M.Arch Thesis: Architecture of Urban Happiness

ARCHITECTURE FOR URBAN HAPPINESS

CREATING A NEW POSITIVE TYPOLOGY

Lim Wan Rong(Iris)

Mentor: Prof Joshua Comaroff

Acknowledgements

Firstly, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my thesis mentor Joshua Comaroff for his constant reassurance and awesome support.

Thank you to all my friends and loved ones for their endless support and encouragement that came in various mediums such as model fairies or food delivery services.

I also like to express my greatest congratulations and appreciation to my fellow ASD mates on finishing this relentless yet fufilling education. The guidance and emotional companionship from the precious few have made this a hearty and unforgettable journey.

Final cheers to the sleepless nights and stress-eating weight gain!

:)( :) CONTENT

Abstract

Introduction

Background Information Global trends

The Study of Happiness

Maslow’s heirarchy of needs

Happy City

World Happiness Report

Urban Centre for Mental Health

Literature Review

Happy City

The Metropolis and Mental Life

Evaluation Methodology

Case Studies

Conceptual Precedent

City Studies

Singapore

Hong kong

Bangkok

Chosen Site

Thai Market Research

Design Direction

Catalog of Ideas

Potential Sites

ABSTRACT )

The World Health Organization predicts that by 2020 depression will become the second leading cause of disease worldwide. The global pursuit of economic development and sustainable growth, the happiness of people, has been compromised. As cities continue to replicate and chase after “successful” city models, It creates a cookie cutter approach to urban city development where cities became globalized at the expense of their local culture or social identity and neglected the societal transition impacts of urbanization. These are critical factors that contribute to urban and social stress in urban living which leads to increase cases of depression in urban living. As Montogomery ‘s “Happy city” says a liveable city is a happy one. To create a robust and sustainable city, the social and mental well-being of the city-dwellers can be considered. Thus, this thesis aims to develop urban happiness through designing a new positive typology that incorporates cultural, communal and therapeutic elements. Using the market typology as the primary source of abstraction, the design seeks to be the beacon of the city that builds social support and provides a sense of belonging in their

city. At the same time, the architectural design will be an example of an urban environment that facilities good mental and emotional comfort through versatile and human-centric designed conditions, creating an infrastructure for respite and source of happiness against the social and urban stress of the city living. This new typology will have an extent of flexibility that allows it to integrate the local aspects of future cities and creates a version unique to the city’s identity. This helps to avert the city development from the cookie cutter design model and infuses positivity into the course of urbanization and globalization.

INTRODUCTION

UN projections show that urbanization combined with the overall growth of the world’s population could add another 2.5 billion people to urban populations by 2050, with close to 90 percent of the increase concentrated in Asia and Africa. The urban shift over time has led to the emergence of the megacity – a city with a population of 10 million or more. Most of the cities that have reached the 10 million markers in recent years are located in Asia and Africa.1 With limited resources and increasing demands, these cities devoted their attention to technological advancements and economic growth to achieve high quantity and quality urban environment in the midst of economic development. However, despite cities being prosperous and successful, people are increasingly unhappy in the city due to the core characteristics of urban conditions which are detrimental to the mental and social well-being of the residents.2 A city is a foundation and represents the emotional space of people. The increasing density and rise of cookie-cutter global cities reflect the changing urban environment and societal transition that moves towards efficiency and economic-driven society that creates an unhealthy social mentality and creation of adverse urban surroundings.

WHO stated that depression and anxiety disorders are estimated to cost the global economy US$1 trillion a year.3 Therefore, It is increasingly important to emphasize urban happiness. Part of achieving thriving, resilient, sustainable cities is ensuring that citizens can realize their potential, cope with the normal stresses of life, work productively and fruitfully, and make a contribution to their community. As the world population urbanizes and cities grow at breakneck speeds, design of cities must not forget that urban happiness plays a key role in building “cities for people” - Lively, Safe, Sustainable, and Healthy.4

1 “World’s Population Increasingly Urban with More than Half Living in Urban Areas | UN DESA Department of Economic and Social Affairs.” United Nations. Accessed April 08, 2018. http://www.un.org/en/development/ desa/news/population/world-urbanization-prospects-2014.html.

2 Alter, Lloyd. “How Should We Measure the Happiness of Cities?” TreeHugger. February 05, 2018. Accessed April 08, 2018. https://www.treehugger.com/urban-design/how-should-we-measure-happiness-cities.html.

:)

3 Frej, Willa. “Not Treating Depression And Anxiety Costs The World $1 Trillion A Year.” The Huffington Post. April 13, 2016. Accessed April 08, 2018. https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/depression-and-anxiety-costthe-world-1-trillion-every-year-who-says_us_570e50a8e4b03d8b7b9eee81.

4 Gehl, Jan, and Lord Richard. Rogers. Cities for People. Washington DC: Island Press, 2013.

“Dull, inert cities, it is true, do contain the seeds of their own destruction and little else. But lively, diverse, intense cities contain the seeds of their own regeneration, with energy enough to carry over for problems and needs outside themselves.”

Jane Jacobs, The Death and Life of Great American Cities

:)INTRODUCTION

“This City is what it is because our citizens are what they are.”

Plato

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

According to Global Happiness policy report, mental illness is one of the main causes of unhappiness in the world. A recent meta-analysis showed that urban dwellers have a 20 percent higher risk of developing anxiety disorders, and a 40 percent higher risk of developing mood disorders.5 Hence explains the increasing unhappiness in the world especially with the growing urban population in the world. Reducing mental illness is one of the key ways to increase the happiness of the world. In the context of a city, it is important to address needs for people living in the city; such as the availability, simplicity, and usability of services which leads to increased happiness. Further, aspects of the social environment such as trust, fairness, and autonomy are 5 “Media Objects Articles Urban Stress And Mental Health En Gb.” En Gb. Accessed April 08, 2018. https:// lsecities.net/media/objects/articles/urban-stress-and-mental-health/en-gb/.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

seen as ‘enablers’ of happiness.6 Two overarching aspects of urban happiness mentioned in both Global Happiness policy report and world happiness report is social and environment. With the recent rise of awareness towards the need for urban happiness, there are clearer means of measuring happiness and tackling the issue. The following chapter will first look into the global trends, regarding social and mental health which relates to happiness, and the measurement of happiness.

6 “Global Happiness Policy Report.” Global Happiness Council. Accessed April 08, 2018. http://www.happinesscouncil.org/.

GLOBAL TRENDS

With more than half of the global population currently lives in cities, with the growing urbanization, more and more people are exposed to risk factors originating from the urban social or physical environment, contributing to increased stress, which in turn is negatively associated with mental health and misery. In fact with Southeast Asia’s population expected to grow by more than 100 million people in the next 30 years, the region’s crowded megacities are in danger of becoming dystopian nightmares. A main impact of urbanisation is the migration from rural areas and widening of the city’s boundaries that causes widening economic inequality within the urban city. As megacities such as Bangkok, Jakarta and Manila continue to swallow vast fields of farmland, rural hinterlands find themselves caught in a half-life between industrialised urban activity and increasingly sporadic subsistence cultivation.7 The imbalance in between economic growth and sustainable urban development in growing urban cities results in social stress and disrupts the

7 “Southeast Asia’s megacities have a choice: Shangri-La or slum.” Southeast Asia Globe Magazine. March 02, 2018

“ As societies become greater in volume and density, they increase in complexity, work is divided, individual differences multiply, and the moment approaches when the only remaining bond among the members of a single human group will be that they are all men.”

Fig1a: World Population Density 2017

Fig1b: World Megacities Prediction 2030

Suicide, Emile Durkheim

social cohesion of the living environment. If villages are the symbol of cultural homogeneity, the cities symbolize cultural heterogeneity.

Urban living being especially complicated and varied leads to a high sense of anonymity and greater social segregation. This can be reflected in the loss of identity and importance that people may feel within the large urban population especially in crowds. In urban cities, People virtually loses their identity being treated as a “number” having a certain “address.” With the further influence of globalization, people lose their sense of belonging to their city or nation, as the nation progresses towards a uniform global community and neglect their own cultural and historical connections. It is proven that people with lesser supportive social relationships are more susceptible to mental illness, social support and community are critical components to creating urban happiness. Thus, the characteristics of urban living are creating a negative social tapestry in the urban societies.

China’s rapid urbanisation Image: https://www.wsj.com/articles/china-unveils-long-awaited-urbanization-plan-1395024223

http://www.iaacblog.com/programs/slums-a-problem-or-solution/

Fig1c: Top 10 Most Densely Populated Countries (2014)

Image depiction of

Image depiction of India’s slum conditions in urban areas Image:

A study from 2011 found that the brains of people who live in urban environments react to stress with more activity in the amygdala, a brain region that is related to fear and emotion. Researchers also saw an “urban” effect on the brains of people who grew up in cities — their brains had differences in a region of the cortex that affects the amygdala and is linked to regulating negative emotions and stress.8 High-density and overpopulation create claustrophobic living spaces and reduces personal space between individuals. It means having lesser autonomy over an increased amount of interaction with strangers and social surroundings. The societal transition from rural to urban also creates an unhealthy social dynamic whereby smaller households, aging society, social disparities lead to greater sense of loneliness and weaker supportive social capital in the city. Therefore, the changes in social conditions created by urbanization lead to greater unhappiness.

8 Benedictus, Leo. “Sick Cities: Why

February 25, 2014.

“The psychological basis of the metropolitan type of individuality consists in the intensification of nervous stimulation which results from the shift and uninterrupted change of outer and inner stimuli.”

The metropolis and mental life, Georg Simmel

Beside social changes by urbanization and globalization, people often missed out how our urban environment has changed tremendously due to urbanization and does have a significant effect on your mental well-being as well. People who live in the city experience an increased stimulus level: density, crowding, noise, smells, sights, disarray, pollution and intensity of other inputs. Every part of the urban environment is deliberately designed to assert meanings and messages. These stimuli trigger action and thought on a latent level of awareness, and become more potent as an inability to ‘cope’ sets in.9 This results in urban stress from the environment. Urbanization is regarded as an index of economic development. Hence, architectural surroundings reflect the pursuit of economic growth through increasing amount of highrise buildings, efficient compact spaces, repetitive facades or building forms for high profits and better productivity. This causes the erosion of protective factors for good mental and social health. For example, the rapid development of infrastructure results in reduced in open spaces and less access to leisure and nature in the city. In fact, Happiness is 9 Centre for Urban Design and Mental Health. (2017). How urban design can impact mental health. [online] Available at: https://www.urbandesignmentalhealth.com/how-urban- design-can-impact-mental-health.html

Urban Living Can Be Bad for Your Mental Health.” The Guardian.

more strongly correlated to green space than socioeconomic status. In a study from the University of Wisconsin, participants living on blocks with 10% fewer green areas than the average were more likely to report stress and depression. Following this logic, a ‘poor’ resident living in an area with more trees and open space would report being happier than a ‘rich’ resident living in an area without access to green space.10 Thus, cities need to start saving and planning more green spaces to achieve better livable environments for urban happiness. The urban form correlates to the living behaviors of the citizens. The materialism and competition that characterizes the character and environment in the world today have not been conducive to the pursuit of happiness, and, in many respects, actually has led in the opposite direction. This adverse situation creates a vicious cycle revolving around unhappiness and mental health in urban environments.

More than 300 million people globally are thought to suffer from depression, and some 260 million from anxiety disorders, according to the World Health Organisation. Therefore it is essential to tackle both social and environmental aspect of the urban city. While doing so, design and urban approaches can be individually tailored to a city’s history, culture, value system, and other specificities; a single cookiecutter approach won’t work, many developing cities are falling into the trap of mimicking prominent architecture and replication of foreign urban strategies. With clear and proper thinking and strategy around design and consideration for urban happiness, there is great potential in creating mentally-healthy and socially-friendly urban environments. A happy city is a city that designs an infrastructure that supports elementary concepts of human connection. Cities worldwide are challenged to create welcoming environments that connect residents to their city and create a strong social fabric.

Growth is inevitable and desirable, but destruction of community character is not. The question is not whether your part of the world is going to change. The question is how.

Edward T. McMahon

10 “Urban Green Space Makes People Happier than Money.” TheCityFix. May 06, 2014. Accessed April 08, 2018. http://thecityfix.com/blog/urban-green-space-makes-people-happier-than-money-luisa-zottis/.

THE STUDY OF HAPPINESS

With the emerging awareness towards creating cities that facilities better and healthy well-being, there are various insights and research done to understand and measure the new “science” of happiness. In this thesis, the interest is on the concept of happiness in a collective.

MASLOW’S HEIRARCHY OF NEEDS

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is a theory in psychology proposed by Abraham Maslow in his 1943 paper “A Theory of Human Motivation”. This five-stage model can be divided into deficiency needs and growth needs. The first four levels are often referred to as deficiency needs (D-needs), and the top level is known as growth or being needs (B-needs).11 Satisfying the lower-level needs is important in order to avoid unpleasant feelings or consequences. While achieving the top level creates potential and growth. Despite criticism towards the use of heirachy, a study published in 2011, researchers from the University of Illinois discovered that while the fulfillment of the needs was strongly correlated with happiness, people from cultures all over the world reported that self-actualization and social needs were important even when many of the most basic needs were unfulfilled.12 Hence, regardless of heirachy, these needs are all important influences to happiness. However, this theory is restricted to mostly social elements.

