Vertical Diversity

1VERTICAL DIVERSITYLASSE RYBERG HANSEN UCL The Bartlett School of ArchitectureMArch Urban Design11-12UD 4 Tutors: Daewha Kang and Monika Bilska

2This project investigates how replacing the current large-scale development in Hong Kong with an adaptable unit system can increase liveability. While Hong Kongs urban fabric has traditionally been ad hoc, the increasing demand for housing is generating a more systematic approach to development. As a result the citys rich diversity and informality is disappearing and being replaced with an emerging social situation with very little variety. As Hong Kong is taken over by this new typology of solitary high-rises and hyper-blocks, it is losing its character and heritage of vibrant public life; something Hong Kong has always been famous for. This project aims to address the demand for densification in a way that embrac-es rather than sacrifices Hong Kongs miscellany.

After analysing the current situation in Hong Kong, several methods for intervention were explored. They all aimed to strengthen the existing, successful urban fabric of informality, while changing the current ideal of development in Hong Kong. By subverting the traditional hierarchies of urban elements, the project develops a design framework reflected by the city itself, and generates a new form of Hong Kong.

A rule-based design methodology of units was chosen to generate the new typology of homogeneous vertical living. The unit structure generates a new vibrant public ground plane within a very confined space, where vertical walkways accommodate diverse social activities. The structure extends to nearby buildings, including and improving the circulation within them, and creates a consistent and vibrant flow. The structure generates self-organisation while flexibly accommodating individual inhabitants.

Abstract

3Table of Contents

0. Abstract

1. Introduction

2. Hong Kong analysis

3. The strength of urban life ( urban theories )

4. Properties of Hong Kong

5. Dream Other project, initial idea, ideal cityExisting projects/ideas (unit: Habitat, Nakagin tower- Street life; the 8 project, Odhams walk)Parametric as a tool not a result! Bad examples could be some of the Bartlett lecturesA fusion between the low-tech Jane Jacobs, Jan Gehl etc. and the new age of digital algorithms.

6. Learning from nature- The natural metaphor

7. Model research

8. The digital toolsAlgorithms/ parametric and self-organizing systems are starting to evolveWe should be more critical of the parametric architecture.

9. Behind the projectRules - variables - grasshopper etc

9. The project Renderings, images,

The concept of rules is based on the indirect relationships between inhabitants, space and programs. It is inspired by the notion of stigmergy found in natural social organisations, as well as on the notion that the architects role is to facilitate a process where the inhabitants generate the end-result and design. It combines the notion of a bottom-up approach with specific planning and design interventions to facili-tate a balance between the dynamic individual citizen and the top-down developer role.

The programs within the structure will be determined by the inhabitants themselves, and their inputs will shape the structure. Rules created by the architect ensure that the methodology will create emerging public spaces, where clusters of mixed use will activate the space to ensure vibrant life.

The circulation distribution is essential to the project in order to accommodate the required vibrancy seen in the existing successful urban situation of Hong Kong. The project employs a hierarchy-based logic to classify different sets of circulation, public and private, as well as different speed assigned circu-lation systems.

The project has evolved through a series of tests driven by predefined rules and the theory of urban thinkers, establishing the right proportions of space used for specific functions of (architectural) quality control.

4BOOKS:- A Pattern Language: Towns, Buildings, Construction by Christopher Alexander - Oxford University Press 1977- Scripting Cultures: Architectural Design and Programming by Mark Burry - John Wiley & Sons 2011- Parametric Architecture with Grasshopper by Arturo Tedeschi - Le Penseur 2010 - The vertical Village individual, Informal, Intense by MVRDV t?f - NAi Publishers 2012- The concise townscape by Gordon Cullen - The Architectural Press 1971- The death and life of great American cities by Jane Jacobs - Vintage Books 1992- The image of the city by Kevin Lynch - The MIT Press 1959- Self-organization in Biological Systems by P.H Anderson - Princeton University 2001

PDF:- Ten principles for a sustainable Approach to New Development Towards Sustainable and Integrated Large-Scale Devel-opments for a More Liveable Hong Kong by ULI - -Kantzoner by Jan Gehl - Entasis ?-Byens rum 2 Det kendte I det fremmede by JUUL | FROST Arkitekter Fonden til udgivelse af Arkitekturtidsskrift B Kbenhavn

LINKS:http://www.nyu.edu/classes/reichert/sem/city/lecorbu.htmlhttp://justurbanism.com/2007/11/10/lecorbusier_and_la_ville_radieuse/http://ai-depot.com/CollectiveIntelligence/Ant.htmlhttp://sustainablecities.dk/en/actions/interviews/jan-gehl-making-healthy-citieshttp://www.megastructure-reloaded.org/http://biomimicry.net/http://www.districtcouncils.gov.hk/ssp/en/dchighlights.htmlhttp://www.pland.gov.hk/http://www.housingauthority.gov.hk/en/http://www.densityatlas.org/http://ura.org.hk/en/http://teoalida.webs.com/hongkong.htmhttp://www.essential-architecture.com/STYLE/STY-072.htmhttp://www.photomichaelwolf.com/hongkongarchitecture/index.htmlhttp://www.globaia.org/http://www.maps.google.comhttp://www.skyscrapercity.comhttp://www.flickr.com/http://blog.inpolis.com/

5Table of Contents

1. Introduction 6-9

2. Hong Kong analysis 10 -37

3. The strength of urban life ( urban theories ) 38 - 49 4. Properties of Hong Kong 50 - 63

5. Dreaming 64- 71

6. Learning from nature 72 - 75

7. Model research 76 - 85

8. The digital tool 86 - 93

9. Behind the project 94 -117

9. Living with vertical diversity 118 - 125

6The city is made by people and should therefore be for people. The ideal city should encourage the citizens to interact with the city. The ideal citizen should likewise feel the urge to interact with the city. The city and its citizens should be both dynam-ic and adaptable to new challenges, and act in symbiosis to strengthen one another.

7RemembeR the heRitage

Introduction

1.

8The identities of cities and their citizens are revealed on the citys streets. It is the space between buildings that shapes the city and creates its unique character; it is here life emerges and creates its success or failure.

Hong Kong is famous for its vibrant life, with narrow street markets scattered around the city, shops around every corner and seemingly endless bustling streets packed with people day and night. Unfortunately this legacy is rapidly fading away due to the relentless attack of solitary high-rises and hyper-blocks. The diverse communities and heritage that have shaped Hong Kong are giving way to repeti-tive housing units, where uniform floor plans and facades are taking over. With an expected population increase from 7 million to 8.5 million people over the next 20 years, the real estate-market is constantly been pressured, making it unavoidable to stop expanding. This new building form is partly successful in providing for the on going demand, but is obstructing the urban life and vitality, and demoralizes the individuality of people living in the city, failing the Hong Kong legacy. The density of Hong Kong is currently perceived as problematic, resulting in this new typology, where citizens are placed in the public housing scheme of high-ris-es, isolated from the urban fabric or forced even further away in the monotonous New Towns. The public housing scheme is currently the most lucrative opportunity for the average citizen, if they even can get into it. Citizens who have not yet man-aged to get into the public housing scheme often have no other opportunity than

9renting small expensive, rundown flats that dont meet any living standard in the world. The density should instead be seen as an opportunity to create a new way of living, which remembers the heritage of Hong Kong and amplifies the original life style of Hong Kong. By reinterpreting the current concept of housing and by analysing the urban fabric and extract the successful elements, it is possible to reintroduce a typology that encourages interaction between people. With only limited usable land available, and Hong Kongs high density, the vertical reach is a necessity. Until now, the city has had a simple vertical movement that only scratches the surface of opportunities of vertical living. There is a need to start looking at the vertical movement as a way of life and not simply as a way of living, where social life and informal meetings not only exist on the ground floor, but take place on all levels and where daily life and errands will be both horizontal and vertical, and will encourage meetings in the corridors and inside the common rooms. Is it possible to create a structure that becomes more attractive as it develops and the activity and life increases on each level?

