it cannot be formed accidently therefore architecture should be one of the marketing devices.
Figure 5 The role of architecture in the process of building the economic potential of a space
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
5 Thesis Statement Co Giang street market is thriving with an intensity and energy that it boundless and inspiring that serves the whole surrounding community. However it lacks basic amenities and management for the benefit of the street vendors itself such as sanitation and storage that dampen its potential and chase away any possibility for growth and leads to impending relocation. Therefore this proposal for Co Giang street market to act as Market Incubator of Change, addresses the basic needs of the street vendors as a priority. It revitalizes the street market and introduce new programs that anchor and support changes and future transformations.
6 Hypothesis Improving the basic needs of Co Giang street market will trigger and make it a model of street food hub for markets all over Ho Chi Minh where an entire entrepreneurial economy is generated in the process. This market incubator of change will redefines the concept of the street market as place of exchange of goods as well as ideas. It will become the main incubation space and absorption area of various formal functions as well as informal exchanges and vital activities that will develop into the characteristic of Co Giang ward as place of new flows in addition involving education, information and awareness surrounding Saigonâ€&#x;s food culture.
Figure 6 Design Concept: Market of Ideas
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7 Design Intervention 7.1 Framework Taking in the context of the existing site potentials and dilemmas, the future development must first consider the urban restructure of the area identity of Co Giang ward, which is the street market. The basic framework strategy must be well planned and organized by acknowledging the movement from the street vendors and the local community. The goal of this development is to enhance this core incubator program, in such ways as restructuring the existing sidewalks to accommodate this informal market [6], as well as providing basic amenities to ease the economic production progress of this continuous cycle of the Co Giang street life. Since this design intervention revolves around foods and culture, the next development phase then will emphasize on different parcel of the site to create spaces to educate, to create awareness and to attract more potential locals and tourists alike to the site of the beautiful culture of Saigonâ€&#x;s traditional foods to increase the economic value of this informal street vendors and market [7].
Figure 7 Design Phasing
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
7.2 Urban Design Guideline
Figure 8 Massing Study: Design Perimeter
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Figure 9 Proposed typology of street markets
Figure 10 Image of proposed street market in Co Giang ward The proposed typology of the street market is distributed on the faรงade of the shophouses on the Co Giang street. The idea of livable faรงade with connecting walkway, will address to the issue of the street clearance proposed by the local
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
government and also cater to easement of the street vendors itself to prepare and transfer their goods. This idea will enhance the local residents to expand their businesses straight from their houses without the hustle and bustle of transferring and transporting their goods. With this intervention also, the visitors will experience a new kind of people watching where the wooden walkway will highlight the essence of the cultural assimilations of the local residents of the Co Giang Ward. Injections of commercial uses and hotels for backpackers or tourists alike to the adjacent shopohouses will increase and sustain the local economic sector. This urban intervention will intensify the importance of maintaining and restructuring the street market to cater to the local residents as well as a focal point in attracting more visitors to the site. 7.3.2 Phase 2: Revitalisation of Co Giang apartment area The dilapidated Co Giang apartment has been set for demolition by the local authority to be replace by a mixed used shopping mall and residential buildings. This design proposal by the local authority will disintegrate the existing culture of the street market and also wonâ€&#x;t cater to the context of the local community. Therefore Phase 2 will emphasis on the counter proposal of the shopping mall by remodelling of potential buildings to improve their contribution towards the community and placing point of interests to attract visitors into the alleyways leading to the site.
Figure 11 Image of proposed food and cultural hub The proposal for Phase 2 is to build a food and cultural hub. This place where it was once threatened by economic development pressures will be transformed into cultural spaces to intensify the concentration of street vendors, musicians and performers where visitors can enjoy foods with lively music and performances all in the context of the cultural assimilations of the localâ€&#x;s daily lives. Connected to the street market via the proposed wooden walkway, it is the main attraction of the Co Giang ward. A gradient of mixed-use spaces from the fully public realm to the interior of the auditorium for performances and community events, allows the visitors to partake of the building dynamic however they choose to visit this complex.
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Figure 12 Design Phasing
8 Conclusion In conclusion the proposed design interventions of revitalisation and restructuring the main market of ideas of the Co Giang ward, will consequently act as a nucleus that incubate and nurture the development of the surrounding local area and community [8]. The street market itself has been the core program that supports and sustain the life of locals of Co Giang ward, therefore it is a must for it to remain in within the community, and improve to enrich the local economy and the local culture, beneficial to District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
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Conclusion [1] Barthelmes, L. (2016) „Peasants or peddlers? Mobile street vendors in Hanoi, Vietnam‟, [2] Vila (2016) Life as a street vendor in Vietnam. Available at: http://www.thefiresong.com/life-as-a-street-vendor-in-vietnam/ (Accessed: 10 July 2016). [3] The urban Incubator: Belgrade (2015) Available http://humancities.eu/casestudies/the-urban-incubator-belgrade/ (Accessed: 12 July 2016).
at:
[4] Fahmi, W.S. (2007) „The urban incubator: (de)constructive (re)presentation of heterotopian spatiality and virtual image(ries)‟, First Monday, 0(0) [5] Kim, A.M. and IVONNE, P. (2015) Sidewalk city: Remapping public space in Ho Chi Minh City. United States: University of Chicago Press. [6] Sedghi, S. (2004): The long wander: Saigon side streets in ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Available at: http://www.thelongwander.com/saigon_sidestreets.html (Accessed: 15 July 2016). [7] Newspaper, T.T. (2014) SOCIETY. Available at: http://tuoitrenews.vn/society/16835/hcmcs-sidewalk-use-should-bemodel-for-urban-communities-us-professor (Accessed: 15 July 2016).
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Phuong 2
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Breaking The Habits: [Recipromorphosis Reciprocating The Dynamics of Urban Future] Sensitizing Phạm Ngũ Lão Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. A.A. Ahmad Nawir
Centre of Studies Architecture, Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia
Abstract Cities grow fast, dynamically and not always in the way of governments or local authorities plan. Civil organizations around the world have actively engaged in architecture by demanding and taking part in urban development strategies, urban design plans and architecture oriented to local needs. In particular in developing countries, formal city planning seems to be in a race with informal urban development, settlements like so called slums that may serve the immediate needs of their inhabitants, but clash with the plans of those in power. As the world becomes increasingly urban, the demand for decent dwelling is greater than the supply. Those who can afford living in city centers take advantage of better access to economic opportunities and public amenities. Low-income households are increasingly forced to exit the city to find cheaper dwelling on the city’s fringes or in suburban agglomerations. Debates about sustainability no longer consider sustainability solely as an environmental concern, but also incorporate economic and social dimensions. Urban social structure differs in significant ways from rural life, which in turn affects the form of social interactions. The paper study is to gain a more acute perspective into the relationship between the physical environment and human behaviour of the society, so that architectural design and urban development may begin to promote and affect environmentally friendly behaviour in its users as well as enhancing the socio-living of the society and the place. Keywords: urban, architecture, development, formal-informal, economic, sustainability, environment, human behaviour, social interaction, society, place
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1
Introduction
Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC, formerly Saigon) is the economic capital of Vietnam and it is situated beside the Saigon River towards the northern part of the Mekong River delta. HCMC is located at 10°45'N, 106°40'E in the south eastern region of Vietnam and the city covers 2,095 km². It is a relatively young city which was first built 300 years ago, and used to be called ‘Pearl of the Far East’ because of its economic domination and prosperity, cultural and historical richness in the south. Since the communist take-over, however, it has experienced great political, social, economic and environmental changes. The city changed from a capitalist market to one where the state was the main decision maker. Since the doi moi reformation, the image of Saigon what was once a war-torn city has evolved to one of a thriving metropolis; challenging Singapore, Bangkok and other traditional Southeast Asian powerhouses. Its economic success can be seen through the presence of fine restaurants, flash hotels, glitzy bars and clubs, and shops selling imported luxury goods; and adding to those visible French-influenced cultural elements, especially in its architecture. HCMC’s planning visions for the 21stcentury consists of a creation of a ‘Multiple Centre’s Urban Structure’, which is namely a plan to rehabilitate existing urban area (14 districts) and expand inner districts (8 districts) and also to create a new urban centre in the suburban areas of HCMC. The state also has plans to develop an appropriate public transportation system and better road infrastructure to better connect the inner and suburban areas.
2
Site Setting
The site is situated at the Central Business District (CBD) of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) in Vietnam where it is an economic metropolitan city with a population of approximately 94 million, currently undergoing a period of strong economic and population growth. The specific site location is at the Pham Ngu Lao, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. The area is made up of two parallel streets - Bui Vien and Pham Ngu Lao - and a handful of small connecting alleys. The site is named after local hero, Pham Ngu Lao which is born in 1255 in Hung Yen province about an hour outside of Hanoi. Pham Ngu Lao was a revered army general during the Dai Viet Era of Vietnam. He was most famous for fending off those pesky Mongols and their quest for world domination not once, but twice in 1284 and 1288, respectively. Needless to say, putting up a fight against Kublai Khan & Co was no easy feat and Pham Ngu Lao reaped rewards fitting of his accomplishments. He would go on to become Supreme Commander of the Dai Viet army, get hitched to the King’s sister, and upon his death in 1320, Pham Ngu Lao had a cult of followers who worshipped him as a deity. In the site context, the site has a gross area of 28.35 acres and the nett area of 14.39 acres. The site is surrounded by parks, markets (famously known for Ben Thanh market), hotels, bars, restaurants, travel agencies, banks, retails and etc. It also has access to the major sites around the city. Historical attractions are situated a short walk northeast of Pham Ngu Lao - The Reunification Palace, War Remnants Museum, and Notre Dame Cathedral that can be reached on foot. The site consists
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of other contextual element such as existing residential which can be found on top and between buildings. There are also few blocks of residential and few institutional located nearby the site. Most of the buildings and spaces seem to be congested, packed, cramped and clog-up. Public realm which is known as 23/9 Park is one of the landmark of the site. It extends for 3 blocks and is a popular place for recreational activities such as light exercise, sitting, playing badminton, ball, sight-seeing, chit-chatting and etc. There is a small area of playground for children here and the well-aged; varieties of plants provide a shady haven away from the heat & turmoil of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). The surrounding of the site seems to be in a development progress phase as new high rise development and skyscraper are currently in progress. Although in the macro context, it might give a positive impact on the image and economic growth of Vietnam, but zooming in the micro context, those will also influence the local population, economy and socio-living as the land value will increase leading to other escalating factors of the high cost living syndromes, such as poverty which will also influence the morality, and environmental issues as well.
Figure 1(a) Key plan,
Figure 1(b) Site Plan
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
Figure 1(c) Figure ground
Figure 1(d) Key Plan of Urban Design Intervention Proposal
Figure 1(e) Site Plan of Urban Design Intervention Proposal
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3
Potentials and Dilemmas
The site has various potential and dilemmas which contribute to the aim for the urban design intervention proposal which is to enhance a better quality and sustainable living environments and spaces for the people founded on a high quality of socio-living with revitalized and upgraded physical principles of the society and places or environment, as part of the effort of preparing the society to be more self-sustainable and competitive locally and worldwide. 3.1 Dilemmas of the Site 3.1.1 Impulsive and chaotic development of living space The site currently seems to be surrounded by several development phases ranging from small scale low-rise projects to big scale high-rise projects. This is reflected through the urban fabric of the city which consists of various types of building design typology, height, pattern, form, skyline and economics activities. The informal development may have taken place a long time ago as the area seems not really organised and systematically in order. The lacks of planning for land management and urban development as well as poor municipal management contribute to the uncontrolled urban sprawls that create such incommodious living space. When a proper governance has been setup, appropriate development plans and guidelines are carry out and the area seems to have improved from time to time. Still it has to deal with the old improper development issues to fit in with the combination of the new urban development. 3.1.2 Environmental degradation and public hygiene As the development continues and economy growth upsurges, more and more people trickle into the city centre mostly as labours since they do not have high qualification and they lack insufficient knowledge and skills in various scope of working fields, especially in the professional practices. As a result, the area will be packed and cramped with the locals and emigrants trying hard to make a living in the already congested area. This will cause the area to be inconvenient that will lead to other related issues, such as morality. The environment in many urban
centers is polluted due to obsolete and rapidly degraded sewer and drainage
systems. For instance, poor solid waste collection capacity that only accounts for between 60-i70%; and especially hazardous waste that has not been properly collected and treated. Thus, the remissibility and noise generated from urban transport activities and a network on small and medium enterprises doubled with poor urban infrastructure are contributors to alarming environmental problems. [2] 3.1.3 Vexatious of living space leading to the debilitation of society’s potentials It is important to ensure that the development and use of the built environment should be in harmony with the natural environment. In other words, sustainable planning policies and practices should be able to strike a balance between
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development, greenery and open space. Zoning control is a good way to prevent bad-neighbourhood problems. Attention should also be paid to the adverse impact of development in environmentally and vulnerable areas. [3] The population continues to grow at a rather high level (1.7% per annum) and is projected to reach 100 million by 2020. Cultural has also become another major aspect leading to sustainable development, since cultural development of a place does not simply help achieve economic growth, but also contributes to the intellectual, emotional, moral and spiritual development. Inevitably, the imperatives of each development will contradict one another.[3] The expanding population growth and development progress from time to time may affect and influence built environment and living space environment physically and mentally that encompasses human behaviour and human comfort as well leading to the shaping of the societal aptitudes, be it in the positive or negative ways. 3.2 Potentials of the Site 3.2.1 Catalyst- Sustainable anthropology / society “Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” “Basically, sustainable development is a process of change in which the exploitation of resources, the direction of investments, the orientation of technological development and the institutional change are in harmony and increase the present as well as the future possibility to accommodate the human needs.” World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED) – the Brundtland
Commission Report
Development, needs and future generations are three major components to define sustainable development. First, development doesn’t necessary mean growth. It is regarded as an improvement or progress in social, economic, environmental and cultural aspects. Sustainable development requires humans to ensure the regenerative capacity of the earth and maintain productivity. Hence, the conservation of resources is a key element of sustainable development. The present generations should avoid any irreversible damage and hand on a better living environment to the future generations, in order to ensure sustainable development. Morally, the present generations should have the responsibility to look after the earth and protect the future generations. Therefore, inter-generational equity is another main idea of sustainable development. 3.2.2 Catalyst- Prospective for sustainable urban intervention Sustainability is the new focus for planning since it can play an important role in achieving sustainable development. As such five fundamental goals have been established to guide the planning decisions and policies towards sustainability, which are built development, environmental quality, resource conservation, social equality and political participation. Due to that, it seems that the site got the capability in being a sustainable catalyst of promoting sustainability in urban development due to its strategic location and resources. The presence of resources and the element of robust identity of Ho Chi Minh City as a large developing city,
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with strong potential, traditional, physical facilities, strong Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and remittent has make the ability for HCMC to open to the region and the world. It acts as engine for economic growth of the city and the nation directly. The site and the surrounding elements seem to have vast capacity or potentials to create and generate sustainable development for better quality living of the people and the economy growth of the nation.
4
Theory
This urban design intervention proposal of ‘Recipromorphosis’ is adapted from the approach of some theories. The theory of Violence of Architecture: Space Violating Bodies - Bernard Tschumi synthesised on relationship between a space and its user whereby any relationship between a building and its users is one of violence, for any use means the intrusion of a human body into a given space, the intrusion of one order into another. This intrusion is inherent in the idea of architecture; any reduction of architecture to its space at the expense of its events is as simplistic as the reduction of architecture to its facades. Part of Bernard Tschumi’s Architecture and Disjunction describes the power of architecture on the bodies and the violence it therefore implies. Here’s a quote that looks at architecture as a pure form, not to be inhabited. In this passage, people defile the presence of architecture as profane, and sacred. Is it not people who give architecture a purpose and a meaning? This passage sparks us to realize, not that Tschumi is putting architecture on a pedestal, not to be touched, but rather how important people, events, actions, are to our Architecture.[4] This has also been highlighted as “to build is to create event” - Walter Gropius First, there is the violence that all individuals inflict on spaces by their very presence, by their intrusion into the controlled order of architecture. Entering a building may be a delicate act, but it violates the balance of a precisely ordered geometry (do architectural photographs ever include runners, fighters, lovers?). Bodies carve all sorts of new and unexpected spaces, through fluid or erratic motions. Architecture, then, is only an organism engaged in constant intercourse with users, whose bodies rush against the carefully established rules of architectural thought. No wonder the human body has always been a suspect in architecture: it has always set limits to the most extreme architectural ambitions. The body disturbs the purity of architectural order. It is equivalent to a dangerous prohibition. Violence is not always present. Just as riots, brawls, insurrections, and revolutions are of limited duration, so is the violence a body commits against space. Yet, it is always implicit. Each door implies the movement of someone crossing its frame. Each corridor implies the progression of movement that blocks it. Each architectural space implies (and desires) the intruding presence that will inhabit it. The theory of Peter Eisenman on grid has also been adapted to create variety of architectural language such as spaces, build form and etc. The aim of all these theories is to find and create the vibrant of architecture approach in line with the enhancement of a better and sustainable environments and spaces for the people to have a high quality of socio-living by revitalizing and upgrading the physical &
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
morality of the society and places (space, environment) as part of the effort of preparing the society to be able to compete worldwide.
Figure 4(a) Basic human anthropology of space
Figure 4(b) Peter Eisenmen’s grid system
Figure 4(c) Grid System of Urban Design Intervention Proposal
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5
Thesis Statement
Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC or formerly known as Saigon) is the economic capital of Vietnam. It is a relatively young city which was first built 300 years ago, and used to be called ‘Pearl of the Far East’ because of its economic domination and prosperity, cultural and historical richness in the south. Since the communist takeover however, it has experienced great political, social, economic and environmental changes. The city changed from a capitalist market to one where the state was the main decision maker. Since the doi moi reformation, the image of Saigon what was once a war-torn city has evolved to one of a thriving metropolis. The theory synthesised on relationship between a space and its users. In order to create a vibrant and competitive society that can contribute to economy growth of the nation, it’s vital to provide a better, safe, healthy and sustainable living environment, place or space to the people as it may help them to develop their skills and potentials physically and mentally as well. This is important to ensure them to live in a positive vibes and environment as it influences the morality and human behaviors, as well. Ho Chi Minh City’s planning visions for the 21stcentury consists of the creation of a ‘Multiple Centre’s Urban Structure’, which is namely a plan to rehabilitate existing urban area and expand inner districts and also to create a new urban centre in the suburban areas of Ho Chi Minh City. The state also has plans to develop an appropriate public transportation system and better road infrastructure to better connect the inner and suburban areas. So as for that, hopefully this urban design proposal could be able to contribute, as the catalyst towards HCMC’s planning visions for the 21st century.
6
Hypothesis As the site is located nearby famous shopping, & entertainment hub, it seems that it is exposed to variety of positive and negative influential as well, especially to the young generations. The new urban design proposal will consist of Public Square, Creative and Innovative Industry Cluster, Residential, Retails, Market and other services that will collaborate with sustainable approach. It is an integrated or a fusion of programmes on enhancing socio-living of the locals as to create vibrant and dynamic motions of economy that directly provide them a better space of socio-living environment which includes the aspects of morality. So as for that, the proposal encompasses efforts to cater/minimize those issues and a dilemma with variety of constrains to be considered as the attempts to create sustainable space for them are in progress. Under these circumstances, nurturing good knowledge worldwide at an early age, promoting self-producing, promoting creative & innovative industry, providing the locals community with a space for them to be connected and bounded in festivals or events seem to have big potentials in providing them with a vibrant and dynamic living flows as to enable them to compete worldwide. The new and enhanced urban design proposal will also create a new vision of community in the heart of HCMC. A community capable of self-sustain, and create job opportunities through creative and innovative industry or productiveness indirectly attracting tourist not just for
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
its historical or trading values but for a taste of its culture and openness of its brand new society.
7
Design Intervention
7.1 Framework
Figure 7.1(a) Design aim The aim was to re-develop and re-vitalize the site condition and enhance the quality living of its people by injecting creative and innovative industry culture to the place, thus creating a self-sustain living with economy-generated and newly integrated open creative and innovative industry, and redefining the experience of sustainable urban living at the heart of Ho Chi Minh City. The design proposal is divided into 3 phases or stages of development. The first phase of development is at the 23/9 Park which is a public realm. The park is to be the main area for the local and tourist to gather and do outdoor activities. Therefore, revitalizing the area is important as to enhance the quality of living as it can accommodate huge capacity of people at one time. The second phase of development is at the ‘event and space’ area. The space is use for event as it consists of typical performance stage. Yet, the area looks dull and not lively as it should be. So, vibrant and dynamics of urban intervention need to be injected to make it more lively and euphoric place to be. The third phase of development is at the Bui Vien area. Making it at the third stage of development is due to the strong influence of the area itself as a famous social hub for tourist and local people. To be able to change it all is seems hard because people are enjoying the area even though the area also contributes to negative impacts. So as for that, more gentle and light approach of urban design intervention is needed to immune the site from getting and spreading more viruses to the people and the nation as a whole.
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Figure 7.1(b) Phase of Development 7.2 Strategy The site has users ranging from the young to the old generations. But, it has mostly been occupied by the young generations who have been also working as part-time as well as full-time workers similar to the adults. This is not a good scenario as they should probably stay at school so as to gain knowledge for their future. Yet, the scenario here is in contrast to the normal. The young generation seems to be exposed to negative influences by surrounding elements that might spoil their future which is the future of their nation too. So, as for that, the new and enhanced urban design proposal will create a new vision of community - a community capable of self-sustain (regardless ages), and create job opportunities through creative & innovative industry or production indirectly attracting tourist not just for its historical or trading values but to have a taste of its culture and openness of its brand new society.
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
Figure 7.2(a) Design Strategies 7.3 Hypothetical Programs
Figure 7.3(a) Hypothetical programs
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Figure 7.3(b) Hypothetical programs flow The aim was to re-develop and re-vitalize the site condition and enhance the quality living of its people by injecting creative and innovative industry culture to the place, thus creating a self-sustain living with economy-generated and newly integrated open creative and innovative industry, and redefining the experience of sustainable urban living at the heart of Ho Chi Minh City.
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8
Conclusion
Sustainable development does not solely focus on environmental issues. Generally, sustainable development policies are developed to achieve sustainability in three major aspects, which are social development, economic development and environmental development. In general, each of these developments has its own distinct imperatives. First, the imperatives of social development are to create local self-reliance, satisfy basic human needs, and increase economic and social equity. Second, the imperatives of economic development are to sustain economic growth, maximize private profit, expand markets, and externalize costs. Third, the imperatives of environmental development are to maintain the environmental quality by controlling various kinds of pollution. It is also important to respect the carrying capacity of the environment through conserving natural resources. The city’s industry needs to transformation towards the high-tech, clean and green, environmental and human friendly way. Standards on “green and clean communes/villages� should be promulgated and integrated into activities and should be annually presented to qualified communes/villages/towns/households having good records in environmental protection and this can be used as one of the criteria for the Cultural Communes/Wards/Towns/Households awards. This help to nurturing sustainability in the society. The city needs to be a place of high quality educational institutions with degrees above associates, in which there must be some institutions that could rank among the top schools in the world. By doing so, the society can become the source of highly skilled workforce, including trainers, educators, researchers, managers and businessmen. This will be one of the important engines to drive the nation towards having a sustainable economy growth as well as moulding sustainable living populations.
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Figure 8 (a) Recipromorphosis - Urban Design Intervention Proposal
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9
References
[1] John Montogomery, 1998. : Making a city : Urbanity , Vitality and urban design, from Journal of Urban Design & Urban Cultures 5(8) pp: 120-136 [2] John Montogomery, 1998. : Making a city : Urbanity , Vitality and urban design, from Journal of Urban Design & Urban Cultures 5(8) pp: 120-136 [3] Strong , M. and Dowdeswell, E. (1996) ,The Local Agenda 21 Planning Guide: An Introduction to Sustainable Development Planning, Toronto : The International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives ; Ottawa : International Development Research Centre ; Nairobi, Kenya : The United Nations Environment Programme . [4] Tschumi, B. (1994). Architecture and disjunction. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
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Biophilia: Origin of Active Community C.K.A.S Abd Whayab
Centre of Studies Architecture, Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia.
Abstract The need for a radically new approach to bringing nature into urban life has never been more obvious than in the endless modernist, cookie-cutter high-rise towers of the emerging megalopolises of the world, especially in Asia, where they are usually surrounded by little more than grass and concrete and where biodiversity loss continues apace. The design explores the spatial integration of urban parks and the mixing of programs with other functions through Biophilia. Is it possible to reinforce urban parks inside urban environments, instead of pushing it’s away because of large space utilization or no attractive investment reasons? Aim is to understand how urban park can be integrated physical in cities and urban environments, to give an overview of inspiring examples, and the spatial and programmatic relation of the urban parks with its direct surroundings. What can be learned from successful examples from urban parks? What is spatially possible? What organizational aspects are essential for this purpose? How to apply the results by new and renewal projects? Simultaneously, literature study is done on all specific programs aimed, as well on the acquiescence of the programme onto the site. Lessons of various urban parks projects are translated into a design and planning toolbox which consists of spatial, programmatically and organizational aspects. This toolbox can be used to improve the existing situation or for new assignments (design and policy) where the main goal is to integrate new programmatic with its urban environment while infusing the Biophilia characteristics in order to became a Biophilic City. Keywords: urban park, biophilia, biophilic, biophilic city
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
1
Introduction
Ho Chi Minh City formerly named and still also referred to as Saigon, is the largest city in Vietnam. It was once known as Prey Nokor, an important Khmer seaport prior to annexation by the Vietnamese in the 17th century. Under the name Saigon, it was the capital of the French colony of Cochin china and later of the independent republic of South Vietnam 1955–75. On 2 July 1976, Saigon merged with the surrounding Gia Định Province and was officially renamed Ho Chi Minh City after revolutionary leader Hồ Chí Minh (although the name Sài Gòn is still unofficially widely used).[1] The inner core area has a population of approximately 1.4 million, with little growth expected, and is expected to decline in population by 2025. At the same time, the inner core is particularly dense, with more than 100,000 residents per square mile or 40,000 residents per square kilometre. This is approximately 1.5 times as dense as Manhattan or the Ville de Paris. By 2025, the inner core will decline further to a population of 1.3 million. One unusual distinguishing characteristic of the core is very thin buildings, the result of taxation based upon building width. Apart from this, Ho Chi Minh city is where the old urban green space, Tao Dan Park which covers 10 hectares of Saigon and is home to over 1,000 big trees resides. Located in Saigon's District 1, Tao Dan has long entertained residents and visitors to Ho Chi Minh City. The parks has a great potential in becoming an urban catalyst to a new biophilic city living which will benefit Ho Chi Minh City. Parks have long been recognized as major contributors to the physical and aesthetic quality of urban neighbourhoods. But a new, broader view of parks has recently been emerging. This new view goes well beyond the traditional value of parks as places of recreation and visual assets to communities, and focuses on how policymakers, practitioners, and the public can begin to think about parks as valuable contributors to larger urban policy objectives, such as job opportunities, youth development, public health, and community building and country economic generator. [2]
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2
Site Setting
Tao Dan Park situated at the intersection of Cach Mang Thang Tam and Nguyen Thi Minh Khai (Neighbouring District 3 and District 1. This manicured green space span over 10 hectare, bench linked track with over 1000 trees species. The park is split down the middle by Ă? Truong Dinh. To the northeast of Ă? Truong Dinh is a small contemporary sculpture garden and the old Cercle Sportif, an elite sporting club during the French colonial period and now the Labour Culture Palace with tennis courts, a colonnaded art deco swimming pool and a clubhouse.
Figure 1(a) Figure Ground
Figure 2(b) Site Parameter
Figure 3(c) Key plan of Tao Dan Park Ho Chi Minh City
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3
Potentials and Dilemmas
There are several issues that detected on the site. Generally the biggest issue is regarding land use of the site which is the Tao Dan Park has not been bestow thoroughly. Major urban parks attract many people at different times, which make it attractive to combine it with functions as restaurants, shops, hotels and music venues. This smart combination of functions can become an urban hub in the city. [1] The diversity of program may create a mixed crowd which enhanced the urbanity of a place. This is also possible for small scale neighborhood parks. In order to attract passers-by parks should be visible. On the scale of the city, the city park is an important component of urban public space. At the same time the city park with variation of programs plays an important role in the area. This main issue lead to another problems such as increase in crime rate within the park area as the place remain empty, it become a spot for the criminals to do their activities such as robbing and raping certain passer-by especially during the night. Surrounding building which resides just beside the parks is not connected to the park directly. They were separated by high fencing which restrains the park from being a good anchor to them. This fencing is blocking view and diminishing the visibility to the parks. The visibility-aspect of the parks creates the need for a stage. Watching, showing and chatting, making parks a social place where people can meet. Striking design enhances the image of parks. This may invites more people to the parks. In terms of accessibility, the park is split by a road at the center. It is inconvenience for the user to cross a road which seems to be busy at morning and evening while having their time here. Accessibility is important to encourage people to be at the parks. The continuity, scope of slow traffic route, a safe and attractive design of public space. The presence of sufficient parking are important too. The presence of sufficient parking are important too. With the presence of educational institutions around the parks, it may become an anchor for educational programs.