11 Mcleod, Saul. “Maslows Hierarchy of Needs.” Simply Psychology. Accessed April 09, 2018. https://www. simplypsychology.org/maslow.html#intro.

12 Cherry, Kendra, and Steven Gans. “The Five Levels of Maslows Hierarchy of Needs.” Verywell Mind. Accessed April 09, 2018. https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-maslows-hierarchy-of-needs-4136760.

Maslow’s Heirarchy of needs Image: https://www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html#intro

HAPPY CITY MEASUREMENT AND POLICY

Founded in 2010 by Liz and Mike Zeidler, Happy City was set up to challenge the belief that economic growth is the only measure of success in society. Their aim was to put wellbeing at the heart of public discourse on what it means to truly prosper. Happy City develops measurement tools that measure, understand and improve the wellbeing of people and place. In this section, two key tools will be researched upon: Happiness Pulse and Thriving Places Index.

Happiness Pulse

Happiness Pulse diagram Image: http://www.happycity.org.uk/measurement-policy/happiness-pulse/background-to-the-happiness-pulse/

It measures the detailed reality of personal wellbeing in communities. It attempts to decipher how people feel and function in their lives, work and communities. It can be used at any scale from the individual, to a few households, organisations, communities, through to entire local authority areas. Through different domains and questions, individual scores are calculated and aggregated. The four domains are General Wellbeing, BE (emotional wellbeing), DO (behavioural wellbeing) and CONNECT (social wellbeing).

It is successful in utilising a direct relationship with people to draw out information about how they are feeling and functioning in their lives and communities – a sense of connection or belonging, meaning and purpose, trust, vitality, optimism and more. It challenges the norm by reversing the oft experienced pattern of measurement as an extractive industry. During the process of evaluation, It offers people the chance to measure their own well-being in accessible and engaging ways that help them understand their happiness. However, there is still an extent of subjectivity due to the individual aspect of the test. It requires rigorous effort to gather these data. The results can be instinctive thus require a large sample size in order for the results to be representative.13

13 “Pulse Framework & Background.” Happy City. Accessed April 09, 2018. http://www.happycity.org.uk/ measurement-policy/happiness-pulse/background-to-the-happiness-pulse/.

THriving Places Index

Image: http://www.happycity.org.uk/measurement-policy/happy-city-index/the-methodology/

Happy City’s Thriving Places Index is a list of 48 indicators from preexisting data sources which help outline how well places are creating the conditions for equitable, sustainable wellbeing. It paints a detailed picture of the many interconnected elements that influence our wellbeing, helping to focus policy, resources and action on the things that matter most to improving lives now and in the future. The three headline elements support a broad dialogue about whether an area is creating the conditions for people to thrive, within environmental limits and in a socially just way. They are further broken down to sub-domains to capture the key elements that contributes to each catagory. 14

Comparatively, it is understood that this index achieves a holistic and systematic approach towards the measurement of happiness on a larger scale. Social elements are considered on a communal or collective proportion; there is a greater emphasis on creating the spatial and societal environment favorable for the well-being and happiness of people.

Hence, the combination of both measurement tools allows a comprehensive coverage of both the foundation (people) and holistic (collective). Through the study, a precise solution model can be formed according to individual experiences, communal needs, and environmental design.

14 “The Framework & Methodology.” Happy City. Accessed April 09, 2018. http:// www.happycity.org.uk/measurement-policy/happy-city-index/the-methodology/.

World Happiness Report Variables Image: http://worldhappiness.report/

It is an annual publication of the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network which contains rankings of national happiness and analysis of the data from various perspectives. Data is collected from people in over 150 countries. Each variable measured reveals a populated-weighted average score on a scale running from 0 to 10 that is tracked over time and compared against other countries. These variables currently include: GDP per capita, healthy years of life expectancy, social support (as measured by having someone to count on in times of trouble), trust (as measured by a perceived absence of corruption in government and business), perceived freedom to make life decisions, and generosity (as measured by recent donations). Each country is also compared against a hypothetical nation called Dystopia. Dystopia represents the lowest national averages for each key variable and is, along with residual error, used as a regression benchmark. Every year, the report will have an alternative innovative research: 2018 - migration, 2017 - role of social factors in supporting happiness. 15

Currently, world happiness report is by far the most recognized and accepted assessment of happiness. However, there are still general criticisms towards the choice of variables, as there is a sense of generalization towards the relationship between happiness and wellbeing as the same entity. Also, the data are drawn from national established data sources which means the self-reported aspect may attract links to possible political agendas and inaccuracy. As compared to the previous two measurements, world happiness report is superior in its comparative evaluation and clear investigation. However, the bottom-up and personal approach can help to create a balanced result between subjectivity and abstraction.

15 “Overview.” World Happiness Report. Accessed April 09, 2018. http://worldhappiness.report/.

CENTRE FOR URBAN DESIGN AND MENTAL HEALTH

As mentioned previously, mental health is proportionally related and to happiness and both mutually dependent. Hence, it is beneficial to understand the relationship between mental health and cities, what have been done to tackle and evaluate this issue.

Centre for Urban Design and Mental Health (UD/MH) is a think tank that aims to inform, motivate and empower policymakers, designers, planners, and public health professionals to build better mental health into their cities through smarter urban design. They see the need and opportunity to create healthier and happier urban future by introducing social capital and mental-friendly designs into the city environment.

MIND the GAPS Framework

Green places – access to natural settings in neighbourhoods and in the course of people’s daily routines is likely to improve and maintain mental health and wellbeing.

Active places – Positive, regular activity improves mood, wellbeing and many mental health outcomes. Embedding action opportunities into places helps integrate exercise, social interactions, and a sense of agency into daily routines.

Pro-Social places – Urban design should facilitate positive, safe and natural interactions among people and promote a sense of community, integration and belonging. Interesting, flexible public places with multifaceted engagement from passive observation to active participation should be created at each stage of design and development.

Safe places – A sense of safety and security is integral to people’s mental health and wellbeing. Urban dangers include traffic, getting lost, environmental pollutants, and risks posed by other people. A safe environment improves accessibility but risk-averse city design can reduce action opportunities and people’s sense of agency and choice.16

From the framework, there are clear overlaps with the happiness strategies such as social interactions, safety, environmental qualities etc. Hence, this framework provides a clearer summary of the spatial qualities necessary to create better environments for happiness and well-being.

16 “Mind the GAPS Framework.” Centre for Urban Design and Mental Health. Accessed April 09, 2018. https://www.urbandesignmentalhealth.com/mind-the-gaps-framework.html.

LITERATURE REVIEW

HAPPY CITY : TRANSFORMING OUR LIVES THROUGH URBAN DESIGN (2013) CHARLES MONTGOMERY

“The city is not merely a repository of pleasures. It is the stage on which we fight our battles, where we act out the drama of our own lives. It can enhance or corrode our ability to cope with everyday challenges. It can steal our autonomy or give us the freedom to thrive. It can offer a navigable environment, or it can create a series of impossible gauntlets that wear us down daily. The messages encoded in architecture and systems can foster a sense of mastery or helplessness.”

Charles Montogomery began the book with a detailed insight of Enrique Peñalosa ex-mayor of Bogota, Colombia, who attempted to build a happy city. He inspired Montogomery to dwell into the concept happiness in the city whereby he continued to explore different city models around the world and encounter other key theorists from different fields such as urban space planner Jan Gehl, transportation planners Lawrence Frank and Jeffrey Tumlin, psychology professor Robert Thayer, the Project for Public Space’s Fred Kent, and a host of others. The core message of the book is that the happy city, the green city, the low-carbon city, and the resilient and rich city are all the same place.

He questioned whether cities today are really happier? Whereby he stated that there is a happiness paradox whereby according to Peñalosa, too many rich socieities used their wealth in ways that exacerbate urban problems rather than solve them. He argued against buying happiness , thus establish the statement whereby wealth created from urbanisation and economic growth does not define the happiness of the city. In fact, as people chase for materialism and monetary showcases, many people have exchanged square footage for a long commute. This distance from the distinct urban sprawl separates us from our work, our friends, our neighbors and most importantly our happiness as well as being generally unsustainable from an environmental perspective.

Thus establishing one of his key point: the importance of choices in commute and travel distance in planning happiness in cities.

Charles Montgomery creates dialogues between bettween different key figures e.g. Le Corbusier, Ebenezer Howard and Wright, to understand various perspective of what happiness embodies in space, how to create eudaimonia in city societies. He concluded that the key issue is how the built environment shapes our everyday social interactions. The most important psychological effect of the city is the way in which it moderates our relationships with other people. He identified that to increase urban happiness, cities need to facilitate social support. Thus, thorough this idea, he argues that city design and spatial qualities need to be reexplored against the typical suburban sprawl which creates social isolation.

“Whatever creates or increases happiness or some part of happines, we ought to do; whaever destroys or hampers happiness, or gives rise to its opposite, we ought not to do.

Rhetoric, Aristotle

Hence, from different insights and case studies of theorical city concepts. Charles Montgomery’s recipe for urban happiness:

- The city should strive to maximize Joy and minimize hardship

- It should lead us towards health rather than sickness.

- It should offer us real freedom to live, move and build our lives as we wish.

- It should build resilience against economic or environmental shocks.

- It should be fair in the way it apportions space, services, mobility, jobs, hardships. and costs.

- Most of all, it should enable us to build and strengthen the bonds between friends, families and strangers that give life meaning, bonds that represent the city’s greatest achievement and opportunity.

- The city that acknowledges and celebrates our common fate, that opens doors to empathy and cooperation, will help us tackle the great challenges of this century.

Broadacre City Vision of extreme dispersal by Frank Lloyd Wright. The architect believed that highways - flying machines - would set urbanities free to inhabit and work on their own autonomous plots in the countrysides

His concept is not new, but he helped to condense and broke down the key traits of creating a liveable happy city from various theories and substantiated them with current city examples and conceptual city models. He linked the connections between different fieldspsychology, sociology, architecture, urban planning, etc. , emphasizing that they are all interrelated and the importance of why and how to achieve urban happiness.

There will always be a constant dichotomy between two planning choices – whether to maximize construction of buildings, especially high-rise, which increases private and corporate wealth and provides one of the fastest ways to increase GDP; or whether to focus more on the creation of successful mixed-use, multi-functional, humanscale public places – the common wealth – which foster community, and support social and physical health. However, through well-planned design strategies, a balanced solution can be created.

“The garden was not merely a biophilic intervention. It was a social machine.”

“People who live in monofunctional, car-dependent neighborhoods outside of urban centers are much less trusting of other people than people who live in walkable neighborhoods where housing is mixed with shops, services, and places to work.”

“engines of wealth; they must be viewed as systems that should be shaped to improve human well-being.”

THE METROPOLIS AND MENTAL LIFE (1903)

GEORG SIMMEL

“The deepest problems of modern life derive from the claim of the individual to preserve the autonomy and individuality of his existence in the face of overwhelming social forces, of historical heritage, of external culture, and of the technique of life.”

Urban sociology attempts to account for the interrelation of subcultures in urban areas, as well as the internal structures of segments of society. Georg Simmel is widely considered to be the father of urban sociology, as he pioneered studies of the interrelation of space and societal mentality. As an industrialization sociologist, he looked into the social psychological changes of societies due to urbanism. He stated that the city is characterized by a tremendous: intensification of nervous stimulation” impacting the form and perspective of life. His theory can be distinguished into seven segments:

1) Autonomy/Freedom

n proportion to size, people of the metropolis are subjected to less scrutiny in their lifestyle and activities, thus a sense of spiritual from movement and choice.

“The development of modern culture is characterised by the predominance of what cone can call the objective spirit or the subjective.”

2) Individuality

With the introduction of the division of labor, it becomes a unit of achievement that drives the pursuit of intellectual individuation in urban life. individualism created from the quantitative relation of the metropolis also created an elaboration of individuality. However, the drive towards quantitive achievements overwhelms the subjective nature of individualism which resulted in a regression of the culture of an individual (e.g. spirituality, delicacy, and idealism).

3) Intensification of nervous stimulation

Simmel stated how societies transformed from the slow, habitual, sensorial rural conditions to the urban lifestyle filled with tempo and

multiplicity of economic, occupational and social life, where the streets and surroundings require a heightened sense of awareness.

4) The connection between city’s intellect and money economy

The intellectual character of the urban life transforms people’s mentality from the emotional to the rational in order to adapt to the drastic variations in the urban rhythm. The dominance of money in the metropolis have given the medium of exchange an importance that translates into an alternative form of social relationships. If intimate emotional relations are founded based on their individuality. Money and economies created rational relations that are measured with quantitive perspective.