In todays world of urban design we cannot only look at an iso-lated site. We have to understand the context in which the site occurs, especially when dealing with the subject of the ideal city. We have to understand and predict new tendencies at all scales in order to design for the future.

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the invasion of laRge-scale Development

Hong Kong analysis

2.

11

Shenzhen, China

Hong Kong has always been a dense city. With the borders between China and Hong Kong being opened, it is expected that over 1.5 million people will immigrate to Hong Kong over the next 20 years, making the city even denser. This density is the centre point of Hong Kongs identity, for good and for bad. When dealt with appropriately, it gives the city its vibrancy. However, if dealt with in the wrong way, it can have severe detrimental effects. This analysis of Hong Kong is split into two, in order to show both sides of Hong Kongs density.

12

Greater Hong Kong

Sham Shui Po (site)

2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 20407.063.300

8.892.800

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Hong Kongs heritage of vibrant street life, day and night, mainly occurs in the older districts of the city. In the popular market streets are small shops and Dai Pai Dongs (small stationary boxes that, when unfolded create a shop), providing everything from daily food to cam-eras and IT equipment. Here the urban Hong Kong life shows its real strengths in positively affecting its environment. Every left over space is used either as an opportunity to take a small pause from the hectic life, or to expand the business.

15

The skywalks and escalators that cross the major traffic roads connect the bustling streets together, ensuring the safety of the pedestrians. Re-tail occurs around the skywalks, making them a centre of life in Hong Kong. The best example of this is the escalator system in SoHo. The system was created by the private sector in order to provide efficient transport to help their employees commute to and from work. Around this new pedestrian high-way, retail and urban life has started to emerge, and is now one of the most successful areas in Hong Kong.

17

Pictures showing vibrant life of Hong Kong with narrow street fully occu-pied with shops and skywalks leading directly to shops.

19

Pictures showing market streets and food stalls giving Hong Kong its vibrant life.

21

50s

shophouse

50s

block

60s

shadow block

70s

hyper block

80s

podium tower

90s..

hyper podium tower

Hong Kong mixed use chronology

residentialofficehotel

commerical

50sshophouse

50sblock

60sshadow block

70shyperblock

80spodium tower

90s hyper podium tower

commercialresidentialofficehotel

Sadly this heritage is slowly being replaced by an impersonal identity, which is more about building for profit than caring for the people living in the city. Today the identity of Hong Kong is more about the free economy and the seemingly endless number of high rises, than it is the urban life.

Due to the ever-growing need for real-estate, the free economy and the continued drive for profit, land development has rapidly accelerated over the last decade, moving from small scale mixed use to a depersonalised, large-scale podium ty-pology.

Central South 1960s

Taikoo 1980s

Mong Kok 1970s

Kowloon Station 2000s

1oo m

1oo m

1oo m

1oo m

22

Kowloon stationPicture form http://www.globaia.org/en/anthropocene/

The hyper-podiums are internally focused and often isolated from their external sur-roundings. They are inward facing centres, concealing themselves from street level. The circulation patterns take place within the development and allow little contact with the external environment. Together with the monotone large-scale high-rise blocks, they leave the city with lacklustre perimeter street walks and a minimal opportunity for inter-action between the block and the street.

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This lifelessness is present inside high-rises as well as out-side. People live in poor conditions. However, the price per square meter is so high that there is often only a few square meters per person. Hong Kongs public housing scheme offers the average citizen reasonable accommodation for a relatively low price. However, the length of the waiting list makes it extremely difficult to register and when citizens finally obtain accom-modation, they are placed in unpleasant high-rises isolated form the city of New Towns far away from it. These New Towns is an attempt to solve the density issue. Settlements are constructed over night, mass-producing soulless clusters of high-rises that are seemingly limited to Le Corbusiers idea of a Radiant City and its lack of consider-ation for true urban life.

24

Picture form http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=232192

25

Pictures of Tin Shui Wai also known as The city of Sadness.One of Hong Kong New Towns.

27

Pictures of Sham Shui Po, where large scale developments have destroyed the urban vitality.

29

Pictures of Hong Kong facades, taken by the artist Michael Wolf.http://www.photomichaelwolf.com/

31

15-sqft (1.4sqm) cubicles, usually eight of them to a room, with

32

15-sqft (1.4sqm) cubicles, usually eight of them to a room, with

Pictures of Hong Kong residential situation, taken by the artist Michael Wolf.http://www.photomichaelwolf.com/andhttp://p21chong.wordpress.com/

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(A) 1 35

Typical Floor PlanYin Lai Court Yin Kwong House (Block A) 1/F-35/F

12,,The typical floor plan, part plan are extracted from the information brochure of Yin Lai Court under the Home Ownership Scheme Phase 12B are for reference only. Prior to purchasing a flat, prospective purchaser should carry out on-the-spot visit to get to know the existing condition of the flat.

(A)

Typical Floor PlanWang Fuk Court Wang Yan House (Block A)

4,,The typical floor plan, part plan are extracted from the information brochure of Wang Fuk Court under the Home Ownership Scheme Phase 4B and are for reference only. Prior to purchasing a flat, prospective purchaser should carry out on-the-spot visit to get to know the existing condition of the flat.

(E)

Typical Floor PlanCheung Wo Court Wo Hang House (Block E)

5,,The typical floor plan, part plan are extracted from the information brochure of Cheung Wo Court under the Home Ownership Scheme Phase 5B and are for reference only. Prior to purchasing a flat, prospective purchaser should carry out on-the-spot visit to get to know the existing condition of the flat.

Typical Floor PlanKam Fung Court Kam Lan House (Block J) 4/F-34/F

(J) 434

201056,,

The typical floor plan, part plan are extracted from the sales brochure of Kam Fung Court under the Sale of Surplus Home Ownership Scheme Flats Phase 6 printed in May 2010 and are for reference only. Prior to purchasing a flat, prospective purchaser should carry out on-the-spot visit to get to know the existing condition of the flat.

Typical Floor PlanLai Yan Court Lai Ying House (Block A) 1/F-40/F

(A) 1 40

2008 8 4,,The typical floor plan, part plan are extracted from the information brochure of Lai Yan Court under the Sale of Surplus Home Ownership Scheme Flats Phase 4 printed in August 2008 and are for reference only. Prior to purchasing a flat, prospective purchaser should carry out on-the-spot visit to get to know the existing condition of the flat.

