POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF TURIN
Urban Design Urban Landscape for future cities
Academic: Final Essay Graduation Presentation Date: February 23, 2014 Individual
Table of Contents Introduction................................................................................................ 129 The Importance of Livability.................................................................. 129 The Importance of the Urban Landscape............................................. 129 Atelier: Urban Design Studio..................................................................... 130 Project in Carmagnola.......................................................................... 130 SWOT Analysis..................................................................................... 130 Action Plan: Urban Oragnization and Connections.............................. 131 Regeneration................................................................................... 131 Safety............................................................................................... 131 Conclusion................................................................................................. 132
Connection between natural and built
Interaction of Carmagnola
Introduction The Importance of Livability Studios like the Atelier: Urban Design and the extracurricular activities, such as urban workshops and online courses on Future Cities, I undertook during the Architecture Bachelor Degree at the Polytechnic University of Turin, made me realize the most important keyword to designing a sustainable city: livability. In other words, cities should be designed for life. -Designers today should aim for a future where there is an ease in the movement of a city. Unfortunately, cities today are facing extreme societal transformations, ranging from environmental to economic and demographic shifts to social and spatial challenges. Therefore, approaches towards the Urban Landscape need to change in order for future cities to grow turning its urban areas into opportunities. As a person who has a great passion for the arts, nature, and helping others, I knew becoming an Architect was the right career choice for me to then further my profession into Urban Landscape.
The Importance of the Urban Landscape In the absence of effective and efficient urban planning, and with current rapid urbanization, horizontally low-dense and automobile-dependent sprawling cities have resulted in an unsustainable lifestyle that is increasingly threatening human health and well-being. In addition, the lack of proper housing, insufficient and outdated infrastructure, poverty and unemployment, safety and crime problems, poorly managed natural resources and climate change are the current challenges worldwide. Not to mention that pollution and health issues have stirred outbreaks of depression, obesity, diabetes, asthma, and heart disease as consequences of the lack of access to environments that encourage daily exercise, provide clean air and water and offer affordable services and nutritious food. Therefore, Urban Landscape is a fundamental key in the sustai-
nable development agenda to build a sustainable environment for a healthier future.
Atelier: Urban Design Studio Project in Carmagnola Carmagnola, Italy is a place that has a sharp boundary between the city center and the outskirts in which the limitation of car access enhances this strict boundary. Unfortunately, from Road Hiararchy Train tracks Highway
Trucks and non-visitors Take on different path
ment, decreasing the city’s aesthetic and spirit. With the outskirts being a dead zone, where the Insecure crossing Bumpers before crossroads
level of activities are low, the aim is to blur this sharp boundary which divides the two parts and undergo a transformation of potential spaces into useful places filled with opportunities. By polishing and organizing these urban spaces, people will be invited to spread to the outer skirts, hence not only blurring the boundaries but also making the city more cohesive, lively, and ultimately more attractive to residents. The design provides a system of connections between varieties of mixed-used through a “Live, Work, and Play” approach, thus creating a unique sense of
Issues CHAOS
more, it has failed to fully understand its connection with quality of life, as well as social develop-
Analysis Chart
Primary School Children safety Landscape Panoramic View Boardwalk: pedestrian walk, bike and rollerskating path
Fast car drivers Reduce car speed limit
Insecure crossroads
Unorganized parking and sidewalk
Overrated Interconnections Eliminate secondary entrances
community and place.
creating a separation from the rest of the city. It is an area located along a main road as Via Torino is the entrance to the city with many trucks and non-visitors passing by causing chaos
UNUSED
Legend ROADS Walk Lane Car Lane
SIGNS Chaos Crossings
LAND USE Green Areas Unused Areas Undeveloped Area
People are driving at high speed Trucks are passing by
Overrated interconnecti ons
Cars enter from different directions increases amount of cars
Unwellness of greenery
Too much asphalt and very little vegetation
Unorganized sidewalks
Side parking overlaping the pedestrian lane Some sidewalks are too big and uncesserary There is no distinguish of bike lanes People are riding bike beside the cars
Lack of bike lanes
SWOT Analysis Unfortunately the Northern part of Camagnola has neither sense of order nor community,
Unorganized parking lots
Descriptions Area is overload with parking space Side parking breaks the continues of pedestrian
Abandoned areas
Unused land
Conclusion Intention SAFETY
Via Torino SWOT Analysis
abandoned spaces, and its lack of proper urban infrastructure making the place unsafe. Further-
UNDEVELOPED
city’s look and feel. Paying little attention to its public spaces as it contains many unused and
Regional Road Provincial Road
Developed but unused spaces
Weakens the aesthetical values of the area
REGENERATE
the urban design point of view, the outskirts of Carmagnola underestimate the importance of a
Reduce cars along Via Torino
Continues and suitable streets for users Pedestrian crossing safer/visible Aesthetic of the streets Connection of context Connecting two sides of the area
Plate Presentation Part 1 Existence
bringing many issues like heavy traffic, speeding cars, and insecure crossings. Undeveloped
Action Area Plan
and unused areas were also present with un-wellness of greenery which weakens the aesthetical value of the area. As a conclusion the general aim for this part of town will be towards safety and regeneration focusing in its public spaces such as parks, green areas, and streets through a system of connection.