“The technique of metropolitan life in general is not conceiveable without all its activities and reciprocal relationships being organized and coordinated in the most punctual way into a firmly fixed framework of time which transcends all subjective elements.”

5) Punctuality, Calculability, Exactness

The close integration of money economy creates a character of calculability into the relationships and elements of life. Punctuality and Exactness become intrinsically important as well due to the multiple interconnections between various complexities of urban life.

6) Mutual reserve and indifference

This is one of the key references to how the urban environment affects the mentality and psychology of people. The bodily closeness and narrowness of space make the mental distance more visible. It is an interesting perspective where the size of area and population is the metropolis supports the freedom of man but fuels the social and mental isolation of an individual.

7) The metropolitan biase attitude

Simmel states that overstimulation leads to the psychological blase attitude where one’s sense is numbed and the differences between experiences go unnoticed. This results in the lack of ability to differentiate experience of importance to them, creating superficiality, grayness, indifference, and alienation (Biase).

EVALUATION METHODOLOGY

Through this network diagram, it helps to correlate the different studies and analysize their relevance against each other. From the magnitude of connections, the factors of repetiton and least relevance can be omitted .Crucial factors are extracted as points of assessment and catagorised into four domains.

Based on the research and the literature studies, a collective and comprehensive evaluation method can be formed by assessing their various criteria. Through a network of connections, a hierarchical list of principles can be drawn and classified for upcoming evaluations and design decision-making.

CASE STUDIES

Conceptual Case Studies

As urban happiness is a subjective issue to tackle, it is important to study how human emotions and behaviors can be related and translated into architecture. The chosen case studies are selected based on their conceptual similarities with the subjectivity of happiness. From the learning points of these case studies, we can understand different means of translations to achieve the sense of sublimity in design.

In order to further comprehend the research and evaluation methodology, two categories of case studies are examined.

Physical Case Studies

From the prior understanding, urban design and architectural environment play an indirect or simulative part of happiness. Looking at real architectural solutions, we can extract architectural elements and design strategies that helps to define spatial and environment influences on the human experience within the architecture. Case studies are chosen based on different scale and programs to compare the relative effect on the evaluation process.

CONCEPTUAL CASE STUDIES

VICTIMS (1984)

JOHN HEDJUK

The book I wrote, Victims is to bear witness and to remember. I believe in the density of the sparse. I believe in place and the spirit of place."

“Victims” is the title of John Hejduk‘s entry for the 1984 Prinz-AlbertPalais competition in Berlin for the construction of a memorial park.It revives the figures that inhabited a place by putting them in a relationship with the contemporary citizens and thus projecting the site towards its future. Each architectural structure embodys a character that is designed based on the construction of relationships with other elements rather than by a specific identity. Hedjuk describe the architecture landscape as “a construction of time” . The constructions are all autonomous objects configured like characters in a play. Some structures present joyful features, others echo the site’s previous occupation, reminding images of terror. Some of the structures have simple body features, like the playground equipment, others are chambers, labyrinths, towers or

small pavilions. Each structure, in fact, is not fixed in a single position, but can be contacted at three points becoming part of “a sort of pointal-connective tissue floating within a nature-grid“.17

Each architecture is unique and has its own story but as a collective it serves a different influence across the site. The architecture achieves a balance of symbolism and functionality through the programmatic translation of the characters. The element of time achieves two direction: one of transcedent through the inhabitation of spirit and history, the other through the design progress and development into the future.

17 “A Growing, Incremental Place – Incremental Time: “Victims”, A...” SOCKS. February 10, 2018. Accessed April 11, 2018. http://socks-studio.com/2015/11/01/a-growing-incremental-placeincremental-time-victims-a-project-by-john-hejduk-1984/.

Images credits: John Hedjuk

Image: http://socks-studio.com/2015/11/01/a-growing-incrementalplace-incremental-time-victims-a-project-by-john-hejduk-1984/

“The Transcripts are about a set of disjunctions among use, form, and social values. The noncoincedence between meaning and being, movement and space, man and object is the starting condition of the work.”

Bernard Tschumi, The Manhattan Transcripts, ‘MT 1’, Academy Editions, 1994

Tschumi uses the transcripts to make sense of an architectural reality that incorporates sequences, movement and functionality. He focuses on using different mediums that portray different events and functions of a space, assessing unconventional strategies that occur in-between the standard conclusions of architectural survey. He explains the architecture as “the set and the script, between “type” and “program,” between objects and events“.18 He applies human physicality and actions as devices to interpret space. It is a clear relationship with Tschumi’s attachment to Deconstructivism, where the complicated intermingling of layers and elements creates a sense of unpredictablity and eventful spatial formation.

18 Bernard Tschumi, The Manhattan Transcipts, Academy Editions, 1994

The design concept of translating movement and behaviour into space and architectural form provides an intriguing way of intepreting different spatial dimensions. It is a physical observation design methodology of interpreting human behaviours and events into spatial quality. The exploration of physical engagement with spaces creates an emotional capacity that sequences into functional reality within his drawings.

Images credits: Bernard Tschumi Image: http://socksstudio.com/2015/10/13/ the-set-and-the-scriptin-architecture-themanhattan-transcripts1976-1981-by-bernardtschumi/

(1964)

CEDRIC PRICE

“Its form and structure, resembling a large shipyard in which enclosures such as theatres, cinemas, restaurants, workshops, rally areas, can be assembled, moved, re-arranged and scrapped continuously,”

Price’s personal vision of the city was inventive and playful and expressed his sense of architecture’s moral obligations toward its users. He was fascinated by new technology and believed that it should both serve the public and further human freedom. He was determined that his work would not impose physical or psychological constraints upon its occupants nor reduce them to a standard form—unlike typical modern architecture. Designed as a flexible framework into which programmable spaces can be plugged, the structure has as its ultimate goal the possibility of change at the behest of its users. Fun Palace for Joan Littlewood was conceived for the East End of London as a “laboratory of fun” and “a university of the streets.”19

19 Price, Cedric. “Cedric Price. Fun Palace for Joan Littlewood Project, Stratford East, London, England (Perspective). 1959–1961 | MoMA.” The Museum of Modern Art. https://www.moma.org/collection/works/845.

The project as an attempt to deviate from the accepted notion of a conformed environment because the individual was in control of their own “self-participation” in creating their own “physical environment.”

20

Thus, The Fun Palace is one of the first revolutionary conceptual architecture that challenge the conventional ‘building’ and redefine the relationship between technology and architecture. It acts like socially interactive machine that kind of depicts Le Corbusier’s claims of a technologically informed architecture and the ‘machine for living’.

20 Sara. “Cedric Price & the Fun Palace.” Citymovement. April 07, 2012. Accessed April 11, 2018. https://citymovement.wordpress.com/2012/03/24/cedric-price/.

Images credits: Cedric Price

Image: http://www.interactivearchitecture.org/fun-palace-cedric-price.html http://restance.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/02.jpg

“Parc de la Villette” is an competition entry to revitalize the abandoned and undeveloped land from the French national wholesale meat market and slaughterhouse in Paris, France.

It is a place of culture where natural and artificial are forced together into a state of constant reconfiguration and discovery. the park provides a space for activity and interaction that would evoke a sense of freedom within a superimposed organization that would give the visitors points of reference.

I find this example similar to John Hedjuk’s Victims. The architecture allows freedom of expression with moderation of spatial control over the social, natural and symbolic vision of the space.

THE ARCHITECTURE OF MADNESS LEON FERRARI

“The Architecture of Madness” are a series of labyrintic worlds created using heliography.

At a closer look it is possible to realize that the symbols stage paradoxical situations in which, i.e., people line up to enter empty spaces or are confined in a series of small cubicles. The paradoxes can be read as metaphors of contemporary cities where alienated individuals wander – without any apparent logic –through irrational urban patterns. The works turn the technical drawings into a narrative and symbolic device filled with sarcasm.

The representation style creates pockets of surprises and hidden meaning up to the imagination of the viewer. It also reflects closely to the thesis’s topic.

CELLULES D’HABITATION

ABSALON

“The Cell is a mechanism that conditions my movements. With time and habit, this mechanism will become my comfort … The project’s necessity springs from the constraints imposed … by an aesthetic universe wherein things are standardized, average … I would like to make these Cells my homes, where I define my sensations, cultivate my behaviours. These homes will be a means of resistance to a society that keeps me from becoming what I must become.” (Absalon, Cellules, 1993)

The concept of escapism relates to the idea of a distraction from the negativity of urbanisation.

“WHERE IS THE MIND, WHEN THE BODY IS HERE?”

PUSHWAGNER’S SOFT CITY

The cyclical story of Soft City, artist Pushwagner‘s 1970’s graphic novel and magnum opus, is rooted in classic dystopian sci-fi. Although echoing Fritz Lang’s Metropolis, the social polarization of Blade Runner and the imagery of Hilberseimer’s Großstadt, the true source of Terje Brofos (the original name of 1940-born Norwegian artist) was the dystopian visions of novelist Axel Jensen, whose books he contributed illustrations.

This series of artwork reflects closely the negativity of the currrent society today. It is similar to the film protrayed on the cover page. The cynical and hypnotic representation syncs with the monotonous part of urban life.

SK YEE HEALTHY LIFE CENTRE (HONG KONG)

RONALD LU & PARTNERS

The SK Yee Healthy Life Centre’s “lean and green” design allows it to provide more than just a healing environment – it also acts as a home, a garden and a playground for patients. it offers an ambience of calmness and serenity throughout, immersing visitors in nature and daylight and offering them a stress-free experience. the building embodies a number of green elements, beginning with its lightweight steel structure and low-carbon design. Each program area is attached to a garden, creating a constant interplay between interior and exterior; continually drawing light and air inside. in addition, cross cross-ventilated windows allow guests to have control over their atmosphere.

This case study is a showcase of sustainable healing architecture. Through integrating sustainable and environmental design strategies, mentally and emotionally positive environment can be designed for healing and enjoyable activities to happen.

Images: https://www.archdaily.com/590542/skyee-healthy-life-centre-ronald-lu-and-partners

It is an inclusive space combining education, work, training, retail and lifestyle that connects people with disabilities with society. The intention was to create a village which is the new heart and hub for the community, breaking down barriers between the disabled and citizens. The design scope includes architecture, interior design, signage, lighting, art and landscaping to deliver a holistically integrated environment. The buildings are re-named as “Nest”, “Playground”, “Village Green”, “Hive”, “Hub” and “Academy” - based on their characters and programmes. Using lansdscape to create a village environment, this brings people closer to the nature and local flora and fauna. Public spaces weaves within the compound using ramps landings and lifts. Ih achieves sustainability and sociability by promoting the learning, bonding and healing of people with varying abilities within a biophilic environment. Thus creates an inclusive space that enables and values everyone.21

21 “Enabling Village / WOHA.” ArchDaily. December 20, 2016. Accessed April 11, 2018. https://www.archdaily.com/801850/enabling-village-woha.

Thus, The enabling village represents the rise of ecofriendly architecture. Unlike most medical facilities, it opens up the design grounds to the public and integrates nature as an element rather than an area. The intricacy in design to faciliate social, mental and physical needs of the various demographics makes the architecture serves the people in a instinctive manner.

Images: https://www.archdaily.com/801850/enabling-village-woha.

CENTRE POMPIDOU (PARIS, FRANCE)

RENZO

PIANO

AND RICHARD ROGERS

The Centre Georges Pompidou, also called Beaubourg, is today considered an icon of contemporary Paris, the quintessence of a modern building, and a model for what a museum can be. It was a result of a competition asking for a space that encouraged “ participation, dialogue, and free expression”. The building was envisaged as a cross between ‘an information-oriented computerised Times Square and the British Museum’, a democratic place for all people and the centrepiece of a regenerated quarter of the city. The building and great public square were intended to revitalise an area of Paris that had been in decline. The neighbouring Marais district, now vibrant and multi-cultural, underlines the success of the Pompidou’s role as a catalyst for urban regeneration. 22Its achievement is both urbanistic and architectural through its close integration of engineering in order to achieve internal flexiblity - to allow people the freedom to adjust their environment as they need. To further maximize internal space, they turned the construction insideout and exposed a skeleton of brightly colored tubes for mechanical systems. The ducts on the outside of the building are colour-coded: blue for air, green for fluids, yellow for electricity cables and red for

22 Rogers Stirk Harbour. “Centre Pompidou.” Rogers Stirk Harbour Partners. Accessed April 11, 2018. https:// www.rsh-p.com/projects/centre-pompidou/.

movement and flow (elevators, stairs) and safety (fire extinguishers). It echoes the Fun Palace by Cedric Price - the building as a place of free flowing cultural exchange. The design structure draws connections to Archigram’s 1964 Plug-in City, involving crane-mounted living pods that could be plugged in wherever convenient.23

"Pompidou

proves that modernity and tradition can profitably interact and enhance historic cities.”

Richard Rogers

Thus, Centre Pompidou represents the classic example of an architecture endeavour to achieve a harmony between human behaviour and urban ism. It utilises the integration of programs and movement inspired from system and machine of urbanisation. The goal to celebrate human freedom yet sort of ironically represented by the structural and mechanism systems of modernity. It was meant to be a public building aginst power but somehow recognised as an monument.

