Walkable Congregated Suburbs Part1-2

Page 1

Walkable Congregated Suburbs

to create a city that is elderly-oriented with their pace in their daily life

Hiu Yu ONG

This publication is dedicated to present the development of a master dissertation project which includes site researches, case studies, analyses, proposed architectural interventions and reflections. Explanations are supplemented with a combination of datas, mappings, graphical schemes, drawings and technical information.

Cover image by Hiu Yu ONG

Layout and editing by Hiu Yu ONG

Copyright © 2019 by Hiu Yu ONG

All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior written permission of the copyright owner.

Contact

Hiu YU ONG hiuyu.ong@gmail.com

International Master of Science in Architecture

KU Leuven, Faculty of Architecture

Campus Brussels

Academic year 2018/19

June 2019 arch.kuleuven.be internationalmasterofarchitecture.be

Walkable Congregated Suburbs

to create a city that is elderly-oriented with their pace in their daily life

Master Dissertation Project

Author: Hiu Yu ONG

Academic Promotor: Anuschka Kutz

Publication: 20/06/2019

Academic Year: 2018/2019

Master of Science in Architecture

Faculty of Architecture, Sint-Lucas Brussels Campus, KU Leuven

Current

Building

Walking

Content Introduction Part 1 - Introduction& Inspiration 5 23 53 85 139 144 145 Definitions of ‘Home’ Definitions of Home Care, Care Home and Nursing Home First Trip to London Part 2 - Chosen Project Area Part 3 - Current Urban Structures Observation
4 - Methodology and Intervention References Bibliography Organisations in Purley Demographic in London
Part
Urban Fabric
Walking Distance of Dependent Elderly
on 3 scales - Overall Interventions on Human Scale - Street Community Interventions on Urban Scale - Backyard Community Interventions on Building Scale - Communal Complex and Roofscape Community Urban arrangement of South Croydon Existing Urban Arrangement Purley as Choosen Site Current Active Institutions and Amenities
/ Potential Routes
Application of
Interventions
Daily
Scale & Human Scale
Speed Observation
5
Introduction
Inspiration
Part
1 -
&

Introduction & Inspiration

Inspiration from Movie Introduction

8 clips were extracted from the Movie ‘Happiness’ which illustrates a home of an old lady and different moments while living with her young tenant in 2015. ‘Happiness’ is a movie about living interaction and moments between the old lady (Fan) who is a cognitive disorder patient and a young man (Yuk) who has been abandoned by his father. Fan is a host and she has owned her flat since she was young. She met Yuk accidentally and allowed him to rent one a room in her flat. However, she asked him to strictly follow her timetable and routines in the living room.

1. Screen images capture from the Movie ‘ Happiness’ Happiness (幸運是我), Hong Kong Movie, 20161

What makes a ‘home’, element extracted from ‘Happiness’

Everything in her flat shows certain structure of time. The whole setting of the room shows the living elements in 80s-90s in Hong Kong. For example, the photo in her youth, home radio, broken clock and window, traditional Chinese furniture, old television, wallpaper in flower pattern. These are the artifacts that can be found in her living space she wants to keep everything unchanged because she is not familiar with new things. In the movie, a lot of conflicts illustrated between Yuk and Fan because of the different values between them. It also reflects the different habits and views of the young and old.

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What makes her ‘home’?

Introduction & Inspiration

Inspiration from Movie Introduction

Aging is a global issue which we have to face, and it is impossible to ignore. The movie captures the daily life and challenge that an elderly will tend to be faced with. Elderly are all around us most of the time but at the same time they become more and more invisible. They are even not given a second glance. However, they have richer experiences and stories to tell than the rest of us. As mentioned from the movie, there is a huge gap between the young and old not just the age difference, but also the experiences, cultures and growth environment. That is what is called the generation gap.

“home as a concept was found to have different meanings for different older people, depending on where they lived, their personal and family history, their social connections and environmental conditions. Differences in the meaning of home for older people living in small remote communities and those living in the city were noticeable.” (Roin, 2015, p.22)3

From the different point of views of a living space, personal elements and spaces are various, not just because of ages. How to facilitate people in a communal or shared space? Elderly may feel comfortable while staying in their own houses but how about if they are on the street or even in the supermarket? Are they still in their comfort zone while staying outside? Are they familiar with the unknown space? Is there any possibility to extend their ‘home’ boundary?