Typical Floor PlanPo Ming Court Po Chung House (Block A) 2/F-38/F

(A) 2 38

2009 8 5,,

The typical floor plan, part plan are extracted from the information brochure of Po Ming Court under the Sale of Surplus Home Ownership Scheme Flats Phase 5 printed in August 2009 and are for reference only. Prior to purchasing a flat, prospective purchaser should carry out on-the-spot visit to get to know the existing condition of the flat.

Typical Floor PlanShan King Estate King Fu House

200486,,,,The typical floor plan, part plan are extracted from the sales brochure of Shan King Estate under the Tenants Purchase Scheme Phase 6A printed in August 2004 and are for reference only. The plan of individual floor or flat may vary from the above typical floor plan. Prior to purchasing a flat, prospective purchaser should carry out on-the-spot visit to get to know the existing condition of the flat.

(Q ) 1 40

Typical Floor Plan Tin Fu Court Nga Fu House (Block Q) 1/F-40/F

2008 7 4 ,

, The typical floor plan, part plan are extracted from the sales brochure of Tin Fu Court under the Sale of Surplus Home Ownership Scheme Flats Phase 4 printed in July 2008 and are for reference only. Prior to purchasing a flat, prospective purchaser should carry out on-the-spot visit to get to know the existing condition of the flat.

34

Typical Floor PlanPo Ming Court Po Chung House (Block A) 2/F-38/F

(A) 2 38

2009 8 5,,

The typical floor plan, part plan are extracted from the information brochure of Po Ming Court under the Sale of Surplus Home Ownership Scheme Flats Phase 5 printed in August 2009 and are for reference only. Prior to purchasing a flat, prospective purchaser should carry out on-the-spot visit to get to know the existing condition of the flat.

Typical Floor PlanShan King Estate King Fu House

200486,,,,The typical floor plan, part plan are extracted from the sales brochure of Shan King Estate under the Tenants Purchase Scheme Phase 6A printed in August 2004 and are for reference only. The plan of individual floor or flat may vary from the above typical floor plan. Prior to purchasing a flat, prospective purchaser should carry out on-the-spot visit to get to know the existing condition of the flat.

(A)

Typical Floor PlanSiu On Court Ting Lok House (Block A)

3,,The typical floor plan, part plan are extracted from the information brochure of Siu On Court under the Home Ownership Scheme Phase 3A and are for reference only. Prior to purchasing a flat, prospective purchaser should carry out on-the-spot visit to get to know the existing condition of the flat.

Typical Floor PlanTsz O

n Court O

n Hong H

ouse (Block B

) 1/F-26/F

(B

) 1

26

2010

5

6

,

,

The t ypical floor plan, part plan are extracted from the inform

ation brochure of Tsz On C

ourt Phase II under the Sale of Surplus H

ome O

wnership Schem

e Flats Phase 6 printed in May 2010 and are for

reference only. Prior to purchasing a flat, prospective purchaser should carry out on-the-spot visit to get to know

the existing condition of the flat.

(A) 1 35

Typical Floor PlanSiu Lun Court Ngan Lun House (Block A) 1/F-35/F

1991813,,The typical floor plan, part plan are extracted from the sales brochure of Siu Lun Court Phase I under the Home Ownership Scheme Phase 13B printed in August 1991 and are for reference only. Prior to purchasing a flat, prospective purchaser should carry out on-the-spot visit to get to know the existing condition of the flat.

(A)

Typical Floor PlanSiu Hong Court Siu Yin House (Block A)

3,,

The typical floor plan, part plan are extracted from the information brochure of Siu Hong Court under the Home Ownership Scheme Phase 3B and are for reference only. Prior to purchasing a flat, prospective purchaser should carry out on-the-spot visit to get to know the existing condition of the flat.

(Q ) 1 40

Typical Floor Plan Tin Fu Court Nga Fu House (Block Q) 1/F-40/F

2008 7 4 ,

, The typical floor plan, part plan are extracted from the sales brochure of Tin Fu Court under the Sale of Surplus Home Ownership Scheme Flats Phase 4 printed in July 2008 and are for reference only. Prior to purchasing a flat, prospective purchaser should carry out on-the-spot visit to get to know the existing condition of the flat.

Typical Floor Plan Yu Chui Court Yu Chai House (Block H) 1/F-32/F

(H) 1 32

2007 7 2,, The typical floor plan, part plan are extracted from the information brochure of Yu Chui Court under the Sale of Surplus Home Ownership Scheme Flats Phase 2 printed in July 2007 and are for reference only. Prior to purchasing a flat, prospective purchaser should carry out on-the-spot visit to get to know the existing condition of the flat.

Floorplans of residential high-riseshttp://www.pland.gov.hk/

35

In 2010 stakeholders from the public and private sector attended a workshop, lead by the Urban Land Institute. The key aim was to identify the challenges facing large-scale devel-opments and to develop principles that outline an alternative sustainable approach.

The workshop resulted in a rapport titled: Ten principles for a sustainable Approach to New Development Towards Sustainable and Integrated Large-Scale Developments for a More Liveable Hong Kong

The workshop concluded following;

Hong Kong needs a clear vision to revitalise its human heritage. The mass-production of isolated blocks and podiums can be avoided with a new bottom-up strategy that engages the community. Districts should cooperate and have common urban design plans that com-plement each other and work together to create a greater city. The quality of life should be ensured before profit for the city.

New developments or redevelopment should be seen as an opportunity to improve devel-opment. In order to preserve Hong Kongs effervescent identity and improve the citizens quality of life, development needs to steer away from uniformity and should instead aim to strengthen the heritage of street life. New projects should acknowledge the potential of surrounding areas to strengthen a unique sense of place.

The overall strategy should aim for more integrated public spaces which promote outdoor use and private events, bring vitality to the street, stimulate social interaction and promote pedestrian connectivity.

WORKSHOPTen principles for a sustainable Approach to New Development Towards Sustainable and Integrated Large-Scale Developments for a More Liveable Hong Kong

6

Walls at street level topped by walled building towers block air ventila-

tion across the urban fabric. Perimeter-block streetwalls are not designed with setbacks, creating

narrow streets devoid of landscaping or trees. The podium, which directly abuts the street, forms narrow, deep street

canyons, trapping air pollutants and worsening the heat-island effect.

Retail uses are inward looking, and public open space is limited to the

podium level. Circulation patterns end at the development and are not integrated

within the site boundary. Community connections are disrupted because the urban grid is not

extended. Though the impact on adjacent land values is positive, especially for

transit developments, it may lead to price inflation in certain cases.

A project-based focus hampers the creation of great places with high-

quality public spaces.ULI Workshop

As part of the study, a ULI workshop was held in September 2010 to

engage participants from multiple disciplines in a discussion of issues

related to large-scale development (see appendix 1). Approximately 50

stakeholders from the public and private sectors attended, including

Transformation of building typology in Hong Kong

Ten Principles for a

Sustainable Approach to

New Development

Towards Sustainable and Integrated L

arge-Scale

Developments for a More Livable Ho

ng Kong

North Asia

36

25

opment and narrower streets have a more human scale and encourage

pedestrian use with street-level interface and continuity.