4
Theory
Since the site is mainly a green space, there are various theory generated by ecologies regarding green space and the relationship between urban life and how it may solve urban problem.one of the theory is Biophilia. Biophilia is an idea that humans possess an innate tendency to seek connections with nature and other forms of life.[3] The term Biophilia was used by German-born American psychoanalyst Erich From in The Anatomy of Human Destructiveness (1973), which described Biophilia as “the passionate love of life and of all that is alive.� The term was later used by American biologist Edward O. Wilson in his work Biophilia (1984), which proposed that the tendency of humans to focus on and to affiliate with nature and other life-forms has, in part, a genetic basis. [4] This theory was formulated into Biophilic which means sustainable design to better suited the site and address the potential and dilemma analyse from the site.
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Figure 2 (a) Theory Relationship Diagram.
5
Thesis Statement
To create a sustainable healthy district that are active by introducing and injecting new programs which based on active lifestyle without diminishing the area cultural identity.
6
Hypothesis
Provide a healthy city that can help and encourage people to exercise and live a healthy life by providing a system that will benefit the general public and other parties. It is hoped to improve the health of people and indirectly to generate the site as a Biophilic city catalyst.
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Design Intervention
7.1 Framework The structure idea of this urbanism is to provide a healthy spot that can help and encourage people to exercise and live a healthy life by providing a system that will benefit the general public and other parties. The development will firstly focus on making a statement of an entrance. A part of the site which has the characteristics to emphasize on making a statement of an entrance is choose and developed into a fully pedestrianized boulevard which function as the spine to the site. The boulevard is enliven by injecting a suitable programs such as push carthology type of commercial and having a vista of itself. Existing sports complex is then being rejuvenate to maximize one of the site potential which is as a healthy living style catalyst. Reanimation to the site potential as an art and culture was then take place in relation to the existing art and culture that exists around it. Finally, the circuit which connect all activities is re configure to invigorate the whole site henceforth making the site again as an antecedent of healthy living. 7.2 Strategy The strategy is divided into programmatic and spatial aspect which is as follows: 7.2.1 Programmatic aspect Bringing together program promotes an interaction between program components and urban life. The greater the variety of amenities, the more diverse groups of people which will use the amenities. Fitting sport in an urban environment is more than just adding sports-related programs.
1. Sport Chain The multifunctional sports hall is a good example of building typology where in one space different sports are possible. This creates a chain of different sports, with interaction between the different athletes. A direct relationship between sport and public space also contributes to a sports chain. This combination of organized and non-organized sports of individual and group activities allows for exchange between the different groups.
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Figure 3(a) Smart combination diagram.
3. Program mix. Mixing consists of different program which will attract people to the place at different time according to the program.
Figure 3(b) Program mix diagram
7.2.2 Spatial Aspect. The spatial aspects are divided into the following aspects: sport size/typology, position in the city, relationship with public space, visibility, distance and proximity, accessibility, public access and lock ability, flexibility.
Figure 3(c) spatial aspect strategy diagram.
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
7.3 Hypothetical Programs To achieve a high standard quality of Biophilic Urban Parks requires organisation. Crucial factors are: to define a key role in the organizing by public parks (for long term, with consistence’s and continuity), arrange and communication strategy for a knowledge centre of ´outdoor education planning´, combination between art and culture (knowledge, expertise and practicality), commercial (economical sustainability) and sports (urbanism, architecture, sport facilities). Essential is also to exchange knowledge by mixing programs into a single Biophilic Urban Parks.
Figure 3(a) spatial aspect strategy diagram.
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8
Conclusion
Urban Park is normally planned separately from other programs, which result often in a spatial isolated approach and design. Urban Park should be more broadly and open for interaction with other programs and activities. Park projects can have an important role to match different urban interests, adding qualities and connecting different people, groups and organizations. This requires attention to aspects beyond the normally requirements for a Biophilic Urban Parks. Technical sizes and requirements of biophilic urban parks are generic, the spatial design integration is always specific. The design demonstrate that there is a wide spectrum of spatial biophilic urban parks program typologies. As it became a social meeting Place through sport and art & culture mainly, it is important to open-up the planning. Public space has in many cities enormous potential for better park, physical activity and playing. In the perspective of the active or healthy city model, parks play a significant part. Therefore, it should be logic to promote ´biophilic inclusive thinking´ in planning. Not as a ´separated functionality´, but as one of the important space that improves the living quality in general. It should be logic to think about biophilic urban park potential and possibilities in every urban spatial and urban plan, as it is for individual motorized mobility. The importance of biophilic urbanism is that it illustrates the possibility of dense cities being able to regenerate natural systems and create far more healthy urban systems. Perhaps biophilic urbanism is a way to facilitate green and attractive cities that are also far more efficient in resources. As biophilic urbanisms spreads and matures into a more complete coverage of the urban environment, it can be expected that local biodiversity will rise. Granted, it is not the same as the pre-city rainforest, but it will have many features of a rainforest, with the exception that it will also contain a city full of active people. Local people may struggle to find meaning, a sense of identity and a sense of connectedness in their own neighbourhoods as spaces are transformed by major events (Misener & Mason, 2006). However, this new urban design is based on existing program which is being rejuvenate. The neighbourhoods will find it comfortable and a good value to them as its act as an urban catalyst in generating an active community by transforming it into a biophilic city.
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References [1] Ho Chi Minh City (2016) Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ho_Chi_Minh_City (Accessed: 20 June 2016). [2] Walker, C. (2016) The public value of urban parks. Available at: http://www.urban.org/research/publication/public-value-urban-parks (Accessed: 12 February 2016). [3] Samiei, K. (2013) Architecture and urban Ecosystems: From segregation to integration. Available at: http://www.thenatureofcities.com/2013/05/26/architecture-and-urbanecosystems-from-segregation-to-integration/ (Accessed: 15 July 2016). [4] Kremarova, J. (2009). E.O Wilson’s concept of biophilia and the enviromental enviroment. Internet Journal of History Geography and Enviromental History, 6-2009,(1-2), 4–17. Available at http://www.klaudyan.cz/dwnl/200901/01_Krcmarova_pdf.pdf In-line Citation: (Kremarova, 2009)
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Activating Paths Around Ben Thanh Area
F. F. Muda
Centre of Studies Architecture, Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia
Abstract In urban design, connectivity is an essential theme. Cities and neighbourhoods that increase connectivity between people, places, and the things they need become more vibrant and healthy. Connections enable one to get easily to any point, preferably by many different paths which can give them choices. There is a basic difference between architectural and human connections. Functional connections between human activity nodes are not amenable to a treatment in terms of symmetries, because those patterns are highly complex. For this reason, they tend to be ignored whenever a building or city is planned in visual terms. As for District 1 in Ho Chi Minh City which is also known as the heritage city, the culture itself can be the nodes which could be the catalyst for urban setting in a way that they promote the identity and heritage value to the environment. Each building encloses and shelters one or more human activity nodes. The urban web consists of all exterior and connective elements such as pedestrian and green areas, free-standing walls, footpaths, and roads of increasing capacity from a bicycle path up to an expressway. Empirical observations verify that the stronger the connections, and the more substructure the web has, the more life a city has [12] Keywords, connection; nodes; paths; urban web
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
1
Introduction
Ho Chi Minh City, formerly named and still also referred to as Saigon, is the largest city in Vietnam. The Ho Chi Minh City metropolitan area and its surrounding towns, is the most populous metropolitan area in Vietnam as it is populated by more than 10 million people. The city's population is expected to grow to 13.9 million by 2025. Ho Chi Minh City is subdivided into 24 district level sub-divisions. District 1 is one of the districts in Ho Chi Minh City which is located in the middle of the city. District 1 is known as the best spot for shopping with a high concentration of markets and shopping centres that offer a variety of product with different range of prices and it is considered as the financial centre of Saigon and Vietnam. A few famous shopping areas in District 1 include Dong Khoi Street, Nguyen Hue, Ben Thanh Market, Saigon Square and many more. District 1 houses many historical buildings that traced back the history during the Colonial French era that makes it to be considered as the old downtown of Ho Chi Minh City. Some of the most famous historical sight in District 1 consist of The Saigon Notre Dame Basilica, the Saigon Opera House, the Central Post Office, the City hall, Pham Ngu Lao Street, Reunification Palace and Rex Hotel. Every street in District 1 used to be lined with French colonial buildings and shop houses, however nowadays most the buildings and shop houses are torn down to be replaced by bigger, taller and better modern buildings. Only few managed to survive. Amidst Oriental style pagodas and food stalls along the street, a dynamic urban area in a very special sense is created due to the Modern office skyscrapers.
2
Site Setting
Figure 1.0: Site plan
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Ben Thanh Market is a large marketplace in District 1. The market is one of the earliest surviving structures in Saigon and is an important symbol of Ho Chi Minh City. The site is located on the right side of Ben Thanh Market that covers about 24 .3 acres of land. A handful of prominent landmarks or nodes are located near and within the perimeter of the site, where some possess historical value, while some may possess cultural or commercial value. Landmarks around the site include Ben Thanh Market, Saigon Square, HCMC National Science Library, The Old Railway Station and the new One City Building. The site strategically sits at the biggest intersection of roads in the district. With recent developments occurring in certain parts of Ho Chi Minh City, which include the country's first underground train system for mass transport, the Mass Rapid Transit project, the visual landscape gradually changes which resulted in creating a contrast, not just in visual setting but slowly altering its sense of place and its surrounding.
3
Issues and potentials
Ben Thanh Market is one of the main attractions in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. The areas around the market are filled with commercial shop lots selling various kinds of products such as textile, clothes, shoes, accessories, and many more. As Ben Thanh Market is the main attraction, others streets or places are less known to people which result in fragmentation causing urban sprawl to the area. Nodes with strong attraction and activities drain the energy of other street thus reducing density and concentrate only to the nodes. This is due to the lack of connectivity to promote the area which is away from nodes. Ben Thanh area is the central business district of Ho Chi Minh City where it generates the income and increase the economic growth of the city. There are no open spaces for people to gather and leisure.
Figure 3.1: The Shoe Street
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
Beside the Ben Thanh market, there is a street called Luu Van Lang Street or is also known as the shoe street. The street is a shopping street where most of the shops sell shoes. The activities of the street are still monotonous where it is only concentrated in shopping. Thus, in order to bring more people to the site a variety of activities need to be injected to the street to be visited by more people. Since the street already has the identity of a ‘Shoe street’ there is a potential for it to be developed as it is already a known street for the visitors. The street can be the major node to attract visitors to the site and its surrounding areas. Others programs can be introduced to the existing activities in order to create diversity to the area which can break the homogeneous activities and as the result people can experience the different and various programs.
Figure 3.2 : The site sits in between the main attraction of Ben Thanh area. The strategic location of the site create opportunity for people to walk into the site. The shoe street is situated in between the main attractions of Ben Thanh area. These connection needs to be enhance in order to bring more people to the site
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Theory
The theory of urban web discussed the needs for nodes, connection and hierarchy. Urban design is most successful when it establishes a certain number of connections between activity nodes. A series of nodes will create paths. Nodes have to attract where a building or monument will mark a node only if there is a well-defined activity there as well.
Figure 4.1 : Both the placing of the nodes and the connections between them have to be optimized for human activity. (a) Four nodes placed so that they look "regular" from the air; but this regularity forbids anything more than minimal connections. (b) Multiple connectivity between the same four nodes, seen in plan. Conspicuous buildings and monuments that also provide a node for human activities act as a focus for the paths to succeed. As emphasized by Kevin Lynch, visual connections are necessary for orientation, and for creating a coherent picture of an urban setting. Every element in an urban setting has a meaning insofar as it relates to human activities. Connections enable one to get easily to any point, preferably by many different paths which can give them choices.
5
Thesis Statement
5.1 Connecting nodes of human activity Nodes have to attract people for some reason, so a building or monument will mara node only if there is a well-defined activity there as well. Prominent buildings and monuments that also provide a node for human activities act as a focus for paths, and succeed. A distinction needs to be drawn between visual connections, and paths that connect the physical movement of persons. 5.2 Human scales and piecewise connections Pedestrians require a certain limited range of scales, outside of which they cannot function [12] For example, there is a maximum distance for people willing to walk.
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
Figure 5.2.1 :(a) nodes that are not connected (b) nodes connected by intermediate nodes The primary nodes needs to be connected by intermediate nodes as to properly connect within a big distance This means that all useful pedestrian paths are connected piecewise: they are continuous but not smooth. Large plazas fail because they normally include footpaths that are too long and in most cases, those paths are also exposed or ill-defined, making them even less functional. 5.3 Five Elements of Image of the City According to Kevin Lynch, the image of the city is determined through visual perception by using the five elements as the core tools in promoting the environmental image of the site. The first element is nodes which are the Shoe Street itself which will act as the main nodes which will then connect to smaller nodes and create a chain of connection around the site. The second one is the edge in which the existing pocket spaces are the community and social catalyst in connecting to the main nodes. Landmark is the main source of attraction which is globally recognized and it will make The Shoe Street as the new landmark to attract more tourists as well as local people to experience the new improved Shoe Street. Visual interpretation is the key to promote the surrounding environment. So, by connecting the existing open space and re-direct people to the main nodes can give the people way in finding the path that can lead to the designation area.
6 Hypothesis Revitalizing the area surrounding Ben Thanh Market by creating a series of nodes as the essential of enhancing the community link which can create a lively and safe environment for the local people as well as creating option paths for the tourists. The linkage is purposely to connect these spaces existing on the site together to create foot path which are more permeable and easy access to people.
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7 Urban Design 7.1 Framework The overall framework is focusing on creating a connections around the site. First Primary nodes are identified and enhanced. Shoe street is one of the main nodes in the site. The shopping experience for the tourist is enhanced as well as creating spaces for the commercial shop lots and residential of the local in the area. After the main nodes is enhanced , an intermediate nodes is created to ensure people linger on the streets. The development phase is according to the existing site inventories which means that the development is done by parcel of the area. The overall framework concept is to connect the existing assets by adding new links as the connector to the main nodes. 7.2 Strategies Prioritizing the Pedestrian : The pedestrian walkway are being enlarge by taking the roadspace to ensure a comfortable shopping experience
Figure 7.2.1 : The enlarged pedestrian walkway by taking the road space Public spaces in the form of green pockets are install in the site. Reprogramming of the existing program and injecting a new program as well as doing facade facelift of the existing shophouse to ensure a more lively street. Connect: The connections between existing nodes are made by installing an intermediate nodes in between. The intermediate nodes include street furniture and pockets parks in order to create liveliness in the streets .
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
Figure 7.2.2 : Existing nodes around the site Adaptive Re-Use: The new development is based on the existing context which then are improved and enhanced in order to solve the issues. The strategy is to maintain the existing business and inject other variety of activities in order to create diversity along the streets.
Figure 7.2.3 : Hypothetical programmes of site
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8 Conclusion The creation of connections around the site hopes to encourage people to walk more and uses the public transport as well as solving the traffic problems and environmental problems of the city. This link also hopes to accomodate local people daily lifestyle as well as enhancing the walkability of the site for the tourist as to attract more people to the site and enhanced the economy of the site.
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References
[1] Salingaros N. A. (2000). Theory of the Urban Web. Journal of Urban Design,vol 3 pp. 53-71 [2] Stouten, P. Rosenboom, H. (2013). Urban Regeneration In Lyon Connectivity And Social Exclusion. European Spatial Research And Policy, vol. 20 [3] Daamen, W. & Hoogendoorn, SP. (2003). Experimental Research Of Pedestrian Walking Behaviour, Transportation Research Record 1828, pp. 2030. [4] Montgomery, J. (1998). Making a city: Urbanity, vitality and urban design, Journal of Urban Design, 3:1, 93-116 [5] Lynch, K. The Image Of The City. Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press, 1960. Print. [6] Nguyen, T.C.V. Boltze, M. Tuan, V.A. (2013) Urban Accessibility In Motorcycle Dependent Cities – Case Study In Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. 13th WCTR, July 15-18, 2013 – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil [7] Hillman, M. Henderson and Whalley A. (1976) Transport Realities and Planning Policy. Political and Economic Planning, London. [8] Koica (2012). The feasibility study on Bus Rapid Transit system in HCMC, Vietnam. Final R [9] Koenig, J. G. (1977). Indicators of urban accessibility: theory and application. Transportation 9, 145-172. [10] Schepel, S. and Zuidgeest, M.H.P. (2009). Ideas that shape urban form: And how urban form shapes us. In C.P.T. Godefrooij and L. Sagaris (Eds), CyclingInclusive policy development: A handbook pp. 32 – 46. [11] Clément, M. Charles, S. (2014) Building An Ambitious Public Transport System In Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) Working Paper Urban Development Management Support Centre – Paddi [12] Gehl, J. (1987). Life Between Buildings : Using Public Space.WashingtonCovelo-London : Island Press [13] Jacobs, J. (1961) The Death and Life of Great American Cities. London, Vintage Books.
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Oculus Hub, Exploring vertical urban topology M. S. Shahdan
Centre of Studies Architecture, Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia
Abstract
Ho Chi Minh City formerly named as still also referred to as Saigon is the largest city in Vietnam. The metropolitan area, which consists of the Ho Chi Minh City metropolitan area, Thu Dau Mot, Bien Hao, Vung Tau, Di An, Thuan An and surrounding towns, is populated by more than 10 million peoples, making it the most popular metropolitan area in Vietnam. The city’s population is expected to grow to 13.9 million by 2025. The trend of urbanisation on site shows the need in demand to go for rapid urbanisation. Saigon Centre and SJC Tower that were located on the site can act as main tourist and even local attraction to the site as both of these tower are among the tallest tower in Vietnam. And by these towers, it actually shows that the existing plot ratio can create a new skyline of the city by proposing a vertical increment of existing volume to maximise the development. As the site is located at the centre of District 1, the rate of urbanization shows the rapid urbanization occurs here. According to Ken Yeang, growth can be accommodated in urban areas through expanding city limits, developing satellite cities, intensifying uses within cities or combination of the three. More than 75% of the world’s population is expected live in urban areas by 2050. By following the concept of urban renewal, three approaches are implemented in the development which are flip city, horizontal to vertical and flexible city. Keywords: urban, connectivity, innovation, city, vertical, tourism,
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
1
Introduction
Ho Chi Minh City commonly known by Saigon or by the abbreviations HCMC or HCM is the former capital of the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam). Once dearly called Diamond of the Far-east with the luxury level overriding that of Hong Kong or Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City is now the most populated city in Vietnam [1]. Modern office skyscrapers, amidst Oriental style pagodas and food stalls along the street, create a dynamic urban sphere in very special sense. The city boasts a population of around nine million [1]. The downtown area, still referred to as Saigon, is growing at a rate that will equal Tokyo by 2020. If Hanoi is the political capital of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City is the commercial heart and a magnet for foreign investors. Progress aside, Saigon is steeped in tradition, a living monument to the past that wears its culture proudly on its sleeve. Decorated with colonial and French style architecture throughout the city, Saigon houses a unique mixture of past and present. Ho Chi Minh City formerly named as still also referred to as Saigon is the largest city in Vietnam. It was once known as Prey Nokor, an important Khmer seaport prior to annexation by the Vietnamese in the 17th century. Under the name Saigon, it was the capital of the French colony of Cochinchina and later of the independent republic of South Vietnam 1955-1975. On 2 July 1976, Saigon merged with the surrounding Gia Dinh Province and was officially renamed Ho Chi Minh City after revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh (although the name Saigon is still unofficially widely used). The metropolitan area, which consists of the Ho Chi Minh City metropolitan area, Thu Dau Mot, Bien Hao, Vung Tau, Di An, Thuan An and surrounding towns, is populated by more than 10 million peoples, making it the most popular metropolitan area in Vietnam. The city’s population is expected to grow to 13.9 million by 2025 [2].
Figure 1 : Rapid urbanisation in Ho Chi Minh City
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2
Site Setting
District 1 is the financial and commercial hub of Ho Chi Minh City. Most travellers will spend the majority of their time here. Home to most of the major sights and an expanding number of bars and restaurants, District 1 was designed by French architects during the colonial era, which explains the wide, tree-lined boulevards and frequent parklands [3]. District 1 (Quan 1) is the central urban district of Ho Chi Minh City, the largest city in Vietnam. With a total area of 7.7211 km 2, the district has a population of 204,899 people as of 2010. The district is divided into 10 small subsets which are called wards. District 1 is where most of the city’s administrative offices, consulates and big buildings are located. District 1 is the busiest district in the city with the highest living standard. The site is located at the centre of District 1 of Ho Chi Minh City. Next to Ben Thanh Market and Nguyen Hue Boulevard. With an area of 18.76 acres land used, the land distribution is mostly a mix used development followed by commercial area. The community within the site consists of private workers and tourist as the site is basically the centre of attraction of District 1 of Ho Chi Minh City.
Figure 2 : Key plan of Downtown Ho Chi Minh City
Figure 3 : Site plan of District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
3
Potentials and Dilemmas
Le Loi Street is one of the most popular streets among local and tourist in Ho Chi Minh City. It is well known as main street in District 1 of Ho Chi Minh City which full of commercial shops, local foods destination and art aesthetic value. The magnetic attraction of the street itself result of density of people activities along the street that supported the economic enhancement of the area. The most common issues faced by this street is the heavy traffic congestion especially during peak hours. Besides that, the width of Le Loi Street is also wide make it difficult for pedestrian to cross thus blocking permeability and also connectivity. Although the site is located at a very high potential area, but unfortunately there are a lots of abandoned shop lots here and it is a waste of space and causing economic decline. Most of the local business located at the back lane, but sadly the entrance to the back lane is physiologically unwelcoming because it is too narrow and located at unstrategic location making it non-tourist friendly. The attention towards the main street which is the Le Loi Street also need to be diverge also towards the secondary streets such as Pasteur Street and Nam Ky Koi Nghia Street because the existing program attention is mainly towards the main street. The potentials of Le Loi Street is actually the street itself. Le Loi Street can act as a main node especially to the tourist as well as the local. This streets can be commercialized for local vendor to be entrepreneurship. As stated above, most of the local business located at the back lane, so that this has a potential to be commercialized in term of permeability and upgraded the condition of the back lane so that it can promote and generate the local business. The existing wide streets on site also is a potential to be a pedestrian friendly street by providing a proper or special lane for pedestrian and also could be covered. Saigon Centre and SJC Tower that are under construction, can act as main tourist and even local attraction to the site as both of these tower are among the tallest tower in Vietnam. And by these towers, it actually shows that the existing plot ratio can create a new skyline of the city by proposing a vertical increment of existing volume to maximise the density. As the site is located at the centre of District 1 of Ho Chi Minh City, the rate of urbanization shows the rapid urbanization occurs here. These shows that the demand to the need of urbanization is there.
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Theory
Growth can be accommodated in urban areas through expanding city limits, developing satellite cities, intensifying uses within cities or combination of the three. Intensifying uses was being used the most and demonstrated the resulting density ranges from Los Angeles to Hong Kong. Most skyscrapers were not ecologically friendly but thought ‘place making city’- creating public realms at upper levels. This could be achieved by decompartmentalising the building form and providing more space [4].
Figure 4 : Factors affecting the growth of a city This means eliminating the homogeneity of floor plates, diversifying uses in the building, recognising people’s desires to have openable windows and providing vertical landscape-parks in the sky. By providing horizontal and vertical mix of spaces, a neighbourhood in the sky can be created. In summary, vertical urban design can be the recreation of ideal ground conditions up in the sky. “In our rethinking of the tall building typology, we need to design it as ‘vertical urbanism’. We need to consider tall building design, by virtue of its sheer intensity, no longer as simply architectural design nominated by expedient efficient structural engineering, but as ‘vertical urban design’. By this, we mean that we need to take all those aspect of urban design that are conventionally crucial at the horizontal plane, and now reconnect and transport these into the vertical dimension; as a vertical framework of urbanity ‘in the sky’ rather than ‘on the ground’, Ken Yeang. According to Patrick Moore, the co-founder of Greenpeace, he said that we need to draw lines in the ground and say, ‘the concrete stops here’. That forces people to build in and up, rather than out – and there’s nothing wrong as they’re planned correctly. They tend to require less transportation, fewer sewer lines, fewer power lines, fewer roads and more tightly packed structures, which in and of themselves are more energy efficient [5].
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
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Thesis Statement
More than 75% of the world’s population is expected live in urban areas by 2050. New residential, commercial and office spaces within major cities will be needed to accommodate millions of people, leading cities to invest in innovative, integrated and sustainable solutions to cope with the rapid growth of urbanization.
Figure 5 : World trend urbanization In recent years, urban planners and architects around the world have been developing ideas and crating different solutions to approach the challenge of highdensity urbanisation, and the concept of the vertical city has become very popular one [6].
6
Hypothesis
This is an innovation project that will boost the productivity and economic growth of the business and urbanization in Ho Chi Minh City. This design is aimed to maximise the use of the land in within the site parameter due to rapid growth urbanization and also due to the high value of the land there. As the site is located at the city centre of District 1 of Ho Chi Minh City, the trend of urbanization shows the need of the site to go vertical. This design is carefully thought on how cities can go vertical without losing the experience of horizontality by the public. The connectivity between the lower ground and the upper top is the main challenge in designing vertical city. 6.1 Key Design Concept The main theme of the design is innovation. The theme is chosen as a solution to approach the challenge of high density urbanization on the site. Basically, there are three approaches that being use in order to make this vertical city design happen. The first approach is flip city. Flip city proposed a new urban identity to the site. Its redefines methods of organizing the community by preserving the human scale. It also combine different functions in city clusters and simultaneously increase density and green space
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106 | Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City The second approach is horizontal to vertical. This concept provides horizontal living experience of a life in a vertical way and it need to blend with the existing urban fabric. The third concept is flexible city which means the new intervention must be flexible in term of use, size and program.
Figure 6 : Concept of the design
6.2 Hypothetical Programs
Figure 7 : Hypothetical Programs of the development
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
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Design Intervention
7.1 Development Phase The master plan for the development is conceived as a combination of site-specific and diffuse interventions. The project is eventually aiming to define a ''toolbox'', or a set of possible design solutions, that are only bound to comply the strategic framework, but may be adapted and rearranged during the implementation process. The first step is by demolishing selected abandoned building on the site and the connecting the axis from neighbourhood parcel. Then 3 main hub are proposed which are fashion complex, food hub and youth hub. The new interventions are according to the existing grid. Then the interventions will be attracted by people by increasing the connectivity thus improve permeability.
Figure 8 : Morphology of Development
7.2 Framework
Figure 9 : Framework of the development
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Figure 10 : The Chart of Return of Investment
8
Conclusion
Urban renewal is a concept to do an urbanisation where the site is located at the city centre but some of the area have undeveloped or less developed area although is it located at the middle of the city. Urban renewal involves the relocation of businesses, the demolition of structures, the relocation of people, and the use of eminent domain (government purchase of property for public purpose) as a legal instrument to take private property for city-initiated development projects [7]. Maximum potential development is being used to maximise the use of high land value on site. Some of the abandoned buildings are demolished in order to give a space for new development. This is because more than 75% of the world’s population is expected live in urban areas by 2050. New residential, commercial and office spaces within major cities will be needed to accommodate millions of people, leading cities to invest in innovative, integrated and sustainable solutions to cope with the rapid growth of urbanization.
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References [1] Vietnam.com: Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) (2016) Available at: http://en.vietnam.com/southern-vietnam/cities/ho-chi-minh-citysaigon.html (Accessed: 15 July 2016). [2] Ho Chi Minh City (2016) in Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ho_Chi_Minh_City (Accessed: 15 July 2016). [3] Guide, C.P. (2011) City pass guide. Available https://www.citypassguide.com/en/travel/ho-chi-minhcity/attractions/point-of-interest/district-1 (Accessed: 15 July 2016).
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[4] Ltd, L.L. (1997) Vertical urban design. Available http://www.rudi.net/books/9624 (Accessed: 15 July 2016).
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[5] Name (2010) Cidade/Megacidade. Available https://cidadeseterritoriosurbanos.wordpress.com/about/ (Accessed: July 2016).
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[6] (No Date) Available at: https://sourceable.net/rethinking-urbanismvertical-cities/ (Accessed: 15 July 2016). [7] Urban renewal (2016) in Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_renewal (Accessed: 15 July 2016)
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The Lived Existential Spaces: Unbound Genius Loci of Ben Thanh, Ho Chi Minh N. N. Razali
Centre of Studies Architecture, Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, University Teknologi MARA, Malaysia
Abstract One of the qualities of successful urban design is the local community being able to sustain itself using the local economy of the place. With regards to the pattern of Ho Chi Minh’s City, there have been drastic changes in industries ranging from mining, seafood processing, agriculture, and construction, to tourism, finance, industry and trade. Good urban fine grain generates more investor, increases human activities and promotes urban sprawl of the city. Human activities are a reflection of the culture, collective identities and experiences that can be felt using all five senses. For this reason, this study aims to fine grain the place by promoting walkability between buildings for experiencing collective identities, cultures and ideas that enhance the spirit of the place. This will increase the sense of belonging and identity of the place. The methods used in this study is the theory of Phenomenology focusing on Existential Ecological and supporting concepts that allow permeability, transparency in the public realm, human movement and the reawaking of human memories by using juxtaposition as a design parameter. Keywords: Existential Space, Consciousness, Experiences, Cultural, Beyond Sensory
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
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Introduction
Figure 1 Key plan of District 1, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) formerly named Saigon, was the former capital of the Republic of South Vietnam. Once dearly called Diamond of the Far-east with the luxury level overriding that of Hong Kong or Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City is now the most populated city in Vietnam containing more than 10 million people, making it as the most populous metropolitan area in Vietnam [1]. The city's population is expected to grow to 13.9 million by 2025. Ho Chi Minh City is the economic center of Vietnam and accounts for a large proportion of the economy in the country. Ho Chi Minh City is a Mecca for shopping enthusiasts because the price is affordable in comparison to other countries. Modern office skyscrapers, amidst Oriental style pagodas and food stalls along the street, create a dynamic urban sphere in a very special sense. The city centre area, still referred to as Saigon, is growing at a rate that will equal Tokyo by 2020. If Hanoi is the political capital of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City is the commercial heart and a magnet for foreign investors. Progress aside, Saigon is steeped in tradition, a living monument to the past that wears its culture proudly on its sleeve. Decorated with colonial and French style architecture throughout the city, Saigon houses a unique mixture of the past and present.