23 Sisson, Patrick. “Paris’s Iconic Centre Pompidou: 8 Things You Didn’t Know.” Curbed. January 24, 2017. https://www.curbed.com/2017/1/23/14365014/centre-pompidou-paris-museum-renzo-piano-richard-rogers.

Images: https://www.rsh-p.com/projects/centre-pompidou/.

THE HIGH LINE DILLER AND SCOFIDIO

The New York City High Line transformed the once disused elevated rail tracks on Manhattan’s West Side into one of the world’s most respected public parks. The park translates the biodiversity that took root after it fell into ruin in a string of site–specific urban microclimates along the stretch of railway that include sunny, shady, wet, dry, windy, and sheltered spaces. Through a strategy of agri–tecture—part agriculture, part architecture, it creates a textured, “pathless” landscape where the public can meander in unscripted ways. The park accommodates the wild, the cultivated, the intimate, and the social.24 It is an successful example of how natural intervention can change the urban environment drastically and positively.

24 “The High Line.” DS R. https://dsrny.com/ project/high-line.

MARKTHAL ROTTERDAM MVRDV

At a historical location at the Binnenrotte, next to Blaak Station and the largest weekly open air fresh food and hardware market in Rotterdam, Markthal is the first covered market and new icon of the Netherlands. Markthal means an important impulse to its surrounding area which is a strong contribution to the urban economy. Markthal with its daily fresh food market, shops and apartments, creates coherence and connections in the neighbourhood which will reach a new centrality. It is a first of its kind - hybrid between market hall and housing.25

It might not achieved its potential and intention fully, but the concept of mixing public and private is to be considered.

25 “Markthal Rotterdam / MVRDV.” ArchDaily. October 08, 2014. Accessed April 11, 2018. https://www.archdaily.com/553933/markthal-rotterdam-mvrdv.

CHILDREN’S CENTER FOR PSYCHIATRIC REHABILITATION SOU FUJIMOTO

Children’s Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation is a treatment center for mentally disturbed children where they live together to get regaining their mental health. Sou It is designed through precise planning / Accidental landscape. It is like a large house and also like a small city, the intimacy of a house and also the variety of the city. According to Sou Fujimoto’s interview 2014, “this diversity of the scales is quite important: cozy, personal scales, but at the same time the diversities of the unexpected.”

Through zero corridor and sensitivity of space within the ratio of diversities and relationships, the layout supports freedom of expression and function where human behaviour drives the meaning of the architecture.

ROY AND DIANO VAGELOS EDUCATION CENTRE DILLER AND SCOFIDIO

The Vagelos Education Center is a 100,000-square-foot, 14-story glass tower that incorporates technologically advanced classrooms, collaboration spaces, and a modern simulation center to reflect how medicine is taught, learned, and practiced in the 21st century. Due to the restrictions of the site, spaces are vertically structured in section, rather than planimetrically. Hence, a “study cascade” that runs the entire height of the building. The architects defined this feature as a vertical circulation containing a succession of educational and social spaces.

The vertical strategy and use of light and spacial circulation helps to mitigate the inefficiency between space and program, at the same time, successfully translate horizontal element of connectivity vertically, reducing the disconnection between programs in many high-rise building design conditions.

SUMMARY CASE STUDIES - HAPPINESS EVALUATION

By extracting the different components of the case studies and associate them to the relevant happiness evaluation element, architectural factors that supports urban happiness can be derived accordingly. The heirarchical position of each case studies in relevance to happiness can be understoof for the diagram as well.

Key Learning Points

Conceptual Case Studies

Physical Case Studies

Parc De La Villette Bernard Tschumi

Consideration of time

Balance between indoor and outdoor spaces

Green roofs

Healing environment

Cross-ventilation

Light Control

Balance between indoor and outdoor spaces

Home layout

Urban Agriculture

Informal circulation

Public access

Character to spaces

Local Landscape Integrated functions inclusive space

Intricate design to a certain need/behaviour

Cultural/Historical meaning

Translation of Memory Representation of social identity

Conceptualization of Stories Marketplace Live, Work, Play Multi-functional Infrastructure

Communal Living Centrality

Focal point of the city

Victims John

Rotterdam MVRDV

Socio-infrastructure system

Participation

Free expression

Adaption of social values into elemental form

A mega-structure of social activities

The Diller Scofidio

Markthal

SK YEE Healthy Life Centre

Ronald Lu & Partners

Healthcare access

The High Line Diller and Scofidio

Mental services

Social services

Open function Multi-function Spatial Circulation

Spatial comfort Light

need/behaviour

Enabling Village

WOHA architects

Victims (1984)

John Hedjuk

Markthal Rotterdam MVRDV

Centre Pompidou

Social/Programmatic connectivity

Self-Healing

Isolation

Privacy

Distraction

Cellules

De’Habitation

Absalon

Behaviourial freedom

Children’s Center for Psychiatric Rehabiliation

Sou Fujimoto

Socio-infrastructure

Renzo Piano & Richard Rogers

The Manhatten Transcript(1994)

Bernard Tsuchumi

Fun Palace

Cedric Price

Technology

Social Machine

Spatial flexiblity/ movement

Roy and Diano Vagelos Education Centre

Diller Scofidio

Vertical translation

Collaboration spaces

Education

Urban regeneration

Intepretation of human movement and space into activities

Machine for the living ever-changing system due to the correlation with the individual

Context representation eg.:

Pushwagner’s Soft City

Architecture of Madness

Leon Ferrari

CITY STUDIES

What can be done to reduce the impact on happiness if urbanization and global influences are unavoidable?

:)

Can we find an architectural solution that prevents or reduces mental health implications for cities going through of urbanization, densification, and globalization through both social and environmental elements?

Thus, in order to prototype an architectural solution that is mentally-conducive and socially harmonious with the urban lifestyle and fabric, the city site got to consist the following criterias: (1) yet to reach its maximum density potential (2) room for interventions (3) unique culture and social identity (4) display signs of process towards urban unhappiness

Based on World Happiness Report (2017), most of the top ranks are dominated by western countries, Asian countries fall in the middle while most third-world countries are scattered towards the end (refer to appendix). However, point to note is the variables of happiness in the report is generalized and does not have psychological considerations which are essential for the evaluation of happiness. Thus, after various deliberation, the following chapter will look into three cities in Asia: Singapore (26th), Bangkok (Thailand, 32nd), Hong Kong(71st). Singapore and Hong Kong are both Asian countries that have achieved global recognition and entered the top ranks of the world’s global influential urban cities. However, regardless of their economic status, they face rising urban unhappiness. Singapore is representative of the social impact on urban happiness. Whereby culture and community are heartlessly destroyed and lost in the continuous race for urban development and economic growth, this may create a chain reaction of social issues that lead to a toxic society in the future. Hong Kong is the example of the environmental impact on urban happiness where urban development designed more for the wants of the economy rather than the needs of the people, leading to severe mental and psychological repercussions on the city-dwellers. Bangkok is one of the upcoming mega cities of the world. However, recent news has shown signs of its impending demise into the negativity of urbanismsocial media obsession, clearing of street food culture.

To understand urban happiness in the different societal context and select the city site, each city will be studied and evaluated in the following chapter.

Singapore river in 1940

Image:https://singpost.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/06_ fullerton-bldg-from-spore-river-1940a_sm.jpg?w=652

Singapore’s Transformation

Singapore river today

Image:http://www.fourpointssingaporeriverview.com/ singapore-river

Within 50 years, Singapore transformed from a third world to first world country. Once known as a backward fishing village, Singapore now has one of the highest per capita GDP (about US$56,000) in the world. It is ranked as the third most competitive economy, behind the United States and Hong Kong.26 The city state is one of the best governed countries, thanks to low crime rates and virtually no public sector corruption. The rapid urbanisation of Singapore in the past five decades has seen villages demolished and the lands freed up for redevelopment. Singapore has built slightly over 1 million housing flats since 1960. it is recognised as one of the world’s most successful rehousing process, turning Singapore into a slum-free nation. Singapore is considered a global role-model for its relatively successful urbanisation development. It is a de facto living urban laboratory. From vertical farms to living buildings, Singapore is on the cutting edge of environmentally sustainable urban solutions. The island nation is one of the forerunners to develop a host of modern urban amenities. In a multi-ethnic country, Singapore’s education system and job markets offer equal opportunity for all, and the laws are enforced strictly, ensuring that the society is not divided based on religion or race. It offers good living to 5.61 million of its inhabitants in a mere 719 sq km area (as of June 2017), making it the third most densely populated countries in the world. Rem Koolhass mentioned in his 1995 book S, M, L, XL ’Singapore is an apotheosis of urban renewal, a built answer to the shift from country to city which was thought, 30 years ago, to force Asia to construct in 20 years the same amount of urban substance as the whole of Western Europe.’ Therefore, Singapore can be considered a successful role model of a sustainable and globalised urban city.

26 Lee, Kuan Yew. From third world to first: the Singapore story, 1965-2000: memoirs of Lee Kuan Yew. Singapore: Marshall Cavendish Editions, 2015.

Aerial comparison between Singapore’s last Kampong (Kampong Buangkok) and HDB Developments Image: https://www.todayonline.com/sites/default/files/styles/new_app_article_detail/public/photos/43_images/najeer_kgbuangkok.jpg?itok=p-3rehPG

Singapore’s identity

The lifestyle of Singaporeans of the last generation changed dramatically as they shifted from their kampong to the high-rise public flats. Gone were the days of living in dilapidated wooden houses with hygienic concerns and limited supplies, today Singaporeans live in comfort of the public housings fitted with electricity, water and gas and clean modernised neighbourhoods. On the other hand, the community or kampong spirit is lost due to the verticalisation of households, closed doors and long corridors, controlled public spaces and increased social distances. Housing Development Board(HDB) flats and skyscrapers become the new face of Singapore where this cookie-cutter, alienating environment of high-rise towns also reflects the loss of heritage and ‘Asian’ identity and design decisions made primary to efficiency and economic purposes (floor area and cost regulations) before social and communal considerations. The globalisation of Singapore further fuels the detachment of the younger generation from their cultural and community roots through technology and the influence of secularism radicalism, cynical liberalism and commercialization, which are pillars of globalization. These have displaced the organic Singapore family through redefining their family values to induce the Singaporeans to be cynical about family, marriage, children and old aged parents and

placing more importance on him/herself selfishly than on the collective unit hereby Singaporeans today seems to values marginal benefit more than family benefit. This can be seen from the drop in birthrate from 1.96 births per female in 1988 to 1.16 births per female in 2017. Thus representative of Karl Marx’s prediction, family relations have been replaced with money relations.

There are some recent examples that illustrates Singapore’s urbanisation at the cost of culture and community. On 10th July 2017, Sungei Road Flea Market, 80-year-old heritage market, gave way to urban development. Despite petitions to preserve or relocate the market, the government did not provide an alternative site and closed the last free hawking zone of Singapore “to facilitate future residential development use.” Singapore Heritage Society president Chua Ai Lin said: We will be losing the sense of an organically formed flea market. A whole community will be dispersed and can no longer congregate as second-hand sellers.” Cultural geographer Lily Kong said places with the character of the market located between Jalan Besar and Rochor Canal Road “still have a place in modern Singapore”. It makes available affordably priced items and has an economic role in providing opportunities for vendors. Civic group founder Kwek Li Yong argues that the market’s impending closure is another example of the Government’s bulldozer approach to vernacular heritage. Thus, this is a clear representation of the growing loss of Singapore’s culture and traditions in the face of urban development. It does not only impact the future generation of Singaporeans and the community spirit. It also creates mental health issues at present, the market is not just the bread and butter of the elderly, it is also their source of pride, social connections and daily lifestyle. The breaking of communal ties reduces the elderly’s social support and increases their sense of isolation,

A typical stall in Sungei Road Theives Market Image: http://sg.asia-city.com/city-living/news/checkout-these-poignant-images-sungei-road-vendors

Final Aerial View of Sungei Road Theives Market Image: https://sg.style.yahoo.com/photos-final-looksungei-road-slideshow-wp-071736488/photo-p-viewsungei-road-thieves-photo-071736599.html

creating higher chances of mental health issues such as dementia, cognitive decline, depression etc. The removal of the market does not only affect the vendors but also the regular community that visits the market.