Cities should have great tree-lined streets, and developments should

have proper interface with those streets. How the building meets the

street will influence how pedestrian friendly the development is. If a de-

velopment has created a street with blank walls, that street will be empty

and less vibrant. In the older urban areas in Hong Kong, buildings have

animated street frontage and provide a diverse range of active uses,

which results in vibrancy. In the citys older districts, such as the Tsim

Sha Tsui, Mong Kok, and Sheung Wan areas, social memory exists that

provides a sense of place, safety, and security.

Therefore, in the planning and development of a site, pedestrian accessi-

bility at the street level should always be a priority. This will result in cities

that are more walkable and livable. A strong sense of place and commu-

nity ownership, as is evident in the older urban areas of Hong Kong, can

also be reintroduced within newer developments.

Large-scale developments include car parking and other pedestrian-

unfriendly uses. These should be placed at the basement level to avoid

Marina Bay Financial Centre

Marina Bay Financial Centre (MBFC) in

Singapore has a site area of 3.5 hectares and

GFA of 436,000 square metres. It is well con-

nected with other developments, such as the

Marina Bay Sands Resort, Singapore Flyer,

Gardens by the Bay, esplanade Theatres,

boutique hotels, and serviced apartments,

forming a close cluster with a high-quality

public realm, open space at grade, and a

promenade along the waterfront.

Typical podium development in Hong Kong

Marina Bay Financial Centre, Singapore

6

Walls at street level topped by walled building towers block air ventila-

tion across the urban fabric. Perimeter-block streetwalls are not designed with setbacks, creating

narrow streets devoid of landscaping or trees. The podium, which directly abuts the street, forms narrow, deep street

canyons, trapping air pollutants and worsening the heat-island effect.

Retail uses are inward looking, and public open space is limited to the

podium level. Circulation patterns end at the development and are not integrated

within the site boundary. Community connections are disrupted because the urban grid is not

extended. Though the impact on adjacent land values is positive, especially for

transit developments, it may lead to price inflation in certain cases.

A project-based focus hampers the creation of great places with high-

quality public spaces.ULI Workshop

As part of the study, a ULI workshop was held in September 2010 to

engage participants from multiple disciplines in a discussion of issues

related to large-scale development (see appendix 1). Approximately 50

stakeholders from the public and private sectors attended, including

Transformation of building typology in Hong Kong

Ten Principles for a

Sustainable Approach to

New Development

Towards Sustainable and Integrated L

arge-Scale

Developments for a More Livable Ho

ng Kong

North Asia

This project aims to incorporate and visualise

the ideas listed in this rapport.

The full rappot can by found on the ULI website:http://www.uli.org/publications/resource-library/

37

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Theory should form the base of urban fabric, and ideally, this base should create a diverse and interesting city. However the physical design often ends up lacking basic theory and is more driven by money and aesthetics than functionality. By studying theories of urban life, we can acquire knowledge and ideas about urban fabric that can later be used to design future ideas. The ambition should always be to create a fusion between the vibrant urban fabric, where life can happen, and the efficient aesthetic fabric.

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Why is the uRban vibe impoRtant

Urban analysis

3.

40

The work of six urban theorists and architects who focus on urban life and cover a broad spectrum of theories has been selected to form an analytical tool which can be used to ex-amine the existing urban fabric and extract the successful aspects of it. The theorists have been chosen due to their impact on urban planning and design as well as their innovative and accurate theories.

The tool allows us to look at different sites and analyse them based on a value-based back-ground.

The tool is split into 6 sections: one for each urban thinker.

41

Other mentionable urban thinkers of great influence are; Richard Sennetts thoughts about everyday life and its physical surroundings; Georg Simmels understanding of the spatial importance and Henri Lefb-vres analysis of the urban space and how everyday life affects it.

Kevin L

ynch

efficie

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Le Cor

busier

social

equalit

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public-

ness

Jan

Geh

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saf

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livab

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publ

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pace

readab

ilityfor

m

access

ibility

explora

ble

function diversity

type diversity

density

Jane Jacobs

frequent streets

cohe

renc

y

Iden

tity

hum

an

scal

e

Gor

don

Cul

len

char

acte

rist

ic

leisure

time

Architectural values

potential of growth

Christopher Alexander

bottom-up

systematic approach

Christopher Alexander believes architecture can be seen as a set of systems and rules that must align together to make a successful design. The systems are all classic patterns that are already tested and successful in the real world. He is convinced that individual actors and local rules, in relation to its neighbours, and not the ideal of one masterplan, should generate the city.



potential of growth


bottom-up

systematic approach

(Christopher Alexander A Pattern Language: Towns, Buildings, Construction)

This is a fundamental view of the world. It says that when you build a thing you cannot merely build that thing in isolation, but must repair the world around it, and within it, so that the larger world at that one place becomes more coherent, and more whole; and the thing which you make takes its place in the web of nature, as you make it.

But in practice master plans fail - because they create totalitarian order, not organic order. They are too rigid; they cannot easily adapt to the natural and unpredictable changes that inevitably arise in the life of a community.

(http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/c/christopher_alexander.html)

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Jan Gehls ideas are based on research of the urban form. He investigates how multiple ele-ments such as streets and squares, sun and shade, and the width of streets affect people. Jan Gehl highlights the need for a people-friendly city that is compact and emphasises public spaces in order to facilitate pedestrian movement.

He believes that a sustainable city is a lively and safe city, which can be achieved by making cities that people enjoy using, walking and living in. In short: To get safe cities, people need to use the public space.

Jan Gehl

Jan

Geh

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As far as I can see, many of the worst characteristics of western mod-ernist cities are being replicated in the planning of fast growing Chinese cities. The kind of New Towns the Chinese are building look very much like the housing areas we now see being demolished in many places in both western and eastern Europe. Some of the worst models are being used in China to deal with the rapid growth of citiesThis, I have to say, is a recipe for disaster, and I certainly see this as a major challenge for the sustainability of cities in the world.

(Interview Jan Gelh, 2008 http://sustainablecities.dk/)

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(Kantzoner by Jan Gehl)

In his book The Image of the City, Kevin Lynch analyses how people perceive the city according to its physical form. He concludes that we understand the city by making a mental map consisting of five elements; paths, edges, dis-tricts, nodes and landmarks. Each of these elements shapes the city and makes it readable to the people in it. Lynch proposes subsections for each element that describe what makes the elements successful or not.

Kevin Lynch

Kevin L

ynch

readab

ilityfor

m

access

ibility

explora

ble

Kevin Lynch about the legibility in the city;

It must be granted that there is some value in mystification, laby-rinth, or surprise in the environmentThis is so, however, only un-der two conditions. First, there must be no danger of losing basic form or orientation, of never coming out. The surprise must occur in an over-all framework; the confusions must be small regions in a visible whole. Furthermore, the labyrinth or mystery must in itself have some form that can be explored an in time be apprehended. Complete chaos without hint of connection is never pleasurable

(Kevin Lynch: The Image of the City)

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To generate exuberant diversity in a citys streets and districts four conditions are indispensable:

1. The district, and indeed as many of its internal parts as possible, must serve more than one primary function; prefer-ably more than two...

