THE CITY AT EYE LEVEL ASIA

MURALS TO SAVE THE SOUL OF A COLOMBO NEIGHBOURHOOD

In conversation with Firi Rahman (#WeAreFromHere) by Ester van Steekelenburg (Urban Discovery)

COLOMBO, SRI LANKA

Colombo, Sri Lankaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s capital, is undergoing a make-over. After years of civil war, the city is set to become a Singapore-like economic powerhouse. Chinese and Indian-fuelled investment has poured into the country to make this dream come true. But at what cost? Slave Island, an old neighbourhood in the heart of the city, is where the skyscrapers are going up faster than one can imagine. What used to be a unique and vibrant urban district is transformed beyond recognition. The quarter is quickly being swallowed up by the shiny new apartment buildings rising around it. Artist Firi Rahman has lived his whole life in Slave Island, and as more buildings in his neighbourhood are threatened by demolition, he has gathered up his artist friends and started a campaign to save its soul. #WeAreFromHere is a unique artistic initiative that maps stories of ordinary and extraordinary locals to highlight the unique multicultural community of Slave Island. 78

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THE CITY AT EYE LEVEL ASIA

Published on Oct 27, 2020Architecture

STIPO

Asian cities are shifting and turning their focus towards human scale developments and better quality public spaces. The City at Eye Level Asia is a collaboration between STIPO, Think City (Kuala Lumpur, George Town and Johor Bahru) and Urban Discovery (Hong Kong). In 2019 these three organisations partnered up to realize a new edition of The City at Eye Level series, focusing particularly on Asian cities and their successful strategies to create better places for people. Our latest book packed with 43 inspiring case studies showcasing good public spaces as the backbone of the sustainable city from across the region. From Singapore to Asahikawa, and Hanoi to Mumbai, municipal governments, urban planners, activists, architects, placemakers and real estate developers are pioneering to create human-scale streets and loveable places, using a more co-creative approach to urban development. With The City at Eye Level Asia we bring you key insights and lessons learned from Asia’s front-runners in creative and commu

Articles inside

PASAR PAPRINGAN: FINDING A FUTURE IN THE PAST

THE CITY AT EYE LEVEL ASIA

Articles inside

BIOGRAPHIES

LITERATURE LIST

IMAGE CREDITS

CONNECTING PUBLIC SPACES AND BASINS WITH WOOD

PLACEMAKING AS EMANCIPATORY PRACTICE IN ASIA?

BRINGING EDGE FOOD FUTURES INTO THE SPOTLIGHT

INTRODUCTION

PASAR PAPRINGAN: FINDING A FUTURE IN THE PAST

EMBRACING GREENERY AT VARIOUS ‘EYE LEVELS

WALKABILITY IN ASIAN CITIES

BICYCLE-FRIENDLY CITIES THROUGH PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP

BUILDING A PLAYGROUND FOR FOOD

TOWARDS BARRIER-FREE PLAY SPACES, BEACHES & PARKS

NOT JUST FOR KICKS

MANAGING A WORLD HERITAGE SITE: CHALLENGES & COMPLEXITIES

ACHIEVING BETTER PUBLIC SPACES USING INNOVATIVE DIGITAL TOOLS

INTRODUCTION

LET’S HACK OUR PLAY

PLANNING SEOULUTIONS FROM HONGDAE

THE VALUE OF PLACEMAKING

CREATING NEW LAYERS OF PUBLIC SPACE THROUGH ELEVATED WALKWAYS

ESCOLTA: REVIVAL OF A FORGOTTEN ART DECO BOULEVARD

STARTING FROM STREET SIGNS

THE RED DOOR: A GATEWAY FOR CONTEMPORARY ARTS & CULTURE

PLACEMAKING IN THE HISTORIC HEART OF CHENGDU

A PARTNERSHIP THAT REVITALISED KOTA TUA JAKARTA

INTRODUCTION

A MOVEMENT TO REIMAGINE THE STREETS OF JAPAN

FROM THE STUDIO TO THE MICRO-PARK

A COLLABORATIVE APPROACH TO PUBLIC SPACE DEVELOPMENT

A NEW VISION FOR WET MARKETS IN HANOI

LANEWAYS: TRANSFORMING SPACES INTO MEANINGFUL PLACES

STREET FOOD AS COMMUNITY ANCHOR

INTRODUCTION

A GREEN STREET THAT BINDS THE COMMUNITY

BUKATSUDO: A CLUB FOR CREATIVE CITIZENS

REIMAGINING NEW CITY DEVELOPMENT IN MAEKHA

YANGON’S ALLEY GARDEN PROJECT

MURALS TO SAVE THE SOUL OF A COLOMBO NEIGHBOURHOOD

INSPIRING BETTER PLACES, ONE WALL AT A TIME

INTRODUCTION

TURNING SPACES INTO PLACES IN MUMBAI

REFRESHING THE HISTORIC SINGAPORE RIVER

THE CITY AT EYE LEVEL IN ASIAN CONTEXT

TAMAN FILM: INSPIRING A SENSE OF BELONGING

HOW A COMMUNITY FARM SAVED THE LAST VILLAGE IN HONG KONG

INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION TO A BETTER CITY AT EYE LEVEL

FOREWORD