The elimination of architecture of social significance does not seem to be slowing down, in fact, it is becoming the new “norm” of the city. Singapore’s collective sale (en bloc) scheme is the sale of property units to a single common purchaser. It is an opportunity for the owners to get a better price collectively than individually. At the same time, the land can be demolished and rebuilt by the developer (Buyer). There has been an en bloc craze recently which has started a serious debate on Singapore’s treatment towards architecture and its social importance. Post-independence Architecture landmarks are in the process of en bloc sale. Pearl Bank Apartments has fallen in the hands of developer Capitaland. It is only a matter of time where People’s park complex, People’s park centre, Golden Mile complex and Golden Mile Tower disappear from the city’s landscape and society. This constant demolishment and rebuilding of peoples’ home and community is unhealthy. Veteran Architect Tan Cheng Siong, who designed Pearl Bank in 1976, said “This profit-driven solution is not sustainable and, hence, after every wave, there will come a saturation, and then everyone waits for another wave. Meanwhile you have created so much friction, so much fracture among residents and communities, it is going to hurt the willingness to put our care into our (living space) and that’s very, very sad. We should

Golden Mile Complex Image: Darren Soh

Pearl Bank Apartments Image: Darren Soh

correct that quickly.” The Land Titles (Strata) Act needs to be addressed as well, he pointed out, referring to how the provisions “encourage people to uproot from where they live”, and have a “let’s get rich by destruction” mentality, instead of staying put to “add value” to the community. He added: “This is not `quite appropriate especially if we want to encourage a sense of community, a sense of togetherness, and a sense of place in Singapore.”27 Thus, it emphasises the importance to address this urban phenomenon which creates a mentality which is detrimental to the new generation.

https://www.indesignlive.sg/projects/along-

27 “En-bloc Sales ‘fracture’ Communities, Veteran Architect Says.” TODAYonline. February 13, 2018.

Burden of disease in Singapore, 2004

People’s park Complex Image: Darren Soh,

the-golden-mile

Singapore is deemed as a ideal globalised city state but as seen, urbanisation’s impact on mental health is unavoidable. United Nations International Labor Organization (ILO) has defined stress as a ‘global epidemic’ and dubbed it the ‘silent killer’. It is a growing phenomenon in many Asian countries, especially those with advanced economies and where Western consumerism and lifestyles are prevalent such as Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and China. As proven in jobstreet. com’s Job Happiness Index for 2017, about 45% of Singaporeans are unhappy at work. The social disconnection and dissatisfaction created from globalisation and urbanisation can be seen from Singapore being rated 31st as one of the least exciting among 32 cities from around the world, according to Time Out’s city life index 2018 which was published on Tuesday (Jan 30) by Singaporean themselves. This also shows the unhappiness and lack of patriotism towards their own community. The age of people showing signs of mental illness is getting younger as a study released in 2011 by the Institute of Mental Health reported that most people who suffered from a mental illness had their first onset of illness when they were in their twenties. The Mental Health Foundation noted in 2010 that The current generation are the most lonely generational cohort ever, with loneliness being as much of a concern for us as it is for older people.

As mental health awareness increases during the past few years, the government has announced that half of Singapore’s polyclinics are expected to have mental health clinics and number of community outreach teams will also go up from 18 to 50 by 2021. Singapore is also looking into horticultural therapy and creating more green environment within the urban landscape and lifestyle. E.g. Therapeutic garden at HortPark off Alexandra Road and communal gardens in elderly centres and hospitals. In spite of this, there is little done towards preserving or redeveloping communal cultures. There are architectural attempts towards create new communal typologies but they do not replace or reflect social similarities to past communal lifestyles that are diluted or lost through Singapore’s pursuit for economic growth and global recognition. It is these social elements that has the greatest impact of creating strong social cohesion and mental support among Singaporeans and its surroundings, which leads to greater urban happiness.

HONG KONG

Image:http://s13.postimg.org/4n782co3r/Kuvankaappaus_2014_5_22_kello_11_06_54.png

Hong Kong’s Transformation

Hong Kong is included as one of ‘The Four Asian Tigers’; a reference to areas and nations that experienced rapid urbanization and maintained extraordinary high growth rates in the last half-century. Like its three other tiger siblings (Taiwan, Singapore, and South Korea). Similar to Singapore, It transformed from a fishing village to a sprawling metropolis within a few decades after World War Hong Kong has a population density estimated at 6544 per sq km (the fourth most populated city in the world) and a land area of 2755 sq km. Hong Kong’s history pays a significant influence on its urbanization and social transformation. During British colonization, Hong Kong served as a center of international trade. In the turbulent years of the early 20th century, the city’s population was bolstered by refugees, mostly from China. The population growth and industrialization fuels the rapid urbanization of Hong Kong after the World War II helped to launch a new role for Hong Kong as a major manufacturing hub. In recent decades, as the economy of Mainland China enters the global market and in 1997 Hong Kong was returned to Mainland China whereby China agreed to govern Hong Kong under the principle of “one country, two systems”. This means that the city would enjoy “a high degree

Hong Kong 1920 - 2000

of autonomy, except in foreign and defense affairs” for the next 50 years, though it is greatly debated in the recent years between the China government and Hong Kong activists. Regardless, Hong Kong has transformed again into a service-based industry and an important gateway between China and the global economy.

Hong Kong’s Identity

Hong Kong localist independence march 2015 Image: http://www.hongkongfp.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/20160110-Q85A4472.jpg

Gay Parade in Hong Kong Image: https://www.hongkongfp.com/wp-content/uploa ds/2015/11/10615470_889868614374501_78725761521126 31044_n.jpg

Hong Kong is strongly identified by its unique local culture due to its mixed of Cantonese and western influences as well as its urban landscape: especially housing. Due to the distinct difference between the British rule and China communist rule, it causes social identity crisis among the citizens. It created a new identity called “Hongkongers” where it extends well beyond politics and nationality and crosses into definitions of culture, ethnicity, race, and morality.  A person selfidentified as a Hongkonger may consider oneself as culturally Chinese but at the same time harbor reservations about the political regime of the People’s Republic of China and how ‘Chineseness’ is framed under this political regime. Such identity confusion can lead both ways, social cohesion within the local community through common ideals and perspective but at the same time causes social friction and disconnections within the urban environment especially with the strong influence of the mainland politics and effect of globalization. The disagreements between the people and politics as well as the instability of the government can also result to disorder in the economy and urban development which can be detrimental to the urban surroundings and its citizens.

Kowloon Walled City Image: http://i.imgur.com/aXY0GLR.jpg

A less ambiguous characteristic of Hong Kong is its urban landscape. Hong Kong is especially famous for the Kowloon Walled City. It used to be the densest urban environment humans have ever created before it was demolished in the 1990s. It was located in the heart of Hong Kong, a dense cluster of 12-story apartments around a tiny courtyard had alleyways like tunnels. it had more than 30,000 people living there – a density of well over 1,000,000 people/sq km. This situation is evident in most residential conditions in Hong Kong where half of the city’s households living in spaces smaller than 500 square feet. Hong Kong’s urban planning pales in comparison to Singapore. Hongkongers are enjoying far less open space and only enjoy an average of four square meters of open space while Singaporeans have 7.5 square meters. This is a result of the government’s failure to strike a balance between building high-rise buildings (economic growth) and providing open spaces for public enjoyment. This situation created a snow-balling impact on the society. The continual influx of mainland Chinese has also contributed to a historic run-up in housing prices, making Hong Kong one of the world’s most expensive places to live. Soaring prices and rents have squeezed middle-class families and younger residents, in particular, fueling resentment against the mainland Chinese, inciting further social distances and conflicts. The lack of public and social spaces together with small living spaces cause severe impact on the mental health of the citizens, not forgetting light and noise pollution that is presented almost everywhere in the urban city.

Hong Kong’s building density situation Image: https://inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs. dir/1/files/2013/04/Architecture-of-Density-Michael-Wolf-lead.jpeg

A typical Hong Kong tiny cubicle apartment Image: http://cdn5.viralscape.com/wp-content/ uploads/2014/05/Crowded-Apartment-in-Hong-Kong-3. jpg

Hong Kong’s city density Image: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/news/2016/05/06/ RESTRICTED_goingdown-xlarge_trans_NvBQzQNjv4Bqeo_i_u9APj8RuoebjoAHt0k9u7HhRJvuo-ZLenGRumA.jpg

The prevalence of common mental health problems for Chinese adults in Hong Kong is measured as 13.3%28. One-tenth of Hong Kong’s super-aging population is considered to be affected by dementia29. The Hong Kong population suicide rate is 12.6 per 100,000 people, the suicide rate for older people remains double that of the national average, and the suicide rate for young people is rising30. In fact, one in six Hongkongers suffering from a diagnosable mental health illness. Mental health is about people’s well-being, their ability to cope with the stresses of life, work productively and fruitfully and be able to contribute to communities. Thus, there is a critical need to address this issue and put it on priority during the urban design process. In Hong Kong, the controlled and poorly-designed public spaces resulted in fewer opportunities for human expression and creation of communal identity. ‘We’re losing our sense of identity... Our urban environment has become very homogenous, generic. You won’t look up and say ‘oh this looks like Hong Kong’. This has longer-term identity issues –you lose your sense of self, become isolated,’ said one planner.31

The Hong Kong Housing Society Universal Design Guidelines (2005) note that ‘the dimension of living space can affect the psychological health and well-being of residents, particularly those who spend long periods at home.’ They make recommendations for headroom (not less than 2.5 meters) and room areas (living room should be at least 3.5m x 4m). However, based on Hong Kong Housing Authority (2014), 47% of homes in Hong Kong have a floor area under 40 m2; a further 43.4% have 40–70 m2 of floor area.The small compact private spaces forces excessive close interaction between people which can cause stress and anxiety. Such urban environment affects people’s mental well-being significantly. Thus we can find higher rates of depression and suicides in Hong Kong compared with other developed cities. Sleep is a protective factor for mental health, and noise, light, and crowdedness are particular factors that can affect sleep. Hong Kong is frequently described as a noisy city: ‘Because you have these multistory buildings that are close together, the reflection and deflection of noise is more’ – Urban health researcher.32

28 Lam, Linda Chiu-Wa, Corine Sau-Man Wong, Min-Jung Wang, Wai-Chi Chan, Eric Yu-Hai Chen, Roger Man-Kin Ng, Se-Fong Hung et al. “Prevalence, psychosocial correlates and service utilization of depressive and anxiety disorders in Hong Kong: the Hong Kong Mental Morbidity Survey (HKMMS).” Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology 50, no. 9 (2015): 1379-1388.

29 HKJC Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, HKU (2017). 1981-2015 Suicide Statistics.

30 HKJC Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, HKU (2017). 1981-2015 Suicide Statistics.

31 “Urban Design and Mental Health in Hong Kong.” Centre for Urban Design and Mental Health.

32 “Urban Design and Mental Health in Hong Kong.” Centre for Urban Design and Mental Health.

Hong Kong has been trying to come out with various solution to respond to this compelling issue. There are ideas such as micro-parks and mental health awareness efforts. However, it is especially challenging with the city being deep in the mud with multiple interconnections between various issues. There are concerns with stigmatisation of mental health, economics (in a space-constrained environment, least cost and efficiency is the primary driver of any design), last but not least, the strict regulations creates layers of red tape that is difficult to bypass (with the entry of China’s policies, it is much more complicated). The density of the city has reached a point where flexibility for intervention and physical solutions is extremely difficult to happen within the city center. Thus, the first step is to establish awareness and importance placed on urban happiness and social/mental well-being by the government and the people before achieving future results.

Bangkok’s urbanisation featuring the latest addition to its skyscape : MahaNakhon by Ole Scheeren Image: https://www.arup.com/-/media/arup/images/projects/m/ mahanakhon/shutterstock_481031380.jpg

Bangkok’s Transformation

Thailand is in the midst of transforming itself from a predominantly rural country to an increasingly urban one. In as little as ten years, the country has shifted from 36 percent urban to almost 50 percent urban, which means that half of the population now lives in cities and urban areas. In 2016, 51.54 percent of Thailand’s total population lived in urban areas and cities. A point to note is that this growth occurs mostly in the Krung Thep area, better known as Bangkok, capital and largest city in Thailand. Krung Thep is now home to more than 5.7 million people.33  It seems likely to continue to grow rapidly because it is the main urban “attraction” in Thailand. Therefore, Bangkok is a up and coming Asean megacity. Bangkok is still in the midst of urbanisation and has yet to reach its maximum urban density. Bangkok is not a compact city, however, it covers 605 square miles (1.570 square kilometers), it is currently undergoing infrastructure development as well, expanding in the sururban and verticalisation happening in the city centre. The continuation growth in population and economic growth will eventually lead Bangkok down the path of developed urban cities e.g. Singapore and Hong Kong. Hence, Bangkok fulfils the characteristics necessary as a site for the prototyping. The unique condition of Bangkok provides further incentives. Urban-planning in 33 World Bank. (2017). Urbanization in Thailand is dominated by the Bangkok urban area. [online]

Urban photo collage of Bangkok Image: http://payload63.cargocollective.com/1/7/249539/3561763/bangkok_01.jpg

Bangkok has only started undergoing reformation from its previous disorganisation from political attributes. The result of haphazard yet unique infrastructure and typologies create flexibility and areas of opportunities for architectural intervention. Together with it’s strong cultural and vocal youth community and unique social identity, Bangkok provides an ideal and engaging platform for research and prototyping. The results can be especially relevant for other city models as well.