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Site Setting
Figure 2 Site Location of Ben Thanh, District 1 Ben Thanh is an area that is famous for its shopping activities around the world and still maintaining the traditional way of shopping. It is located in the Central business District (CBD), District 1 of Ho Chi Minh City. Ben Thanh Market is known as ‘Mecca’ for shoppers all around the world to find textile and other local Vietnamese products. Housing the textile products area is one of the oldest structure in Ho Chi Minh, which is a catalyst for business growth in Ben Thanh. It has become a landmark and nodes of the area. Ben Thanh is visited by thousands of tourist thus, it promotes shophouses hotels, cafes, services and small retail services to accommodates the needs of the tourist and local community. The area consists of shophouses with business activities are taking place at street level while the first level is a housing unit for locals. The streets famous for the retail activities is Nguyen Anh Ninh Street. Other night market streets showcase local products to tourist and local, which are Phan Chu Trinh Street and Phan Boi Chau Street. Ben Thanh has the potential to reflect the shopping culture of Ho Chi Minh City in the future.
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
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Potentials and Dilemmas
To address the issues on the site, the emphasis was placed on Ben Thanh Market being the catalyst of urban growth of the site. Ben Thanh Market attracts thousands of shoppers coming to the market. The Pan Chu Trinh Street and Phan Boi Chau Street night markets encircling Ben Thanh Market, open from 6.00pm onwards daily, creating a never-ending shopping experience in the area. Because of this spatial character, Nguyen Anh Ninh Street was created, which is famous as Malaysian Street that adds variety to shopping experiences. The site consists mainly of rows of shophouses with a maximum height of six storeys for housing and eleven storeys for hotel shop houses. Residential housing typologies can be divided into three which are: the multiple level building with Shophouse layouts from level one to six, low-cost apartments occurring randomly between Shophouse rows, and a store for Ben Thanh Market to be transformed into a dwelling for workers. The location of the third housing typology is at Nguyen An Ninh Street, The morphology of the dwelling is growth horizontally depending on the owner of the shops which provides basic spaces for the workers. This has an impact social issues by the neglect of human needs and hygiene. This space also serves as parking spaces for motorcycles but it is not efficiently designed. From the eyes of a tourist, no accessible information is provided to promote tourism in the Ben Thanh Market, the night markets or the Malaysian Street. The site is dense with shophouses creating visual clutter resulting in confusion and disorientation for tourist. The trend of other small retails in the area is repeating what is being sold in Ben Thanh Market for the same price or higher hence the small retail shops have to compete with the market. The Vietnam Socio-Economic Development 2025 aims to accelerate national industrialization and modernization along the socialist line and to build the foundation for the country to become an industrialized nation. Adjacent to the site is the construction of a future high-end development which consists of 55 storey tower, shopping malls and housing areas to serve Ho Chi Minh City. The middleclass locals in Ben Thanh will face an increased housing rents, higher cost of living and increased the land prices. This can lead to gentrification of local areas which ultimately has a negative impact on small retail shop owners in Ben Thanh. As for greenery, Ben Thanh has only 5% existing green, and the author predicts it will decrease year by year. The major impact for the community is urban heat island impact. Furthermore, the quality aesthetic greenery provides will enhance local and tourist experiences and reduce stress. It will also create public spaces to enhance youth play for cognitive and identity development as they become adults.
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114 | Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City Despite the problems stated above, it is important to create a ‘city as a home’ for locals. This can increase communal activities within the neighbourhood. Housing typologies must be rearranged to satisfy locals need. A self-sustaining community needs to be fine grained with the incorporation of public realm activities. The site harmonizes activities and programmes to enhance the collectives identities of the site. By capturing these collectives’ identities and experience, it is possible to strengthen Ben Thanh and create and atmosphere or ambience that will always be remembered by tourist and a reflection of the culture and identity to locals. Adding green spaces in the area will provide human comfort spaces for tourist and locals
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Theory Human Needs
Human Activities
Routines
Existential Spaces
Collectives Identities
Cultures
Figure 3 Collectives Characteristic in Lived Existential Theory Based on the issues and potential, we can see that collectives identities and experiences reflect the nature of Ben Thanh. Tthe main intention is to promote tourist capturing the collectives’ identities and experiences to make Ben Thanh a destination to be remembered and for locals to increase their sense of belonging while enhancing their daily life in the ‘city as a home’. People lives in the material and mental world, in which both fuse to create a variety of experiences. As a consequence, the lived reality does not follow the rule of space and time of the science of physic. The lived world is closer to the reality of dream than a scientific description. To distinguish the lived space from physical and geometrical space, we can call it existential space. Lived existential space is structured on the basis of values reflected upon it by individual or group either consciously or unconsciously, existential space is a unique memory and experience of the individual. On the other hand, societies or even nations, share certain characteristic of existential space that constitutes their collectives identities and sense of togetherness. The task of architecture is to make visible how the world touches us. Maurice Merleau-Ponty wrote architecture frames human existence in specific ways and defined a basic horizon of understanding. People know and remember who they are and where they belong fundamentally through our cities and buildings. The experienced, remembered and imagined are qualitatively equal experiences in our consciousness. People may be equally moved by something evoked by the imagined as by the actual encounter. Lived existential spaces reveal the spirit of place as a means of framing the collectives identities, experiences, and culture of a place.
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
Figure 3 Concepts applied for the intervention Using the supporting the concept of Juxtaposed to re-awake human memory, Isamu Noguchi sees the juxtaposition of the past residing adjacent to the present to reawaken human memory and remembrance. By fusing past and present styles, it will make us see a familiar thing in an unfamiliar way. The concept of transparency helps to perceive different spaces simultaneously creating different perceptions and sensation inside or outside the space. It can be divided to two which is permeability that permits person within and outside a space perceive the immediate physical world around themselves and reflection that help to give a sense of transparency in solid objects making them disappear or merge within the surrounding space. Movement concept is a combination of differentiated elements along with a sequence of different spaces suggesting a kind of architectural motion. Collectives identity create movement.
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Thesis Statement
Figure 4 Benefits of inserting human activities on streets 5.1 Enhancing Identities of the Street through Local Business Activities. Activities are the catalyst of the public realms. Providing never-ending activities means to allow human movement from point to point. To create a local community that can sustain itself, local business must be enhanced. Referring to the site, tourists and the local community will experience local routines and cultures that will reawaken their memories, create a sense of belonging and remembrance. When they passed by, the street will add greater quality of life, cultural experience and the ability to learn new things. Using this approach, the site can promote the public realm, urban growth and improve the urban fabric of the place thus enhancing the identity of the place.
Figure 5 Walkability Factors 5.2 Providing comfort walkable environment by inserting greenery The best way of experiencing collectives human activities is by walking. Accessible pedestrian walkways and interesting local activities promote walkability and trigger curiosity to move. By relocating hawkers all around Ben Thanh to Truong Dinh Streets, it is possible to continue the activity from Ben Thanh Market, Ben Thanh Night Market, Malaysian Street, the new proposed hawker street, Truong Dinh Street and Ly Tu Trong Street. To maximize satisfaction on the journey, accessible pedestrian walkways need to be designed. Greenery must be inserted along the journey acting as public spaces for users and adding human comfort and aesthetic value.
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Hypothesis
Figure 7 Local Business Activities in Ben Thanh To make Ben Thanh as a place that is always remembered by the local community and tourists, the streets must provide human activities that attract people. The connection between the human and the activities must be strong to re-awake human memory and create lively street. By providing local business, adding greenery and capturing the collectives’ identities, the human mind and soul will be injected with conscious or unconscious experiences.
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Design Intervention
7.1 Framework The development plan of this project is formed considering the necessity of basic human need in Ben Thanh. The future Mass Rapid Transit Line (MRT) located in front of Ben Thanh Market is the main potential for people to visit Ben Thanh area which the station act as starting point to explore the site. Implementing a good connection network connecting the site will increase human connectivity and public realm at the same time increase fine grain. Unfortunately, to just providing a good network is not enough, the need of attractive green pocket spaces after a long way walking is a necessity for tourist. Maintaining a comfortable surrounding for shopping will increase intention of shoppers to shop. Culture of street watching is one of the interesting part of Vietnam culture unfortunately it is not fully enhanced in Ben Thanh, thus it will be highlighted in the intervention of sidewalk cafĂŠ and pop-up cafĂŠ. So do the unique culture of Hawkers in Ben Thanh. The hawkers are one of the local economies that can be highlighted as an attraction of culture and experiences in Ben Thanh. By relocating them to Truong Dinh Street, it will be a catalyst for people to increase connectivity. The scarcity of the greenery and communal place in the neighbourhood lead to the creation of the public spaces for local in Ben Thanh at the same time gives identity of the area and comfort to the users.
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118 | Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City 7.2 Strategy The intervention aims to solve issues which could be divided to three categories below: Social Culture a.
Revitalising Existing Social Economy
b.
Prioritize Cycle Networks and Pedestrian
c.
Planning for accessible and interesting new environment for Ben Thanh Night Market to attract more visitors. Insertion of Green Pocket spaces at the busiest retail street on site, Nguyen Anh Ninh Street.
This whole site must be connected by pedestrian walkway and equip with cycle network design streets that emphasize cycle safety and convenience.
Create dense networks of streets and paths
Create dense public street and path networks that are highly permeable to pedestrians, bicycles and transit. Create auto-free streets, alleys and greenways to encourage nonmotorized travel.
Infrastructure a.
Planning for shopping as Tourism Industry
b.
Match density of residents in the area.
c.
Plan for an optimal balance of profit for big and small retails so that small retails could survive. Provide a variety of accessible journey and open spaces for comfortable journey
Provide public facilities to cater local residents need in term of necessity needs and leisure organizing and enhancing the local economy to the streets to increase local income.
Create compact regions with short commutes Reduce sprawl and increase fine grain by focusing development in areas of lack of visitor intervention and to connect from nodes/landmarks to area which is less visited.
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
Environment a. Materials and Management
Decrease cost and budget on produce waste wherever possible and maximize use of products made with recycled content and lightweight construction.
b. Low Carbon Footprint
Minimize CO2E (Equivalent Carbon Dioxide) emissions and reduce air pollutants. Promote walkability and cycling for local people to use and minimized using vehicle.
c. Rainwater Harvesting Increase efficiency on rain water harvesting for typical use Maximize providing rain water harvesting canopy for irrigating green spaces and more. Images a. Directory Provide accessible information such as having digital informative and attractive display to create accessible surrounding and allow people movement. b. Public Spaces Public Spaces must provide information digital kiosk. c. Income Intervention must generate income.
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Figure 8 Hypothetical Programme Basically, the design intervention is reflected by dilemma and potential of the site, generally assumed by transforming the site issues to a situation that is full of possibilities, which unbound genius loci of Ben Thanh. Referring back to the theory, the authenticity of a place could be feeling by entering the unconscious space of the lived existential space which one of the characteristic is define by kindred spirit. The idea of Lived Existential Space identified in cognitive space which could be defined as the emotional relationship to one’s environment and every individual has different perception. Related to Ben Thanh, shopping activities by tourist, workplace and home for local, these are the user who enters the lived existential space by unconsciously. As per Kevin Lynch said man’s orientation presupposes his environmental images, a product both of immediate sensation and the memory of past experience used to interpret information and to guide action.
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Conclusion
The intervention is to enhancing the spirit of place of Ben Thanh by a unique approach of adapting romantically the kindred spirit of the place that represent culture and experiences known as Lived Existential Space. Human unconscious mind is being injected by the memories and the soul of the place accidentally. The data stored in human memory makes Ben Thanh always be remembrance and creating a different experience because user sees the real Ben Thanh. Ben Thanh will always stand out and rich with identity and culture. It will always be unique and remembrance.
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References [1] Pallasmaa, J. and Holl, S. (2005) The eyes of the skin - architecture and the senses. United Kingdom: Wiley, John & Sons. In-line Citation: (Pallasmaa and Holl, 2005) [2] Pallasmaa and Pallasmaa, J. (1999) The architecture of image: Existential space in cinema. Finland: Rakennustieto Publishing. [3] Johnson, P.-A., Tigerman, S. and Tigerman], S. (1994) The theory of architecture: Concepts, themes and practices. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold.
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Ben Thanh survival; Enviromental [Re]Adaptation. N. M. Yunus
Centre of Studies Architecture, Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia
Abstract According to Nick Scott, in his writings published online dated June 2016, “Back in 1975, Vietnam was one of the poorest nations on Earth. Now listed as one of UK Trade and Investment’s 20 high-growth markets, its per capita GDP in 2015 was estimated at around £1,460, up £39.50 on 2014. Standard Chartered Bank has just adjusted its prediction for the nation’s growth acceleration this year from 6.6 per cent to 6.9 per cent, prompted by impressive construction activity and increased manufacturing strength”. Predicts more and more tourists and investors will focused to Ho Chi Minh City in the near future and will come. This requires local authorities to improve the facilities and infrastructure in some focal area, especially the Ben Thahn Market and its surrounding area to meet the needs of various users such as the locals, working, trading, etc. and so not to forget the outsiders like tourists and investors to ensure their comfort and safety. The best way to tackle all of these needs is to provide an intervention and linkage to facilitate the movements to major anchor public realms at the one stop center or hub namely Ban Thanh Metroline Transit. The existing public realms itself need to accommodate future needs by upgrading process with re-adaptation to the existing environment to maintain the local belonging, identities and sense of place in Ben Thanh.
Keywords: readapt, heritage, preserve, comfortable, trade, hub, economy
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Introduction
Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh is translated as Ho Chi Minh City get the name from commemorates Ho Chi Minh, the first leader of Vietnam, began as a small fishing village unexpectedly overnight turned into rapid developed economy area, outpacing other major cities in Vietnam consists of industries ranging from mining, seafood processing, agriculture, and construction, to tourism, finance, also trading and attracting foreign investors’ attention [1]. The city's inhabitant is expected to increase to 13.6 million populations in 2025 from 8.25 million populations currently. The expected rapid population growth is attributes to various factors includes the increasing numbers of local traders flooded the Ban Thanh due to the tourist interests visiting historic building flanked by rapid modern development such as skyscrapers and metro line transit station accidently forming the economic hub and later attract more and more visitors. Apart of being heart of economic activity in Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City also acts as commercial center of Vietnam with the hustle and bustle of the city life, the non-stop traffic, and the abundance of offices, banks, stores and shopping centers, and the mingling of people coming from everywhere to participate in socio-cultural charm of Vietnam.
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Site Setting
Ho Chi Minh City or informally know as Saigon is located in the southern part of Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh City is Vietnam's biggest and busiest city. District 1 located in Ho Chi Minh City is a very large population of immigrants from all over the world is currently living and working there, because District 1 is the city's central district, all of the consulates from other countries choose to locate here. The proposed site is located at the intersection of Le Loi, Ham Nghi, Tran Hung Dao Avenues and Le Lai Street, of District 1 and is well-known as the Heart of Saigon where transportation is extremely convenient and trade is bustling.
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Figure 2(a): Proposed site of Ben Thanh ward, Ho Chi Minh City The site area has heritage buildings, namely Ben Thanh Market, high-rise building which is under construction namely The One Ho Chi Minh City, several row of shop house, green public space and a major hub for the network of city buses serving Hồ Chí Minh City. Bến Thành Market is large marketplace in centralist which is in Saigon earliest surviving structures and an important symbol of Hồ Chí Minh City, popular with tourists. Bến Thành is a hub for several lines of the planned Hồ Chí Minh City Metro under construction, will connect Bến Thành to other district and Tan Son Nhat, Vietnam International Airport. Apparently this area has a high density and has a potential to become a trade hub and important future Landmark in Vietnam.
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Potentials and Dilemmas
Ben Thanh Market and its neighbouring commercial area is one of the main tourist attractions in Hồ Chí Minh City. There are also local residents in the area. Ben Thahn Market categorized as a heritage building and it is the starting point of the surrounding commercial growth. The magnetic attraction of the market itself is the result from the density of people along the street with various activities that supported the economic enhancement of the area. The developments were cramp and congested especially at the intersection of Le Loi, Ham Nghi, Tran Hung Dao Avenues and Le Lai Street which is opposite to Ben Thahn Market. Due to the traffic congestion and the overuse of motorcycle, local government has proposed a metro line to overcome the issue and Ben Thahn is chosen to be one of the stations. Practically, this going to be one of the contributing factors of the increasing in density of the area. There are on-going construction works opposite to Ben Thanh Market and soon it will be a new landmark of Hồ Chí Minh City namely The One
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
Háť“ ChĂ Minh City- 200 metres high-rise building integrates offices and service apartment. The dilemma is the facilities which complement the existing business in Ben Thahn Market are limited. Safety surveillance at the road and the walkway of Ben Thahn Night Market not properly separated the narrow aisle of Ben Thahn market. These leads to breach that increase the rate of crime particularly pick-pocketing. During the last seven months (April 2013), the local authority has received reports and verified numerous instances of pick-pocketing, bag snatches, and residential breakins targeting the expatriate community in Ho Chi Minh. According to a report of the police in Ho Chi Minh City, there are more than 1000 robberies in the province monthly [3]. The police had clarified allegedly more than 700 of these cases and arrested about 1,030 suspects. Another report indicates that, in March 2016, the number of robberies in Ho Chi Minh City has increased by 15% to 20% over the previous month. Foreigners were the main target of robberies recorded more than 100 cases. Nearly 60% of the cases occurred in the District 2 area, which are heavily frequented by tourists. There were 109 more robberies in District 1 according to this report and in 55 of these cases, the victims were tourists and expats [4]. The cumulative records listed showing that the walkways and surrounding area are unsafe for its use due to criminal. In addition, secluded shop lot behind Ben Thahn night market will lead to disadvantage to the buildings behind, the dark will have inquired more criminal. The sidewalk used by street vendor and motorcycle parking for visitors not welcoming the customers to the shop. Besides that, one of dilemma is traffic congestion at the roundabout in front of Ben Thahn market due to its intersection of 4 main streets in District. This leads to the increasing air pollution and carbon dioxide emissions due to long idling time, acceleration and braking. Moreover, that statement indirectly shows that increasing space demand of the site.
Figure 3(a): GIS survey data laid onto a cadastral map, indicating the presence of sidewalk vendors in Ho Chi Minh City. Source: SLAB
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126 | Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City The potential of this site is to upgrade the Ben Thanh as economy hub due to increasing the population in Ho Chi Minh. Typically, the tourists are here for retail and wholesale shopping activity. One of the reasons is Ben Thahn Market itself as node and landmark of Hồ Chí Minh City for being gazetted as a Heritage Building. In addition, the Ben Thahn Market metro line transit station construction will facilitate the tourists and an indirect manner bringing Ben Thahn as a transit point, weather to do shopping or/and to stay for a short time before leaving for the airport. With a well-planned and systematic development to adapt the pace of needs, Ben Thanh will transform and enable it to accommodate increase in population density expected in the year 2025. Construction of the metro line transit station complements the system relations between trading, commercial and leisure. Above all, Ben Thanh can facilitate and will readapt into a perfect intervention for all types of consumers.
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Theory
4.1 Local Belonging, Identities and Sense of Place in Ben Thanh “Life is as busy as Ben Thanh Market”. Ben Thanh market has long been viewed as a symbol of the country’s largest economic hub. Not only serve the needs of locals, the wet market and night market is a destination for many tourists, possesses the most ancient architecture, which is praised as one of the most attractive tourist sites in the megacity. Located at the center of Ho Chi Minh City, Ben Thanh market reflects totally the bustling life of trading and busy people there and this has become the identity and should be maintained. Darwin is paraphrased for saying that it is the species most adaptable to changes that survive. A thought Ingels uses to describe their architecture. As the species try to fit the demands of life, their different architectural ideas try to fit the demands of society where some of them succeed while others become “monstrosities” tucked away on a shelf, but always ready to be revived for a new try. By using society in the same role nature was for Darwin, the Gordian knot of conflicting interests becomes a serious matter. The new ideas of architecture are not just beautiful buildings but a key driver in the evolutionary process of society [5]. The theory revolved around two main objectives; to enhance the urban quality of the Ban Thanh Market internal areas and its surrounding, also provide the intervention to facilitate the movements to the supporting facilities for accommodate the future needs by upgrading process to re-adapt the existing environment. This is to meet the society demand of users in depictions of providing comfort, convenience and increased safety to the visitor’s area of study area 4.1.1 Upgrade To accommodate increasing number of users by ”Re-adaptation” to maintain the local belonging, identities and sense of place that reflects totally the bustling life of trading in Ben Thanh.
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
4.1.2 Intervention To accommodate the influx of users but maintaining the existing situation and considering the future development by diverting users into to several public realms or destination soon they’re stepping out of the station to preventing bottleneck & congestion using kinesthetic & way finding method. 4.2 Kinesthetic and Way finding as Key Concept 4.2.1 Kinesthetic Kinesthetic is the ability of a person to move freely in particular space managed by kinetics of thehuman body within space via ergonomic choreography. It aims to control movement in predictable andrepeatable ways within the built environment in relation to a specific task also articulate the functionsof spaces and make them more meaningful. 4.2.2 Way Finding ”A consistent use and organization of definite sensory cues from the external environment”. – KevinLynch Way finding is user orientation and the selection of a path to travel with support of architectural designelements that aid in orientation.
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Thesis Statement
5.1 Re-adaptation to Fit Society Demand on Metroline Development is related at improving the welfare of a society through appropriate social, political and economic conditions. By introducing the Metroline System, it will give a significant impact on Ho Chi Minh City and its residents and visitors. It is estimated that 620,000 users can enjoy the facility every day when it is completed later in 2020 as Ban Thanh Market in District 1 already a major hub for bus traffic and will automatically become a major hub connecting several lines. In the present circumstances, it is quite impossible for the area to accommodate the influx of users. To fit the society demand, with maintaining the existing situation and considering the future development, some sort of re-adaptation need to be done. Therefore, an intervention or a way out must be designed to cope with the scenario by having a breakdown to several public realms provided soon the user stepping out of the station.
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Figure 5(a): Area to accommodate the influx of users 5.2 Upgrade the Existing, Rise the Opportunities Improvements must be made to the existing road that separates Ban Thanh Night Market and motorcycle way also to provide the systematic motorcycle parking space to reduce the crime cases of Ban Thanh Night Market and its surrounding. Ban Thanh Market interior space must be modified to accommodate more visitors, as an estimated 15,000 visitors per day. Aisle between the shops in the building must be at least 1500mm clear for the comfort of visitors and preventing the activities of pickpockets. The station categorizes as metropolitan station due to its capacity that support interchange, offering space and information to large numbers of people heading in different directions and to different forms of transport. Ban Thanh Metroline Station also serves as attractor destination because of the high flows of people, particularly at certain times as on event days. Ban Thanh Market is an example of a public realm at an attractor station due to the building has to deal with large numbers of people at almost all times and effectively creates space and orientates people visually and physically to the destination. It also offers opportunities for pop-up retail (street hawker) which is put in place every day.
Figure 5(b): Ben Thanh Market is an example of a public realm at an attractor station.
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
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Hypothesis
The design is aimed in transform an ideal public realm on the whole inside and outside to meet the need of society demand of users in term of providing comfort, convenience and safety to the visitor’s by some upgrading that benefits the user. By creating some intervention to exact public realms right after emerged from the transit station can avoid the bottlenecks and thus prevent the safety issues that include pickpocketing also through a small upgrade of Ban Thanh Market interior layout provides big impact to the users comfort and safety.
7
Design Intervention
7.1 Framework The overall framework is focusing on improvement by upgrade and introduces the intervention that will be able to determine the amount and type of users who come to Ban Thanh Market as mentioned. These include the new program that will be injected such as small kiosk, hostel and exhibition area to support the proposed facilities. The study is based on potential and identified dilemma and so forth the applicable manner are used to achieve the goals..
Figure 7(a): Ben Thanh Market / Night Market proper rearrangement to reduce collision and pickpocketeting
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130 | Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City 7.2 Strategy 7.2.1 Linkage The Site Achor Metroline system connects several areas around Ho Chi Minh City to the study area which is Ban Thanh Market and its surrounding. Types of users must be taken into account to determine which site anchor destination are frequented for the users whether Ban Thanh Market itself, The One Ho Chi Minh or 23 rd September Recreational Park. The aim of the linkage is to enhance the workability and at the same time, reducing the congestion within site.
Figure 7(b): Linkage from metroline to Ben Thanh Market, 23 Sept Park and The One Ho Chi Minh 7.2.2 Coaction economy activities Coaction program are investing in the secondary elements of leisure product and institutional to support the existing programme. The program is to inject the
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
existing local shop with new leisure-based program. The purpose is to supply needs of leisure product for the tourist who comes in to the site. The aim to achieve tourism-oriented economy parcel and encourage tourist to come.
7.3 Hypothetical Programs
Figure 7(a): User, Programme and Strategy
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Conclusion
The future development should be aware of the whether the existing facilities can accommodate the increasing number of users. By using this approach of "Readaptation", enhancement which was carried will not change the urban landscape of the study area in total but can provide fit the society demand, local belonging, identities and sense of place in Ben Thanh. This measure is necessary because of the development should not eliminate existing attractions, but improvements to existing attractions has to be in line with the development.
Figure 8(a): Urban Intervention in Ben Thanh ward
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
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References [1] News VietNamNet (2015) Available at: http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/business/146994/business-in-brief-2711.html (Accessed: 7 July 2016). [2] W. B. (2012, April). Guide in life Nasetsru culture NSW SICEEP Urban Design and Public Realm Guidelines. [3] Press, T. M. (n.d.). What Ever Happened to Urbanism. Retrieved 2000. [4] News, T. (2016) Expats clamor over crime. Available http://www.thanhniennews.com/society/expats-clamor-over-crime12499.html (Accessed: 16 July 2016)
at:
[5] ITI-HOLIDAY (2013) Ho Chi Minh City - crime rises steadily. Available at: http://www.vietnam-visa-for-vietnam.com/ho-chi-minh-city-crimerises-steadily.html (Accessed: 16 July 2016). [6] Baruah, D. (no date) ‘Transit oriented development and India’, SSRN Electronic Journal, . doi: 10.2139/ssrn.2168094 [7] Slater, R. (2001) ‘Local government partnerships in urban management: The case of south Asia’,Local Government Studies, 27(3), pp. 79–96. doi: 10.1080/714004107. [8] Thwaites, K. (2010) ‘Open space people space’, Journal of Urban Design, 15(2), pp. 285–287. doi: 10.1080/13574801003638087. Guidelines [9] Jump, B. and Miller, G. (1988) ‘Investing public funds’, Public Administration Review, 48(2), p. 663. doi: 10.2307/975769 [10] KANEKO, Y., HANZAWA, Y. and FUKUDA, A. (1999) ‘A study on location control model for transit oriented development’, INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING REVIEW, 16, pp. 769– 777. doi: 10.2208/journalip.16.769.
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Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
Phuong 3
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Embara: Saigon’s youth arcadia A. Anas
Centre of Studies for Architecture, Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, University Teknologi MARA, Malaysia.
Abstract Gentrification and segregation are the two most polemic terms in urban discourse today. In a climate shaped by rapid globalisation and multinational corporations, widespread sameness is evident in any cosmopolitan hub. Conversely, each city has its own local, vernacular traditions. Considered to be the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, District 1 is the centre for all financial, commercial and administrative activity. Although it is still Vietnamese in character, this district has felt the effects of secularisation and modernisation most heavily. In order to confront the challenge of wider cultural amalgamation, the need to reform urban typologies for living, knowledge sharing, and profit making is paramount. Come October 2016, a “New Urban Agenda” will be approved at “Habitat III” placing culture at the centre of the debates on sustainable urbanism. Drawing ideas from hypothetical theories and cultural imperative of the scene, new strategies will be introduced to embrace the relationship of the human subject and urban environment. Embara is an attempt to articulate a sound and measure response through urban acupuncture. The mechanism which centres at building connection includes sequence of events that will become a catalyst to a chain of reaction in rejuvenating Ho Chi Minh City through new contextualisation of programs, targeted at the most critical group of citizens in the country, the youth. Keywords: boulevard, centripetal space, chance encounters, connectivity, gentrification, gossip stations, haptic city, wayfaring.
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
1. Introduction
Figure 1: Existing urban blocks of Downtown Saigon Ho Chi Minh City commonly known as Saigon or by the abbreviations HCMC or HCM is the former capital of the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam). Once dearly called Diamond of the Far-east, Ho Chi Minh City is now the most populated city in Vietnam. The city boasts a population of almost nine million [19]. Modern office skyscrapers, amidst Oriental style pagodas and food stalls along the street, create a dynamic urban sphere in very special sense. It is not oddly tidy like in Singapore nor in urban slumps omnipresent like in India. The downtown area as illustrated in Figure 1 above, is growing at a rate that will equal Tokyo by 2020. If Hanoi is the political capital of Vietnam, Saigon is the commercial heart and a magnet for foreign investors. New businesses ventures and ambitious development projects are popping up each year [18]. Saigon has a tropical climate with an average humidity of 75%. There are two seasons: wet and dry. The city life reflects the weather- a blend of harmony and chaos mixed into one. Traffic is heavy, dense and never-ending, but you can always find locals lounging at street-side coffee vendors, content to admire the passing free-for-all. Progress aside, Saigon is steeped in tradition, a living monument to the past that wears its culture proudly on its sleeve. Decorated with colonial and French style architecture throughout the city, Saigon houses a unique mixture of past and present.