First Part of the Research Question: How to extend the home boundary to help the elderly to be more familiar with the communal space? The following research analysis and strategy are based on the macro and micro scale so as to experiment how to facilitate the young and old (multigeneration) in the town and how to help the elderly to be more familiar with the communal space so as to extend their comfort zone.

3: The multifaceted notion of home: Exploring the meaning of home
9
2. Screen images capture from the Movie ‘ Happiness’ Captures from Happiness2 (幸運是我)

Definitions of ‘Home’

“home is powerful, emotive and multi-faceted and that the idea and place of home is typically configured through a positive sense of attachment.”

Gorman-Murray and Dowling, Editorial, “Home”, 2007, paragraph 4

“These are affectionate images of home as a pattern of regular doings. other images are frankly hostile. The very regularity of home’s processes is both inexorable and absurd.”

a home is not only a space, it also has some structure in time; and because it is for people who are living in that time and space, it has aesthetic and moral dimensions.

Mary Douglas, The Idea of a Home: A Kind of Space, 1991, p.288 and p.289

Introduction
Inspiration
&

Is home a personal space?

There are many definitions of what ‘home’ is. Mary Douglas defined home as being located in space, but this space does not necessary need to be a fixed space (Douglas, 1991)4. “Home is the symbol of privacy, a place where a handful of people live in a close, intimate relationship” (Madanipour, 2003, p.63). “Home is powerful, emotive and multi-faceted and that the idea and place of home is typically configured through a positive sense of attachment” (Andrew Gorman-Murray and Robyn Dowling, 2007). Home has an important relationship between people’s memories, life, personal experiences and emotions and times. It can be physical or spiritual. A personal space can be formed at home in both visible and invisible way. ‘Home’ can be a whole personal space if the person is living alone. In care homes, each older adult has their own private sphere (invisible personal space), there are various private spheres in the same public sphere (care homes). As mentioned by Ali Madanipour, personal space is portable5. Therefore, personal space can be in anywhere, on the street, in the shopping mall, parks etc.

4: The Idea of a Home: A Kind of Space p.289

5. ‘Home’ , paragraph 4

6. Public and Private Spaces of th’e City p.28

11
PAIR SINGLE RETIREMENT HOME

Introduction & Inspiration

Definitions of ‘Home’

Personal and Impersonal Space

Personal space is invisible and individual. Different people have various kinds of personal spaces, which depends on the differences influences such as cultural and growth environment, economic situation, experiences and ages. It can be affected by external and internal factors. “Personal space is defined as a small but invisible protective sphere or bubble that individuals maintain around them” (Madanipour, 2003, p.19)7. It is a private space that not everyone can come in as it is the inner part of a realm between people. Everyone has their own personal spaces all the time even just walking on the street. Somehow, the impersonal and personal space overlaps, for example people who are walking an impersonal space of a busy street, but he /she may have a strong personal sphere that he/she does not want to interact with anybody. Allan Silver mentioned that personal is private and impersonal is public8 (Silver, 1997, p.43). However, sometimes there are some ambiguities of what public and private are because they can be overlapped.

However, the notion of ‘home’ seems to identify the boundary of home. Personal space creates private sphere. It is not shared by somebody, and entry of public is prohibited. It is usual as it is a personal space. What if the ‘home’ can also be an impersonal space? Extending this ‘home’ boundary is not really sharing your private space but making people feel safe and comfortable while staying in communal space.

7: Public and Private Spaces of th’e City 8: “Two Different Sorts of Commerce” - Friendship and Strangership in Civil Society
13 9: Concept from Public and Private Spaces
City written
Legend Invisible Protective Sphere, , personal comfort zone Impersonal Space, e.g. streets Overlapping Impersonal Space e.g. Communal Space, cafe, supermarket Personal Spheres and Impersonal Spheres 9 9
of th’e
by Ali Madanipour