2. Most blocks must be short; that is, streets and opportunities to turn corners must be frequent.

3. The district must mingle buildings that vary in age and condition, including a good proportion of old ones so that they vary in the economic yield they must produce. This mingling must be fairly close-grained.

4. There must be a sufficiently dense concentration of people, for whatever purposes they may be there...

(Jane Jacobs, The Death and Life of Great American Cities)

(Jane Jacobs, The Death and Life of Great American Cities)

Jane Jacobs

function diversity

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Jane Jacobs

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The urban theorist Jane Jacobs is constantly emphasizing the importance of the urban form, and how it relates to the urban street life. She is a strong proponent of the small-scale urban form, with small blocks allowing multiple, overlapping paths and uses through the city. In order to improve urban fabric, she believes that we should study the parts of the city that work and learn from them.

She is famous for her phrase eyes on the street; also known as the natural surveillance strategy, which refers to the idea that the best surveillance is naturally occurring. Whilst people are using or simply looking at the outdoor space, they observe what is happening and therefore create a natural form of security.

When the diversity of usage is high, the level of observance is also high. Street design should therefore encour-age pedestrian movement, with front porches and windows also designed to promote eyes on the street. Jane Jacobs also mentions the street corner as an important urban element to promote the success of urban fabric. Retail is often placed here, as it is the most frequently visited point on the street.

Jane Jacobs proposes four criteria to create a successful urban space;

1. Diversity of functions; mixed uses are a necessity to maintain the liveliness of the space. 2. Various types and ages of buildings; to create an interesting view, and to ensure a mix of uses.

3. Frequent streets and very few long blocks; to ensure the space maintain its vibrancy.

4. High concentration and density of uses.

In his book The Concise Townscape, Gordon Cullen discusses the strengths of people gathering in cities, which create a sum greater than the inhabitants themselves. The sum of all individuals generates a collective amenity, where communities are preferred over living in isolation and people are brought together to create a collective surplus of enjoyment. Similarly, bringing buildings together creates a visual pleasure which cannot be achieved by building them separately.

Gordon Cullen

He divides the way the city is experienced into three subjects;

2. Concerning place:How we react and feel according to the position of our body in its environment. We relate to the space we are in, and use terms as HERE and THERE, and by understanding this we should exploit this in the design of the city.

3. Concerning content:The last point is about the fabric of the city. Colour, texture, scale, style character, personality and uniqueness all have an impact on us. And how it all should be differentiated in the city to make it interesting and liveable.

1. Concerning optics:How the city becomes alive through the drama of juxtaposition via serial visions. Where the existing and emerging view creates a chain of experiences when the emerging view is unknown. This is reached by creating different levels, corners, volumes et cetera in the city.

Scan of an illustration from the book:The concise townscape, showing the serial visions

A long straight road has little impact because the initial view is soon digested and becomes monotonous.

Several things begin to happen in the group (of buildings), which would be impossible for the isolated building. We may walk through and past the buildings. And as a corner is turned an unsuspect-ed building is suddenly revealed. the space created between the buildings is seen to have a life of its own over and above the build-ings which create it.

(The concise townscape by Gordon Cullen)

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In Le Corbusiers Radiant City, the centre of urban life is formed by uniform pre-fabricated high-rise blocks with plenty of open areas between them. Each block is placed upon pillars to leave more land to nature, creating one big park-like city.

The blocks are equipped with a catering section that performs daily errands, so the inhabitants would have more time for leisure. The time saved allows the individual time to think, write, do sports and participate in other recreational activities.

Le Corbusiers idea is to improve life through architecture. However, the idea lacked some of the most elementary theories of urban life. Amongst those is the essential notion of street life, which gives the city its vitality and excitement.

In order to understand this theory, and why Hong Kong has embraced it, it is important to include it in the research tool.

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This theory should not be considered for its physical form, but the idea of life-style.

Le Corbusier's radiant-city of 1935

http://agingmodernism.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/radiant-city.jpg

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A district should have more that two main functions - functions which bring people to a specific place (offices, dwellings, factories etc.)

The road structure should be maze like -but always with a sense of how to get out of it if felling lost or in a hurry.

Closed off open spaces can act as safe areas for children (schools, nursery ect.)Important: it is also a city life stopper

Balconies bring life the be building and make it more interesting/human to look at. But it can also kill street life by keeping the people .

High-rises should only be placed in already dense areas, minimising the surround-ing open area. And the connection to the ground should be considered carefully

Irregularities in the city scape creates possi-bility for informal situations to happen.

Multiple use (coexistence) ensures life through out the day due to the different timetables of the people/functions

Smaller open spaces (horizontal + vertical) creates possibility for extended city life.

PRINCIPLES OF GOOD DEVELOPMENT

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PRINCIPLES OF GOOD DEVELOPMENT

Human scale vertically regarding building height is between 5-7 stories.Every 5-7 stories there should be a shift in the building.

Mono use residential buildings must, within the human scale, be a connection to ground, (that be plateaus or real ground) to ensure city life and a sense of communi-ty (belonging) of the residents

Certain functions y requires x amount of open space. Either on ground or plateau level. ( A school requires a school-yard )

Horizontal human scale is 100 meters.Minimum every 100 meters there needs to be a brake it the block.

A understanding of the different roads is important for the understanding of city life.- Primary road should be kept to a minimum, but is needed for transport- Secondary roads are a mix of functions- Tertiary roads is only for light traffic

Landmarks attracts people (local+tourist) and bring life into the area.

Larger open spaces should not divide - but strengthen the neighbourhood. It should primarily be placed where the need is - in al-ready dense areas.

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The atmosphere on streets constitutes an important aspect of urban life and plays a large role in giving the city its identi-ty. Most successful neighbourhoods have lively streets that bring people together and allow a strong social fabric to form. Achieving this sense of togetherness helps to build social resilience as is crucial if a locality is to undergo posi-tive transformation. However, it is necessary to question what elements are needed to define the success of street life

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WheRe is the uRban vibe

Properties of Hong Kong

4.

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Mong Kok

Kowloon station

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Taikoo

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This study analyses four individual locations; Soho, Mong Kok, Taikoo and Kowloon Station, each with a different ideal of development. Through using the collaboration of urban theory discussed in the previ-ous chapter as an analytical tool, it is possible to extract the successful elements of each location and apply them to future designs.

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Central South (SoHo)Mainly developed in the 1960s

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When applying the analytical lens to SoHo, there is evidence to suggest that a number of the criteria for successful urban fabric are present. This is clearly reflected by the vibrant street life. The SoHo typology has developed over a significant period of time, forming a mixture of old and new, low-rise and high-rise, as well as mix a of commercial and residential use.

The variations in age, size and function deliver architectural values and diversity as well as a vibrant city life, even where large-scale developments are overtaking the small-scale development. In applying a bottom-up approach, the private sector constructed the central-mid-levels escalator in 1993 which was designed to transport pedestrians through the site both safely and efficiently.