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2. Site Setting
Figure 2 (a): The site Lies in the centre of Ho Chi Minh City, the proposed urban footprint perimeter as shown in Figure 2 (a) belongs to District 1 which is regarded as an animated central urban district with highest living standards of the city in every aspect. This belief is expressed clearly in the saying: “Ăn Quận 5, nằm Quận 3, múa ca Quận 1” which means “Eat in District 1, stay in District 3, entertain in District 1”.
Covering up to 24 acre, the site house two streets with the highest prices of land using right in this biggest city of Vietnam namely Nguyen Hue Boulevard and Dong Khoi Street. Being the primary commercial centre in Saigon, one can easily find multi-storey buildings, luxuriant trade centres, coffee stores and international retail outlets within the site periphery [15].
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
Figure 2 (b): Nguyen Hue Boulevard
Figure 2 (c): Dong Khoi Street
Known as Charner during the French colonial days, Nguyen Hue Boulevard as demarcated in Figure 2 (b), one of Saigon’s oldest thoroughfares, has undergone numerous transformations over the course of history. In 1870s, this thoroughfare was converted from a canal into a street. Then from 1950s to 1999, this street was regarded as the flower street of Vietnam as it hosted the annual flower festival [17]. Fifteen years ahead, the street was further developed into a proper road for automobiles and only quite recently in April 2015 it was converted into a pedestrian street. On week days, vehicles are still allowed to run along the boulevard, but from 6pm to 1am on weekends, all kinds of vehicles are banned to travel here. Known as Rue Catinat during the French colonial days and Tu Do in the 1960s, Dong Khoi Street as demarcated in Figure 2 (c) was reborn during ‘Doi Moi’ as the heart of Saigon’s commercial and shopping district. During French colonial times, Dong Khoi Street was the country’s fashion centre [17]. Runs from the Notre Dame Cathedral to the Saigon River, this street is home to historical establishments such as the Grand Hotel and Hotel Majestic. This street has local boutiques, international brands and restaurants in beautifully restored French colonial buildings.
Figure 2 (d): Ho Chi Minh’s statue at Nguyen Hue Boulevard
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3. Dilemmas and Potentialities
Figure 3 (a): Existing land use distribution in Downton Saigon Gentrification is a global urban phenomenon whereby underdeveloped areas are transformed. The process is often coupled with rising rents, a shift in the social fabric of neighbourhoods, and in many cases, the influx of multinational corporations [14]. To some it implies the beautification and positive development of previously underdeveloped areas. However, it goes hand in hand with the negative effects of lower-income residents being priced out in favour of those who can afford increased rent prices caused by the process of rapid transformation. Figure 3 (a) demonstrate the urban issues in Downtown Saigon. The existing land use distribution as illustrated above is obtained by placing a 5x5 meter grid on the urban fabric. These series of squares are then calculated to give an impression of the existing land use budget of the area. Albeit generic, we could not argue that Downtown Saigon is well under the pressure of gentrification and segregation. “Segrification” is a combination of “gentrification” and “segregation”. The term describes the phenomenon that occurs when rising rents cause families to move away or prevent individuals of diverse socioeconomic brackets to have access to affordable housing. “Segrification” describes the process, not only in Downtown Saigon but very much common in big cities throughout the world, by which gentrification increases the cost of living, resulting in a diminishment of racial and income diversity. There is a pressing need to reform the urban typologies for living, knowledge sharing, and profit making of the place that which embrace the existing local culture in order to de-gentrify Downtown Saigon as it is today.
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
Figure 3 (b): Nguyen Hue Boulevard The newly opened pedestrian boulevard, apart from being a public realm also serve as urban stage to house major festivities such as Tet Festival and the annual flower festival. As shown in Figure 3 (b) above, the verticality of urban blocks and sense of grandeur are strong forces at the site. As the city becomes denser, buildings tend to grow taller for it is the best mechanism to increase the strata of the land in accommodating the ever expanding businesses. This phenomena contributes to the amalgamation of urban skyscrapers and colonial or French style architecture in the heart of Saigon. Urban beauty is the subjective assessment of the aesthetic values of a city. Some argue that allowing layers of history and urban decay to be revealed produces the ultimate urban aesthetic. Others prefer new, pristine developments that are clean, orderly, and employ the newest technology or building techniques. This multiplicity of perspectives, and the patchwork that the city becomes as a result, is the ultimate manifestation of urban beauty.
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4. Background Theories
Figure 4 (a): “Connectography”
Figure 4 (b): Neologism: “Sonder”
4.1 “Connectography”
Figure 4.1 (a): Adding corners
Figure 4 (c): The City of God
Figure 4.1 (b): Vertical connectivity
One of the famous adages about the world, is becoming obsolete. Centuries-old arguments about how climate and culture condemn some societies to fail, or how small countries are forever trapped and subject to the whims of larger ones, are being overturned. Thanks to global transportation, communications, and energy infrastructure (highways, railways, airports, pipelines, electricity grids, internet cables, etc.) the future has a new maxim: Connectivity is destiny [13]. As our expanding cities grow ever more connected through transportation, energy and communications networks, we evolve from geography to what can be describe as “connectography”. It is a combination of the word connectivity and geography. The global connectivity revolution, in all of its forms has enabled such a quantum leap in the mobility of people, resources and ideas. An evolution of the world from political geography, which is how we legally divide the world, to functional geography, which is how we actually use the world: from nations and borders, to infrastructure and supply chains. We don't just build connectivity, we embody it. We are the global network civilisation. A civilisation in which geography is no longer destiny. Connectivity has become the most important asset class of the 21st century. Figure 4.1 (a) and Figure 4.1 (b) illustrates some initial ideas on how to apply the theory of “connectography” as part of the urban intervention.
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
4.2 Neologism: “Sonder”
Figure 4.2: Increasing social interaction through ‘gossip stations’ A neologism (from Greek néo-, “new” and lógos, “speech, utterance”) is the name for a relatively new term, word, or phrase that may be in the process of entering common use, but that has not yet been fully accepted into mainstream language. Each original definition aims to fill a hole in the language itself, to give a name to emotions we all might experience but don’t yet have a word for. “Sonder” can be understood as the realisation that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own. Populated with their own ambitions, friends, routines, worries and inherited craziness. An epic story that continues invisibly around you like an anthill sprawling deep underground, with elaborate passageways to thousands of other lives that you’ll never know existed, in which you might appear only once, as an extra sipping coffee in the background, as a blur of traffic passing on the highway, as a lighted window at dusk [7]. Figure 4.2 illustrates how the theory of “sonder” could inspire some authentic urban solutions on site.
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144 | Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City 4.3 The City of God
Figure 4.3 (a): Variations of housing units
Figure 4.3 (b): Embracing peoplewatching culture
The modern man is a man who is living in a city with multitudes of choices and distractions. The modern man believe that he is in command of his own destiny. He departmentalises his life in order to survive at work, at play and at home. The anonymity of urban living has helped preserve the privacy essential to human life, namely the urban man who wants to maintain a clear distinction between private and public [6]. What then are the sources of meaning and value by which the urban man lives his life? As profoundly elaborated by Lewis Mumford in his book The Culture of Cities, that behind the wall of the city life rested on a common foundation, set as deep as the universe itself: the city was nothing less than the home of a powerful God. The architectural and sculptural symbols that made this fact visible lifted the city far above the village or country town [4]. To be a resident of the city was to have a place in man’s true home, the great cosmos itself. Figure 4.3 (a) and Figure 4.3 (b) serves as pilot ideas on the adaptation of this particular theory as part of the urban acupuncture.
5. Hypothesis Embara is an approach to reconstruct the relationship of the city and the human subject. As a concept, wayfaring is used as a strategy to enhance the user experience in both solids and voids, public and private spaces. The two main street that runs parallel in the site will act as ‘eureka’ on the ground level, sprawling out its energy horizontally and vertically throughout the urban blocks. Wayfarer are practitioners of the city, for the city is made to be walked. A city is a language, a repository of possibilities, and walking is the act of speaking that language. Just as language limits what can be said, architecture limits where one can walk, but the wayfarer invents other ways to go.
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
6. Key Design Concept
Figure 6 (a): Le Corbusier’s proposed skyline for Buenos Aires, 1929
Figure 6 (b): The hill town of Casares, southern Spain
Figure 6 (a) is an example of the contemporary city whilst Figure 6 (b) represent the haptic city. The contemporary city is the city of the eye, one of distance and exteriority. The haptic city is the city of interiority and nearness [9]. The eye itself has not remained in the monocular, fixed construction defined by Renaissance theories of perspectives. The hegemonic eye has conquered new ground for visual perception and expression. Although new technologies have strengthened the hegemony of vision, they also help to re-balance the realms of the senses. The haptic experience seems to be penetrating the ocular regime again through the tactile presence of modern visual imagery. In a music video for instance, or the layered contemporary urban transparency, we cannot halt the flow of images for analytic observation; instead we have to appreciate it as an enhanced haptic sensation, rather like a swimmer senses the flow of water against his/her skin. This new awareness is projected by numerous architects and urbanists around the world today who are attempting to re-sensualise both architecture and urban environments through a strengthened sense of materiality and hapticity, texture and weight, density of space and materialised light [14]. Embara is a classical Malay word for wayfaring. The act of a wayfaring stranger or a wayfarer traveling on foot. A wayfaring man; travelling, journeying, walking, hiking, rambling, touring; wandering, roaming, roving, drifting, nomadic, itinerant, peripatetic. 
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7. Morphology of Concept 
Figure 7: Embara blocks: Cityness, a sketch proposal
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
8. Events and Sequence
Figure 8: Floating typologies 8.1 Core Program: Arcadia (housing units)
 In poetic fantasy it represents a pastoral paradise. Takes its name from the mythological character Arcas, son of Zeus and Callisto. In Greek mythology, it was the home of the god Pan. 

synonyms: bliss, contentment, happiness, felicity, supreme joy, rapture, Utopia. The four fundamental area of house includes living, kitchen, bedroom and bathroom. The typology of a housing unit can be extended by adding more bedrooms or other reasonable spaces such as balcony. The built form is kept simple to provide most efficiency in every spaces [1].
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148 | Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City 8.2 Secondary Program 01: Hackerspace Hackerspaces offer a place for strangers to gather and share ideas and resources. Emerging out of the Maker Movement over the past few years, hackerspaces have proliferated globally. It is a participatory, social culture that invites and inspires all kinds of people and communities to invent, build, and hack [5]. Making and doing with your hands encourages creativity, innovation, and ultimately, design thinking.
8.3 Secondary Program 02: ViewCube The system create an interactive and tangible experience between digital and physical models whereby the user can alter the 3-dimensional perspective on a digital screen by moving an object over a replica physical model or plan. Orientation and positioning is calculated and performed in real-time, allowing for seamless hand-eye coordination between the users hand gestures and the display screen [2].
8.4 Secondary Program 03: Micro-installations Micro-installations is the practice of using design solutions to adapt small urban spaces, thereby changing the behaviour of city dwellers and activating underutilised areas [3]. Between performance and installation, food and beverage, urban furniture and many others, the idea is to trigger the public’s mobility in a spirit of proximity and intimacy.
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
9. City Manifesto Urban sensory experience speaks to the vastly complicated network of human senses and interactions generated by the interplay between individuals and groups, by one’s own physical sensory system, and by the experience of the physical layout and appearance of city spaces—that impact the way one perceives and moves through the city [12]. These obvious and sometimes undetected stimuli shape our everyday decision-making and well-being (consciously and subconsciously). Being more attuned to how the urban psychology can affect citizens’ decisions and wellbeing may inform future urban design in a positive way. This theoretical city seek to promote interaction amongst stranger. Stranger interaction is the wilful engagement between people who have no previous relationship. This act of spontaneity can have significant effects by interrupting the expected narratives of daily life, shifting perspective, and forming unexpected connections [16]. This unexpected connections or “urban spontaneity” refers to the importance of occasionally engaging in unpredictable events in our cities, as opposed to moving through them with expected, predictable patterns of behaviour. The element of surprise is an important one in discovering new ways of seeing our streets. Actions like flash mobs, street dancing, impromptu conversations with strangers, and unplanned behaviours in our everyday lives play an important role in our sense of ownership of our own streets and help promote a healthy connection to our sense of freedom and expression in public space. Up, down, round and round are the motions of the elements, but the movement of active virtue follows none of these: it is something more divine, and it journeys on to success along a path hard to understand. A wayfarer travel on foot out of the desire to be whole, to know where you are, to be the point of intersection of all the lines drawn through all the stars, to be the constellation-maker and the centre of the world.
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10. Conclusion
Figure 10 (a): Embara 

Figure 10 (b): Peripatetic


In an age of accelerating change, cities are the new nations. Cities are the infrastructures that most define us. By 2030, more than two thirds of the world's population will live in cities [10]. And these are not mere little dots on the map, rather vast archipelagos stretching hundreds of kilometres. The way cities around the world are expanding today somehow has become the accepted worldview of how a 21st Century future living should be. Yet our definition of urbanity is steeped in certain tropes that do not support the full range of informal urban activity [8]. This study is nothing more than a humble attempt to draws on theory but focused on real-world problem in search of authentic future living. I would argue that the biggest challenge of our time is to open one’s mind in understanding the historical context and real journey toward the realisation of our current secular society in the urban environment.
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
11. References [1] Airbnb, 2015. Building a Tradition at the Milan Design Fair [Online]. Available at: http://blog.airbnb.com/building-a-tradition-at-the-milandesign-fair [Accessed: 13 April 2016] [2] Changing Places, 2016. ViewCube: A Handheld Device for Realtime Spatial Movement, Remote Control and Perspectival Orientation between Physical objects and Virtual Environments [Online]. Available at: http://cp.media.mit.edu/ [Accessed: 30 May 2016] [3] Cristóbal Vila, 2013. Nature by Numbers: The Theory Behind This Movie [Online]. Available at: http://www.etereaestudios.com/docs_html/ [Accessed: 7 May 2016] [4] Edmund N. Bacon, 1974. Design of Cities, Involvement, New York: Viking Press, pp. 23-32. [5] Franco La Cecla (translated by Mairin O’Mahony), 2012. Against Architecture, Chapter 4, San Francisco, CA: PM Press, pp. 82-94. [6] Harvey Cox, 1966. The Secular City: Secularisation and Urbanisation, Chapter 1, London: The MacMillan Company, pp. 21-44. [7] John Koenig, 2016. The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows: Sonder [Online]. Available at: http://www.dictionaryofobscuresorrows.com/post/ [Accessed: 28 May 2016] [8] John Montgomery, 1998. Making a city: Urbanity, vitality and urban design, Journal of Urban Design, pp. 93-116. [9] Juhani Pallasma, 2012. The Eyes of The Skin: Architecture and The Senses, Part One, United Kingdom: John Wiley & Sons Ltd, pp. 30-41. [10] K. Michael Hays, 2005. Architecture by Numbers, Praxis 7: Untitled Number Seven, New York: Praxis Publishing, pp. 88-99. [11] Kementerian Tenaga, Teknologi Hijau dan Air, 2011. Low Carbon Cities: Framework and Assessment System, Parameters for Low Carbon Cities, Putrajaya: KeTTHA, pp. 26-54. [12] Maksym Rokmaniko & James Taylor-Foster, 2016. An Edifice On A Precipice [Online]. Available at: http://bartlettlobby.com [Accessed: 30 May 2016] [13] Parag Khanna, 2016. Hyperconnected Megacities are Changing the World Map [Online]. Available at: http://www.paragkhanna.com/home/ [Accessed: 4 May 2016] [14] Philip Oswalt, 2006. Shrinking Cities, Volume 2: Interventions, Germany: Hatje Cantz Verlag, pp. 772-775. [15] Project for Public Spaces, 2015. Great Streets Around the World [Online]. Available at: http://www.pps.org/blog/9-great-streets-around-the-world/ [Accessed: 12 June 2016] [16] Rebecca Solnit, 2001. Wanderlust: A History of Walking, New York: Penguin Books, pp. 18-42. [17] Saigoneer, 2014. Take a Tour of 1966 Saigon [Online]. Available at: http://saigoneer.com/old-saigon/old-saigon-categories/ [Accessed: 8 June 2016] [18] UNFPA, 2011. Young People in Vietnam: Selected Indicators, Hanoi: Compass Joint Stock Company, pp. 5-38. [19] Worldometers, 2016. Population of Vietnam [Online]. Available at: http://www.worldometers.info/world-population/vietnam-population/ [Accessed: 28 April 2016]
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Space Simulacrum: A Paradox of Conceptual Novelty H. H. Hamzah
Centre of Studies for Architecture, Faculty of Architecture, Planning and Surveying. Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia
Abstract The idea of public space, as it developed in the modern period, was space for the free use and enjoyment of the citizenry. The temper and character of public space should be determined not by any private or public authority, but by the ways in which people choose to use it. However, in Ho Chi Minh City, to be precise, laws handing sweeping new powers to local council and private security to restrict access to public space are extinguishing the diversity of civic life. This is a new alliance of a business and state elite, set against civil society. What turns out to be ‘messy’ is social life itself – skateboarders, protesters, buskers, leafleteers, children playing games – that is, any activity that is not shopping or getting from A to B. The Space Simulacrum is intended mainly to protest against such restrictions, and to create points of diversion around the pedestrian boulevard, pulling the crowds away from the boulevard. The scheme manipulates the use of space and time, combined with hypothetical injections of programs, in order to act as socio-cultural catalyst to increase pedestrian traffic in Downtown District 1, Ho Chi Minh City during daytime by creating an altered reality, in which perceptions and experiences of space, duration and gravity are transformed. The framework of plugging in social activities on some potential areas, as well as constructing minor installations throughout the site, are intended to haul people into some sort of black holes, and making them forget about the passing of times. These interventions are hopefully able to make a comprehensive rediscovery of the idea of public space, and to remediate the public realm in the immediate vicinity of the Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Boulevard. Keywords: space, time, space-time, diversion, altered reality, public space, public realm, pedestrian
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
1
Introduction
Figure 1(a) Ho Chi Minh City at dusk, viewed from the Saigon River Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) is Vietnam at its most dizzying: a high-octane city of commerce and culture that has driven the country forward with its pulsating energy. A chaotic whirl, the city breathes life and vitality into all who settle here, and visitors cannot help but be hauled along for the ride. From the finest of hotels to the cheapest of guesthouses, the classiest of restaurants to the tastiest of street stalls, the choicest of boutiques to the scrum of the markets, HCMC is a city of energy and discovery. Wander through timeless alleys to incense-infused temples before negotiating chic designer malls beneath sleek 21st-century skyscrapers. The ghosts of the past live on in buildings that one generation ago witnessed a city in turmoil, but now the real beauty of the former Saigon’s urban collage is the seamless blending of these two worlds into one exciting mass [1], creating a dynamic urban sphere in very special sense. The downtown area, still referred to as Saigon, is growing at a rate that will equal Tokyo by 2020. If Hanoi is the political capital of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City is the commercial heart and a magnet for foreign investors. Progress aside, Saigon is steeped in tradition, a living monument to the past that wears its culture proudly on its sleeve. Decorated with colonial and French style architecture throughout the city, Saigon houses a unique mixture of past and present. In this paper, the proposed site is located in the Central Business District, CBD of Ho Chi Minh City, sets in District 1, one of 19 urban districts (quáşn) in the city.
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Site Setting
District 1 is the financial and commercial hub of Ho Chi Minh City. Most travellers will spend the majority of their time here. Home to most of the major sights and an expanding number of bars and restaurants, District 1 was designed by French architects during the colonial era, which explains the wide, tree-lined boulevards and frequent parklands.
Figure 2(a) Key plan of Downtown Ho Chi Minh City
Figure 2(b) Figure ground
Figure 2(c) Site parameter
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
3
Potentials and Dilemmas
3.1 Site potentials The proposed site has a lot of potentials, and can be broken down into few main ones – land use & land budget, accessibility, imageability & area identity. Figure 3(a) and Figure 3(b) summarized few potentials of the site that were taken into considerations to deduce the urban interventions.
Figure 3(a) Site potentials diagram
Figure 3(b) Site potentials summary
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3.2 Site dilemmas
Figure 3(c)(d) Site dilemmas diagrams and summary Downtown District 1, particularly in the vicinity of the proposed site, although is full of potentials, have its own dilemmas. Interestingly, the prominent pedestrian boulevard in Nguyen Hue Street, which is the main public space provided by the City Council, is seemingly hot due to lack of shaded area, insufficient trees along the boulevard & the sidewalks of the neighbouring street. Besides that, lots of restrictions are imposed especially along the sidewalks, boulevard & other public areas. Street vendors are also banned from using the sidewalks facing the boulevard. Issues regarding this pedestrian boulevard are what trigger the project’s thirst for urban intervention in this paper. Other dilemmas of the site are as explained in Figure 3(c) and Figure 3(d).
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4
Background Theory: The Space-Time Theory
4.1 Conceptions of Space Space, in layman’s words, is defined as a continuous area or expanse that is free, available, or unoccupied. However, when we talk about space in relations of architecture, space is the infinity which surrounds us, and of which only lines can make us aware. Space, as we see it, is like the interplay between solid matter and the void. In the early and mid-20th century, the concept of space was critical in defining the modern movement in architecture. Notions of architectural space related to the coherence between the interior and exterior of buildings emerged as a new feature [2]. Counteracting previous understandings of architecture as a progression of styles, space became a privileged quest in the architectural domain. Space is first conceived of as a property of the mind and then realised as physical matter. In the move from the metaphysical concept to the physical reality, the word ‘space’ has to cover a whole variety of conditions, and it is here that confusion arises between concept and reality. Space is a continuous area or expense that is free, available, or unoccupied. It is the infinity which surrounds us, and of which only lines can make us aware. Space, as we see it: is like interplay between solid matter and the void. 4.2 Conceptions of Time Time is the most mysterious dimension of the physical reality and human consciousness. It appears self-evident in the context of everyday life, but beyond comprehension in deeper scientific and philosophical analyses. The concept of time is an important and vital issue in architecture and urban planning. Time means simply the perception of change in one place. However, to talk about the future means to understand time and it is important to understand that time is not such a simple or obvious phenomenon, but that one has to exercise considerable ingenuity to fit it into a coherent picture of the universe. Time also gives us a place like feeling to it suggesting that time is a dimension. 4.3 From Space and Time, to Space-Time Space by itself, and time by itself, are doomed to fade away into mere shadows, and only a kind of union of the two will preserve an independent reality. As such that time is relative; it can vary for different observers depending on your speed through space. To Einstein, time is the "fourth dimension." On the other hand, space is described as a three-dimensional arena, which provides a traveller with coordinates such as length, width and height; basically, showing location [3]. Time provides another coordinate and direction, although conventionally, it only moves forward.
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158 | Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City 4.4 Time-Space Compression Time-Space compression refers to any phenomenon that alters the qualities of and relationship between space and time. The constantly increasing speed of change tends to reduce the importance of any certain change. When we consider this state of affairs, enlightenment begins. The new is not new anymore. Perhaps it has never been new [4]. The concepts that we frequently consider new were already under discussion a few centuries ago. Then how will architecture create a new rhetoric? Perhaps the new is the ability to put forward similarities and differences. The gist of this concept is that all space can be divided into either smooth spaces (where the occupant has limited to no interaction with the exterior of the space and cannot accurately perceive changes in distance and time) and striated spaces (where the occupant can easily measure changes in distance and time due to familiar understanding of the exterior) 4.5 Time-free Perception Regardless of its ephemeral and mystical nature, time is the crucial fluid of our mental lives. We do not live in a fixed, objective reality; we live in a mental reality that perpetually keeps flowing back and forth between reality, dream and imagination. Our mental reality has no fixed boundaries, no fixed temporal order or given categories. In his seminal, but sadly forgotten book, Anton Ehrenzweig speaks of a "time-free" consciousness, or mode of perception, as a necessary condition for creative thought [5]. Time-free association, remembrance and dreaming, in fact, also seem to be the condition of our normal daydreaming as well as concentrated thought; in these mental states we detach ourselves from the progression of time. 4.6 Zeitgeist (The Spirit of Time) From the German 'zeit', time and 'geist', ghost. Translated the 'spirit of the times', a prevailing theory that architecture cannot possibly be a leading factor of human culture rather it should only strive to reflect the times. Zeitgeist is the defining spirit or mood of a particular period of history as shown by the ideas and beliefs of the time. Zeitgeist is the general cultural, intellectual, ethical, spiritual, or political climate within a nation or even specific groups, along with the general ambiance, morals, sociocultural direction, and mood associated with the current era - anxiety, aggression and collision. Expressing the concept of the sense or rationality in order of things and the succession of one state of affairs after another according to some kind of lawful process, translates what zeitgeist is [6]. Zeitgeist does not indicate a homogenous state of affairs in which everyone goes along with the same idea, but rather expresses the fact that in any given society, there is a certain 'language', culture, or range of concepts in which every dispute, every contradiction must be fought out.
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
Figure 4(d) Hegel's Triad of Thesis, Antithesis and Synthesis Hegel’s Triad of Thesis, Antithesis, and Synthesis can be deduced as a character is in its comfort zone but wanted something, and willing to enter an unfamiliar situation, adapt to it, to get what they wanted by paying a heavy price for it. Then, return to their familiar situation and having things changed.
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Thesis Statement: Aims and objectives
The main intentions is to construct a socio-cultural catalyst to increase pedestrian traffic in Downtown District 1, Ho Chi Minh City during daytime by creating an altered reality, in which perceptions and experiences of space, duration and gravity are transformed. Remediation of the public realm in vicinity of the pedestrian boulevard can be achieved by providing the downtown quality open space in sufficient quantity and variety to meet the needs of downtown workers, residents and visitors, at the same time protesting/countering authority's restrictions on do's and don'ts in public space, specifically the pedestrian boulevard and sidewalks.
Figure 5(a) Design aims & objectives
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Hypothesis
6.1 Remediating the Public Realm through protest architecture This project is meant to confront the authority with issues raised on the usage of the space. The main issues include: restrictions imposed, lack of amenities, and the financial spending in construction of the MRT project. The project explored different visual and physical approaches to inform the public of the posed issues while analysing how design can serve as a tool to shock, instigate and intervene in the community. The objective is to incite ideas that can potentially be turned into actions for a better public realm.
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Design Intervention: Space Simulacrum
Figure 7(a) Visual impressions of a space simulacrum. A simulacrum is more than just a useless image; it is a deviation and perversion of imitation itself – a false likeness. Therefore, the term ‘Space Simulacrum’ used repetitively in this paper is essentially physical spaces defined as static, deceiving its viewer on the level of experience, a manipulation of the senses which transforms the unrealistic into the believable. Space Simulacrum is a manifesto of architectural protest to confront the authority with issues raised on the usage of public realm. The idea of Space Simulacrum explored different visual & physical approaches to inform the public of the posed issues while analysing how design can serves as tool to shock, instigate and intervene in the community.
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
7.1 Design Concept 7.1.1 Black holes: Doorway to an Alternate Reality Black holes are incredibly massive, but cover only a small region. Because of the relationship between mass and gravity, this means they have an extremely powerful gravitational force. Virtually nothing can escape from them — under classical physics, even light is trapped by a black hole. Theoretically, to make a black hole, there must be a presence of ‘mass’ that distorts the local ‘space-time’ as if it were a rubber sheet. If enough ‘mass’ is concentrated at a point, a singularity is formed. Coming back to interpreting this concept into design theory, in order to create a black hole or a crowd-puller, hypothetical injection of activities must exist. The analogies of this concept are summarized in Figure 7.1(a).
Figure 7.1 (a) Analogies of a black hole, inferred into design keywords
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Figure 7.1 (b) Conceptual ideas deduced into graphical diagram
7.1.2 Hyperreality A term associated with the effects of mass culture reproduction, suggesting that an object, event, and experience so reproduced replaces or is preferred to its original: that the copy is 'more real than real'. Hyperreality is associated especially with cultural tendencies and a prevailing sensibility in contemporary American society [7].
Figure 7.1(c) Disneyfication is deliberated as a form of hyperreality
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
Hyperreality is a special kind of social reality in which a reality is created or simulated from models, or defined by reference to models – a reality generated from ideas. The term has implications of ‘too much reality’ – everything being on the surface, without mystery; ‘more real than reality’ – too perfect and schematic to be true, like special effects; and ‘para-reality’, an extra layer laid over, or instead of, reality. It is experienced as more real than the real, because of its effect of breaking down the boundary between real and imaginary. It is a ‘real’ without ‘origin or reality’, a reality to which we cannot connect. Hyperreality differs from other realities in that the division between reality and imaginary disappears. It is as if, at a certain point of time, we left reality behind, and never noticed until now. We can no longer tell the former reality from hyperreality, and we wouldn’t know if reality returned.