Introduction & Inspiration

Definitions of Home Care, Care Home and Nursing Home

Comparison

HOMES

PAIR SINGLE

‘PERSONAL ELEMENTS’ IN THEIR LIVING SURROUNDING

CARE HOMES / INSTITUTION CARE

MEDICAL AND NON-MEDICAL CARE 24/7

STAFF SERVICES

NEW SURROUNDINGS

DIETARY / ACTIVITIES RESTRICTIONS

Caretakers / Nurses

Older Adults

WHEN PEOPLE ARE GETTING OLDER, THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PERFORM EASY DAILY TASKS…

HOME CARES

PAIR SINGLE

‘PERSONAL ELEMENTS’ STILL IN THEIR LIVING SURROUNDING CARETAKERS / NURSES IN THE HOUSE

NURSING HOMES

HAVE AN ILLNESS OR MEDICAL CONDITION

FREQUENT MEDICAL ATTENTION, NURSING CARE 24/7

NEW SURROUNDINGS

DIETARY / ACTIVITIES RESTRICTIONS

Older Adults with Medical Needs

Personal Element Lost in typical institutional Care

Personal element is one of the components of people’s comfort zone. Most of the care homes may lost this kind of element because they are new environment for the elderly, and they are only for medical and non-medical care for the older people who live there.

15

Introduction & Inspiration

First Trip to London

Personal Elements - Sense of Belongings and Familiarity

The idea of extending the ‘home’ boundary became more solid after having a conversation alias Mr A from Positive Aging Council. Home is an intimate space. People where personal elements can be found in that physical personal space. Personal element is thing for a person, personal space and living place. It can be visible or invisible. It is a ‘emotional bond’ (D.Rowles, 1983) among the space and people. It provides the sense of identity, belonging to the person crucially. People will feel more familiar to the space in which they can find interconnection, identities and selves in that space. It also explains the reason why the people want to stay in specific place.

Personal Elements - Sense of Belongings and Familiarity

Like in John’s case (on the adjacent page), John has moved to his new terraced house a few years ago. Although this is not a place where he used to live in, he loves living in this ‘new’ area. There is a garden with garage area where he can park his own car. A stair lift has been installed in his terraced house which makes him much more convenient to go up and down. The house is much bigger than the apartment he lived in before which provides more space for his lovely dog.

17

First Trip to London

Personal Elements - Sense of Identity and Familiarity

Men in Sheds is a concept founded in the 1980s in Australia that provides a welcoming space for retired older men to engage in woodworking, skills sharing and socialising. It is another ‘home’ for them to have entertainment, identification and familiarity after retirement and helping others. They have developed a strong social network with the community, to private households and schools. The well-equipped wood workshop, where they create hand-made toys and home products expanded their sense of comfort from home.

Inspiration
Introduction &

Personal Elements - Sense of Identity and Familiarity

This is a prayer’s bedroom in a care home - Aahina House. Faith, gods or religious provides a certain sense of security to people. Placing home shrine, statues, domestic altar or other Hinduism paintings in the bedroom of the care home can enhance a sense of identity and familiarity when the elderly moved to the unfamiliar care home.

19
One of the Bedroom of Aahina House

Men in Shed tools, handmade toys & decoration

Personal Artifacts

One of the Bedroom of Aahina House home shrine, statue, domestic altar, hinduism paintings

One of the Bedroom of Aahina House home shrine, statue, domestic altar, hinduism paintings

Extraction from ‘Happiness’ wallpaper, traditional bowls & furniture, old window and equipment

HK Movie (Happiness) Extraction, Elderly’s Home wallpaper, traditional bowls, furniture, window, equipment

Men in Sheds tools, hand-made toys & decoration

Men in Shed tools, handmade toys & decoration home

Invited Guest: John’s Home garden, kitchen, dog, stairlift

Personal Artifacts

Men in Shed tools, handmade toys & decoration

Invited Guest: John’s Home garden, kitchen, dog, stairlift

One of the Bedroom of Aahina House home shrine, statue, domestic altar, hinduism paintings

One of the Bedroom of Aahina House home shrine, domestic altar, statues & hinduism paintings

HK Movie (Happiness) Extraction, Elderly’s Home wallpaper, traditional bowls, furniture, window, equipment

John’s Home garden, kitchen, dog & stairlift
21
Possibility of Extended Comfort Zone to Shared facilities Legend Invisible Protective Sphere, personal comfort zone Impersonal Space, extended comfort zone Own House / Flat, private comfort zone Shared Impersonal Space e.g. Gardens, Communal Space, cafe, supermarket, Extended comfort zone
23
Part 2 - Chosen Project Area