Commercial businesses are mostly located on lower levels with residential settings located above them. This compliments Jane Jacobs notion of eyes on the street in that it creates an atmosphere where people are on the streets throughout the day, enhancing both liveability and safety. In addition to this, the use of the escalator has been extended to include higher residential levels, as well as the commercial levels located on lower floors. This ensures a more varied use in compliance with Jacobs criterion for diversity in function and mixed use.

The highest levels of a number of high-rises comprise of extravagant sky bars and restaurants which encourage the public to interact with the sky rises. In this way, larger developments are tactfully integrated into the citys way of life as opposed to taking over it. Additionally, above a select few large-scale developments are public gardens (the only ones in the dis-trict). However these gardens tend to be well hidden and only benefit those who are aware of their existence.

Despite this, SoHos architectural values, bustling street life and diverse streets give it a strong human centric identity and make it an interesting place for exploration. Larger developments are integrated into SoHos existing situation and occur in carefully scaled proportions so as not to overwhelm the areas rich traditions.

However, SoHo is still lacking a number of fundamental principles that are necessary to create a successful urban fabric. This is with particular regard to Jan Gehls emphasis on the role of people-friendly public spaces in making interactions with the city a pleasant experience. There is an evident shortage of open spaces and squares in SoHo. There is therefore only minimal opportunity to take a break from the hectic street life. Moreover, SoHo is currently lacking evidence of Christoper Alexanders idea that architecture should be governed by a set of bottom-up systems and rules that align to cre-ate successful urban design. The area currently has no systematic approach, providing no guarantee that SoHos success will continue, particularly in an era where there is a drive to build at a higher and larger scale. In this respect, while SoHo demonstrates a large degree of compliance with a number of criteria for an ideal urban fabric, its profile for success is far from complete. However, we can extract a number of successful elements from analysing SoHo: its diversity of functions, its city scape, its escalators and its skywalks and elevated open spaces.

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The skywalk generates retial

Central-mid-levels escalator SoHo street

Large scale development

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Mong Kok Mainly developed in 1970s

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The district Mong Kok is characterised by its small equally sized blocks and its high frequency of streets, cre-ating a readable and easily accessible cityscape. Some buildings are mono-functional but merge with a mix of new and old low-rises with multiple functions. Mong Kok has the highest population density in the world and is one of the poorest districts in Hong Kong. Its buildings lack basic maintenance, consequently under-mining architectural values and opportunities to increase the diversity in building types. Due to the areas exceptionally dense population, all buildings are used to their maximum potential, providing a lively and secure atmosphere throughout the day.

A large proportion of living accommodation in Mong Kok lack kitchen facilities, creating a high demand for budget dining. Consequently, retail and restaurants tend to be located on lower levels, while higher levels provide for commercial, industrial and residential use. While most of Hong Kong is undergoing large scale change and is losing its traditional characteristics of diverse markets, small shops and food stalls, Mong Kok has managed to preserve this. Its main shopping streets are a combination of all functions and invite explo-ration. Some roads have been closed off providing pedestrians with the ability to walk freely while skywalks provide transport across heavy traffic. However, along the main road, pedestrians are forced to walk on crowded sidewalks alongside polluting traffic with no barriers or trees to make it more pleasant.

In this sense, Mong Koks main elements of success are its diversity in function and type as well as its sky-walks and markets.

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Time of pause

Skywalks linking streets

Run down buldings

Vibirant steet life

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Taikoo Developed in 1980s

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The district of Taikoo is predominantly middleclass and covers an area of 3.5 hectares. It hosts 61 private residential tow-ers which provide almost 13, 000 flats and house approximately 60, 000 people. The district clearly adheres to a master plan, with large roads occurring within a confined grid, making it readable and easily accessible. The development is divided into 6 stages with the next stage beginning only when the previous stage is complete. However, sadly the design and function allocation is over-consistent, reducing personality and resulting in monotone and inexplorable develop-ments that are almost indistinguishable. The development can be linked to the ideal in Le Corbusiers Radiant City, where leisure time, social equality and effi-ciency are in focus but almost everything else is lacking. Retail and offices are placed inside large buildings linked to-gether by a system of closed skywalks, giving no real reason the use the street. In this sense, the main, and perhaps only, element of success in Taikoo is its systematic approach to development.

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Taikoohttps://maps.google.com/

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Kowloon Station (Union Square)Developed in 2000s

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The entire Kowloon locality is shaped and confined to one huge hyper-block, covering an area of 13.5 hectares. There are blank perimeter walls all around it, resulting in low accessibility to and from the district. Once inside, the district is en-tirely made for pedestrian use. All functions (shopping malls, entertainment and real-estate) are isolated from the external urban fabric, reducing interaction with the surrounding environment.

The functions are divided into large clusters, separated from each other, resulting in a mono-activity of the area, leaving it empty most of the day. The high cost of real-estate causes segregation between the average citizen and the people living in Kowloon Station. Consequently there is little reason, other than shopping, for the average citizen to enter the development. Moreover, the average citizen takes preference to interesting alternative shopping locations, leaving little demographic diversity in Kowloon Station. On top of the block is a park-like area, built for people to look down at from their residents, but not use, resulting in its misuse. Internal and external security is not provided through Jane Jacobs idea of eyes on the street, but rather through artificial surveillance. In this respect, the most successful element of Kowloon is limited to the strength of its identity.

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Kowloon Station seen form above http://www.globaia.org/

Kowloon Station inner parkhttp://www.skyscrapercity.com

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SITE ANALYSIS

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SITE 1Small vivid space in urban environment

SITE 2Large open space in-between multiple environments

SITE 3Compresses empty space in residential environment

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In pursuing the ideal city, is it important that designers are imaginative and creative. To realise desires and act on visions, it is vital to look at, and learn from, similar projects.

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hoW can it be solveD

Dreaming

5.

Current high-rise situation. Monotone flats with no relation to each other or the ground.

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Imagine a city with an identity that reflects the people living in it, where life in the streets is the most essential and natural element and where life is not limited to the ground plane, but present at all levels. This would mean reversing our current system of bringing people to the streets to instead bringing streets to the people.

With todays technology it is possible to create extraordinary things that people could only dream of just a few decades ago. The dream of vertical living, with multiple levels full of life has existed for decades, as seen in W. H. Corbetts draw-ing of City of the future from 1913 (see page74 -75). Here the circulation system is divided by a clear hierarchy where pedestrians are free from the traffic that exists on the lower levels. The idea of building to free pedestrians from traffic by creating streets in the air is not new. In the 8 building project by BIG, it is possible to cycle directly to your home, even if that is on the 10th level. In projects such as Odhams Walk and Habitat 76, the design creates a circulation system of elevated walkways that connect different levels. (see page74 -75)

In Hong Kong, vertical structures (high-rises) are necessary in order to cater for its high population density. Consequently, it offers an ideal case study to test the idea of the vertical dream. Vertical circulation has existed for years in Hong Kong; it is evident that skywalks can be well integrated into the urban fabric and this should be exploited to a higher extent. There is a need to modify and strengthen the idea in order to ensure that Hong Kongs vertical structures also include vertical living.