Figure 7.1(d) Analogies of a hyhperreality
Figure 7.1(e) Deducing hyperreality into graphical interpretations
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164 | Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City In deducing and reinterpreting Hyperreality in this project, it can be concluded that a Hyperreal surroundings can be created through the 4 steps explained below: (a) Constructing undistinguishable reality from simulation of reality (b) Fiction + reality blended together (c) Co-mingling of physical + virtual reality (d) Manipulation of people's perception of space and time 7.2 Strategy: Points of diversions and distractions As nouns the difference between distraction and diversion is that distraction is something that distracts while diversion is a tactic used to draw attention away from the real threat or action. The main strategy used in this project is meant to do just this. Subsequent strategies derived from the idea of a space simulacrum, using concepts of a black hole and hyperreality are the establishment of physical and visual stimuli that draw people away from the pedestrian boulevard, and drawing them in to the areas and spaces adjacent to the boulevard, a mere sign of protesting and opposing.
Figure 7.2(a) Overview perspectives of urban interventions
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
7.3 Hypothetical Space Programs
Figure 7.3(a) Space simulacrum’s hypothetical space programs 7.3.1 Social Dimension The idea of a social dimension is that the program is intended to trigger social interaction – man to man interaction, man to object interaction, man and buildings interaction. Social dimension aims to attract people of diverse backgrounds and experience, to make understanding and appreciating one another's differences, as well as to make people being respectful of those different from them. 7.3.2 Cultural Dimension Cultural dimension aims to activate cultural-based activities, at the same time aids in expanding the knowledge and awareness of the local culture. In this project, the cultural dimension is strategically constructed nearby the Saigon Opera House, in which has the most potentials to draw people to the area after a play/show, for example.
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7.3.4 Supporting key spaces: POPS – privately owned public spaces Privately owned public space (POPS) refers to a category of physical space that, although privately owned, is legally required to be open to the public under a city's zoning ordinance or other land-use law. These spaces are usually the product of a deal between cities and private real estate developers in which cities grant valuable zoning concessions and developers provide in return privately owned public spaces in or near their buildings. Privately owned public spaces commonly include plazas, arcades, through block arcades, small parks, and atriums.
Figure 7.3(b) Sketches of public space implemented
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Conclusion
One would expect that in the city many places exist where citizens with all different backgrounds can meet, without exceptions: namely the public space. However, the fact that the search for alternatives keeps rising, raises some questions about our contemporary public space. The notion of “public space’ is difficult to define. Of the same order as the impossibility of rediscovering an absolute level of the real, is the impossibility of staging an illusion. Illusion is no longer possible, because the real is no longer possible. The Space Simulacrum project and the idea behind it are hopefully able to make a comprehensive rediscovery of the idea of public space, and to remediate the public realm in the immediate vicinity of the Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Boulevard.
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References [1] Lonely Planet.com, (2016). Introducing Ho Chi Minh City. [online] Available at: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/vietnam/ho-chi-minhcity/introduction [Accessed 23 June 2016]. [2] Moma.org, (2014). Conceptions of Space: Recent Acquisitions in Contemporary Architecture. [online] Available at: http://www.moma.org. [Accessed 23 June 2016]. [3] Hawking, S. (1998). Chapter 2: Space and Time. In: S. Hawking, ed., A Brief History of Time. 1st Edition. NY: Bantam Books, pp. 15-37. [4] Harley, D. (1991). Part III: The Experience of Space and Time. In: D. Harley, ed., The Condition of Postmodernity: An Enquiry into the Origins of Cultural Change, 1st ed. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell, pp. 260-284. [5] Ehrenzweig, A. (1975). The Psychoanalysis of Artistic Vision and Hearing: An Introduction to a Theory of Unconscious Perception. 1 st ed., London: Sheldon Press [6] Marxists.org. (1999). Marxism: The Spirit of Time – Zeitgeist. [online] Available at: http://www.marxists.org/. [ Accessed 19 May 2016] [7] Ceasefiremagazine.co.uk. (2012). An A to Z of Theory | Jean Baudrillard: Hyperreality and Implosion. [online] Available at: https://ceasefiremagazine.co.uk/in-theory-baudrillard-9/. [Accessed 20 May 2016]
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Sidewalk City: Romanticising the Sidewalk (of Ho Chi Minh City) M. ‘A. Mohd Amdan
Centre of Studies Architecture, Faculty of Architecture Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia
Abstract In many cities, sidewalks are the most vital and the most neglected public space. While not the site of urban design laurels, in terms of square-meter area, a city’s sidewalk system more often than not, exceeds the city’s parks and large open spaces. More significantly, because of the way that this network is spread to link people in many parts of the city, drawing them into intimate configurations, sidewalks have the potential to be a remarkable democratizing space. Sidewalks are also important in terms of economy as a transportation system and as a social safety net. After years of inattention, now more than ever, people around the globe are trying to unlock their potential by contesting the purpose of and rights to the sidewalk. Street vendors, property owners, local government, and the general public are engaging in innovative experiments in some places and bloody conflicts in others. Thus, this paper explores the notion of the “Right to the City” to address the current urban crisis in Ho Chi Minh City, focusing on what the right to the city entails and how it is translated into strategies for urban design. The principal attributes of the sidewalk in Ho Chi Minh City is analysed along with the experience it renders, the significance of the sidewalk to the people, the use and the evolution of the sidewalk, hence the formulation of the concept Sidewalk City. Keywords: Right to the City, urban design, sidewalk, Sidewalk City
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Introduction
The sidewalk of Ho Chi Minh City is the city in itself to the people. One does not or cannot enter most buildings, and most people do not even look up to most buildings. Rather, people look at other people in public space [1]. Particularly in Ho Chi Minh City, the sidewalk is where all segments of the population eat, socialise and trade. The experience of the city is that of the negative space framed by the built environment, and this takes place at street level, narrow and long; which is undoubtedly the sidewalk. The debate over competing conceptions of the sidewalk was not unique to HCMC but gaining policy attention in cities around the globe. As people continuously migrate to urban centers at unprecedented rates, sidewalks are particularly important for the lower-income and marginalized urban dwellers who try to make their living in this space. Cities in many countries have vendor organizations that advocate for their rights to use public space [2;3], even leading to national policy and constitutional support for sidewalk vending in places like India [4]. In North America, people have sometimes framed the conflict as third world practices clashing with first world institutions, especially given the current social tensions around international immigration [5;6;7]. Alas, community recreating and vending practices on the sidewalk have also been viewed as sites of “authenticity” [8]. Consequently, a new breed of gourmet street food vendors is recognized as innovators in the culinary arts and economic development and have sometimes been incorporated into city planning [9] while other times resisted [6]. This groundswell of debate and activity indicates that the very concept of sidewalks is being contested by the public. In many cities, the main public space has always been the street and when vehicles overtook the street, eventually the sidewalk [10]. A public sphere space is more essentially one where people can physically congregate and create and exchange counter-hegemonic dispositions as well as conviviality [11]. This could happen in a number of places, including on the sidewalk.
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Site Setting
The proposal of the Sidewalk City covers an area of a 25.52 acres’ site in District 1 of Ho Chi Minh City. The site is composed of the whole stretch of about 200metre-length Ton That Dam Street Market in a neighbourhood nearby the iconic Bitexco Financial Tower from up North, where the market has been there since 1975 to a State Bank down South of the site towards the Ben Nghe Canal where there stands the Rainbow Bridge or “Cau Mong”, previously known as “Pont des Messageris maritimes” which is the only surviving work of Gustave Eiffel in Vietnam. Ham Nghi Boulevard clearly divides the site into two portions and also into two distinct subset of a larger administrative council of the People’s Committee of District 1 called Wards where the parcels of lands up North are administered by Ben Nghe Ward and Nguyen Thai Bin Ward down South.
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Figure 1 : Proposed Site
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Potentials and Dilemmas
There are a few potentials identified on site. First, the existing street market located along a part of Ton That Dam Street (P1, refer Figure 2). The street was named after one of the general, Ton That Dam who helped King Ham Nghi against French colonists. The street market provides everyday necessities to the neighbourhood. It is a form of a social space where people engage in trading activities, gather and interact. Second, (P2, refer Figure 2) is a modernist utilitarian apartment building built throughout 1940s to 50s in Saigon, provides the urban fabric of District 1, a backdrop for the more monumental buildings built for public uses. Most residents are retirees or people working for stage agencies, and the building is now home to seven or eight cafĂŠs and fashion shops. This building serves as a precedent of home-based businesses in the city, hence could be a catalyst for an urban intervention due to its potential to attract people. Third, (P3, refer Figure 2) node at the riverfront where youth gathers for a lemon tea over chit chat, nearby the famous Rainbow Bridge. There are also a few dilemmas apparent on site. First, (D1, refer Figure 3) urban voids at a few areas. These are the spaces that are left undeveloped, and some utilised as motorcycle parking areas. Second, (D2, refer Figure 3) the wide Ham Nghi boulevard that splits the site into two portions. This restrains the easy connection between the two parts. Third, (D3, refer Figure 3) the Nguyen Cong Tru street which lacks activity during the night due to almost no population living in the area which is highly commercialised.
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
Figure 2 : Mapping of Site Potentials
Figure 3 : Mapping of Site Dilemmas
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Theory
The recent renaissance of the idea and slogan, “Right to The City” hearkens back to 1968, coined by French philosopher Henri Lefebvre as a book titled “Le Droit à la ville” in response to the urban crisis of that period. The theory would restructure the power relations which underlie urban space, transferring control from capital and the state over to urban inhabitants [12]. “Right to the City” is the right to “urban life, to renewed centrality, to places of encounter and exchange, to life rhythms and time uses, enabling the full and complete usage of … moments and places.” [13] David Harvey later pointed out that Lefebvre’s concept is “not merely a right to access what already exists (in the city), but a right to change it after our hearts’ desire.” [14] The city has undoubtedly changed since then, but Lefebvre’s original conception should be understood in its particular historical context. “Right to the City” was written based on Lefebvre’s investigation of urbanisation in France during the 1960s [15].
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Thesis Statement
Sidewalk City, is a conceptual framework formulated based on the theory of “Right to the City.” First, is to establish what are the rights to the city entail. Though there are a lot of rights arguable to be of importance, this project focuses on rights that are corresponding to the production of spaces in the city, which are: the right to live in the city, the right to work in the city, the right to learn in the city and the right to play in the city. The right to live in the city is translated as the right to residential components of the city, thus prohibiting gentrification. The right to work in the city confronts the right to generate and contribute to the economy, thus sustaining the livelihood of urban inhabitants. The right to learn in the city deals with the right to educational components of the city, thus providing a better future for the urban inhabitant’s children, and for themselves via the opportunity to gain knowledge. The right to play in the city is the right to access public and open spaces. Positioning these rights into context, whereas the sidewalk is established as the core space of this project urban intervention, these rights are then further developed into the “Right to The Sidewalk.” As an essence and icon of Ho Chi Minh City, the right to the sidewalk is the right to accommodate spaces for pedestrian, nature, street vendor, extension and motorcycle parking. Hence, the Sidewalk City is a city that emerge along the sidewalk as its spine. An ideal state, a utopia, of what Ho Chi Minh would probably look like is envisioned via “Romanticising the Sidewalk (of Ho Chi Minh City).”
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Figure 4 : Right to the City!
Figure 5 : Right to the Sidewalk!
Figure 6 : Sidewalk City!
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Hypothesis
Figure 7 : Use of Sidewalk in HCMC The Sidewalk as Social Space Each society is born within the framework of a given mode of production, with the inherent peculiarities to this framework moulding its space. Spatial practice defines its space, it poses it and presupposes it in a dialectical interaction. Social space has thus always been a social product [16]. The sidewalk is a social relation. It is inherent in the relation of property (the ownership of land, in particular), and also linked to the productive forces that fashion the land. Space is permeated with social relations; it is not only supported by social relations, but it also is producing and produced by social relations, thus the sidewalk is hypothetically a social space.
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Urban Design
7.1 Concept Framework
Figure 8 : Sidewalk City Concept Diagram
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7.2 Strategy
Figure 9 : Strategy 1 - Connection Good connectivity provides easy access to key destinations for pedestrians. Excellent connectivity actively seeks to discourage car use by making local trips easier and more pleasant by foot than by car. Increased connectivity (combined with increased density, mixed use planning and good urban design) = increased walkability = better health.
Figure 10 : Strategy 2 - Expansion The width of the sidewalk is expanded to cater for its heavy daily usage. A part of the faรงade of the affected building is demolished.
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Figure 11 : Strategy 3 - Densification The denser a city, the more sustainable it is, since dense cities use less energy per person than suburban or rural areas where people are spread over a wider distance and so travel more often and further. Less waste is produced by dense cities as smaller spaces take less energy to heat and cool and use fewer resources to fit out. In addition, the level of infrastructure and supply chain coordination can be more efficient in areas of high density. The aim is towards better organization and to increase shared space.
Figure 12 : Strategy 4 - Escalation Escalation is a strategy to intensify the injected program of the proposed built environment to offer variety.
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
Figure 13 : Strategy 5 - Characterisation Characterisation as a way of supporting and developing local amenity groups. These by their nature have a concern for ‘sense of place’ and for the associated cliché, ‘local distinctiveness’. 7.3 Hypothetical Programs The focus of design is to allow for the growth of urban areas through the traditional way of home-based business. A neighbourhood of existing shop houses is further developed as the main core program alongside supporting programs such as hotels and residences, bar and night clubs, and the riverfront development.
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Conclusion
Sidewalk City is about more than the sidewalk itself; it is an inquiry into how we might become more cognizant of overlooked spaces and the overlooked peoples in them [17]. Visibility is one of the defining qualities of public space. People can use squares and plazas to congregate, make their presence known, and vocalize their concerns. But, the monumental, open spaces in the city are unique spaces often separated from everyday life. Our polity is also shaped by the everyday interactions through which we explicitly and tacitly form the dispositions undergirding knowledge and our institutions. The sidewalk’s narrow and utilitarian location fosters more intimate and regular interactions in public. The public space’s physical qualities shape the kinds of political speech our bodies utter. The challenge with sidewalks is that their thin and dispersed spatiality may fragment the narratives constructed on them.
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References [1] Whyte, W. H. The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces, Washington DC: Conservation Foundation. 1980. Print [2] Brown, Alison. Contested Space. Rugby, UK: ITDG Pub., 2006. Print [3] Tinker, Irene. Street Foods. New York: Oxford University Press, 1997. Print. [4] Sinha, Shalini, and Sally Roever, India’s National Policy on Urban Street Vendors. In WIEGO Policy Brief (Urban Policies) No. 2. WIEGO. [5] Marcelli, Enrico A., Manuel Pastor, and Pascale M. Joassart. "Estimating The Effects Of Informal Economic Activity: Evidence From Los Angeles County". Journal of Economic Issues 33.3 (1999): 579-607. Web. [6] Kettles, Greg W. Regulating Vending in the Sidewalk Commons. Temple Law Review 77 (1):1–46. [7] Garnett, Nicole Stelle, Private Norms and Public Spaces. In 2008 Brigham-Kanner Property Rights Conference: Notre Dame Law School. [8] Zukin, Sharon. Naked City: The Death And Life Of Authentic Urban Places. Oxford University Press, 2010. Print. [9] Urban Vitality Group. Food Cartology: Rethinking Urban Spaces as People Places. Portland: City of Portland Bureau of Planning. [10] Kostof, Spiro. The City Assembled. Boston: Little, Brown, 1992. Print. [11] Banerjee, Tridib. "The Future Of Public Space: Beyond Invented Streets And Reinvented Places". Journal of the American Planning Association 67.1 (2001): 9-24. Web. [12] Purcell, Mark, Globalization, urban enfranchisement, and the right to the city: towards an urban politics of the inhabitant. Print. [13] Lefebvre, H. “The Right to the City.” [14] HARVEY, DAVID. "The Right To The City". International Journal of Urban and Regional Research 27.4 (2003): 939-941. Web. [15] Stanek, Lukasz. Henri Lefebvre On Space. Minneapolis [Minn.]: University of Minnesota Press, 2011. Print. [16] Lefebvre, Henri, Neil Brenner, and Stuart Elden. State, Space, World. Print. [17] Kim, Annette Miae. Sidewalk City. Print.
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The Transit[itional] Spaces: Ameliorating the Experiential Landscape of Hai Ba Trung Street N. Muhamad Shukri Rahimi
Centre of Studies Architecture, Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia
Abstract The vitality of urban public spaces, particularly streets, is a major indicator of success in urban design. Despite the understanding of the need for a humanorientated approach to urbanism, this element still remains lacking in contemporary modern cities, where provisions for physical activity i.e. walkable environments, green spaces and etc. are essentials needed for social interaction. The paper studies on the adaptation of a new conceptual framework –Socially Restorative Urbanism, which focuses on the socio-spatial anatomy of the urban realm as well as innovative approaches to enhancing the transitional edges and to re-introduce a more people-orientated element into urban place-making and, its concept of the transitional edge on site. Concurrently, the concept of in-between-ness as spaces in transition shall also be discussed; not as gaps or voids between solids in the urban plan of a city, but as a potential ‘solid’ of everyday life. Keywords: transitional edge, in-between-ness, walkable environments, green spaces, public spaces, social interaction, vitality
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
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Introduction
Ho Chi Minh City is Vietnam’s biggest city and the centre of commerce, despite not being the administrative capital –an honour that rests with Hanoi. Commonly known by Saigon to its inhabitants or by the abbreviations HCMC or HCM is the former capital of the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam). Once dearly called Diamond of the Far-east with the luxury level overriding that of Hong Kong or Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City is now the most populated city in Vietnam [1]. Modern office skyscrapers, amidst Oriental style pagodas and food stalls along the street, create a dynamic urban sphere in very special sense. The city boasts a population of around nine million. The downtown area, still referred to as Saigon, is growing at a rate that will equal Tokyo by 2020. Resulting from the radical economic changes formed by Doi Moi in 1986, the image of Saigon what was once a war-torn city has evolved to one of a thriving metropolis, challenging Singapore, Bangkok and the other traditional Southeast Asian powerhouses. Its economic success can be seen through the presence of fine restaurants, flash hotels, glitzy bars and clubs, and shops selling imported luxury goods; and adding to that visible French-influenced cultural elements especially in its architecture. Ho Chi Minh City is a city of energy and discovery. If Hanoi is the political capital of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City is the commercial heart and a magnet for foreign investors.
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Site Setting
District 1 is the financial and commercial hub of Ho Chi Minh City. Most travellers will spend the majority of their time here. Home to most of the major sights and an expanding number of bars and restaurants, District 1 was designed by French architects during the colonial era, which explains the wide, tree-lined boulevards and frequent parklands. The Hai Ba Trung street is located in adjacent to the Dong Khoi Street and Cong Truong Lam Son, which are known for being the fashion street and the arts and culture street (Saigon Opera) respectively. Hai Ba Trung itself is known for being one of Saigon’s longest and busiest streets running from District 1 to District 3. The street is named after the Trung sisters those who are Vietnamese heroines against Chinese rule and it is a thoroughfare of great antiquity which dates back more than 200 years ago. Being known as the heart of inner Saigon, the Me Linh Square Roundabout is a seven-way intersection which is the hub of six streets in District 1. The six streets, including the Hai Ba Trung street, which meet at Me Linh are all named after Vietnam’s historical figures and at the center of Me Linh Square is the statue of one of Vietnam’s most famous generals. The Hai Ba Trung street today acts as a vital artery connecting District 1 with Districts 3 and Phu Nuan and is home to some of the city's most popular shops and restaurants.
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Figure 1.0(a): Key plan of Downtown Ho Chi Minh City
Figure 1.0(b): Figure ground
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Figure 1.0(c): Site Parameter
Potentials and Dilemmas
From here on, so as to not create confusion as the explanation continues, the site shall be categorized into 2: a) Site A being the stretch along Hai Ba Trung Street, and b) Site B which includes the Me Linh Square and the waterfront on the Saigon River. Although being known as one of the busiest street of Saigon, in comparison to the vitality the other neighbouring streets, Hai Ba Trung seems the most ‘grey’ – in which, there is no presence of a specific character or significance to the street.
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
With its neglected street edges and lacking of social activities, Site A receives much lesser human presence compared to the other streets. On the other hand, the recently increase in land prices with the highest being 162 million VND/m2 and the lowest 32, 000 VND/m2. Indirectly, locals who could not afford to live in the city then would eventually be forced to move out the suburban or rural areas –which would lead to lesser city users at other times than during business hours. In terms of urban designing, such implication is undesirable since the major indicator of success is the vitality of the site. Meanwhile, the attraction of the Me Linh Square is slowly weakening among the locals and tourists as there has been competition with the new boulevard in Nguyen Hue, two blocks away. Despite having more natural elements in the Me Linh Square, the Nguyen Hue boulevard offers a larger space for users to practically conduct any activities as it is not constricted, and by the play of lightings and water features at night makes it even more interesting to the people. Other than that, non-stop traffic flows are a norm in Vietnam and due to that pedestrians would have to go through the adventure of crossing the roads in between a wave of moving motorcycles, cars and even trucks, to get from one side of the street to the other. This is another issue relating to the lack of users in Site B. However, there is a huge potential for the site to regenerate itself to a much higher level surpassing those surrounding it. By introducing a new identity and adding significance to the people transiting through the site, and at the same increasing the amount of site occupants (vitality) and urban public spaces (social interaction) as well as a walkable and safe environment –the site potentially could be a new transitional space in the city.
Figure 3.0(a): Site Categorization: Site A and Site B
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Theory
The transitional edge or the interface environments (experiential landscape), as mentioned by Thwaites, are perceptible yet indeterminate components of urban order, by which they are realms which are subject to continuous change and adaptation in response to how they are used and experienced. As Habraken points out, their tangibility is given by their dynamics and adaptable nature and not imposed by the external design decisions entirely. Transitional edges have to be understood, then, as mutually interdependent holistic realms within which spatial organisation and social organisation are integrated at some fundamental level. Space shapes social activity, and in turn vice versa, and so on in infinite mutual generation and regeneration [1]. Subsequent idea development of transitional edges will result in the conceptualisation of place identity as being in continuous state of becoming. Becoming is defined as a transitional experience and understood as components of urban order where interior becomes exterior, enclosed becomes open and etc. The idea of places defined by their becoming or in-between-ness is a phenomenological view of human-environment relations where human experience and its spatial context are integrated. According to Luz, the concept of in-betweenness is suggested to be an inter-form instead, a prefix that means juxtapositions, overlapping, concurrence, layers, a dialectic interaction between things (objects, subjects and spaces) rather than ‘being between something’. It is not just fusing ‘two in one’ or simply mixing modes, approaches or terminologies between disciplines. It is probably more trialectic conversation between the opposite phenomena since it establishes new crossing points and possible connection [2].
Figure 4.0 (a): Transitional edge
Figure 4.0 (b): Experiential Landscape
According to Thwaites, the quality of life in neighbourhood settings is influenced by categories of experience that focus on how people attach significance to certain locations, orient themselves, and develop an awareness of their home ground. These experiences have been interpreted spatially as four elements: centre, direction, transition and area [3]. The fundamental definition of coalescence is the act of merging or uniting two or more elements into one mass or community. In this case, the concept is to allow major potentials of site A and B to coalesce into one transitional space, creating a linkage from the inside to the outside of the city.
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
Figure 4.0(b): Process of Coalescing
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Thesis Statement
5.1 Improving the Vitality of the Street through Physical Activities Allowing pedestrians and users to experience different rhythms, paces and capabilities of locomotion by enhancing the programmes on site. Locomotion stands for ‘local’ (locus, ‘place’) and ‘motion’ (motio, ‘movement’), which is defined by the ability or power to move from place to place, but also self-propelled movement (travel), a motivity (the quality of being influenced by motives,; motive power) [2]. In other words, instead of becoming just a transit space to work or other destinations, to create moments of stopping, pausing and slow and fast paces in liminal places of transition and spaces in between buildings by triggering the curiosity and interest of the pedestrian. By this approach, the site would gain more human presence and social interactions, thus, an increase in vitality. 5.2 Allowing a Walkable and Safe Environment throughout the Space Through the adoption of vehicular control system, a user-friendly environment or access is able promote walkability and in conjunction, allowing more public activities. By introducing linkages from both sites A and B to create an ease in pedestrian access, connection could be formed between the inside and outside of the city space. In order to compete with the boulevard in Nguyen Hue, by extending the green area of the Me Linh Square to the waterfront the public space or park would be introduced as a new location for social meetings, recreational hub, and other people orientated activities.
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Hypothesis
The questions of where, who and what has to be firstly answered in order to locate the urban locations for intervention, and eventually lead to the potentialities of rethinking, improving or enjoying the transit[itional] locations in urban settings. By the injection of public realms, green spaces and enhancing the socio-cultural programmes on site based on a people-centred approach; the site could gain interest from the pedestrians and commuters moving along the street. Once users are engaged in the programmes, the vitality of the street could be restored.
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Design Intervention
7.1 Framework The provision of an idea structure is fundamental to provide a quality street experience and to promote walkability throughout the site. Elevating the development intensity to its maximum, reshuffling land uses to cater for potential development and restoration of the site and its open spaces, aim to improve the vitality of the site. Restructuring the mix used programs to increase commercial value and activity on site and regenerating the in between spaces such as streets and its thresholds, expanding the sidewalks to allow user comfortability and developing facilities and programs to allow active and safe engagement by pedestrians, bicycles and motorcycle users or commuters with the site. Introducing city connections through permeable accesses and walkway networks linking adjacent neighbourhoods and city edges. In conjunction, adapting sustainable systems with the new propose urban injection scheme, promoting green and eco-friendly approach and awareness. 7.2 Strategy Since the lack of vitality along the street appears to be the main site dilemma, resolving the issue would be to initially attract more people into the street via programmes. To cater for the proposal of new programmes, development expansion is required. The aim is to increase the intensity of the development not more than 30% in land use areas on commercial and residential uses for local residents, and institutional spaces such as offices and hotels on site.
Figure 7.2 (a): Existing Site Massing
Figure 7.2 (b): Land Use and Proposed Expansion
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
The process of ameliorating the street should include green injections in liminal spaces such as existing alleyways and spaces in between buildings and treatments to the facades along the street. Designing the landscape to contribute to the heightening of user experience and comfortability as well as softening the margins between spaces. Green elements along the street aids in reducing noise pollution as the development intensity increases.
Figure 7.2 (c): Locations for Green Injection
Figure 7.2 (d): Transitional Edges for Treatment
In terms of accessibility, allowing permeable spaces as well as providing a safer ease of access through elevated links for users merging from inside the city to out and vice versa, due to the mass traffic situation on the roundabout of the Me Linh Square. The link provisions should allow pedestrians to access from different levels or heights of the structures along the street, but not to discard the user experience achieved on ground. In other words, incorporating softscape elements and on ground features on the elevated links or bridges.
Figure 7.2 (e): Elevated Access
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188 | Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City Lastly, to identify the waterfront as iconic and a new landmark by allowing various programmes and activities to take place. Creating a transitional space between three areas; (i) the inside and outside edges of the city through the incorporation of elements on and to both sides, (ii) the street in between blocks through softening the transition of the internal and external spaces, and (iii) the soft and hardscapes in the city through gradual incorporation of green elements –uniting the two spaces to become a singular entity.
Figure 7.2 (f): Transitional Space between three areas
7.3 Hypothetical Programmes The existing programs on site mainly focuses on institutional and business uses such as banks, offices and hotels, centered around the Me Linh Square. Due to these programmes, the street is most of the time used by commuters to work, acting only as a connection medium from initial point to destination. In comparison, the commercial and mix uses to accommodate the institutional programmes is in dire need of refurbishment and restructuring. With the density increase, commercial uses will be designated on the lower floors with the residential structures on the upper portion of the development. Due to the introduction of the Nguyen Hue Boulevard two blocks away and the inconveniency of access, the Me Linh Square is slowly losing its attraction to tourists and even locals. Even though the square is not as big as the boulevard, the landscape elements provides a more comfortable space by older citizens and it is used for fitness activities at times. The waterfront has a tremendous opportunity of becoming a new landmark on the Saigon River. The axis of the street towards the river allows a direct visual of the waterfront. In the act of increasing the green area spaces on site, the waterfront is a suitable location to design for a potential park where the public is able to engage in recreational and entertainment activities. A structure as a monumental figure is to be designed to attract more public in terms of its visual.
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
Figure 7.3 (a): Proposed programmes upon development
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Design Phase
Since people are attracted to visual details, treating the facades of the buildings along the Hai Ba Trung street is the crucial step to draw the public into the site. In the meantime, defining the public and private spaces clearly for the site users. The second phase would be to dress up the street by implementing the green injections along the street and existing alleys, even on the facades of the buildings if required. Continuing with this operation, the process of increasing the additional recreational spaces through the development of the new waterfront structure and park. The final phase of the expansion would be to construct the bridge links connecting to the waterfront and the Hai Ba Trung street for public access. Green elements shall also be incorporated into the design of the bridge links.
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Conclusion
The element of understanding the need for a human-orientated approach to urbanism is essential in modern cities. According to Ana, city scenarios are characterised by complex dynamics of urbanisation by networking of networks, speed and power and ultimately, by accelerated technological and communicational cyber-evolutions. In other words, by movement and mobility, by a continuous flux of people, things, events and information, which determine new spaces of exchange and social networks [2]. By developing the Hai Ba Trung street as a ‘transit’ space between the internal part of the city and outer part –vice versa, the mobile act of transition generates, and paradoxically stabilizes, these momentary spaced-places. In designing and planning, the approaches has to gain the interest of site users in order for a successful Socially Restorative Urbanism. It is important to enhance the liminal and threshold spaces, and especially to provide treatment to the facades of adjacent structures.