Croydon is a London borough located in the southern part of London. It is also one of the largest commercial districts outside Central London as mentioned by the Mayor of London in 2008. During the London trip in November 2018, I visited Central Croydon. e public transport network is well developed, including train, bus and tram connected to di erent parts of Croydon and the centre of London. e diversity of land use in the city centre improves the quality of live, convenience, movability including shopping mall, o ces, residential development, housing, houses, schools, communal space etc. However, most of the older adults live in East and South Croydon instead of the centre. Although East and South of Croydon are not far away from the centre (it takes 30-45 minutes by bus), bus is the only public transport to go to the city centre. With the increasing elderly population in 2030, there will be a larger demand on public transport, communal facilities and housings.

Demographic in London Chosen Project Area

HIGHER NUMBERS OLDER PEOPLE 65+

Population and Age 65+

NUMBER OLDER PEOPLE 65+

OF CROYDON POPULATION 13%

Age 65+ in 2018

600 - 1200

1201 - 1500

1501 - 1700

1701 - 2050

2051 - 3750

OF CROYDON POPULATION 17%

Age 65+ in 2030

700 - 1700

1701 - 2000

2001 - 2300

2301 - 2700

2701 - 4300

Source: London DataStore, https://data.london.gov.uk/dataset/ward-profiles-and-atlas

Source: London DataStore, https://data.london.gov.uk/dataset/ward-pro les-and-atlas

25

Chosen Project Area

Demographic in London

Population and Age 16-64

NUMBER

PEOPLE 16-64

PEOPLE 16-64 OF CROYDON POPULATION

62%

Age 16-64 in 2018

3400 - 7500

7501 - 8920

8921 - 10250

10251 - 11590

11591 - 26250

64% OF CROYDON POPULATION

Age 16-64+ in 2030

4200 - 7700

7700 - 9400

9400 - 10880

10880 - 12600

12600 - 50100

Source: London DataStore, https://data.london.gov.uk/dataset/ward-profiles-and-atlas

Source: London DataStore, https://data.london.gov.uk/dataset/ward-pro les-and-atlas

PEOPLE 0-15

Population and Age 0-15

STABLE NUMBER

PEOPLE 0-15

OF CROYDON POPULATION 22%

Age 0-15 in 2018

850 - 2150

2151 - 2600

2601 - 3100

3101 - 3600

3601 - 6250

OF CROYDON POPULATION 21%

Age 0-15 in 2030

750 - 2150

2150.1 - 2570

2570.1 - 3000

3000.1 - 3750

3750.1 - 9850

Source: London DataStore, https://data.london.gov.uk/dataset/ward-profiles-and-atlas

Source: London DataStore, https://data.london.gov.uk/dataset/ward-pro les-and-atlas

27

Chosen Project Area

Demographic in London

Future Scenario of Croydon

AFTER 12 YEARS...2030

GROWING POPULATION OF ELDERLY 65+

13%17% POPULATION IN CROYDON 11%

NEEDS

HIGHER PROPORTION OLD PEOPLE 65+

HOUSING COMMUNAL FACILITIES

TRANSPORTATION NETWORK LOCAL SHOPS...ETC.

Data from London DataStore, https://data.london.gov.uk/dataset/ward-pro les-and-atlas

East of Croydon
Central Croydon South of Croydon

Future Scenario of Croydon

PAIR SINGLE RETIREMENT HOME PEOPLE MIGHT THINK THAT... OLD PEOPLE WILL ONLY LIKE TO STAY IN THEIR COMFORT ZONE = HOME

OLD PEOPLE WILL LIKE TO DO DIFFERENT THINGS WHEN THEY RETIRED

DRAWING

EXERCISING LECTURES / TALKS

TRAVELLING

GARDENING

NOT TRUE NATURE TRIPS

DANCING

EXTENDING THEIR COMFORT ZONE TO NEIGHBOURHOOD / OTHER PLACES

THE OLD PEOPLE ALSO HAVE...