Urban Environment

The biggest problems that Bangkok faces are the traffic jams and overpopulated public transport. The lack of efficient public transport systems and of efficient traffic control and the bad driving habits of Bangkok residents also contribute to traffic congestion. With a shortage of funds to extend the road network, lack of enthusiasm about doing it even when funds are available, difficulties in expropriating private land for road construction, and so on, the traffic problems of Bangkok become worse every day. Traffic congestion in Bangkok is now among the worst in the world. It disrupts their daily lifestyle and marks itself as a negative duration of the day for most citizens. Being in a traffic jam is less claustrophobic but as stressful and frustrating due to lack of movement, light and noise pollution from surrounding cars can cause distress to the mind. The impatience might turn into resentment and anger management problems. Being in a crowd can make a person

feel the lack of personal privacy and importance as an individual. Long commute can cause anxiety, exhaustion, frustration, impulsive behaviour, lower immunity, and some mental health problems.

In terms of urban infrastructure, until early 1992, Bangkok did not have an official city plan in operation. There is no effective control on land use in Bangkok, the development and urbanization of Bangkok have brought about a haphazard, free-for-all pattern of land use. Horizontally, the city is spreading along the new roads that are opened up to accommodate the larger urban population and business, industrial, and community demand. Vertically, high-rise condominiums, shopping complexes, and business offices began to crop up in the inner part of the city without much coordination with basic ground facilities and its surroundings. Contrary to a common belief that land in inner Bangkok is no longer available for productive uses, plots of unused land still abound in inner Bangkok. This is land that has been left idle or held for speculative purposes because the system of property or land taxes is too weak to have any deterrent effect on such idle or speculative landholdings. In recent years with more political stability, Bangkok has been moving forward with new urban strategies and city plans. There are upcoming and ongoing collaborations between enterprises

Traffic jam and crowded transport observations Image: 3rd march 2018 (top, middle), 5th march 2018 (bottom)

Render of ‘One Bangkok’ Image: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/485509/One_Bangkok_View.jpg?w=800

and the local government such as ‘One Bangkok’. It is jointly developed by TCC Assets (Thailand) and Frasers Centrepoint Limited (Singapore) to be Thailand’s first and largest fully integrated district focusing on smart city living. Bangkok is also planning a massive expansion of its mass rapid transit network from the existing 100km to 500km over the next 10 years.34

Therefore, the environmental issues presented signs of mental health impact. At the same time, the urban infrastructure context shows opportunities and flexibility of architectural interventions. As there are still available land and less probability of red tape scenarios, the urban densification and city solutions are still in the process. Thus, the prototype might be welcomed and readily implemented.

Urban Identity

Even though, Bangkok has not reached its potential as a global megacity. Due to its close dependence on tourism and high influx of expats and foreign tourists, Its cultural shifts and identity change have already begun. Bangkok is well-known for being the city of culture and art as well as one of the world’s most gay-friendly cities and acceptance

34 TCC Assets (Thailand) Co., Ltd. “TCC

towards transgender. Due to its culture and social environment, Thai society shows both the conservativeness of Asians yet liberality of the west and this is strongly reflected in the political scene (religious association), culture and art (gender roles, expression of freedom). However, due to tourism and urbanization, the economic gap in Bangkok is getting wider and cultural sites and traditions are slowly transforming and diluted due to societal changes and economic interferences. Nonetheless, Thai society still displays a close and strong sense of communial spirit especially through their street food and ‘pop-up’ culture. This is a relatively exclusive urban behavior that evolves from their local culture and social identity. Street dining is also a social leveler in a city cut by inequality, with everyone from business execs to motorcycle taxi drivers. Sadly, Bangkok has started a crackdown on Bangkok street food for order and hygiene purposes. Some critics stated that as an attempt to remodel Bangkok into a Singaporelike urban environment. Street food is especially representative of the Thai society and culture, thus the clean-up is almost equivalent to removing the cultural identity itself.

The other urban culture is the ‘popup’ culture which can be seen from the mobility and randomness of the Bangkok City-Centre.” PR Newswire: News Distribution, Targeting and Monitoring,

Songkran festival in Silom, Bangkok Image: https://thumbs.dreamstime.com/b/ bangkok-april-songkran-festival-silom-roadbangkok-another-beat-place-to-celebrate-thaitradition-new-year-thais-54291395.jpg

Pop-up street food stalls during Yasothon festival Image: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/ commons/thumb/3/3f/Street_food_Yasothon. jpg/1200px-Street_food_Yasothon.jpg

Daily living culture of street food Image: http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/wwfeatures/wm/live/1280_640/ images/live/p0/45/0f/p0450f3p.jpg

street food as well. There are scattered “hacked” spaces around the cities where pop-up events, markets, art and cultural events happen. Markets are notably loved by both locals and tourists alike, it is part and parcel of most Thais’ lifestyle. This cultural day and night markets occupy alleys or empty plots of land, carparks. Some of them are located randomly and move around within the city center, it can be next to a slum, next to the highway or even next to a high-end shopping center. Though just like street food, it is experiencing the repercussion of urbanization. Price of land in the city center are increasing and economic influences are reforming the markets systematically and socially. The local markets get pushed out or eliminated from the urban city center while the remaining markets become increasingly business-focused and globalized. Example: ‘One Bangkok’ mentioned previously takes the site of the popular local Suan Lum Night Bazaar until 2007, when vendors were evicted. It can be expected in the future that there will be more control implemented by the government over the “hack” culture and commercializing of Bangkok street markets e.g. Asiatique night market. Thus, the dilution and disappearance of the local cultural identity once again, directing Bangkok down the cookie-cutter path of urbanization.

CHOSEN SITE

SINGAPORE

(1) yet to reach its maximum density potential (2) room for interventions (3) unique culture and social identity (4) display signs of process towards urban unhappiness

HONG KONG

(1) yet to reach its maximum density potential (2) room for interventions (3) unique culture and social identity (4) display signs of process towards urban unhappiness

BANGKOK

(1) yet to reach its maximum density potential (2) room for interventions (3) unique culture and social identity (4) display signs of process towards urban unhappiness

In Singapore and Hong Kong, both cities have reached a certain optimal level of urbanization and are extensively motivated by economic and governmental forces. The roots of urban implication on happiness have sunk deep into the city structure, thus precise solutions on particular cases will be more effective in these cities.

Before these sparks of Bangkok’s identity completely disappears, how can these positive cultural typologies by recreated back into the future urban landscape? Is there a way to combine urbanization with cultural identity to create exclusive urban cities where its residents can retain their kinship with their community?

Thesis intention

With the understanding that urbanism is a key cause of urban unhappiness. With the growing phenomenon of cultural loss and identity crisis in urban cities. The breaking of protective layers of happiness needs to be prevented. Using Bangkok as the prototype site, this thesis hopes to create an architectural typology that is designed based on the happiness criteria and infused with positive characteristics from the markets in Bangkok. By doing so, It creates an architecture created for urban happiness and conceptualized from and for the local community. This new spatial typology aims to be the design template for urban happiness against the socially-destructive nature of urbanism. Its application in Bangkok shall be uniquely tailored to the urban fabric to preserve its social tapestry through the improvisation of its iconic that markets, forging a socially and mentally conducive environment that contributes to a sustainable peoplecentric development of the city.

RESEARCH OF THAI MARKETS

Unlike other cities where markets are mostly homogenous, Thai Markets is the representation of Bangkok’s vitality and especially diverse in nature and character. It houses their pop-up culture, Thai street food, unique handicrafts and behaves as the social hub of many locals. However, due to urbanization, markets are slowly driven out towards the suburbs of Bangkok and taken over by megamalls. The local markets face a harsh decision to either disappeared or modify themselves to fit the needs and wants of urbanism.

The latter results to Thai markets that behaves like a shopping center disguised under a facade of aesthetics and lower prices. The organization of markets shifted from a village to business model. The relationships within the market transformed from social exchanges to rational exchanges of monetary purposes or personal gratification. Uniquely, the innate lively nature of Bangkok, their youth community started a rise of an alternative market which revolves around the sociotechnological sensation of social media. Through this new generation typology, they retained the community aspect of markets through the screen by specializing in particular demography and trade (hipster culture). Tts inclination towards tourism and social media economy creates social segregation between different demographics and redefines the interactions of the market towards an individualistic character. Thus, the Thai markets today are diverting away from its original role as the key social spot for all forms of social groups. This transformation expresses the breaking of the protective layer of happiness stemming from the loss of culture, social support, and creation of Georg Simmel’s biased mentality.

http://soimilk.com/sites/default/files/ imagecache/open_image/siam_discovery_mai14_0.jpg

https://s3-ap-southeast-1. amazonaws.com/silverkris-dev/ steven/sph142/wp-content/up loads/2018/01/09102956/83129192_xxl.jpg

Siam Discovery Image:

Rot Fai Market Ratchada Image:

http://soimilk.com/sites/default/files/ imagecache/open_image/siam_discovery_maiRatchada https://s3-ap-southeast-1. amazonaws.com/silverkris-dev/ steven/sph142/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/09102956/83129192_xxl.jpg

Through the study of Thai markets at different phrases of its urban transformation, the positive and negative elements can be distilled. From first-hand experience, personal observations of the urban ambiance and local interactions frames a clearer picture and contemporary study of the societal changes and lifestyle in the Thai society. Market typology is a constant in most cities or towns. Regardless of rural or urban, a market is an almost transcendent and an essential social focal point in every city. Hence by studying the market typology, it is both physical and sociological representative of the societal transition and a necessary infrastructure of the cityscape.

LOCATION OF THAI MARKETS

Markets are present in almost every neighborhood in Bangkok; they are mostly located on empty plots or huge carpark spaces. During my site visit in recess week, I visited a list of markets recommended by tourists and locals. They are categorized into five types: Old/Historical, Local, Mixed, New generation, and Extinction. Into On a macroscale, most of the old/historical markets are at the outskirts of Bangkok. Local markets are slowing moving outwards away from the city center. Mixed used markets are mostly located near to the city center or in prime neighborhoods. Last but not least, new generation markets are mostly temporal and pop-ups, shifting between the city center and new surrounding neighborhoods. Onefifth of the markets are no longer active. Some markets from each category will be evaluated further in the following chapter.

Changchui

Pak Khlong

Talad Phlu

Khlong San Wang Lang

Maeklong Railway Market

Nang

Khao San Indy Market

Ratchawat

Victory Monument

Box Space Ratchayothin

JJ green

Old/Historical Local Mixed New Generation Extinction

Khlong

Rot Fai Ratchada

Hua Mum

Liab Duan Artbox

Talad Neon

Khlong Toei

Rot Fai Srinakarin

Ramkhamhaeng

Nang Loeng

San Road

Saphan Taksin

Ratchawat

Monument

Khlong Suan 100 years

OLD AND HISTORICAL

MAEKHLONG RAILWAY MARKET

Background

The Maeklong Railway Market has been around since 1905. Due to new railway tracks cutting across the market, six times a day, vendors and buyers have three minutes to clear the tracks for the train to pass through. This phenomenon caught the attention of tourists, making it one of the most visited tourist spots in Bangkok.

Location

It is located in Samut Songkhram city, Muang Samut Songkhram District, which runs along the Gulf of Thailand’s coastline southwest of Bangkok. It’s about 60km from Bangkok. It is the main livelihoods of the residents there especially due to their main fishing trade. As seen from the map, the amenities of the town are mostly situated around the market especially with its close connection with the railway which supports the town’s production and economy with the other parts of Thailand.

Opening Hours: 8:30–9AM 11–11:30AM 2:30–3PM 5–5:30PM

Demographics:

Evaluation:

Key Learning Points:

Unique Trait - Train

Focus of the Town Center

Tourists visit only a small portion of the market, the market extends beyond the train tracks where most local activities take place. Even though the locals not particularly happy about the tourists, they welcome the inflow of tourism which fuels the town’s growth. The stalls that sell fresh food mostly know each other and have been there for generations, while shops that sell dry goods are mostly youths targetting the tourists. Due to the growing influx of tourists, the demographics and ambiance of the market are shifting. There are rising tensions between the tourists and vendors and within the vendors, which weakens the harmony of the community. However, the market is a key heritage and integral part of the town’s social fabric thus, the impact is only restricted to this portion of the market, while the market continues to expand with the diversification and prosperity of the town.

Functional intergration with the Train station

OLD AND HISTORICAL

KHLONG SUAN 100 YEARS MARKET

Background

The market has been here for a long time, ever since the time of King Rama V. The market sits alongside Prawetburirom Canal which runs from Bangkok all the way to Chachoengsao city. Back in the days, the canal was a kind of superhighway before roads were built. It acted as a central meeting point for traders, travelers, and farmers from all over central and eastern Thailand. When people moved from boat transport to land vehicles the popularity of the market declined. It is almost 500 meters long, connecting lines of wooden households across the canals where the residents live and work in the market. Currently, there are only elderly left while the youths move into the city. The market is only open on weekends, entertained by the recent popularity of tourists and student groups.

Location

It is located outside of Bangkok, about 20km past Suvarnabhumi airport. It is relatively remotely located at the side of the expressway and canal, the surrounding villages are gradually making way for factories. The market is the only surviving heritage infrastructure in the area.