The majority of Hong Kongs newer developments are monotone and uninteresting large-scale hyper-blocks that repel rather that attract. They reflect the desire for profit and efficiency, rather than the diversity of the people living inside. Imagine a city that adopts a bottom-up approach to development, where the individual citizen has the opportunity to influence the design and is empowered to shape their own home. Imagine a city where the urban fabric is tailored to the needs and wants of the individual citizen rather than dictated by a top-down system. Several architects have already designed inspiring projects based on this dream. These include the Archigrams Project, the Plug-in City, Yona Friedmans Suspended City and the work of Kisho Kurokawas. These projects all embrace density, and

Future high-rise situation; Breaking down the current ideal of development. Shaping a new typology introducing more adaptable structures. With more diversity, resulting in interac-tion between classes and multiple planes, making the structure more accessible and open.

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see it as an opportunity for a city to become something greater; a system of life rather than simply a system of buildings. (see page 68-69)

Imagine a city with out class-segregation. There is significant social segregation in Hong Kong and the citys typology only serves to amplify it. However, it is possible for different people to live amongst each other and learn from each others strengths, instead of living in separation.

Imagine a city that encourages social interaction. The ideal city should encourage people to meet and promote informal meetings through its design. We already know that this can be achieved through design by collaborating the ideas of several urban theorists concerned with the success of urban fabric.

Odhams Walk by Greater London Architects Department

The 8 building by BIG

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Plug-in city by ArchigramPicture from http://www.essential-architecture.com/

City of the Future by W.H. CorbettDrawing from http://blog.inpolis.com/

Space city and suspended city by Yona FriedmanPicture from: http://www.megastructure-reloaded.org

The Nakagin Capsule Tower by Kisho KurokawaPictures from http://www.flickr.com/

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Habitat 67 by Moshe SafdiePictures from http://www.flickr.com/

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MAN 20 MAN 25 + wife MAN 30 + wife + child MAN 40 + wife + child x 2 MAN 70 + wife + child x 2 with families Multiple lifes

Residential life of MAN

Inspired by these visions and existing projects, the idea of a unit system that can evolve and adapt to the inhabitants needs has emerged. The system should be able to adjust in size as the life of the inhabitant changes, creating an ever-changing structure. Each unit should have access to common rooms to encourage social interaction.





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Residential life of MAN The timeline shows how the units adapt to the need of inhabitants. As the man gets a family, the need for more space is met by attaching more units. Similarly, when the family shrinks, the units can be removed.



The structure should incorporate rules into its pattern of growth to ensure success both inside and outside developments. The outside space should have dimensions according to its uses and have an equally, if not more important factor.

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Nature has evolved over millions of yeas, adapting to sur-vive. By studying the nature, it becomes possible to learn and interpret it into human needs.

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What can solve it

Learning from nature

6.

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The structures social insects are living in are extremely complex. Within the colonies, there are a large number of algorithms that enable the colonies function successfully. The key to their success is stigmergy, that is, the foundation of successful self-organisation amongst social organisms. In other words, it is the indirect coordination between agents and actions, where one action leaves a trace in the environment to stimulate the next, leading to spontaneous complex emergence of coherent, seemingly intelligent systematic activity without a need for planning, control or direct communication between agents.

The stimuli provided by the emerging structure itself, becomes a rich source of information for the individual. In this way, each individual contributes to a collective effort where information from the local environment and work in progress guides further activity, creating the greater whole. The organised process of thousands of individuals is possible without any leader or central communication, creating a complex structure that cannot be seen in any human processes.

While the behaviour of the overall colony is a set of highly complex self-organized and cooperative actions without any preconceived masterplan, the individual insects behaviour is simple.

This collective behaviour of social insects is an intelligent solution adapted to the insects environment. A set of simple but strong rules of construction is imprinted deeply in each and every insect. Todays cities are made of highly complex systems, where societies have become almost impossible to grasp. These simple insects that are capable of such complexity can help form a new way of looking at the city.

This project looks at how this natural system can inspire our design of future ideal cities, not by copying the physical form of ant and termite colonies, but by gaining an insight into how nature is adapting to its environment and is building a strong set of rules to survive. This proposal adopts the notion of stigmergy communication and proposes a structure that is shaped by the (future) inhabitants as part of a bottom-up approach, rather than being masterplanned by one developer.

Stigmergy

A single ant has no global knowledge about the task it is performing. Ants action are based on local decisions and are usually unpredictable

Benzatti 2002, from http://ai-depot.com/

Colonies perform various tasks, such as foraging, care of the young and nest construction. As environmental condi-tions and colony need changes, so do the numbers of works engaged in each task

Gordon DM 2003 http://eclectic.ss.uci.edu/

Gordon DM 2003 http://eclectic.ss.uci.edu/

It appears that what matters to an ant is the pattern of interac-tions it experiences, rather than a particular message or signal transferred at each interaction. Ants do not tell each other what to do when they meet, but the pattern of interaction each ant expe-riences influences the probability it will perform a task

(Self-organization in Biological systems)

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When social insect colonies reach a certain size, the power is spread equally out.

Hong Kong has reached that size!

Like in nature, buildings should grow after need, and should be able to develop over time.

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Inspired by these visions and existing projects, the idea of a unit system that can evolve and adapt to the inhabi-tants needs has emerged. The system should be able to adjust in size as the life of the inhabitant changes, creating an ever-changing structure. Each unit should have access to common rooms to encourage social interaction.



The structure should incorporate rules into its pattern of growth to ensure success both inside and outside develop-ments. The outside space should have dimensions according to its uses and have an equally, if not more important factor.

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The design process was long and required a systematic trial and test approach to weigh up the successes and failures of each design. During the process of designing the future city, several models were made. This was fairly time consuming due to the need to conduct a series of detailed investigations into how different parameters affected the overall plan in order to generate the optimum, imaginative design.

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making it happen

Model research

7.

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The modelling stage reflects the projects evolution, as each model demonstrates an improvement from the last, and represents a step closer to achieving the ideal design. The initial stage of modelling involved combining a simple set of vol-umes. These were arranged to provide a simple, structural visualisa-tion of the preliminary ideas aimed at operationalising an ideal urban fabric. It was intended to aid the process ofrethinking Hong Kongs current large-scale development scheme through creating an open structure with public sky streets and mixed functions, and encouraging life on all levels. The idea was that it should be an adaptable structure that can be adjusted over time to address the needs of individual citizens.

Modeling the dream

Several models were made to investigate how different structures could be created using the same volumes. Each model was analysed, and the successful elements were extracted to create a set of rules which could be adopted by the next model.

Gradually, the rules enabled the creation of an increasingly eloquent structure.

Rule 1: Specific functions appear when the required space is achieved.

Rule 2: A larger open space re-quires a minimum of two free stories above it.

Rule 3:ridges and escalators should link levels together to ensure accessibility where public functions and retail are present.

Rule 4: When the structure cant provide sufficient outdoor space it should be con-nected to another structure which can.

Examples of rules

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Investigation of how the same amount of units can be differentiated by simple shifts, creating numerous different overall struc-tures. The structure develops from being compact with only little outdoor space to an open structure with several plateaus and paths within the structure.

Investigation of how the structure cre-ates different spaces when growing.

Investigation of how shifts should occur in the vertical growth.

Investigation of how the unit acts when being moved.

In plan, the units can only grow 3 steps away from the white (core) unit + there must always be at least 1 side free for every unit.