Action Plan: Urban Organization and Connections Regeneration Road Hiararchy Provincial Road New Provincial Road
Regional Road New Regional Road
Legend ROADS Border Car Bike Pedestrian Boardwalk
LAND USE Sport fields Community parks Parking lots SIGNS Speed Limit Bumpers Crossings
Wooden Church
AA’ Sections 123 Conceptial Diagrams
“Connection” is key in the overall concept of our project for a well balance community, promoting social connectivity and diversity among the people in Carmagnola. By taking these abandoned and unused spaces transforming every single one into a place where each plot’s function were chosen according to its existing facilities that surrounds them. In addition, each plot is then connected to the main area of our Design Studio, the Wooden Church Area, through a system of ways. The Wooden Church Area being the main center of the different activities taken from the functions of each plot becomes a place where the residents of Carmagnola can gather with a mixture of Community, Sports, and a Commercial Center. Common squares were created between each center creating a great balance between urban and built area.
Street Sections Via Novara AA’
Via Torino BB’
Safety As activities in the Wooden Church Area leads to the other plots scattered around the neighborhood, there needed an improved system of pedestrian friendly streetscapes in the area.
Boardwalk Bike
Street Street
Bike
Sidewalk Sidewalk
Sidewalk Sidewalk
Bike
Street Street
P
Sidewalk Proposal Sidewalk Existing
Plate Presentation Part 2 Action
Unfortunately, Via Torino is the main street that is constantly filled with cars. Therefore, reducing the amount of cars entering was the main intention. By creating new passages and raising the
level of difficulties through a system of bumpers, speed limit, and a reduction of car lanes, trucks 3D Conceptial Diagram Connections
and non-visitors will then be forced to take on a different path, hence reducing the amount of cars
4 Playground
5 Multi-Sport Field
Playground Seats Fences Sitting Court
in the area. Furthermore, through its new urban spaces and street organization it will encourage walking, cycling, and other forms of eco-friendly non-motorized mobility, thereby reducing carbon emissions for a healthy environment.
4
Greenery Sitting Courts
5
6
7 Communal Agriculture Field
3
3 Skate Park
Conclusion
6 Park
Buffer Greenery Greenery Seats Basketball Court Tennis Court
2
Rollerblade Park Skate Park Greenery Seats
Green Houses Gathering Court
7
The Atelier: Urban Design Studio made me better understand about urban spatial organiza-
scenario, as we did in Carmagnola, I realized the ability of an architect in identifying, understanding and responding to such challenges affecting a city, which becomes increasingly fundamental in the process of making a sustainable and livable place. A well-designed public space not
8
1
tion and the role of the architect and urban planner. In this context of working in a real case 2 Community Library
8 Community School Handicraft School Seats Chess Courts Draughts Courts
1 Design Area
Buffer Greenery Soccer Field Sitting Courts Library
Auditorium Soccer Field Offices Library Market
only results in improving the overall visual character of the city, but also strengthening its economic activities and enhances its functionality.
Design Process
As to conclude, with the world facing such societal transformations indicate that we can no longer expect the future conditions of the discipline to be an extrapolation of the past. Therefore, approaches towards the Urban Landscape need to change in order for future cities to grow. Polytechnic University of Turin has guided me in the right path to then wanting to further broaden
STEP 1 First main street
STEP 2 Second main street
STEP 3 Area of public facilities
STEP 4 Common squares
STEP 5 Streets between buildings
STEP 6 Connections with plots
STEP 7 Building Functions Concept
STEP 8 Secondary squares for buildings
my knowledge and train me into becoming a leading actor in the sustainable development of the built environment.
Plate Presentation Part 3 Design Concept