Opening Hours: Weekends 7am -5pm

Type: Multi-function (restaurants, pharmacy, shops etc.)

Size: Large

Layout: Linear

Structure: Shophouse

Demographics:

Evaluation:

Observations

It is the only market where there is no distinction between the vendors, customers, and residents. This creates a family structure that reflects in the infrastructural layout and beyond the household unit into the market community.

Key Learning Points:

Multi-function market

Physical/societal translation of the family structure

Proximity to transportation

LOCAL KHLONG TOEI MARKET

Background

Khlong Toey Market, the largest wet market in the capital, is the heart of this district. Despite being in one of the largest low-income communities in the capital, Khlong Toei market serves as the remnant of the canal port community history and also a republic of food for Bangkok. Every essence of the place is stripped to its core and rawness, the foundation of Bangkok’s food industry. It is a complete contradiction to the otherwise urban landscape of the city but also an essential site in the urban fabric and food community.

Location

It is located at a busy intersection on Rama IV Road, near the MRT station Khlong Toei and Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre MRT stations in the Khlong Toei neighborhood. The neighborhood is mostly slums or mega-warehouses due to its close proximity to the highway.

Opening Hours: Everyday 6am- 2pm

Type: Fresh food Size: Medium

Layout: Horizontal

Structure: Warehouse Street occupation

Demographics:

Evaluation:

Observation

The market is an attack on visitors’ senses: the raw smell of food and trash, the physical sensations from the wet grounds and raw surroundings. The messy circulation within the premises. How the activities pour out into the streets and empty the physical structure. The short yet familiar interactions between people contribute to the organized mess of the market.

Key Learning Points:

Monopoly Typology (Prime Food Source in Bangkok)

Sensory activation of the environment

Unclear circulation hierarchy - more points of interactions/economic exchanges

LOCAL

OWL MARKET

Background

Owl Market is a relatively unknown local market started a few years ago with the development of the new neighborhood and extension of the public transport.

Location

It is located in the north of Bangkok in the Nonthaburi province, near the new train station: Yaek Nonthaburi 1. It takes up a large empty plot of land. From the site plan, the surrounding buildings are relatively new housing developments with entertainment and mega-shopping malls nearby.

Observation

This market grew with the population growth in the surrounding neighborhood. The visitors and sellers are mostly young families. There is a wide range of commercial and entertainment activities. The focus is mostly on local needs and wants with no inclination towards social media or trends like other mainstream markets. It is not exposed to tourism yet, hence, it functions purely for the locals and the surrounding community.

Key Learning Points:

Suitable for different economic groups (social status diffusor)

Flexible spatial organisation

Addition of Entertainment (attractive to young families)

Background

JJ Green is a night market that opened a few years ago, run by the same enterprise as the famous Chatuchak wholesale market. It resides on Chatuchak carpark lot and takes up part of the existing Chatuchak park. The crowds here is mostly Thai teenagers and young adults.

Location

It is located near Chatuchak Park and Mochit train station. It situated near Chatuchak Wholesale market. The neighborhood is generally new and growing as well with upcoming developments around it. Chatuchak Park serves as a transport hub as well, with a nearby bus terminal and many shuttle services to all parts of Bangkok. JJ Green is one of the only markets that are near a green space which affects the ambiance and environmental condition of the site (windy, less claustrophobic).

Observations

Unlike other markets, green buffers and vendors’ cars are integrated into the market layout which provides a different spatial ambiance. Within the

market. The different row distinctions form a structural circulation and hierarchical zoning in the market. Walking through the market, the goods transit from flea to clothes, to online goods, street food (Pavillions). Most of the pop-up shops function online and allow their customers to collect their goods during their market days. The market is targeted towards youth and the growing hipster scene. Most of the vendors do not hop around markets as their primary source of income comes from their online counterparts. JJ green serves as a principal example of a relatively successful city market model: youth-oriented, zoning, food pavilions, hipster culture. However, the community spirit is weak; vendors know their neighbors but not as a market community. The place serves as a fleeting location to visit, rather than a constant spot in the city fabric.

Key Learning Points: Green spaces

Informal zoning strategy

Connection to the online community

Background

Talad Rot Fai (Train Night market) is a chain of night markets in Bangkok. The market was founded by Period Roikaew, previously an antique dealer, in 2010. It was located on part of the SRT’s railway yard on Kamphaeng Phet Road, among unused warehouses, tracks and rolling stock (hence the name). Featuring a vintage atmosphere, it quickly became popular with Bangkok’s youth, but was forced to close down in 2013 when the area was marked for construction of the Bang Sue Central Station. it has since relocated to Si Nakharin Road, with a second branch at Ratchada and a third in Kaset–Nawamin. Its primary location at Si Nakharin has been ranked the most popular night market in Bangkok. However, Ratchada is the nearest to the city center, the best-located branch and the smallest.

Location

Talad Rot Fai Ratchada can be found behind Esplanade Complex, next to MRT Metro Thai Cultural Center station. It is near quite a few mega-shopping centers and office buildings, at the back is a major residential estate.

The merchandise is very similar to JJ Green. However, there is a stronger inclination towards social media trends and global influences due to its greater exposure to tourists. It is especially iconic due to its colorful tents, a vibrant social spot against the highrise backdrop of the city center. There is a clear sense of business model in this market from the curated stalls and food sold in the market. This night market is especially claustrophobic with little to no open space or spot to rest or gather. Maybe due to its proximity to the city, the rental of land is higher thus, open spaces cannot be afforded. The vendors frequently change as well, which justifies that the market operates as a pure business structure just like a shopping center.

Key Learning Points:

Avoid the business model

Event activities (Music platforms)

Curation (Can be done to assist the thesis’s purpose)

NEW GENERATION ARTBOX

Background

Artbox is a pop-up market that moves location every few months. It is well-known for featuring local artisans and bringing aspiring designers together. It is a one-of-a-kind market whereby it changes the theme every time, the merchandises are unique and handmade, food is quirky and innovative, especially suitable for social media gestures. They also organized music or entertainment events featuring the youth local scene. Their recent endeavors have a close partnership with SCB Bank and in Singapore, DBS bank.

Location

The location changes all the time together with the theme. It does not have a fixed location or fixed schedule, the information can only be known through social media. They recently extended their reach to Singapore (Marina Bay Sands). Their choice of location is mostly near the train stations and city center. This particular site is near Makkasan Train station which serves as the train interchange between the airport and the city center. There is also a university nearby and upcoming residential estate.

Observation

The crowd is mostly teenagers and some tourists. It is especially crowded and well-received by the locals. The layout of common dining area throughout the market, and elements of public spaces

Key Learning Points: Public spaces

Workshops and events

Element of surprise and mystery

(beanbags, beach chairs), music showcase, photo booths provide gathering moments of like-minded people into the market. The focus on designers’ community turns the market into the social hub for the art and design youth community. hub for the art and design youth community.

NEW GENERATION CHANGCHUI

Background

ChangChui was established by an artistentrepreneur who uses creativity as the heart in running the business, The intention of the space is to encourage Thai people to explore creative platforms. The general theme of the market was to reuse/rejuvenate antiques and unwanted stuff through art and innovation, cross-breeding the old and the new.

“Nothing is Useless if Creativity is Used.”

Location

The location is generally not accessible without private transport, it is located a distance away from the city center, along with the highway. It is also near a canal that separates Bangkok city from the outskirts, it can be seen from the difference in housing typology (slum vs bungalow) on each side of the river. However, it is near and up and rising estate Pinklao.

Opening Hours: Green zone: 11:00 -21:00 Night zone: 16:00 23:00

Observation

There is a holistic aesthetic throughout the site; it is more like an open-air complex than a market. The prices are higher here, mostly targetting the high-end youth community of Bangkok. However, there is no crowd at all, maybe due to the location. Even though it has a huge area, the ratio between space and shops is relatively proportionate. There are random artworks and graffitis which attract social media fans, but this is only a one-off gimmick unless there is an increase in the crowd. It might become another abandoned infrastructure in the city of Bangkok.

Key Learning Points:

Ratio between space and commercial

Control use of Social media gimmicks

Harmony between flexibility and asethetics can be considered

BANGKOK MARKETS - HAPPINESS EVALUATION

The market typology is closely affiliated to three of the happiness evaluation criteria: Environment, Social and Potential. This diagram is a summary of the extraction of various characteristics of the markets and their association to urban happiness.

It also shows the which market is most relevant as a reference model for urban happiness and the dilution of social support that markets provided for the society. New markets focus more on potential - economic growth and youth population.

The environment is severely neglected which has a corresponding impact on health. (potential from this category of evaluation is extracted from the case studies)

Thus, this diagram identifies the pros of existing new market typology as well as the areas of improvement that are missing or lost during the typological transformation.

Wholesale Necessities

years Market

Street carts Permenant infrastructure Social exchanges Neighbourhood landmark Near source of products Services

Sensory experience Village Residential

Relationship with the river

Heart of the neighbourhood

Singular Type

Livelihood Cultural Heritage Family Community spirit

Khlong Toei Market

Intangible Characteristics

Programmatic Characteristics

Physical Characteristics

Green Spaces

Public area

Proximity to Public Transport

Random arrangment

River

Flexible spatial organisation

Entertainment

Multi-purpose

Food

Commerical

Informal characteristics Technology

Music Creatives

Communal spaces Nightlife

Local entrepreneurs

Clusters Zoning

Temporal

Global influence

Tourism Public/Event space

Asethetics

Economic equality

Element of surprise Curation

Youth Clear distinction between vendors and visitors

Row arrangement

JJ Green Night Market

Rot Fai Ratchada Night Market

Art box

Changchui

92 DESIGN DIRECTION

CATALOG OF IDEAS SUMMARY OF RESEARCH

From this comprehensive list of prospective elements that assist in building urban happiness, the features of the new typology can be selected from here.

By looking at the similarities and repetition within the column, the essential factors of the respective evaluation criteria can be filtered. Another selection measure is based on the horizontal relationship and cross-influence that the particular factor has.

The design formula will be sieved and classified into concept, characteristics and functional components.

Urban Happiness Evaluation Criteria

Safety needs Trust

Green space Transport Housing

Balance between indoor and outdoor spaces

Green roofs

Healing environment

Cross-ventilation

Light Control

Case Studies Potential Elements

Neighbourhood belonging

Social activity

Participation

Thai Context: Local Market

Typology

Abstraction

Home layout

Light

Integrated functions inclusive space

Intricate design to a certain need/behaviour

Open function

Multi-function

Spatial Circulation

Spatial comfort

Urban Agriculture

Local Landscape

Informal circulation

Public access

Character to spaces

Green Spaces

Public area

Proximity to Public Transport

Flexible spatial organisation

Random arrangment

Clusters

Temporal

Row arrangement

Cultural/Historical

Translation of

Representation social identity

Conceptualization Stories

Socio-infrastructure system

Participation

Free expression

Adaption of social values elemental form

Memory

Representation of identity

Conceptualization of

Socio-infrastructure

Communal Living

Centrality

Technology

Social Machine

Spatial flexiblity/ movement

Urban regeneration

Intepretation of human movement and space

Focal point of the city Entertainment Technology

Sensory experience

Relationship

Informal

Singular

Life Expectancy at Birth

Physiological needs

Mortality and life expectancy

Machine for the living

ever-changing system due to the correlation with the individual

Vertical translation

Collaboration spaces

Education

Element

Clear

Overrall

Mental

Healthy and Risky behaviours

Behaviourial freedom

Distraction Self-Healing

Privacy Isolation

Mental services

Social services

Healthcare access

This diagram shows the potential flexibility and expansion of multiple functions of the new typology. It can be applied to a fixed site or moved across different sites and configured to fit the site conditions. (e.g., size, view, etc.)

By doing so, it does not hinder the city urbanization. At the current stage, it can be located on empty plots of land within the city center with proximity to public transport. In the future when land is scarce, the functions can be attached to existing building structures or modified to fit into abandoned infrastructures.

Empty plots

This is the existing temporal site of Artbox. It is the primary chosen site for design intervention, due to its close proximity to public transport and has a wide range of programs around the area.

Abandoned Buildings

Sathorn Ghost Tower is a site for potential future exploration when empty land is unavailable. Integration into existing infrastructure helps to utlise wasted space in the city. At the same time, it is situated near the river and the heart of one of the key historical neighbourhood in Bangkok.

Abandoned Sites

Magic Land is a half-built amusement park near Phahon Yothin station, Currently it houses informal activities like go-kart. Hence, there is a potential to grow the existing community and social activity in the area.

PA TW

ART WO

PART TWO - DESIGN INTERVENTION

Site Analysis

Urban Negativities

Caustrophobic

Detachment

Disturbance

Oversimulation

Numbness

Experiencial Journey

Day Market

Night Market

Shopping centres

Design Methodology

Grid Exploration

Module Catalogue

Design System Logic

Massing Development

Building Expansion

Illustrations

Axonometric Diagram Plans Sections Renders

Physical Model

Biblography

Appendix

PART TWO - DESIGN INTERVENTION

Further, from the previous research, I looked into finding the connection between architecture and happiness. Thus, this following part looks into the psychological effects of urban negativities and the relationship it has with the spatial urban surroundings. The programs and design system is designed upon this concept.