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
10 References [1] Thwaites, K., Mathers, A. and Simkins, I.M. 2013. Socially Restorative Urbanism: The Theory, Process and Practice of Experiemics, 1st ed. London: Taylor & Francis. [2] Luz, A. Place and Location. 2006. Places In-Between: The Transit(ional) Locations of Nomadic Narratives, The Research Group of Cultural and Literary Theory, Estonian Literary Museum, Institute of Art History, Estonian Academy of Arts Estonian Semiotics Association, pp.143-165. [3] Thwaites, K. and Simkins, I.M. 2007. Experiential Landscape: An Approach to People, Place, and Space. 1 st ed. London: Taylor & Francis. [4] American Society of Landscape Architects. Sustainability Toolkit: Social Models [Online]. Available at: https://www.asla.org/socialmodels.aspx [5] Toofan, S., 2014. Importance of Humane Design for Sustainable Landscape. IACSIT International Journal of Engineering and Technology. [6] Montgomery, J. 1998. Making a city: Urbanity, vitality and urban design. 1st ed. London: Taylor & Francis.
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Euphoric City : Multilayer public realm and livable waterfront as the component in stimulating happiness throughout the city. P.F.W Megat Kamaruzaman
Centre of Studies Architecture, Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia
Abstract As we reflect on our day-to-day experiences, we can all likely bring to mind a number of places where we have lived, worked or visited in which we feel comfortable or inspired. While the factors that foster a meaningful social connection with a place can vary widely, we can optimize and promote improved social connections in urban environments through effective measurement, strategy and design. Euphoric City aims to build cities that help facilitate these positive social connections. This is both an art and a science. Architecture, urban design and public spaces together alter the way we think, feel and treat other people in ways most of us never realise. Multilayer public realm and a livable waterfront development can be relate to commercial, recreational, residential, cultural, educational, environment as well as working and transportation in order to improve economic development, public enjoyment and civic identity. The waterfront is not fully utilized by the people as it should be. The city should be program to gather people from the city to have more social interactions. The place making of waterfront should be a way to cater people from the inner city to the waterfront by making a nodes with supporting anchor. Creating layers of public realms, and a well planning programs of a city will boost social interactions and generate healthier lifestyle as well as developing economy that makes a Euphoric City. Apart from the land value that will increase, a well planned activities and programmes will promote walkability and a healthier lifestyle. Extending late-night hours will extends the hours of a city’s economy. Keywords: Multilayers Public Realm, Waterfront, Euphoric City.
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
1
Introduction
Ho Chi Minh City formerly named and still also referred to as Saigon is the largest city in Vietnam. By the abbreviations HCMC or HCM is the former capital of the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam). Diamond of the Far-east is one of the name once dearly called with the luxury level overriding that of Hong Kong or Bangkok, the city becomes the most populated city in Vietnam. HCMC recently boosts a population of around nine million. Still referred to as Saigon, downtown area is growing at a rate that will equal Tokyo by 2020.Hanoi on the other hand is the political capital of Vietnam while Ho Chi Minh City is the commercial heart of the city, and has become a magnet for foreign investors from all over the world. The city has got numbers of modern office skyscrapers, amidst Oriental style pagodas and food stalls along the street, creating a dynamic urban sphere in a very special sense. On the other hand, Saigon is steeped in tradition, a living monument to the past that wears its culture proudly on its sleeve. Saigon houses a unique mixture of past and present, decorated with colonial and French style architecture throughout the city. Ho Chi Minh City experiencing two seasons per year, wet and dry. The city has tropical climate with 78% average humidity. Reflecting the weather, the city life is a blend of harmony and chaos that mixed into one. We can see it from the dense and never endings, as well as heavy traffics, but despite all the chaos, we can always find locals laughing, having a great time lounging admiring the passing free-for-all along street side coffee vendors.
2
Site Setting
As the financial and commercial hub of Ho Chi Minh City, District 1 is the place where most of the tourist and travellers will spend most of their time as part of visiting Vietnam. Expanding number of bars and restaurants also become an attraction to the visitors. Also kwon or the French architecture influence, District 1 was designed by French architects during the colonial era which explains the wide, tree-lined boulevards and frequent parklands. The site is located along riverside area of Saigon river. The river is located in southern Vietnam that rises near Phum Daung in southeastern Cambodia, flows south and south-southeast for about 230 kilometres (140 mi) and empties into the Nhà Bè River, which in its turn empties into the East Sea some 20 kilometres (12 mi) northeast of the Mekong Delta.Saigon River is important to Ho Chi Minh City as it is the main water supply as well as the host of former Saigon Port, which a total cargo volume load/outloaded of more than 35 million metric tons in 2006. There is a developing new city facing the river mouth of the site. The city is new urban area of Thu Thiem.In the past, District 2 was one of the poorest parts of Ho Chi Minh City due to the separation by the Saigon River from the city center.
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194 | Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City However, it is now one of the prioritized area for investment by the government of Ho Chi Minh City. The site is also adjacent to the strong boulevard that connects historical City Hall building at Nguyen Hue walking street which becomes an ideal destination not only for Saigon people but also for domestic and international tourist. The old Nguyen Hue Flower Street now becomes a square and the first walking street of Saigon. Adjacent to another street called Dong Khoi Street, the site location is the most potential place to become the centre of attractions for tourist and locals. Also, Dong Khoi Street is known for being the fashion street and the arts and culture street.
Figure 1(a) Key plan of Downtown Ho Chi Minh City
3 4 5 Figure 1(b) Figure ground
Figure 1(c) Site location
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
3
Potentials and Dilemmas
The site is located adjacently to the strong Nguyen Hue street and is the most strategic location as it connects the boulevard to the Saigon river with maximum waterfront area criteria. The Nguyen Hue walking street creates a strong axis that contains a livable and vibrant boulevard while the waterfront area along Saigon river creates another axis. These two axis create an invisible intersection subsequently makes the site location becomes a unique and interesting. Furthermore, the intersection has the potential become a new anchor point for the boulevard. However, the continuity of the boulevard is disrupted due to the heavy traffic congestion caused by four lane road, indirectly cutting all the activities and the flow of people from approaching the waterfront area. Hence,the situation causes the waterfront to be dead and not livable during the day nor during the night. The busy road has got no proper pedestrian crossing lane or traffic light for pedestrian. People who is walking along the boulevard intended to approach the waterfront has to take all the risk crossing the road. That has become the major factor why is the waterfront that has all the potential left out and abandoned despite the flooding issue along river mouth of Saigon river that occurs averagely three times a year during heavy rains. The site is also facing the new well planned city called Thu Thiem city formerly known as district 2 makes it suitable for becoming an advertisement city to generate income. There are no jubilant activities that the waterfront has to offer. The waterfront area only consists of a few abandoned buildings, with insufficient lighting devices along the provided jogging track hence it is not a safe place during night time. The maximum potential of the river has not been utilised. The deep river can cater water transportation activities subsequently to help solve the traffic congestion issue. The rising land price of the site makes it potentially become a commercial hub with all the future mix use high rise buildings. Current land use is showing that the land has not been developed well yet. There are too much of land used for 2-3 storey institutional buildings and less mix use buildings that can promote social interactions. There are potential of creating multistorey public realm in high rise building environment. The big and long building blocks makes the site low in permeability. There are less fine grain happening at ground floor level. However wide sidewalks along the buildings shows the potentialities of having street cafes that can enhance social interactions in order to create a well-being city.
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Theory
Eudaimonia (also known as Eudaemonism) is a Greek word, which refers to a state of having a good indwelling spirit or being in a contented state of being healthy, Happy and prosperous. In moral philosophy, eudaimonia is used to refer to the right actions as those that result in the well-being of an individual. The author of the book Happy City, Charles Montgomery has been using Aristotle quotes on eudaimonia. “Whatever creates or increases happiness, or some part of happiness, we ought to do; whatever destroys or hampers happiness, or gives rise to its opposite, we ought not to do,� said Aristotle : the highest purpose of every city is to help residents achieve happiness. After all, happiness lies at the core of every decision most people make. The book explains how to create a better happier life through urbanism. The approaches are through few experiments that relates to mind, body and places. The book is talking much about how people in a city can achieve happiness mentally and physically. As architects, what type of spaces and how we design a city can move people and influence their thoughts and behaviour. Through neuroscience, Charles Montgomery take an approach on how the brain react to what activities we are doing to release certain hormones that can influence the feelings. There are four hormones of happiness. They are Oxytoxin, Dopamine, Serotonin and Endorphins. There are few activities that can stimulates the productions of those happiness hormones and the activities will define what type of city we are going to build and what are the components of design. Happy City can be achieve if the city contains strong social ties or social connections, good state of economy, the sense of meaning, mastery, health, trust, secure, pleasure etc. The approaches can be taken to achieve a Happy City are by utilizing waterfront area to become a sustainable waterfront, creating multilayers public realm to promote social interactions, amusement park, and commercial area to generate income. Promoting walkability and cycling are also one of the approach as the activities can generate a healthier lifestyle.
Figure 2 : Four hormones of happiness
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
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Thesis Statement
“Connecting minds, creating the future” To create a city that the people are socially interact to each other, while promoting a healthier and happier lifestyle through a well-planned programs and providing spaces that will promote social interactions. The site is located in the heart of the golden triangle area. By proposing interesting and livable programs, the city will become the centre of attraction in Vietnam. Extending late-night hours will extends the hours of a city’s economy and create a city that never sleeps by using maximum potential hours of the site.
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Hypothesis
A structured idea and a well planning programs of a city will boost social interactions and generate healthier lifestyle as well as developing economy that makes a Happy City. Apart from the land value that will increase, a well planned activities and programmes will encourage more social interactions between people while inviting more investors and increasing density. Other than that, extending late-night hours extends the hours of a city’s economy. Furthermore, waterfront redevelopment project as a major asset for the urban community which can bring new life into unattractive urban areas and create new economic and social opportunities. Diversify typology of program and events will inject the excitement on tourist prospect as well as local community.
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Design Intervention
7.1 Framework A structured idea and programming will be introduced in this project. The land price of the site which is considered among the highest in Ho Chi Minh City leads to the aim on gaining maximum development potential for the city. Public open space on the urban waterfront is a unique part of the urban setting of many waterside cities. The waterfront area that are located perpendicular to the main boulevard has all the potential needed to become the new centre of attraction that will invite more investor for land development. Through injecting new active programs such as water sport activities and eatery cafes along the waterfront that will be operating night and day is an attempt to bring more people to come to the riverside and make the waterfront area more livable. In order to create a city that the people socially interact to each other, more public spaces will be created. Public spaces will be created along riverside area, inside the buildings, in between buildings, on ground level and also on multiple level. The intention is to help to boost the economy of the stalls and shops located along the public area while encouraging social connections among the people around the city. More high rise of mixed used buildings will be constructed to make sure that Return On Investment (ROI) will be in balance. According to the land use study, the city lack of residential area. The planning of the city will also be focusing on increasing residential area in order to increase the density and more people will stay in the city instead of leaving the city after office hour. Respecting the existing successful activity programs, the boulevard will be maintained with minimum upgrading on facilities, additional green area and shading purposes.
7.2 Strategy Waterfront as the new anchor “Cities seek a waterfront that is a place of public enjoyment. They want a waterfront where there is ample visual and physical public access – all day, all year - to both the water and the land. Cities also want a waterfront that serves more than one purpose :they want it to be a place to work and to live, as well as a place to play. In other words, they want a place that contributes to the quality of life in all of its aspects – economic, social, and cultural”. Remaking the Urban Waterfront, the Urban Land Institute (Seattle Department of Planning and Design, 2012) Located at the end of perpendicular strong Nguyen Hue boulevard, waterfront area will become the most strategic location for development and becoming the new centre of attraction. Exciting typologies of programmes will be introduced along the riverside consisting public spaces, cafes, water sport activities, viewing deck, shopping mall and various spaces that stimulate different type of experiences.
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
Figure 3 : Typologies of waterfront development
Multilayer Public Realm Spaces for social activities introduced in multilayer public realms. By taking the advantage of buildings that are high rise and multilevel, public realms will be injected through locating the public spaces on ground level, punching through the buildings, above rooftops, and various typologies to provide sufficient numbers of places for the people to spend their time together and help encouraging social connectivity between residents and people who live or come to the city. The activities will also help the economy as more stalls and small shops located along the public realm levels.
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Figure 4 : Typologies of multilayer public realm High rise mix used buildings In accordance to the land use study that highlighted the lack of residential areas in the city, the development will also be focusing on mix used high rise buildings consist of apartments and condominiums, with offices and commercial area on lower ground. This will help in return on investment (ROI) because the land value is among the highest in Ho Chi Minh City. 7.3 Hypothetical Programmes
Figure 5 : Hypothetical programmes
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
Figure 6(a) : Public realm plan
Figure 6(b): 3D Perspective
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Figure 7: 3D Perspective
8
Conclusion
In conclusion,the city will become the new centre for tourism as well as the place for locals to spend their time in Ho Chi Minh City according the example that epitomized the theory of Happy City. The programmes and spaces created over the city will help in stimulating the Happy chemicals in the brain. Healthy minds will ignites positive thoughts and lifestyle. More brilliant ideas will be produced towards better future. Additional facilities such as shopping destinations, will enhance the significance of the urban tourism. The waterfront area will be the new interface of a city that is rich in social interactions. Furthermore, people will spend their time in public spaces created. Plus, more small shops will be operating on multiple public realm levels leads to more job opportunities and as an economic booster. New residential areas that are socially interconnected will increase the density of people living in the city. More people will be preoccupied in the city instead of leaving the city after office hour or after midnight. The city will use the maximum potential of time and opportunities.
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References [1] J. Montgomery, Happy City: Transforming Our Lives Through Urban Design. London,
2013
[2] Breen A., Rigby D. (1994) ZWaterfronts: Cities Reclaim their Edge[, McGraw-Hill, New York, 1994. [3] Breen A., Rigby D., ZThe New Waterfront: A Worldwide Urban Success Story[, McGraw-Hill, New York, 1996. [4] Bruttomesso, R., ZComplexity on the urban waterfront[, London and New York, Spon Press, 2001. [5] Capel-Tatjer, L. & Brito, M. P. D. (Eds), ZUrban Management in Europe towards a sustainable development[, The Netherlands, Erasmus University Rotterdam, 2001. [6] Carmona, M. (Ed.), ZGlobalization Urban Form & Governance, The response of city ports[ in Zthe Northern Hemisphere[, Alfa-Ibis Network, Delft, DUP Science, 2003a. [7] Carmona, M. (Ed.).,ZGlobalization Urban Form & Governance, The response of city ports[ in Zthe Southern Hemisphere, Alfa-Ibis Network[, Delft, DUP Science, 2003b.
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Dothi Etape : Journey Through the Experiences of Performance and Art S. A. Syed Albakri
Centre of Studies Architecture, Faculty of Architecture, Planning &surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia
Abstract In an ever changing urban landscape, connectivity whether it be in terms of transportation or walkability is emerging as a major factor when considering urban design. When a country experiences rapid developments, it tends to neglect this major factor to allow for maximum profits. This will in turn be the reason for the prioritization of economy-centric developments such as skyscrapers and high-rise blocks without the consideration of walkability and public transport. Not only does the prioritization of the aforementioned reason cause a problem in walkability , it also causes several issues to arise such as gentrification and pollution. Corresponding to that , Vietnam experiences this issue specifically in District 1 located in one of its major city, Ho Chi Minh. The issue of rapid development has cause some of its major roads to lose its identity and suffer in terms of its walkability. To combat this in this specific road, a cultural catalyst approach was most suitable . This is due to the prevalent nature of how the road becomes the hotspot for cultural activities such as the Lunar Flower Festival held every year. A catalyst was identified in the site that had the most cultural and heritage value and was made as the focal point of the design. Concepts was formed to enhance and bring the experience of the catalyst throughout the site with connectivity being the main mechanism to achieve this. These concepts are based heavily on the ideas of the Situationists where a bottom-up approach is preferred. These concepts help to bring in different experiences that are ever-changing, that will allow the space to be enjoyed throughout the year. The phasing process will also envision a setop past the proposed development where the site will be proposed as an arts and performance learning hub once the space has had time to thrive. Keywords: Ho chi minh, performance arts, journey, walkability, situiationist, urban, stage
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
1 Introduction Ho Chi Minh, better known to most as Saigon, is considered the to be one of three major cities in Vietnam. The city itself has seen a dramatic rise in development and population growth. It has last since doubled its population from 4.6 million in the span of 20 years.[1] It is made up of of 5 rural districts and 19 urban districts. Its CBD is currently located in District 1 and is duly replaced when the new development in District 2 is completed. Not only is the city one of the main cities in Vietnam, it the highest in terms of density of population and is the main tourism hub in Vietnam. Vietnam has seen almost 4.3 million tourists a year with 70% of those visiting Ho Chi Minh city.[2] The attraction of the city still remains the French colonial influence in its architecture. Some of the attractions include the Revolutionary Museum, War Remnants Museum, Cu Chi Tunnels and the Saigon Municipal Theatre. The city its self is made up of a mixture of centralized and grid system. Le Loi Road, one of the main roads in the city is located in District 1 and holding one of its attractions which is the Municipal Theatre. This road was chosen to be the study area due to the potential significance of the theatre in reinvigorating the road to its former attraction power. The municipal theatre acts as the catalyst on site capable of restoring the previously bustling road with a high amount of pedestrians. [Figure 1]
Figure 1(a) : The Saigon Municiple Theatr
2 Site Setting District 1 in Ho Chi Minh city is considered the CBD and in turn will have a high amount of concentrated rapid development to come with the ever rising economy of Vietnam. Moreover, this high amount of development has cause several issues to arise in the form of gentrification, homogenization of city blocks and the loss of its heritage buildings that seems to be the main reason tourist visit the city in the first place. The city has essentially lost its identity as the Pearl of the Orient and instead has given rise to capitalism. Being that Vietnam was previously a communist run country the sudden influence of capitalism may have caused detrimental long term
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206 | Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City issues. The targeted site is located at the at one of Le Loi , where the Municipal Theatre is located leading towards the Saigon Tax Trade Centre. The existing site context include various hotels that have been there since the French and American occupation such as the Continental Hotel , Rex Hotel , Tax Trade Centre, Caravelle Hotel, Union Square and the Municipal Theare. The site is also located perpendicular to the newly developed Ngu Yen Hue boulevard. While it is currently very high restrictions in creating any activities on this boulevard , the chosen site acts to undermine these restriction by creating walkable streets on the perpendicular connected road. Adjacent to the site is the Dong Koi road aptly named fashion street and a few blocks away lies the textile tourist attraction, Ben Tanh Market.
Figure 2(a): Study area of the site location in Disctrict 1, Ho Chi Minh
3 Potentials and Dilemmas Several dilemmas have been extracted after synthesis of the strength and weaknesses of the site. One of these include the high mono functional commercial land-use and lack of residential area. The area is dense with only commercial retail areas relegated to high class shops and hotels. The amount of visitors of medium and low income seem to be decreasing while the intended users seem to ignoring these areas as well. The isolated society does not have the oppurtunity to naturally thrive and grow due to lack of diversified pedestrian traffic.[Figure 3] There are a staggeringly high amount of 4-5 star hotels and none existant number of residential areas and service apartments. [3]
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
Figure 3(a) : Current rental costs in Le Loi Road Another dilemma is the absence of adequate public realm. The area around the site has very little amount of green spaces and public realm. Most of the buildings consist of big commercial blocks , inhibiting the growth of public realms. The boulevard though created for the users is devoid of any activity and its not properly equipped for pedestrian traffic throughout the day.
Figure 3(b) : Importance of activities to improve quality of public realm
Rapid development has also cause the dilemma of increased homogenization of big city blocks. The acquisition of smaller buildings and shops have to create bigger more modern blocks have not only caused gentrification in terms of population and commercial diversity but also has cause the permeability of streets to decrease and this will in turn reduce the walkability of the streets. According to John Montgomery, the permeability can be defined and be seen more with smaller blocks due to the amount of corner and intersection a pedestrian can chose to follow as apposed to one single route devoid of any choices. The neglect of the Tax Trade Centre has also been a big issue in this road. Mainly fought by the youth of the district due to the high nostalgic value, the building itself has seen countless changes to its faรงade and priority of demographic to cater to. The latest change to its faรงade and seemingly failed to revitalize the place and has
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208 | Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City since been shut down for redevelopment.[4] Though protest are still being made to keep the building and its historic staircase as it is. [Figure 4]
Figure 3(c) : The Tax Trade Centre and its historic staircase
The neglect of the Tax Trade Centre has also been a big issue in this road. Mainly fought by the youth of the district due to the high nostalgic value, the building itself has seen countless changes to its faรงade and priority of demographic to cater to. The latest change to its faรงade and seemingly failed to revitalize the place and has since been shut down for redevelopmen. Though protest are still being made to keep the building and its historic staircase as it is. [Figure 4] Potentials of the site include the incoming completion of the first metro subway in Ho Chi Minh city that will run in the middle of the study area. This subway will be catered to all users with a low ticket price of 4500 VND that roughly translates to 40sen in Malaysian currency per station. This will create a high influx of about 160,000 people per day potentially to the study area.[5] Another potential is diversify the commercial land-use in the area to cater for these new users. All range of shops that were previously there would be pulled back in to promote a more organic economy amongst its inhabitants and visitors. Municiple theatre or Opera House as the catalyst of the road represents the most important potential of the site as it has the potential to revitalize and improve the imageability of the road. It also has the added value of being the focal starting point of Le Loi road. [Figure 6]
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
Figure 3(d) : Focal axis point of the Municple Theatre
4 Theory The theory of the proposal centres around the idea to create a walkable street that has the Municipal Theatre as the main focus to enhance from in order to redefine the imagebility of the road as a cultural, heritage rich and fun street. Some theories being used are such from Peter Calthrope,“ Streets, like land use , can no longer afford to be single purpose”.[6] This quotes essentially drives the proposal to create actual spaces that are worth traversing and that are worth looking at on the streets themselves essentially glorifiying connectivity. “Experience economy through the Urban Scene and Urban Drama” quoted by Peter Mumford. Shows how people living their lines as normal can be the focus of a street and how important it is to nurture natural activities native to the site. The theory also bases a lot on the idea of creating new spontaneous route choices and interchangeable spaces to suit different needs that is beholden to the Situationist City model by Lucy Montague.
5 Thesis Statement The Dothi Etape comes from the Vietnamese word Dothi meaning ‘urban’ and the French word Etape meaning ‘stage’ . In essence, Dothi Etape is a play on the idea of creating stages along streets to allow interaction and transaction where the urbanscape , be it the users or the urban forms itself becomes the attraction of the space.[8] To achieve this idea , a situatuonist model was referred and 3 main concepts of Derive, Detournment and Stage Cinematics were chosen. The process is to create interchangable generic blocks that allow the flexibility of activities to evolve as times, culture and interest change. The main catalyst at the moment being the Opera House, allow the introduction of new activities to the site in an attempt to incite interest amongst the youth and locals. These new activies will educate the users to become more cultured and sensitive to arts and heritage leading to the culmination of a more matured society. The idea of derive manifests in the creation of multiple choice routes that will allow the users to explore and experience. The interchangeable space will also help in creating new experiences within the same space.
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210 | Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City 5.1 Creating new and spontaneous journey The concept of derive from the situationist model is used to create journey through the site. The idea is to create many streets and corners via typology such as stage in the form of courtyard and to provide spaces looking into these courtyards to allow for activities such as people watching. 5.2 Clashing of old to make new Concept of detournment enhances derive by creating new and ever changing spaces that allow the users to potentially walk through the same space and experience something new. Generic blocks will allow for function of the spaces to change organically and allow for a variety type of shops to inhabit the area. This area will be where most of the secondary programmes will be held such as cafÊ’s, restaurants , retail and commercial areas. 5.3 Stage Cinematics This concept allows the proposal to explore the idea of creating actual stage typologies and insert them where ever possible not only to allow for diversity of road paths but also to enhance the focal catalyst that is the Municipal Theatre. The main activities derived from this concept would be the performance arts and other outdoor activities that the community would conduct. This concept will allow for the creation of spaces that will naturally allow spectators a voyeuristic experience of performance art.
6 Hypothesis Le Loi road now located in the current CBD area in Ho Chi Minh city has issues that it has been relegated to only the high-end society and even so has lost its previous influence as the main road in the district. In addition , the rapid development of the nearby Ngu yeh Hue boulevard has lead to homogenous big block typology that inhibits permeability. In addition, its prime catalyst , the Opera House is being neglected due to various reasons such as youth generation preferences and lack of culture appreciation. There is also a precedent that the adjacent boulevard has hefty restrictions in creating street life facing the boulevard. This proposal aims to attract a diverse group of users ranging from low-end to medium-end customers by catering to its corresponding economic needs creating a fine grain economy. This is done by redifining the commercial and retail spaces and introducing different activities and land-use based on the nearby catalyst , the Opera House. This is also done by allocating these activities into designed roads to allow for different routes and experiences to be taken by the users. In doing so will increase the walkability of the road that will in turn undermine the restrictions set by the government on the nearby boulevard. By allowing a diverse community to thrive, a sustainable living economy can be achieved.
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
7 Urban Design 7.1 Urban Framework The new proposal will allow the land-use of the road to change organically to suit the activities of the users. It will also allow for low-medium retail users to rent the spaces for increase diversity. To enhance the main parcel of the road by introducing new activities to the site inspired from it. In addition to address the activities of the main parcel itself with the focal point. The streetscape and the size and number of streets itself to be increased to combat the monotonous design of the boulevard to allow for spontaneous journey through the proposal. Furthermore, to bring the open spaces and green areas to the above floors essentially allowing for more green area and allows for mixing of spaces where public realm will be present at all levels. Moreover, bringing public realm above to exploit the views. This idea allows the proposal to explore the idea of creating actual stage typologies and insert them where ever possible not only to allow for diversity of road paths but also to enhance the focal catalyst that is the Municipal Theatre. The main activities derived from this concept would be the performance arts and other outdoor activities that the community would conduct. This concept will allow for the creation of spaces that will naturally allow spectators a voyeuristic experience of performance art.
Figure 7(a) : Urban framework for proposed design
7.2 Intensifying Spontaneous Routes This strategy is inspired by the concept of derive where the idea is to create spontaneous journey through the diversity of street typology. The base idea is to create more corners and intersections where most interactions between users begin. These spaces are where pedestrians stop to enjoy the view created or stop to turn to a new direction. The concept also refers to the idea of creating an area which users can drift and wonder. This means creating web work of streets and routes that will entice the user to continue walking and explore. This strategy aim to include various types of roads to allow the creation of divers corners,intersection and meandering routes to eliminate the linearity of a route.
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Figure 7(b) : Strategy to create new interesting routes
7.3 Collision of Spaces and Blocks This strategy stems from the concept of detournment,an idea plucked from the compendium of the Situinationist International. This concept refers to the idea of montage, where base understanding is to take a collection of something to transform it or give it a new purpose or meaning. This idea calls for the collision of land-use in the proposal , allowing for a fine grain economy. In the context of this proposal, detournment is derived down to the versatility of the blocks created. Generics blocks of generally the same area will be created to allow for any space to accommodate any activity, be it from main activities such as theatre performance to secondary activities such as retail and cafĂŠ. This diversity and versatility of spaces will further enhance the routes created from the first strategy by allowing the spaces itself to change even when following the same route. This will in the end create a space that will organically recreate new experiences.
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
Figure 7(c) : Strategy to create interesting space from generic blocks
7.4 Cinematics of the Art Culture This strategy is formed by concept that ultimately aims to introduce new activities to the area based on the determined main catalyst of the road, the Opera House. The idea to introduce highly cultural and art based activities to increase local interest is based on the prevalent interest of festivals in the area that causes high influx of users to the area. Although these activities are a yearly event, this strategy aims to add activities that run all year long to mimic that influx and interest.
Figure 7(d) : Activities to be included The strategy itself takes art as the main focus and introduces all activities relevant to Vietnam. These activities will be zoned into several parcel that includes music zone, performance zone, gaming development zone and traditional arts zone. Zones are used to create a themes rather than relegate a parcel to a certain type of landuse. From these main activities.
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Figure 7(e ): Strategy to create interesting space from generic blocks
7.5 Hypothetical Typology The typologies that are explored are the generic blocks that are arranged conceptually according to the stages of performances such as colloseum and concert stage. These spaces will reflect on what the zones are. For example, the colloseum style of stage is most suitable for the introverted nature of gaming development. Although with it tries to emphasize the introvertedness of that zone , the courtyard that represents the stage invites users into the space . This in fact reverses the conventional planning of public spaces on the outside and private on the inside.
Figure 7(f) : Main space leading to the Opera House Another notable typology is for the performance zone where the spaces that is in front of the Opera House is kept to a low height. This is to keep the focal point from the music zone towards the Opera House. These spaces also become very suitable for public indoor spaces such as exhibition halls and art galleries. The outdoor typology will futher enhance the spaces within to further allow more seating from outdoor to look inside. There are also a myriad of spaces on the floors above that allow the spectating of various other activities such as the outdoor movie screening.
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
Figure 7(g) : Overall site plan of proposal
8 Development Phase The phases of development will commence with the invitation of several clubs and association to hold festivals and event of art and cultural basis to effectively rebrand the area. This will act to increase local interest to the site and will encourage more of such activities to be done by the locals themselves. The space to be developed during this phase would be the space in front of the Opera House. Next part of the phase will be the actual proposal that will then be broken up to 3 different parts. The first part will include the increased development of the first phase that will include the single story blocks to further enhance the rebranding of the area. The next phase will include the development of the spaces above the subway and the recently abandoned Tax Trade Centre. These spaces will then be opened to the public. They will act as a temporary shops for the owners from the outlying shop during the redevelopment of their current premises. Once the redevelopment is completed, these owners will move back into their original newly redeveloped spaces.