LARGE DEMAND ON COMMUNAL FACILITIES PUBLIC TRANSPORT
29

Chosen Project Area

Demographic in London

Zoom-in Demographic in Croydon - Population % of different groups in Croydon

Data from London DataStore, https://data.london.gov.uk/dataset/ward-pro les-and-atlas

AIRPORT & DIAMOND

Existing Infrastructure in Croydon

CENTRAL LONDON

District Centre

Neighbourhood Centre

Road

Railway Tram

Railway Station

Central Croydon

East of Croydon

South of Croydon

Reference: Croydon Local Plan, www.croydon.gov.uk

Reference: Croydon Local Plan, www.croydon.gov.uk

31
GATWICK EAST CROYDON PURLEY NORBURY WEST CROYDON

Chosen Project Area

Demographic in London

Problems Found / Potential

CENTRAL LONDON

WEST CROYDON

Potential Loose Space lack of transportation network only can be access by car high portion on elderly lack of diversity of land use

GATWICK AIRPORT & DIAMOND EAST CROYDON PURLEY NORBURY
33
Density of Schools in Croydon

Chosen Project Area

Urban arrangement of South Croydon

Zoom-in of South Croydon

35
Source: Ordnance Survey on behalf of HMSO Existing Policies Planning for South of Croydon

Chosen Project Area

Urban arrangement of South Croydon

Existing

Schools and Care home in South of Croydon
37
Density of Existing Schools and Care home in South of Croydon

Purley is a place located in south Croydon where there is a higher percentage of elderly people, but a lower percentage of younger people in comparison with London as a whole. e unbalanced population also relates to a poor public transportation network. ere is a huge dependency on cars in Purely as the entire suburban structure has been built upon the needs of individual transportation. People can only access Purley by train, buses and with cars. Communal facilities are also rare in Purley because most of the land is dedicated to detached houses located around the centre of Purley. Many borders are created by the privatized amenities, for example, the terrace houses, gated detached houses, care homes and schools. e public can only access supermarket, cafes, restaurants, laundry, salons in the centre. e public accessibility is limited by the planning. e restriction of the accessibility is much stronger without paying anything. ere is only one park, two churches and one library nearby.

From the planning point of view, care homes and schools are separated from each other, meanwhile, they are closed to each other. is can be a great opportunity to blur the borders between them. ere are potentials that can be found in Purley. ere are di erent organization who will hold various events in Purley, like Purley Cross Centre, Purely Youth Centre, South East Cancerhelp Centre and BID in Purley. ey organised many activities and courses for the communities such as computer, yoga courses, live bands, food and drink festival, Christmas parties etc. Unfortunately, most of them do not receive any funding from the government, so there are annual membership fees or charges to citizens for events.

e unhealthy urban structure, including the concentration of public amenities in the centre, huge dependency on individual transportation, neatly divided privatised lots and detached houses, Purley has been segregated from the centre of Croydon not only the graphical location and the infrastructure, but also the current pattern of ageing population. Purley is typical suburban area that can be used as a prototype testing on how to integrate Purely into communal – elderly friendly city.

Purley as Chosen Site
Chosen Project Area

1: Source from https://developcroydon.com/brand-croydon-behind-surge-in-prices/

2. Source from https://c8.alamy.com/comp/G7BE26/purley-stock-G7BE26.jpg

39
Central Croydon1
East of Croydon Central Croydon Railway Station South of Croydon Railway Tram Road Neighbourhood Centre District Centre CENTRAL LONDON GATWICK AIRPORT & DIAMOND EAST CROYDON PURLEY NORBURY WEST CROYDON East of Croydon Central Croydon Railway Station South of Croydon Railway Tram Road Neighbourhood Centre District Centre CENTRAL LONDON GATWICK AIRPORT & DIAMOND EAST CROYDON PURLEY NORBURY WEST CROYDON
Purley2

Chosen Project Area

Purley as Chosen Site

Current Situation

Huge Dependency on Cars

Impression of Purley

Boundaries Created by Privatised Amenities: Terrace Houses, Cares Homes, Schools Cares Home School
43
Old Men Having Co ee in Coughlans Bakery Pupils Buying Snacks A er School Truck Passing Purley Road (Nearby Tesco) Renovation above the Flower Shop (Chesterman Florist)
Purley as Chosen Site Chosen Project Area
45
e Only Sport Centre
e Only Library
On the Way Back Home from Tesco
as Chosen Site
Project
Tesco
Purley
Chosen
Area
49
Barriers and Detached Houses Area Barriers and Detached Houses Area

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