District Map

Figure Ground Map

Green Spaces River

Train Lines

Zone Map

Population Statistics

Road Map

Development Growth Map

Market and Shopping Mall Map

Based on the various site analyses, I have chosen Ratchada Night Market as the prototype site location. It is located in the Ratchadaphisek district which is High-density area in Bangkok. The site is well-connected to the expressway and right next to Thailand Cultural Centre MRT. It is expected to be an upcoming development area in 2020.

The site is located in between low-rise residential and high-rise commercial area. There is also a wide range of programs around the site.

URBAN NEGATIVITIES

CAUSTROPHOBIC

Using visual imageries from Bangkok, the collages strives to depict a condensed version of the different urban scenarios in the city and a comprehensive visionary of both the social and urban context.

Claustrophobic condition of urban negativities revolves mostly around the spatial conditions of the city. The narrow spaces are created by the hectic street conditions of people and infrastructure. This is further enhanced by the extreme heights that cover the view of the sky.

Characteristics:

Skyscapers

Extreme height differences

Crowding

Traffic jams

Narrow streetscapes

URBAN NEGATIVITIES DETACHMENT

Detachment is a combination of the spatial conditions and social context. The changing city facade is a reflection of the societal changes. As the community gets globalized and urbanized, the buildings shifted towards the cookie-cutter representation of an ideal city model.

Characteristics:

Loss of Culture

Diminishing family ties

Uniform street facades

URBAN NEGATIVITIES DISTURBANCE

Disturbance is the result of the new social generation. Technology has infiltrated into the lifestyle of the modern generation. The transition of society creates a socially-disturbed environment and increases urban stress, which can incur anxieties and mental negativities.

Characteristics:

Social Media

Noise Pollution Technology

URBAN NEGATIVITIES OVERSIMULATION

Oversimulation is particularly significant in Bangkok, where social activities thrives in the night. With density and larger urban population, businesses and people try to stand out against one and another, city lights shined brighter and increasingly chaotic with numbers.

Characteristics:

Light Pollution

Noise Pollution

URBAN NEGATIVITIES NUMBNESS

Last but not least, Numbness is a social phenomenon. It is a reaction to the oversimulation. Numbness deteriorates the people’s daily experiences which affects the emotional quality of life and social mentality.

Characteristics:

Social Surveillance

Social networking

EXPERIENCIAL JOURNEY DAY MARKET

Day Markets are mostly fresh food markets and traditional markets. They are not connected by the new public transport systems but closely associated with main highways, cross-country train and the river. Most of the infrastructure lines along the transport network and houses both the commercial and residential program representively bottom and top. The senses and interactions are closely intermerged with each other.

EXPERIENCIAL JOURNEY NIGHT MARKET

Day Markets are mostly fresh food markets and traditional markets. They are not connected by the new public transport systems but closely associated with main highways, cross-country train and the river. Most of the infrastructure lines along the transport network and houses both the commercial and residential program representively bottom and top. The senses and interactions are closely intermerged with each other.

EXPERIENCIAL JOURNEY NIGHT MARKET

Night markets are mostly commercially driven and popup in nature. They are connected by the new public transport systems or highway, taking up empty carpark lots or land plots. It has a clear grid/row systems due to the temporal infrastructure and certain clarity in zoning compared to day markets. It serves as a social focal point in the neighbourhood where communities gather after work and families go to for outings or extra income.

EXPERIENCIAL JOURNEY SHOPPING CENTER

Shopping centers are a physical icon of the global commercial industry. Similarly to night markets, they are located near public transport and highways but permanent. Programs are layered and experiences are highly curated and organised. Spatial quality and design are similar across the shopping centres, mess and noise are restricted from the inner spaces. In my opinion, its a uniform and clean organisation but lacks the vibrancy that disorganisation in markets have.

DESIGN METHODOLOGY

SOCIO- STRUCTURE (PROGRAM) LIVE WORK PLAY

GREEN/OPEN SPACE

ECO-THERAPY (GREEN)

SPATIAL MORPHOLOGY (SPACE)

BIO-HEALING

SPATIAL

ENVIRONMENTAL

Extracting spatial elements from the experiencial journey, using a grid table, this methodology aims to link the relationship between urban negativities, programs and the prior research’s design intentions. This design methodology will guide the design logic of the spatial/ building programmatic system.

PROGRAMS

Direct Connection

Partial Connection

(LWP)

Based on the design methodology and design intention, the utilisation of a grid allows spatial expansion and flexible programmatic iterations.

The final programmatic grid logic is chosen based on the optimal flexiblity and connections between the intended programs.

134 MODULE CATALOGUE

By extracting the different elements of the programmatic grid and applying the relevant spatial requirements of each program, different building modules are created.

DESIGN SYSTEM LOGIC

Site condition

Flexible grid concept Circulation

Starting corner conditions

Site evaluation

Final grid

Final design system logic

( accroding to the urban surroundings)

MASSING DEVELOPMENT

Place respective programmatic module on the grid system, the modules with P1 are utilised first to create an open ground condition.

Arrangement is guided by the design grid system and adjusted according to required spatial comfort and modular variations.

The second tier onwards uses modules without P1 as they are designed with core circulation structure system. to allow direct connection to the ground plane and further expansion.

The public zone is designed with a grid structure which provides utility connections for markets and events to happen anywhere in the site, it can also serve as a shelter and landscape.

Arrangement is guided by the design grid system as well as the ground circulation core structure, double core and single core modules are designed to allow flexibility in connection.

The different programs are structurally different which allows a visual identification and facade variation to the overrall building design.

BUILDING EXPANSION

Horizontal ground expansion

Vertical high-rise expansion

Existing building expansion

This prototype design consists of two-tiers of modules based on the design logic ( alternative modules can be used as well). The core of each module serves as the general circualtion and the infrastructure spine.

GROUND PLAN

Due to the structure of the design logic system, the ground plane consists of modules with public program, this allows a relatively open plan regardless of any configuration. The spatial grid infrastructure aims to enhance the idea of flexiblity in the public zone by allowing ultities (water/electricity) to extend beyond the main infrastructure. At the same time, serving as a shelter/green landscape.

MIDDLE FLOOR PLAN

At the middle ground, the programs shifts from a communal + commercial arrangement towards a commercial + residential arrangement. There are three different design structure which helps to achieve facade distinction between the programs : open plan (communal), room plan (commercial) and corridor plan (residential). Each Structure is designed to provide a harmonious relationship between the fix and the flexible to accomodate the changing community needs.

TOP FLOOR PLAN

At the upper floors, the modules are designed to favor residential program allocation. Modular commercial units are attached to the side of the circulation core to provide a close relationship between the living and working environment, this is an adaption from the traditional shophouses in old markets where people work where they live visa versa. The communal space between the residential units become a expansion space for the residential and commercial activities. (e.g. flea markets)

DIAGONAL PERSPECTIVE SECTION

PHYSICAL MODEL

BIBLIOGRAPHY

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Vidler, A. (1999). The Architectural Uncanny: Essays in the Modern Unhomely. Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press.

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Wigley, Mark. Another city for another life: Constants New Babylon. New York: Drawing Center, 1999.

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Case Studies

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APPENDIX

Figure 2.2: Ranking of Happiness 2014-2016 (Part 1)

1. Norway (7.537)

2. Denmark (7.522)

3. Iceland (7.504)

4. Switzerland (7.494)

5. Finland (7.469)

6. Netherlands (7.377)

7. Canada (7.316)

8. New Zealand (7.314)

9. Australia (7.284)

10. Sweden (7.284)

11. Israel (7.213)

12. Costa Rica (7.079)

13. Austria (7.006)

14. United States (6.993)

15. Ireland (6.977)

16. Germany (6.951)

17. Belgium (6.891)

18. Luxembourg (6.863)

19. United Kingdom (6.714)

20. Chile (6.652)

21. United Arab Emirates (6.648)

22. Brazil (6.635)

23. Czech Republic (6.609)

24. Argentina (6.599)

25. Mexico (6.578)

26. Singapore (6.572)

27. Malta (6.527)

28. Uruguay (6.454)

29. Guatemala (6.454)

30. Panama (6.452)

31. France (6.442)

32. Thailand (6.424)

33. Taiwan Province of China (6.422)

34. Spain (6.403)

35. Qatar (6.375)

36. Colombia (6.357)

37. Saudi Arabia (6.344)

38. Trinidad and Tobago (6.168)

39. Kuwait (6.105)

40. Slovakia (6.098)

41. Bahrain (6.087)

42. Malaysia (6.084)

43. Nicaragua (6.071)

44. Ecuador (6.008)

45. El Salvador (6.003)

46. Poland (5.973)

47. Uzbekistan (5.971)

48. Italy (5.964)

49. Russia (5.963)

50. Belize (5.956)

51. Japan (5.920)

52. Lithuania (5.902)

53. Algeria (5.872)

Explained by: GDP per capita

Explained by: social support

Explained by: healthy life expectancy

Explained by: freedom to make life choices

Explained by: generosity

Explained by: perceptions of corruption Dystopia (1.85) + residual 95% confidence interval

Figure

2.2:

Ranking of Happiness 2014-2016 (Part 2)

54. Latvia (5.850)

55. South Korea (5.838)

56. Moldova (5.838)

57. Romania (5.825)

58. Bolivia (5.823)

59. Turkmenistan (5.822)

60. Kazakhstan (5.819)

61. North Cyprus (5.810)

62. Slovenia (5.758)

63. Peru (5.715)

64. Mauritius (5.629)

65. Cyprus (5.621)

66. Estonia (5.611)

67. Belarus (5.569)

68. Libya (5.525)

69. Turkey (5.500)

70. Paraguay (5.493)

71. Hong Kong S.A.R., China (5.472)

72. Philippines (5.430)

73. Serbia (5.395)

74. Jordan (5.336)

75. Hungary (5.324)

76. Jamaica (5.311)

77. Croatia (5.293)

78. Kosovo (5.279)

79. China (5.273)

80. Pakistan (5.269)

81. Indonesia (5.262)

82. Venezuela (5.250)

83. Montenegro (5.237)

84. Morocco (5.235)

85. Azerbaijan (5.234)

86. Dominican Republic (5.230)

87. Greece (5.227)

88. Lebanon (5.225)

89. Portugal (5.195)

90. Bosnia and Herzegovina (5.182)

91. Honduras (5.181)

92. Macedonia (5.175)

93. Somalia (5.151)

94. Vietnam (5.074)

95. Nigeria (5.074)

96. Tajikistan (5.041)

97. Bhutan (5.011)

98. Kyrgyzstan (5.004)

99. Nepal (4.962)

100. Mongolia (4.955)

101. South Africa (4.829)

102. Tunisia (4.805)

103. Palestinian Territories (4.775)

104. Egypt (4.735)

105. Bulgaria (4.714)

106. Sierra Leone (4.709)

Explained by: GDP per capita

Explained by: social support

Explained by: healthy life expectancy

Explained by: freedom to make life choices

Explained by: generosity

Explained by: perceptions of corruption Dystopia (1.85) + residual 95% confidence interval

Figure 2.2: Ranking of Happiness 2014-2016 (Part 3)

107. Cameroon (4.695)

108. Iran (4.692)

109. Albania (4.644)

110. Bangladesh (4.608)

111. Namibia (4.574)

112. Kenya (4.553)

113. Mozambique (4.550)

114. Myanmar (4.545)

115. Senegal (4.535)

116. Zambia (4.514)

117. Iraq (4.497)

118. Gabon (4.465)

119. Ethiopia (4.460)

120. Sri Lanka (4.440)

121. Armenia (4.376)

122. India (4.315)

123. Mauritania (4.292)

124. Congo (Brazzaville) (4.291)

125. Georgia (4.286)

126. Congo (Kinshasa) (4.280)

127. Mali (4.190)

128. Ivory Coast (4.180)

129. Cambodia (4.168)

130. Sudan (4.139)

131. Ghana (4.120)

132. Ukraine (4.096)

133. Uganda (4.081)

134. Burkina Faso (4.032)

135. Niger (4.028)

136. Malawi (3.970)

137. Chad (3.936)

138. Zimbabwe (3.875)

139. Lesotho (3.808)

140. Angola (3.795)

141. Afghanistan (3.794)

142. Botswana (3.766)

143. Benin (3.657)

144. Madagascar (3.644)

145. Haiti (3.603)

146. Yemen (3.593)

147. South Sudan (3.591)

148. Liberia (3.533)

149. Guinea (3.507)

150. Togo (3.495)

151. Rwanda (3.471)

152. Syria (3.462)

153. Tanzania (3.349)

154. Burundi (2.905)

155. Central African Republic (2.693)

Explained by: GDP per capita

Explained by: social support

Explained by: healthy life expectancy

Explained by: freedom to make life choices

Explained by: generosity

Explained by: perceptions of corruption Dystopia (1.85) + residual 95% confidence interval