Figure 8(a): Phase two that will include the actual proposal Last phase down the line (in 10-15 years), an art academy will be introduced above the already proposed spaces. The art academy will specialize based on the zones in the proposal.
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Figure 7(i) : Art Academy proposal above existing massing
9 Conclusion The proposal acts to inspire and entice the local and international user by creating a journey of arts and culture based on the Opera House to return to the previously main road of Le Loi. With the imminent arrival of users from the new subway metro, new spaces will be provided to accommodate all users ranging from lowincome users to high-income users. In addition, the proposal acts to break the current evolving typology of big city blocks while still allowing for maximum profits. These smaller ,diverse and versatile blocks will not only allow for a fine grain economy but will also aid in combating the boredom of traversing same spaces. This will in turn improve the imageability of the road that will in turn increase its walkability. When diverse users and providers are able to thrive through an organic growth process, it is then that the space can be a self-sustaining utopia of urban living.
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
10 References [1] http://www.gso.gov.vn/default.aspx?tabid=387&idmid=3&ItemID=12873 Retrieved 2016-06-05 [2] http://tinthuongmai.vn/IWINews.aspx . Retrieved 2016-06-05 [3] “Ho Chi Minh CBD Retrieved 2016-06-05
Market
Report”.Collier
International.
[4] “Saigon Tax Trace Centre” 2010,http://www.historicvietnam.com/saigontax-trade-centre/. Retrieved 2016-06-05 [5] "Ho Chi Minh City Metro Plan". International Railway Journal. January 2001. Retrieved 2016-06-05. [6] Calthrope P. ,The Regional City.Island Press, 2001. Retrieved 2016-06-05 [7] Simon Sadler, “ The Situationist City”, The MIT Press, Cambridge, Massachussets [8] The rooftop project: the neighbourhood, the rooftop project, 2015. Available at: http://www.the-neighbourhood.com. (Access date: 6 June 2016)
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Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
Phuong 4
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Ho Chih Minh city Phurong 4 : Revivifying resiliency by a holistic catalyst to cultivate a thriving vicinity L.H. Shamsul
Centre of studies Architecture, Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying , University Teknologi MARA , Malaysia
Abstract “Man has never made any material as resilient as the human spirit� the quote represent the vitality and paramount effect of the inhabitants to ensure the survivability of the community. Urban development creates a huge advantage for the beneficial needs of the economy of the locals and people who reside in specific region. Moreover so in the case of Ho Chih Minh City an enormous wave of elite development is currently being developed to accommodate the policy of the nation’s income and economical growth in the next two decade. However the conventional development of the urban city neglects the consequences of the actions which would devastate the local population and the local heritage which would then formulate a city without an identity. The perception is to grasp the core inferior nature of the locals where the crucial factor such as economical income and living comfort is vital for their survival to adapt and blend with the current development. Their resiliency will ensure the heritage of the place and identity in the long run and create a balance development for the city. The current decaying neighbourhood is healed with effective urban intervention phases which improves the individual which translate to the community and subsequently the place itself hence rejuvenating the crumbling local society in Phurong four region. Other hunches includes the renewing the housing typologies for the residential to prepare for the booming population increase by the coming decade. Furthermore the steps taken to re-establish public areas creating nodes and hub as an inducement for the area together refurbishing the waterfront perimeter for extensive programming for locals and visitors. Using the theoretical approach such as the organic and the machine model to adapt its traits in the urban scenario achieving the goals set up to have a thriving vicinity via the design strategies laid out. Keywords : housing , public park , retail blocks , waterfront , economy , resiliency
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
1
Introduction
Figure 1.0 : Site images of Phurong 4 ; Figure 1.1 : 3D perspective image of site
The city of Ho Chih Minh city is Vietnam’s largest city in terms of population and the economic development which the city is ranked 1 st in the nation. Ho Chih Minh city has various economical activities which becomes the backbone of the city and is the main factor to its increasing central business district expanding into other districts as well. Ho Chih Minh city has big market for tourism as it allocates certain preserved sites where historical architecture and national monument becomes the main attraction for visitors and locals alike. The site for the urban design intervention is located in district one [2]. District one is the main core of CBD of the city where inside of it lies certain smaller wards called “phurong� comprising of commercial area , residential housing , retail shop lots , public parks and the aligned the Saigon river which exist a body of waterfront at the site [8]. Phurong four as the image shows in figure one comprises of certain retails blocks, old housing blocks which have rat tunnel alleyways in the decaying neighbourhood [4]. Based on the figure two which shows the 3d massing of the site where the high rise hotels are built along the waterfront region and expanding into the local
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222 | Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City residential and retail blocks. The current scenario sees the area not flourishing compared to certain more well-known places in the city, where the dilemma and potential lures to the design strategy for the implementation of the design strategies. The location of the site is crucial in the future as the opposite development in Thu Thiem across the Saigon River will affect the development and programming of the site.
2
Site Setting
Figure 1.2: Shows the map of the site location and land use percentage The site is located at the northern region of the central business district of Ho Chih Minh City which is currently sprawling into a trend of high rise , commercial zoning to cater for the new growth and as a supplement to support the tourism sector. The total site area is approximately 27.4 acres where it is some surrounded
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
by high rise hotel at the eastern site which faces the Saigon River. There are other contextual element such as the existing residential, old decaying retail area emerging high rise building. The residential area have been there since 1802 which dates back to the Ngu Yen dynasty an original morphology of the area. The site in currently being developed into a new high rise pattern, in contrast the diminishing the growth of the local population. The high rise development will improve the city growth however the locals cannot afford the new planning hence would have to move out of from the city which relies on their workforce to build the development.[2] Local business growth is also currently in decline as buyers tend to not move venture in the less attractive places as such in the case of Phurong four which is dull and has low programming In terms of a public nodes and holistic types of retail blocks. The waterfront is not utilised due to the developers failing to see its potential in the long run [8]. The setbacks in the regions makes a vital opportunity for an urban intervention to rehabilitate the outcome of the site in the next few decades.
Figure 1.3 : Indicates the timeline morphology & existing site context
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3
Potentials and Dilemmas
The site has various potentials and dilemmas which contributes to the aim for the intervention sections in each smaller regions where the issues are arise which affects the current development growth of the area. The area region has multiple dilemmas which contribute to its diminishing community and lack of growth especially for the local population which would eventually be overrun by the emerging central business district development. The decaying shop lots and growth of the new development influences the land value which unable the locals to survive the expenditure hence abandoning their property and many move to cheaper rural areas. Furthermore the fluctuating low cost housing [6] where the population is subjected to increase in the next decade will cause less comfort of living and rural migration of the locals in the city. There are no public areas which can cater the locals losing the vital interaction node hence less appreciation towards the site. The waterfront region is not being fully developed into a programming potential however it is converted for parking spaces and garbage disposal site. 3.1 Dilemmas of the Site
3.1.1 Obscure shop lots & retail growth fluctuation The decaying the retail shop lots due to the lack of visual potential to the potential clients creates a low business profit for the entrepreneurs in that region which produces more abandoned shop lots as profits does not match the monthly rent due to minuscule profit margins will totally vanished the business alley in the next few decades as new development overwrites the old retail area. Therefore a formula is needed to retain the existence of the retail area via intervention.[5] 3.1.2 Soaring density in low cos residential area The increase number in population in Ho Chih Minh city would derived more people in the city centre area as workers will increase hence most of them would choose to stay near their workplace. However as the housing market and rent increases and less and less housing typologies is affordable the existing housing area in the site is limited and would create a low living conditions between the residents.[10] 3.1.3 Inadequate public realms for the local population The public park areas in the site location is mostly located near the hotel area which is only available to cater tourist from abroad rather than the local residents whom area not seasonal users. In this is a waste of space which as it goes against the rationale of target users and time spent of using the space itself.
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
3.1.4 Diminishing riverside space quality The western part of the site is exposed to the waterfront which is the Saigon River. The existing riverside is not inserted with any community programming which can benefit the people in Phurong four. The waterfront is as a dumping ground for garbage waste and open space for parking which does not contribute to the urban regeneration of the area. [8]
3.2 Potentials of the site 3.2.1 Innovation of low cost residential blocks The increase population growth and unaffordable new housing development sets a new potential for a strategy to provide housing blocks using low cost material and construction method which derived by the community itself to cater their needs to sustain the city life in the next few decade.[3] 3.2.2 Revivify the retail area for economical growth The retail area is majority owned by the people living nearby at the housing site. This is vital to rejuvenate as the shop lots will be the sole source of income for the locals to sustain their daily living and ability to increase the housing blocks and create new programming will is self-sustain by the locals via the profit gained at the retail zoning.[5][7] 3.2.3 Accommodating public space for the locals The current is lacking in public spaces for the locals which is imperative for the programming of the urban scape as without a public node the area will not have a street life which is vital for the urban conditions at the street level.[2] 3.2.4 Riverside space as new access route and injection of programming The Saigon River is mostly used as transportation for naval barge and minor shipping which is currently shifting to the southern parts of the city. The future elite development across the site which is known as Thu Thiem. The site has a potential to be a jetty access route for the site which will create services that would generate income for the locals as well as creating an attraction from the water themed activities hence strengthening the node of the area.[8]
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Figure 1.4 : Infographic shows the site dilemma and location
Figure 1.5 : Infographic shows the site potential and location
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
4
Theory
To overcome the dilemmas facing the site the strategy formulated is to neutralize the negative aspect by dealing with each dilemma in a holistic approach. The residential units are able to emerge as new typology fabric [3] which could cater the booming population using low cost materials to overcome the inadequate low cost housing [10]. Besides that using new intervention to create and insert new programming in the retail blocks to attract buyers from a wider range and perspective. The public areas will be establish at each potential spaces in small scattered fashion together with the revitalization of the waterfront which would be equipped with water activities and transportation linkages. The origin of the theory is designated from the organic and the machine model [5] which is combined and then extracted into compartments of synthesis which is related to the urban issues facing the site region. The main idea is to have a holistic approach to enhance each dilemmas with the suitable characteristics of each theory. Based on the synthesis four theories are adapted to influence the intervention in the residential, retail, public park and riverside area.
Figure 1.6 : Chart flow of the theory guide 4.1 Communal Advocacy In regenerating the site from being continuously at the falling phase of decaying the device is set as to heal the site to promote and expand its economical strength. The theory derived from its synthesis of the organic model where it is perceived the nature together with mankind collaborating solving the problem regarding urban collapse and environmental breakdown [2]. Communal advocacy means the subject of the community and interactions with activities of programming would heal the abandoned nature of the region with nodes and feeling of curiosity embarked by visitors would change the fabric the site [5]. The believe of micro small scale public hubs would create life as people would have a place to digest the expression of the physical aspects of the city, deriving the energy of genius loci identity of spaces and image of the place. The improvement facilities regarding streetscapes insertion of sculptures and urban furniture would be magnet elements in luring attractions. An active street life would create a healthy and vast programming hence rejuvenating the urban district.[5]
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228 | Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City 4.2 City as a living organism The theory synthesised on the imperative of spatial spaces to connect people efficiently in the exterior and interior settings. Connectivity just like a cell must be well coordinated where people and communities can interact and meet in a daily basis where a basic conversation would create a micro nodes insertion of programming which is at a micro level that would refine the linkages and connectivity enhancing the urban nodes and refreshing the experience of users in the urban areas [1]. The importance of the living organism also reflects the vital economic strength which can drive the force of development of an area. Economical strength would able commercialization to take place where improvement of public facilities and creating a new identity would have a positive impact on the urban intervention [2]. The holistic balance of this approach would result in a positive aspects to rejuvenate any sort of urban scape. 4.3 Kinetic city intervention The theory indicates to the plug in city concepts where in the kinetic city is flexible and permeable orientated massing device forming from the traits of machine model is relevant is producing an urban structure which would effective in terms of future additions blocks to cater the increasing number of people [5]. The intervention applies to the residential areas where the conceptual theory indicates plug in city is efficient in highly dense area just as the case of Phurong four will be relevant due to its tight space and vast population percentage [10]. The kinetic element also reveals the ever changing typologies to the units which can be manipulated by using faรงade texture. The theory believes in developing a sense of excitement for the people visiting the area never a stillness scenario and a constantly changing of image and identity will abolish dullness and boredom creating a sense thrill of the place.
4.4 Intricacy of passages In the urban design the pattern and connectivity of routes for pedestrian gives an enormous impact towards the experience of users which are able to be converted into memories and thought process by the individual sprawling via the urban area [9]. The theory stresses on the importance of the wayfinding and the urban planners grip in controlling the routes to emulate the virtual dimensions in which an individual could digest the fifth sense of the area via walkways and its response to the physical layout of the urban scape [9]. A superior connection within spaces would evoke an efficient circulation to identify the most potential points for programming and an overall gesture to create a systematic routes in the urban intervention phase [4].
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
Figure 1.7 : Diagrams of the concepts morphology
5
Thesis Statement
From the theories mention above, first and foremost is the revitalising the residential region using the theory of the communal advocacy characteristics and injecting the elements to the residential to rejuvenate the inhabitants making the place lively again via community nodes and spatial spaces [2]. Furthermore cultivating cultural programming and spaces for the public in which to create new nodes and improve existing nodes in the area where the increase connectivity creating a good vitality to the urban prospects [7]. Besides that injecting the retails shop areas with variety of programming cater to a wide range of demands that will interest more visitors to the region , in addition the decaying “rat linkages� will be equipped with street furniture using those linkages and making them liveable in sense of public areas [4][9]. The financial prudence strength generated by the retailing zone to support the survival of the local residents to improve their living areas being independent without fearing their extinction caused by the newly elite development. The riverside region is processed into a vast water activities and programming which is used to utilized the geographical terrain of the waterbody [8]. The water transportation and lack of linkages at the district would be an opportunity to create interesting parks and facilities to attract communal concentration at the region which is currently unused and not taken into an urban design opportunity [2].
6
Hypothesis
This urban intervention aimed to regenerate the whole region by looking at each perspective which relates to one another creating a chronological intervention. The main injection is by inserting a new typologies for the dense residential housing using affordable construction to cater the population increase and the decrease of low cost housing due to the vast growth of the central business district [3]. The next phase is by revivifying the retail shop lots creating a programming which would attract a community central magnet hence creating an income for the locals there strengthening their survival and resiliency to continue living in the city and are not
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230 | Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City affected by the hike of land value and elite property development [5]. Lack of public parks especially for the local population creates a distress where there is not life at the street level diminishing the essence of a good urban place referring to John Montogomery theory [1]. The waterfront buffer and installation of creative spaces will create a node at the river link where water transportation and jetty will be the magnet for the area in the future to come [8]. Applying all the necessities and formula to the urban region will refresh the situation of the region being a successful urban fabric and as model that can duplicate in other areas.
7
Urban Design
7.1 Strategies Based on the digestion of the theories applied certain urban framework are formulated to be injected in the urban design arbitration to produce a well organize installation in the urban redevelopment progress. The following are certain ways to enhance the idea which is set to tackle the urban issues. [1]
Figure 1.8 : Various strategies application of the urban intervention
7.1.1 Re-Use, re-programming and re-branding of retail shop lots The main idea is to identify the conditions of the existing vacant building in the retail area which is imperative to identify the program in which each block is suitable to sustain [11]. Category one will be vacant blocks which is fit in terms of structural and basic supplies such as electricity and water flow. Category two are blocks which need repairing based on its structural condition and basic supplies. Moreover the third category are block which are vacant and is not fit for any adaptive re-use programming which are likely to be demolished.[1]
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
The retail shop lots will be installed with new more vibrant programming in which would target a broader client based on demands of the local population. Vacant blocks will be re-use and refurbished interiorly and exteriorly to enhance appearance and theme to rejuvenate the currently decaying retail blocks.
Figure 1.9 : Design strategies in rejuvenating the retail blocks
7.1.2 Injection of public area pockets The vacant blocks which are demolished will be converted into public blocks where pockets of public spaces. The spaces are used 24 hours a day to accommodate the needs of the visitors and locals which changed according to time. Daytime open spaces are left for playground and social areas while night time the spaces are used as a night time market and open gym.[4][5]
7.1.3 Wayfinding routes and pedestrian efficiency The wayfinding routes is applied via the theory of intricacy passage to lay an efficient route for the pedestrians and visitors which will create a better holistic expression of the urban scape to the community [9]. An efficient way finding will help people to reduce time and to guide them to their intended location proficiently. (Figure 2.0) shows the passage and circulation strategies. [5]
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Figure 2.0 : Figure shows the typology of pocket public park & circulation strategies 7.1.4 Colour coding retail blocks application Retail blocks in the old shop lots area are refurbished with the installation of colour screens which is coded base on their programming [7]. Besides making the exterior more interesting it also serves as an indirect lighting at night saving cost on the street lights.[1] (Figure 2.1)
Figure 2.1 : The colour coding based on programming application at the retail blocks 7.1.5 Plug-in residential blocks intervention The population increase leads to the demand of housing in which to make it affordable and sustainable the plug-in blocks are inserted on the blocks which are the most populated to increase living comfort amongst the locals [6] . The blocks are based on modular dwelling system with basic necessities installed in every plug-in typology [10].
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Figure 2.2 : Diagrams shows the intervention sequence of plug-in housing 7.1.6 Residential recreational programming and mini farming Each component of the newly designed public spaces in the residential housing zone will have its own recreational areas to boost the communal gesture between neighbouring blocks [3]. The idea of the mini farming is where the local area able to sustain their own food supply and also use it as a source of income to be sold in the retail areas. Back lanes which are currently being infested with garbage and a spot for crime will be converted into entertainment and recreational hubs [10]. 7.1.7 Rejuvenation of “Rocket house” tourism The term “rocket house” originated from the form of the shop houses which sprawl up to five to six floors without a proportioned size creating an interesting skyline for most urban low income areas in Ho Chih Minh City [10][2]. The various potentials of the typology could be exploited in the tourism industry where it is commercialized and improved in term of facilities and accommodation. The general aim is to create an income source for the locals via tourism. 7.1.8 Generative production of typologies for sufficient design The early stages of the design approach is to create various amount of typologies to feed the design innovation of each issues in every sector of the site such as residential , retail blocks , public park plans , and waterfront design [3]. The aim is to verify and choose the best and most superior massing idea amongst the many typologies produced [5].
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Figure 2.3 : Various of typologies regarding all the urban components
7.1.9 Passive and active application of sustainable approach Sustainability is a common theme in every architecture approach as the global awareness towards the conservation of nature is at the pinnacle. Passive and active sustainable elements are implemented to each of the zoning areas to accommodate and utilise the environmental feature available at the site location [11]. The strategies also gives a positive occurrence in terms of lower cost of energy consumption for the area. 7.2.0 Adaptive re-use of public realms Public parks in the site is currently are none of existence for the locals as all of the green spaces are lawn owned by the hotels which provide some sort of public spaces to the visitors which are seasonal users [7]. The programming of the new public parks will consist of spaces for all the users such as wifi-spots, x-games, youth hang-out, food stalls, water features and other park elements [9]. (Figure 2.4)
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Figure 2.4 : Public realm re-planning with injection of activities
7.2.1 Reanimate the waterfront location The waterfront region will be converted into theme park for water activities and jetty terminal for the upcoming elite development across the site. This is a potential which will contribute tremendously for the economy of the site. The waterfront will be equipped with spaces which is interactive for the visitors and also acts as a catchment area for jobs to be allocated for the locals [8]. Figure 2.5 and figure 2.6 shows certain images which shows the intervention regarding the waterfront section.
Figure 2.5 : Diagrams indicates the waterfront add-in features
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Figure 2.6 : 3D perspective of the waterfront area proposed
7.2.2 Re-cycle and Re-use of material for urban development The main inspiration of the planning is to lower cost of the building of the residential where the demolished blocks at the shop lots will be recycle as a construction material in the housing plug-in structure [10]. The waste which is produced in the area are reused in the hardscapes and landscapes of the area while others and dumped into furnaces of the housing blocks which will be converted into electrical energy [11]. Recycle bins with interactive messages to attract people in the recycling process. The materials reuse will allow less carbon foot print emission and secure a cleaner region of the urban site [11].
Figure 2.7 : Visualisation of the waterfront area in Phurong 4
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Figure 2.8 : Visualisation of the retail blocks intervention programming
Figure 2.9 : Visualisation of waterfront area proposed intervention
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Figure 3.0 : Reuse of timber recycled material for garden furniture
Figure 3.1 : Visualisation of waterfront area water residential intervention
Figure 3.2 : Types of green features applied in the urban design intervention
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8
Phase Development
The developed phases are categorised into four major sequences which starts with retail blocks followed by the residential blocks. The following phase will be continued with the installation of the public park and finally the intervention of the waterfront area. The phasing development will ensure an efficient progress of the urban development. The stages of the development are illustrated in (Figure 3.0)
Figure 3.3 : Images stages of development phases
8.1 First phase (Retail blocks) The first phase concentrates on the retail blocks which is vital as it is the main source of income of the locals living there. The intervention will allow the economical boost for the locals, once the income source is achieved they will have the ability to overcome the housing blocks where the installation cost will be affordable due to the stabilization of the retail zone [1]. 8.2 Second phase (Residential blocks) The next phase is the construction of the residential blocks together with the enhancement of the rocket housing. This stage will be the catalyst for the development of housing units to cater the population growth all around Phurong 4 [10]. By this stage the site will be booming with trade and population growth. The revitalising effect can be seen with the ever sprawling dwelling blocks in the residential sector.
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240 | Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City 8.3 Third phase (Establishment of public parks) With the increase in population density it is vital to provide an established park for the people to enjoy the scene in their neighbourhood as well as promoting recreational event and festive occasions which will lure for more programming potentials in the site.[11] 8.4 Fourth phase (Waterfront promenade) Once the all the first three phases are complete the inland progression of intervention is now complete. At this stage the waterfront area is developed as the elite development across Thu Thiem is at the completion stage by this period. The jetty terminal and water theme park will boost visitors to the area hence strengthening the image and tourism spot of the urban area.
9 Conclusion With all the interventions and ideas of development being proposed towards sustaining the survival of the locals in the site it is important to address the main essence which is the holistic approach to rejuvenate a decaying vicinity. The main endeavour of the project is to untangle each arising issues in each component of the urban context such as residential, retail, public parks and waterfront to ensure a balance overall development in which all traits of the area is being regenerated with their fullest capacity. The intervention would be able to sustain the locals to reclaim their position in the city and lure more people in the area to further establish their influence and prosperity in the area. It can be foreseen that the ideas injected in this project is able to preserve the area going into the next decade of new development currently being constructed in Ho Chih Minh city. It is our objective to ensure this urban development to be the next model for all urban regions in Vietnam hence becoming the urban fabric of the future.
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10 References [1] John Montogomery, 1998. : Making a city : Urbanity , Vitality and urban design , from Journal of Urban Design & Urban Cultures 5(8) pp: 120136 [2] Michael E. Smith, 2007 : Form and meaning in the earliest cities : A new approach to urban planning ,articles from Arizona State University Publications 7(10) pp: 200-250 [3] James R. Watson 2003 : The rooftop project: The neighbourhood, the rooftop project, 2015. retrieved from http://www.the-neighbourhood.com. [Accessed date: 3rd June 2016] [4] Ron Heron 1985, “Insect City”, from Detolf Industries Publications, Vol. 3, page : 56 [5] John Madison, 1965 : “Cosmic and Machine models cities” retrieved from http://www.slideshare.net/mjohncox/cosmic-machine-and-organic-cities July 2013 [Accessed date: 4 June 2016] [6] Quang Tran , “Project on the Vegan houses” retrieved from http://www.archdaily.com/641621/vegan-house-block-architects [Access date: 4 June 2016] [7] Bernard Tshumi Philoshopy 2010, “Design approachers” Slideshare retrieved from http://www.slideshare.net/gauravshrinet3/bernard-tschumiphilosophy [Access date: 6 June 2016] [8] Umut Pekin Timur, “Urban Waterfront Regenerations” from INTECH Open minds & Open science 2012 [9] Mark A. Foltz, 2009 “Wayfinding design principles” from AIMT Journal Articles 2010 retrieved from http://wayfinding.design/principles-AIMTJournal-articles [Accessed on June 3rd 2016] [10] Rebecca Paul 2012, “T-Tree Community of Prefab Pixel Homes” from article ‘Archi-daily published on September 2012”retrieved from http://inhabitat.com/t-tree-a-towering-community-prefab-pixel-residences [Accessed date: 15 June 2016] [11] “Green Building 101: Sustainable materials and resources” article published on “LEED article” Jun 2014 , from http://www.usgbc.org/articles/green-building-101-sustainable-materialsand-resources [Accessed date : 5 June 2016]
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Space Conundrum: Invoking awareness in the city M. A. N. Razali
Centre of Studies Architecture, Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia
Abstract Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon, was established in the late 17 th century by the Nguyen Dynasty that ruled Southern Vietnam for 143 years. In 1950s, a group consists of avant-garde artists, intellectuals and political theorists called themselves, Situationists International, was concerned with the disassociation of people from their neighbourhoods and cities that was brought about by mass culture and the fast pace of modern life. They were taken aback by the thought of many people live in the cities just to fill in the gap between concrete buildings without any meaning. Their main goal was to merge art, urban life, and politics in order bring people to engage with the modern urban environment. They use the urban environment in new and different ways to experience the ambience of local neighbourhoods through their emphasis in such practices as the dérive (urban wandering), détournement (a form of hijacking), and the theory of unitary urbanism (detachment from all social responsibilities concept). These enable them to dismantle the society and allowed them to theoretically reinvent the city with fanciful – though unrealized – designs and accepted notions of what is possible within the planned grid [1]. My approach in this paper to reapply the concept of dérive, détournement and unitary urbanism in the city of HCMC, and how it would reinvent the city, although the theory of unitary urbanism might seem a bit unreal to realise, that’s the ultimate challenge. A conundrum is rather a riddle to a problem existed but Situationists’ approach will invoke more questions than answers. Keywords: urban design, pedestrian, exploration, dérive, détournement, unitary urbanism, hijacking, awareness
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1
Introduction
Figure 1 Saigon Notre Dame Basilica in front of mixture of colonial and modern skyline Source: www.wunderman.com Ho Chi Minh City is the former capital of the Republic of Vietnam in the South Vietnam before a unified Vietnam emerged under the rule of Ho Chi Minh, a Vietnamese Communist leader. It was known as Saigon for hundreds of years until it was renamed after their Great Leader shortly after the Communists had taken control of the South defeating the Southern government which heavily backed by the United States of America. After Vietnam War, the city has suffered quite a lost in humanity, physical destruction as well as stunted its economy for a while. All cities in Southeast Asia including Ho Chi Minh City, the planning process had been in charge by the colonial planners and most of these diffusions of Western urban planning occurred just before the World War II. It is heavily decorated with colonial and French influence thorough out the city can be seen as it houses a unique combination of past and present in its own way [2]. This mixture is very unique as most of the colonial buildings are being preserved and at the same time the modern building sprawling in the city like mushrooms without neglecting the older colonial buildings in the city. Most of the colonial buildings are still being in used, such as the Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica, the General Post Office, the Ho Chi Minh City Hall, the Municipal Theatre and any replacement would never be the same. Site location is located in the Central Business District, CBD of Ho Chi Minh City, which lays in District 1, one of 19 urban districts (quáşn) in the city.
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2
Site Setting
Figure 2(a) shows Ho Chi Minh City (or Saigon) and the districts within the city Source: https://codiemaps.files.wordpress.com
District 1 (Quận 1) is considered as the Central Business District of Ho Chi Minh City. The district has a population of 204,899 people as of 2010 spanning in total of 7.7211 km2 in area. The district is divided into 10 small sub-districts which are called wards. It is also the home for most of the city's administrative offices, consulates, and big buildings are located. Apart from that, it is the busiest district in the city with the highest living standards. Đồng Khởi Street and Nguyễn Huệ Boulevard in the district are the city's two main commercial centres. In 2007, Đồng Khởi Street is currently hitting its price record at $50,000 for a square meter. Considered as the Mecca to most of the major sights and an expanding number of bars and restaurants, District 1 was designed by French architects and urban planners during the colonial era, which can be seen with the existence of the wide, tree-lined boulevards and frequent parklands [3].
Figure 2(b) Location Plan of the site located in District 1, Figure 2c Figure Ground of District 1
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3
Potentials and Dilemmas
The city is full with potentials and dilemmas. A few locations which have a certain potentials and dilemmas have been taken into consideration in my site to be tackled henceforth, namely Thai Van Lung neighbourhood, Le Thanh Ton Street, and the on-going constructed MRT.
Figure 3(a) Dilemma 1 – Overcrowded Thai Van Lung neighbourhood
Figure 3(b) Potential 2 - Le Thanh Ton Street
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Figure 3(c) Potential 3 – On-going constructed MRT and potentials
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Theory
Figure 4 Mind-mapping of theoretical approach In the 1950s, a group of avant-garde people called themselves, the Situationists International, was concerned with the disassociation of people within the city from their own neighbourhoods and life in city was brought upon by mass culture and fast pace of modern life. They thought the city is filled with useless products of
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mass culture and too succumb to consumerist attitude. In this way, it could in some way, be domineering to one’s creativity. This small group of avant garde artists, political theorists, urbanist and activist approached urban environment in a new and different way to experience a city and the ambience of the local neighbourhoods could give to you. The Situationists claim that if any activity was not fun, it was not worth doing and based on this principle they create a new approach of their own ‘urban utopia’ where it was based on play and freedom of the people to create and recreate the city. They dwindled upon their own concepts and emphasis on play in such practices as the dérive, the unplanned journey through urbanity; détournement, hijacking streets and re-appropriating imagery with meaningful sentiments; and the theory of unitary urbanism, a concept of stressing detachment from one’s responsibilities. These would allow the Situationists to re-organise society, hence theoretically reinvent the city with fanciful unrealistic designs [4]. The Situationists were headed by Guy Debord and Constant Nieuwenhuys, where Debord acted as the key intellectual of the group, publishing papers and manifestoes while engaging in dérive and détournement. While Constant is the main architect/urban planner embraced technology in his designs for the utopia New Babylon and later developed the Situationist’s tenet ideology of unitary urbanism.
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Thesis Statement
5.1 Provocations The Situationists International approaches are always about making a statement or intended to cause necessary provocations as long as the message is being clearly stated. Their approaches are rather extreme and bold and using dérive, détournement and unitary urbanism; that they manage to grasp necessary attentions to make their statement being heard. These theories and ideas haven’t being carried out in urban approach as it withered along with the group’s identity which desolved around 1970s but their spirit was continued by a number of movements which later was being created in Architectural Association’s School of Architecture students, among them was Archigram. It used the same idea and agenda of being experimental and bold to express rather than a conventional way to exploit cities in the world around us [5]. These necessary provocations are very much needed to make a statement of the well-being of Ho Chi Minh City as a whole. Pointing out the city’s weaknesses and issues and being highlighted in the best way there is, by using provocation. This way, by making a bold and strong signal, issues can easily be highlighted to the people of the city and to the authority on how grave the issues hit the city itself. With the end hope, the authority will and try to make due of any shortcomings of these stated issues and rectify the problems by stages in order for Ho Chi Minh City to progress into a city of the future for Vietnam; as it is the centre of trading and commerce, a symbol of wealth and power of the republic.
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248 | Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City 5.2 Social Issues Like the rest of global cities in the world, Ho Chi Minh City faces a few problems under its very existence. The metropolitan area of Ho Chi Minh City is populated by more than 10 million people, making it the most populous city in Vietnam as a whole. It is expected to grow to nearly 13.9 million by 2025. Ho Chi Minh City is divided into 24 sub-divisions but operate as district-level as the rest of Vietnamese districts in the country. It has 5 rural districts (sub-divisions) which are designated as rural (huyện) and 19 urban districts (sub-divisions) which are designated as urban or suburban (quận). The problems faced by the people of Ho Chi Minh City are very much related to the well-being of human living environment. Here, there are a few social issues that can be highlighted in this ever-growing city – 1) high land value which later contributing to the existence of rocket houses in the city; 2) lack of social planning in the city leading to the shortage of public spaces in the city; 3) more green is needed in the city and it is an obvious problem faced as the city is filled with building blocks and streets [6]. These social issues need to be addressed for awareness so that necessary authority will take a certain measure to handle and provide with better solutions for these situations in this city. 5.3 Making Statement The Situationists International was founded by Guy Debord and Constant Niewenhuys. In a book called, Metromarxism by Andy Merrifield has quoted Guy Debord using Marxism approach by bring it to the streets in the city. As do the Situationists, Debord tried to inspire the public community to realise the mass production, consumerism, the post-World War II, planned cities constrained humanity’s creativity [7]. The Situationists attempted to aim at challenging the notions of mass media but media with meaningful content and direction. They challenged to expose cultural decomposition that they believed manifested itself in mainstream media. Debord believed that, mainstream media was one of the main factors that oppressed human creativity and detached city-dwellers from their urban environments. He seeks to find convey his provocation to the public while making a statement on what should have been done to rectify the problems in the future. With this approach in this urban context in Ho Chi Minh City; high land value, lack of social planning, and more green in the city, are meant to be highlighted using these social approaches of the Situationists. They managed to convey the messages strongly through provocations and making a bold statement to the city-dwellers. Carefully, it will be translated into the design of which will stand out in the city. Yet the Situationists’ experimental, even fantastical, models were never being implemented and created in the urban fabric because the group lacked political and social traction in the society. This could be one of many first attempts to realise the idea of Situationists in urban design approach.
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5.4 Post-Acupuncture The Situationists directly opposed the gridded city and living in massive city blocks by creating highly connected web-like superstructures design to blanket urban fabric in the city. Through the Situationists’ practices of the dérive, détournement and unitary urbanism, these three tenets are infused with playful interactions. This design will demonstrate on how the Situationists centred their lives and designs on play in order to foster uninhibited creativity of the city-dwellers of Ho Chi Minh City itself. Through this design, the urban dweller will use the urban environment in new and different ways to experience first-hand the ambience of local neighbourhoods while disorienting the urban fabric in order to have fun. This fun can be achieved through implementation of activities in the design which could be infused to instill the fun part of the city rather than old colonial building blocks and new modern office towers in the city itself. In this design, I sought to increase the public’s understanding of the social issues in the city itself [8]. The city-dwellers are free to define the spaces within the structure and not bound to formal normal rigid plans like the city blocks offer to them.
6
Hypothesis
Figure 6 Hypothetical theories of Situationists’ International This project will look on how Situationists’ ideations can be the catalyst for the urban acupuncture through their principles of reinventing the streets and the city itself. A successful city would be refined as the complete combination of art carefully nurtured to the streets elements such as back of the cities, street lanes, and the inactive open space could be mold into a more refined state.
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Using necessary mechanism, this project would help the city in the long run to rehabilitate itself with the awareness installed on the street for the public to see and the authority to fix. The project will ensure to be operational in term of acting bodies of private sectors and the community outreach itself, conspiring to make this a success.
7
Design Intervention
7.1 Design Concept All these three theoretical approaches (of the Situationists International) can only be experienced by walking. Walking is simply a mere method of getting from point A to point B. It is rather a temporary situation hence getting to point B is hypothetically temporary so it does can be called a transit space. According to Donald Winnicott (a renowed psychoanalyst), transitional space is the space of play and creativity – where our culture is created, where love can grow, where teaching and learning take place, where art is made, and where culture is nurtured [9]. 7.2 Theoretical Implication 7.2.1 DÊrive
Figure 7.2(a) Conceptual diagram of Design Strategies DĂŠrive is a transient passage through varied ambiances. It is a method of mentally mapping the city, called psychogeography. This statement can be imagined as a walking journey in which one traverses different physical area, or urban fabric
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(neighbourhoods, parks or districts) mentally recording what one finds. The main idea of derive is, however, the activity that created awareness of different areas, neighbourhoods, and landscapes that existed within a city. While on derive, people travel through the city motivated by the currents, vortexes, and nodes that run through the environment instead of following set of directions and signage on the streets. In this project, few points or nodes marked as orange in Figure 7.0 will set the parameter for dérive. These few points are randomly picked and they could be future points of interest in the vicinity as they are made up of local bars, favourite local food courts, hipster cafes, theatre and other places of interest. Their movement is restricted within temporal limitation of derive and the physical limitation of the human body, that places the nodes close to each other to promote the walkability and curiosity of one person to wander further through the site. 7.2.2 Détournement In the Recuperar la calle (Taking back the street) project, for instance, Cirugeda invents a set of hacking instructions for transforming dumpsters into urban installations for playful social interactions. While people have to go through long bureaucratic procedures to get a permission to rebuild or transform urban space, local authorities usually have no problem with people setting up dumpsters on streets and squares if they are used for the purpose of cleaning a street, refurbishing an apartment, etc. More specifically, Cirugeda uses détournement as an ‘interventionist tactic’ for which people can build temporary installations in urban space of their own wish and desires.
Figure 7.2(b) Santiago Cirugeda: Taking back the Street - 1997 His hacking instructions thus encourage people to turn dumpsters into, for instance small-scale public playgrounds, swimming pools, parks, and so on. Surprisingly, the dumpster, which is normally conceived of as a highly functional object for destructive actions (throwing out waste, garbage, and obsolete products), then becomes an object for constructive actions and creativity.
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252 | Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City In this project, dĂŠtournement would be the best method to make sure the social issues of Ho Chi Minh City being highlighted in the city itself. This will be applied on Le Thanh Ton Street as the street is one of many important streets in Ho Chi Minh City and it is situated in Central Business District, CBD of the city itself. The site will surely give enough attention needed to the design later. 7.2.3 Unitary Urbanism Unitary urbanism is the idea where architecture can free human from social responsibilities. Constant Niewenhuys served as the main key figure in developing this idea. He is devoted to design a web-like superstructure which is highly connected and where every urbanite would live. On the inside, the structure was designed to be open and free-flowing allowing users to do whatever they desired. Unitary urbanism was seen as the solution to problems facing the city because it allowed people to construct their lives freely and not be confined by the structures of high-rises within the city itself. New Babylon is designed by Constant but it was never built, it was his ultimate superstructure for such practical application of unitary urbanism and mega-structure architecture at its finest.
Figure 7.2(c) Constant’s New Babylon in conceptual model Figure 7.2(d) Collage view of New Babylon sector
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
7.3 Intervention 7.3.1
Hypothetical Programs
The proposed design will not bring a direct solution to the problems and dilemmas existed in the central area in the city but rather to act as a symbol of awareness of these underlying problems: lack of green, expensive land value (contributing to rockethouses), and lack of consideration towards public realm. Using Situationists’ approach of defining a livable flexible city, the design will integrate the activities into the urban context making it a place of interaction, gathering and playfulness. Dérive
1.
Détournement
Psychogeography Local cafes, bars Famous foodcourt Local massage parlours French & local theaters
2.
Hijacking Street Promoting awareness Apparent & obvious Provocative design Promoting public usage
3.
Playful Design Interactive public space Transitory place Tennis court Badminton court Futsal court
Unitary urbanism
Table 1.0 Hypothetical programmes injection
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Figure 7.3.2 Design ideas Approaching the context of the existing site potentials and dilemmas, the future development must first consider the urban fabric of the site itself. The basic framework must be thoroughly planned and organised by acknowledging the true dilemmas of the people living in the city. The goal for this development is to make a statement to the public, and creating social awareness of the underlying problems in the city itself.
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7.4 Design Strategies
Interconnected Nodes The location of the nodes are scarcely near to each other and this promotes drifting (derive) experience of a person through the site itself. Nodes also introduced hidden locations within the urban fabric
7.3.3
7.3.4
Interactive Public Space The structure doesn’t invade the public space without giving it back to the community. The structure provides a total permeability to the public. This will replace the inadequate of public realm for people to gather and socialise freely
Continuous Corridor A seamless and continuous urban corridor in the structure gives a sense of openness and provide ‘relief’ to the public as they live in constraint rockethouses which one of the results of overly expensive land value in the city centre
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8
Conclusion
This project will become a necessary provocation needed by the city to garner attentions from very much needed authority in order to rectify the problems lay within the city in the future years as the city grows into a prominent stature of modernism and centre for trading and commerce of Socialist Republic of Vietnam as a whole. The project will be the centre of attraction to the tourists and local urban dwellers as it has its own uniqueness that stand out from the rest of the city blocks in the city itself. It will become a value-added must-visit point to the city as the city is already famous in the world for its touristic values in terms of historical buildings and undying old culture.
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References [1] Hajjar, M., 2010. The Situationist City: How the Situationist International
Reinvented the City with The DĂŠrive, DĂŠtournement, and Unitary Urbanism
[2] Ho Chi Minh City Travel Guide. (n.d.). Retrieved May 31, 2016, from http://www.vietnamonline.com/destination/ho-chi-minh-city.html
[3] Wust, S., Bolay, J.C. and Du, T.T.N., 2002. Metropolization and the
ecological crisis: precarious settlements in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.Environment and Urbanization, 14(2), pp.211-224.
[4] Plant, S., 2002. The most radical gesture: The Situationist International in a postmodern age. Routledge.
[5] Swyngedouw, E., 2002. The strange respectability of the situationist city in the society of the spectacle. International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, 26(1), pp.153-165.
[6] Gainsborough, M., 2003. Changing political economy of Vietnam: the case of Ho Chi Minh City. Routledge.
[7] Merrifield, A., 2013. Metromarxism: A Marxist tale of the city. Routledge. [8] Barnard, A., 2004. The legacy of the Situationist International: The
production of situations of creative resistance. Capital & Class, 28(3), pp.103-124.
[9] Winnicott,
D.W., 1953. Transitional objects and transitional phenomena. The International journal of psycho-analysis, 34, p.89.
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Playscapes: generate alternate youth brand space in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam M. H. Ab Razak
Centre of Studies Architecture, Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia
Abstract More than half of Vietnam's population is younger than 25 and 70 per cent were born after the Vietnam War ended in 1975. Today’s younger generation has no direct memories of the war that shaped the lives of their parents and grandparents, and they are coming of age in more affluent times. [1] Moving forward, this young generation or youth aged 15 to 30 has formed the backbone of Vietnam’s economic success throughout the decade. Ho Chi Minh City continues to attract migrants from the provinces resulting in rapid youth population seeking for jobs. As living condition improves, more young people in the cities and urban area are not living in a healthy lifestyle. These people are bold, if not notorious, for their need to be free from constraints the others might not even see as constraints. They need space to be spontaneous and flexible with the surroundings, a space that does not confine them. Unlike the conventional spaces provided to them i.e. pubs, clubs, today we notice an absence of the healthy programs focuses on youth community. Playscapes wants to redefine the city’s space and urban development into a comprehensive alternate youth branded environment. A city that is more connected, vibrant and energetic with integration of three main elements: arts and culture, sport and wellness and creative entrepreneurship. Architecture of play animates public and private spaces, rejuvenate structures and streetscapes, improve local business viability, and brings diverse people together to celebrate, inspire and be inspired, Keywords: youth, spaces, urban, play, alternate, lifestyle, culture, creative, wellness, celebrate, young, crowd, vibrant
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
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Introduction
Once dearly known as Diamond of the Far-east with the luxury level overriding that of Hong Kong or Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) is now the most populated city in Vietnam. Bulging with a population of nearly seven million, it is Vietnam’s largest and most exciting city. Ho Chi Minh City’s architecture and lifestyle is the reconciliation between American and Chinese influence, with many dots of modernity yet without losing Vietnamese traits and as much historical as it is modern [2]. HCMC is divided into 24 districts, though tourists rarely travel beyond districts One, Three and Five. In addition, an increasing number of expats reside in South Saigon, in district Seven – a squeaky-clean suburb that wouldn’t look out of place in Singapore, making quite a contrast to the rest of this seething metropolis. Ho Chi Minh City is its antithesis, a fury of sights and sounds, and the crucible in which Vietnam’s rallying fortunes are boiling [3]. Few corners of the city afford respite from the cacophony of construction work casting up new office blocks and hotels with logic-defying speed. The city proper hugs the west bank of the Saigon River, and its central area, District One, nestles in the hinge formed by the confluence of the river with the Ben Nghe Channel; traditionally the French Quarter of the city, this area is still widely known as Saigon District 1 is the nation’s economic heart, and money is on the minds of everyone here. Modern office skyscrapers, amidst Oriental style pagodas and food stalls along the street, create a dynamic urban area in very special sense. Streets and boulevards are lined with tall evergreen trees and you can easily walk around with a map. It might be a relief for some to know that District one is also considered the best place in Vietnam for entertainment.
Figure 1.0 District 1 experience a dynamic and booming economy
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Site Setting
The site is located at the north side of district1 area and next to the Saigon River. Separated by one of the Saigon’s oldest streets of Ton Duc Thang is the old port of Saigon known as Ba Son and public universities. Over the past 20 years, the area has transformed rapidly from a tree-lined street of colonial buildings to a strip of high rise offices and hotels. With an area of 31.5 acres land use, the community within the site consists of students and private workers as number of offices, institutions and mix use can be found. It believes that many new towers set to emerge in the next few years as the land value rapidly increase.
Figure 2.0 Site plan of Ton Duc Thang, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1
Figure 3.0 Figure ground with site perimeter
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
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Potentials and Dilemmas
Ton Duc Thang Street houses series of tall buildings around the area, from public universities, financial offices, and hotels. This area receives high number of students and private workers where they come to study and work. With the present of the said community, the area believes to be more alive during weekdays rather than weekend. Due to the lack of programs and activities, the environment of the area is very dull with monotonous activity. This people have no reason to stay and tend to just come and go once they finish their respective duties. There is no doubt that Ho Chi Minh City is considered the best place in Vietnam for nightlife entertainment. Ton Duc Thang Street has quite number of pubs, clubs, and massage parlour. The rapid urbanisation along with changing of lifestyle had led to the general health of the community. From smoking habit, drinking addiction, uncontrolled diet, this unhealthy lifestyle becomes a major issue especially when it involves youth community as a whole. High opportunity of job attracts citizen from all over provinces to come and work. Nevertheless, this economic driven activity creates a highly stressful community. With the lack of recreational space or facilities and diversity in programs, the said community has to face quite an intense environment. As a result, this will lead to the decrease in productivity of a person and reduce the morality of the community in working space. Strip of high rise offices reflects a dynamic and booming economy of the area. With many new towers set to emerge in the near future along the main street of Ton Duc Thang, these high rises will act some sort of parameter or buffer zone to the intervention of medium and low rise development. Hierarchy of pattern activities, massing and vibrancy can be seen once all buildings have been uplifted to maximum occupancy and development. The potential of the site relays on the small portion of art district. It is located hidden at the end of street ally in the centre of noisy and isolated from the city’s hurry and confusion. It was the first place in Ho Chi Minh City especially devoted to the interest and activities of youth community. Though art district is an alternate activity to the community, it has high potential to be developed into a comprehensive creative environment. Besides that, huge potential can be seen from the neglected waterfront located within the site. A prominent river such as Saigon River should not be left out along with the development. Based on this element, the waterfront area should be developed with active waterfront activities and multi-event space as to cope with rapid development surrounding the area. A vibrant and dynamic environment can be created and achieved with an authentic identity.
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Figure 4.0 Common activities in daily life (left) and alternate activities (right)
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Theory
4.1 Rhythmanalysis The first theory comes from Henri Lefebvre’s concept of rhythm concerns the repetition of a measure at a frequency. He identifies three kinds of rhythms: cyclical rhythms, which involve simple intervals of repetition, linear rhythms, which an alternating rhythm and nested rhythms which combination of both. [4] Everywhere where there is interaction between a place, time and an expenditure of energy there is rhythm. Therefore, rhythm is change and repetition, identity and difference contrast and continuity.
Figure 5.0 Relationships between different types of rhythms There is a strong relationship between everyday life and rhythm. Cyclical and linear rhythm is in perpetual interaction, the cyclical originates in the cosmic, in nature: days, nights, seasons, the waves and tides of the sea, monthly cycles, etc. The linear emerges from social practice, therefore from human activity: the monotony of actions and of movements, imposed structures. The antagonist unity between the cyclical and the linear sometimes gives rise to compromises, sometimes to disturbances.
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
4.2 The Art of Stillness The second theory is from a book entitled ‘The Art of Stillness’ by Pico Iyer. We fill our lives with activities, commitments, with hasten. We seek to do something, anything to occupy our little time. Many of us struggle to find a few minutes to just sit quietly and clear our heads. To counter all of our exhilarating movement, we must balance it with an escape. We need space and stillness, clarity and sanity and the joys that endure. “And it’s only by going nowhere—by sitting still or letting my mind relax—that I find that the thoughts that come to me unbidden are far fresher and more imaginative than the ones I consciously seek out”, Pico Iyer. [5] 4.3 Space & Events Last but not least, third theory from Bernand Tschumi quoted from his well-known book named Architecture and disjunction. He insisted that there is no architecture without events, without actions or activity [6]. His early work recognized that buildings respond to and intensify the activities that occur within them, and that events alter and creatively extend the structures that contain them. Architecture is not defined by its “formal” container, but rather it is a combination of Space, Events and Movement without any hierarchy.
Figure 6.0 Emphasizing transformation, adaptation and movement in design
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Thesis Statement
The current site setting believes to be the house for many students and young adults who are working at private sectors and studying at the local schools and universities. This group of people bring the site alive and colours with their present. Their common activities and daily routines create a frequency and hence produce its own rhythms or beats to the site. As life in the city can be very stress and miseries, at every vigorous movements, there should be a moment for them to standstill and ponder (distraction) to clear their heads out.
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Figure 7.0 Theoretical rhythm analyses The current site system can be improved by activating it, making it more open, integrating it with the surroundings and attracting more participation and at the same time improve the social well-being of the community as a whole. Injection of art plays a key role in the future design of city’s space because its ability to bring the community together and create a shared authentic identity.
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Hypothesis
Figure 8.0 Hypothetical theories translation diagram
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
In order to keep the area alive during weekdays and during weekends, a handful of new programs and activities that close to the youth community should be instilled. In creating a vibrant and dynamic city’s space, both public and private sectors should play their role by implementing an integrated flexible space that suit with the youth needs. Play space can give them a chance to learn the skills of social negotiation and conflict resolution. In conclusion in play space can allow them the freedom in roaming and enjoying to try out new social identities in a fun and creative environment. Their involvement allows them to expand their ideas and challenge their own boundaries, which leads the community towards a healthy and active lifestyle. 6.1 Key Design Concept Architecture of play generates memories and a sense of place in built environment, and is the truest sense of freedom of movement and expression. Playscapes allows the creation of space to be generated by the play activities. Through three core elements namely: arts and culture, sport and wellness and creative entrepreneurship, city’s space believes can be transformed into alternate youth branded environment as a whole. A game is often a sublimation of conflicts, in the same way we believe urban edges can be activated and make in this way people engage into a variety of activities related to play. We intend play in the broad sense of creative confrontation, to which we link the key concepts of: interaction, engagement, challenge, chance, performance, creativity, invention. This can be achieved by integrating intergenerational youth inclusive approach to public recreation spaces, offices, neighbourhood, and urban design in their city centre. 6.2 Hypothetical Programs The proposed design solution is based on irony, intended as the overturning of dilemma and potential situation generally assumed, by transforming the area from a place of tension, division and exclusion to a place of interaction, gathering and playfulness know as a ‘playce’. The idea is to reintegrate of activities into areas that have lost their use thru urban evolution, yet they are still valuable areas to people who are stressed by daily city life and who have fewer green play spaces. Youth and the elderly are in in dire need of play, especially in our era of technology, speed and stressed-out lifestyles. Regardless of ages, play should not be thought of an activity exclusively for the young. According to Dr. Tian Dayton, play facilitates organisation learning, creativity, community building and cohesion and overall, enhances adaptively and attentiveness. [7] Through this elements, HCMC can grow stronger and better physically and mentally as society to the nation.
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1.Waterfront Treatment Floating flea market Passive zone space Multi-used stage Perch corridors
2.City Break-out Space Live art projection Exhibition corridor Picnic leisure space Multimedia screening Centralized stage
3.Skyline Renewal Interactive corridors Horizontal flight Translucent work Break circuit Meditation hub
Table 1.0 Hypothetical programs injections through targeted areas
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Design Intervention
7.1 Parameter Indication
Figure 9.0 ‘Rhythmanalyis’ graph against skyline Rhythmanalysis I: The graph shows that the skyline to be at vigorous point of inclination repetitively. This creates the vibrancy of the place and to the surroundings, making it more alive. This strip of high-rises also reflects a dynamic and booming economy around the area. Located at prime location of Ton Duc Thang Street and facing to the Saigon River view, the land value along the street believes to increase in the near future as many new towers set to emerge. Rhythmanalysis II: The graph indicates low point of intersection and activity around the area due to the lack of interesting activities and programs. Located behind those strip of high-rises, this area believes to be too valuable in the future. Yet the city still needs a break out space to counter all of exhilarating movement and activities happening behind those high-rises. Rhythmanalysis III: Of waterfront area, the area has been neglected for ages without any intervention. High potential for new programs and activities can be injected to rejuvenate the area and bring back their old glory. The graph of sets to be consistent and move at its own beat when revitalization takes place.
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
7.2 Strategy 7.2.1 Skyline Renewal Inversion of form Uplifting maximum development along the main street and water front of Saigon River. This creates urban buffer to the medium rise buildings
Hybridation of Shophouses Redefine shophouses or medium rise buildings into new identity and concept behind those highrises. This new branded shophouses will lift up the value of the area
Seamless Corridor Extension of urban corridor to connect each high-rise to one integrated common space above ground. This will influence user movement to escape and interact with the outside world.
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Islands of Activity Integrating youth branded activities and facilities into a leisure space. Redefine the area for public realm with mix use of programs. This will keep the area alive and vibrant.
Surface Deformation To resurface the area into more interesting space, not exactly to be flat. Injecting some sense of playfulness to the area will draw more young crowd
Arena Effect Multi use stage or platform to be as a focal point. Create an event friendly space to attract more participation
Edge Variation Propose existing edges can make moving fun. It will become new landmark for the area; these edges will attract more attention.
Adaptable Frame Flexible frame allows user to define their usable space. More personalized, fun and open for public use.
7.2.3 Waterfront Treatment
Indentations Side space to redefine the existing coastline to be more open & welcoming. Align with emerging dev -elopment on land, new programs to be injected
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
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Development Phase
The master plan is then conceived as a combination of site-specific and diffuse interventions, such as follies. The project is eventually aiming to define a ''toolbox'', or a set of possible design solutions, that are only bound to comply the strategic framework, but may be adapted and rearranged during the implementation process. The development of the proposal of Ton Duc Thang area is divided into several phases. The development phases are set according to priorities of which one need to be done first before another. Hybridation of shophouses believes to be in in the early phase as it requires that participation of current shophouses owner. A set of new scheme or concept has to be agreed upon and discussed. In making this phase successful, future tenants has to be selected in order to create a youth branding atmosphere as much as possible. Second phase starts with revitalizing the abandoned waterfront area into water play space for public use. Located along the main street of Ton Duc Thang, the area holds high potential to be new landmark for the city’s edge of district one. With integration of water oriented activities, this area will turn into a fun and playful environment. These features will to attract and welcome young public and tourist’s participation to go to the waterfront. The area believes to be too valuable to not give back to the community despite the high value the area contained. The last phase of development is the skyline renewal. Since the area is in the prime location, the value of the land believes to rise against the time. Many new towers of skyscrapers set to emerge in the near future. Some are already under construction. These future towers will uplift the occupancy of the area to the maximum and somehow will create an urban buffer to the lower rise buildings behind them. Once they have emerged, an extension of bridge between them will take place. This outer circuit will connect those building and leads to the integrated common space above the ground. This bridge will also connect to the breakout spaces of waterfront and public space below.
Phase 4
Phase 1 Phase 2
Phase 3
Figure 10.0 Diagram of development phase
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Conclusion
In the effort to make the area fun and playful, the participation of target user, youth and young adults is the priority. Their thoughts and their way of life have to be taken into consideration. This is because the development of the area is to deliver an alternate youth brand space to the young community who consume large percentage of the population. More specifically, our focus concerns to revert the common or mainstream activities of young people from bars, pubs, night-clubs and music venues into something more healthy and fun at the same time. The paper theoretically and empirically explores three interrelated aspects of these playscapes through urban renewal programs namely skyline renewal, break-out space and waterfront treatment. These aspects are the parameter for rejuvenation in making the area rich with activities that related to young people. Fun and playful elements are the main atmosphere that the city wants to shape. Architecture of play animates public and private spaces, rejuvenate structures and streetscapes, improve local business viability, and brings diverse people together to celebrate, inspire and be inspired,
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
References [1] Hays, J. (2013). YOUTH, YOUNG ADULTS AND TEENAGERS IN VIETNAM. Retrieved May 31, 2016, from http://factsanddetails.com/southeast-asia/Vietnam/sub5_9c/entry3393.html [2] Ho Chi Minh City Travel Guide. (n.d.). Retrieved May 31, 2016, from http://www.vietnamonline.com/destination/ho-chi-minh-city.html [3] Ho Chi Minh City and around Guide | Vietnam Travel. (n.d.). Retrieved June 30, 2016, from http://www.roughguides.com/destinations/asia/vietna /ho-chi-minh-city-and-around/ [4] Rowe, K. M. (2014). Henri Lefebvre’s Rhythmanalysis: Space, Time and Everyday Life (2004). Retrieved May 31, 2016, from http://www.vivomediaarts.com/henri-lefebvres-rhythmanalysis-spacetime-and-everyday-life-2004/ [5] Iyer, P. (2015). Ted books creative mind set: The art of stillness. Place of publication not identified: Ted. [6] Tschumi, B. (1994). Architecture and disjunction. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. [7] Dayton, T., Dr. (2014). Creativity, Play and Care of the Soul by Tian Dayton. Retrieved June 15, 2016, from http://www.nacoa.org/creativity.html
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CONTRIBUTORS PHUONG 1 Ahmad Afiq Ahmad Mohammad Hazwan Abd Rahman Siti Khairunnisa Samat Nur Izzah Hamzah PHUONG 2 Amira Aida Ahmad Nawir Che Ku Abdul Salam Abd Whayab Fatin Farhah Muda Mohamad Shahin Shahdan Noor Nasiha Razali Nurulhazwa Mohd Yunus PHUONG 3 Aniq Anas Hazirah Hamzah Muhammad Afi Mohd Amdan Nadiah Muhamad Shukri Rahimi Putri Farawahida Megat Kamaruzaman Syed Arief Syed Albakri PHUONG 4 Luqmanul Hakim Shamsul Muhammad Amirul Najmi Razali Muhammad Hasif Ab Razak
Manifestations of the City : Ho Chi Minh City
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