In plan, the units can only grow 3 steps away from the white (core) unit + there must always be at least 2 sides free for every unit.

While only minor changes were made to the rule, the change resulted in very different outcomes. The first model is a very compact structure while the next is more open with much more space between the units.

A rule based development

The first set of models reflected the tendencies of master planned top-down projects bottom-up approaches and inspired by the notion of stigmergy. In order to better apply a bottom-up approach, a more methodical approach was needed while the notion of rules continued to be used. In order to increase manageability and maximise investigation, it was concluded that a uniform shape was needed as opposed to an array of random forms. A hexagon was selected as the optimal shape in that it allows for numerous possible compositions while simultaneously providing a consistent surface. However, it is important to note that the hexagon was seen as a placeholder that could be altered at a later stage, rather than as the final form.

The hexagon became the foundation of the research and the starting point for the creation of rules. Adopting a uniform shape helped to gain an insight into how the overall structure changed when the parameters of each rule were modified. The processes behind rules became clearer, demonstrating how the rules acted alone as well as in collaboration with other rules. Each rule was tested both separately and in combination with multiple other rules in order to ensure the rigidity of the rule. This is because any small change to a single rule has the potential to have a major impact on the greater structure when tested in combination. A small selection of the rules investigated is shown below:

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Grou

nd le

vel

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Nursery

Public square

Public terrace

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Ideas of how the units system could grow in plan. Each unit is room sized and each colour represents a function such as kitchen, living room, toilet etc. These functions are shared between the yellow private bedrooms.

majoR shift ReseaRch1 left

majoR shift ReseaRch1 left - 1 right

Every 7. storey is shift-ed one unit size to the left. This is resulting in a structure which takes up a lot plan-area.

Every other 7. storey is shifted one unit size to the left and then right. This is making a more com-pact structure in plan.

It is making usable plateaus to the right.

It is making usable pla-teaus shifting from the right side to the left. Mak-ing more usable plateaus that the 1-left.

It is making usable spaces with roof (inside-outside)Some places is the facade not following the major shift rule making those facades 12 storeys tall

6

36

It is making usable spaces with roof (inside-outside). But are creating two differ-ent spaces.

Some places the facade is not following the major shift rule. Making some facades 36 storeys

6

12

Further model research

majoR shift ReseaRchMax open space

Every 7. storey is shifted one unit so it will create as much open space on the given level.

It is making usable plateaus inside the structure and only few on the outside

It is making usable spaces with roof (inside-outside)It is making a more diverse structure, but still have the issue of having too tall facade.

36

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During the investigation of rules, a series of other studies were conducted. In order to find the opti-mum structure different volumes were tested, all growing around a core.

Minor Shift

Major shift

100%

50% 50%

Minor shifts are the base of sky-streets. This width of the street depends on the size of the unit. If the unit has a diameter of 8 meter, the shift will provide a 4-meter wide street.

The shifts are important to create the desired sky-streets and sky-squares. It is crucial that the units had the correct size, in order for the structure to work.

Major shifts will be used as sky-streets.

Units are joint together of 3 levels. Creating one larger unit. Each large unit must be connected to the circulation system

A minimum of 1 unit size must be between two structures. The empty unit space can be used to connect the struc-tures by an escalator-unit

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Investigations down to a single units connection. If it should consist of a frame or a easy assembly system.

Image of a frame system

A more detailed investigation of unit size and circulation was important to determine the units dimensions. A key issue was to create a rule to ensure that all units had access to daylight.

8.0m

13.9m

16.0m

6.9m

8.0m

8.0m

8.0m

6.9m

4.0m

8.0m

13.9m

12.0m

6.9m

8.0m

4.0m

8.0m

13.9m

16.0m 6.9m8.0m

8.0m8.0m

6.9m

4.0m

8.0m

13.9m

12.0m

8.0m

4.0m

Interior Plan 1:100

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Interior walls and rooms were detailed, adding a new dimension to the model. Win-dows and access points added to the complexity.

Different circulation patterns were explored down to the scale of each unit. This helped to decide whether circulation should take place internally or externally, and whether it should run along the units outer walls or only cover one side. Each option demonstrated its own strengths.

Interior Plan 1:100

Example of detailed interior plan.

Possible second circulation system, with stairs running along the outer-walls.

A combination of stairs and corridors attached onto one side.

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Scripting is comparable to the sequences of stigmergy. The se-ries of parameters in a script all respond to the previous and are similar to how insects leave a trace in the environment to trigger the next action.

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What can solve it

The digital tool

8.

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Utilising the computer as the main modelling tool, new and more advanced tools can be used to design future cities.

Instead of modelling everything manually, it is now possible to customise tools that solve com-plicated issues that are otherwise unsolvable. This is known as scripting.

In a general sense, the process of scripting is to write a screenplay or dialogue from which a play might preform.Scripting Cultures: Architectural Design and Programming by Mark Burry

It (the new tool) use algorithms to solve the desired problem by splitting the main issue into simpler steps which later can be evaluated, modified or corrected if efficiency needs to be increased.

These new highly customised tools can calculate extremely complicated equations, making it possible to adopt a new architectural approach.

The tool must be used with caution and should never be seen as an end-result without evalu-ating its outcomes. The tool itself lacks mental processes and cannot judge what is good and what is bad; it is simply showing the result of the designers input. The tool should therefore be seen as a means of testing and discovering new opportunities that the designer did not think of himself, rather than as a final result. Building in such a way enables the user to change pa-rameters and alter the design into something useful

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Form rather than functionhttp://www.3dmetrica.com/uf/settings/back.jpg

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The script designed for the project enabled the creation a ground plan that utilised the concept of stigmergy, while the model research was conducted manually.

Step by step, the script created a plan structure and integrated the urban theories and successful urban elements that have been discussed in previous chapters.

The script made it possible to conduct profound research into unit size, site, paths required etc. and find the appropriate parameter settings that would perform best in most possible locations. A selection of this research is shown in the catalogue on the final pages of this chapter.

The following steps are the process of how the script is working:

Select the desired site, and define the 3D boundaries according to the environment (external site analyse required). The system places a grid within the site, with the changeable shape and size.

Not solved issue: The system can only recognize 2d site.

1. Select the site

2. Define paths

Manually draw lines according to the desired roads in the site. The systems removes the cells x from the paths (lines). X is the distance cells should be removed from the line.

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The main circulation system of cores is created according to the desired frequency. Manually define the distance between each core. The system activates the cells closest to the out coming points on the lines .

3. Cores

Units growing around the cores are defined by how many cells the system should activated.

4. Unit growth

The second circulation system (escalators) is defined by a new set of points on the lines. Repeating step 3. The sys-tem takes the occupied cells in account.

5.2. circulation system

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Units growing around the cores are defined by how many cells the system should activated.The system takes the occupied cells in account.

6. Unit growth

With the catalogue it was made clear what parameters worked best in the different sites.

The selected parameters were also tested manually and evaluated if the parameters worked in the real world.

The selected unit size was detailed again, ensuring the size worked inside and outside etc.

Roads

Catalouge

1 internalroad

2 internalroads

3 internalroads

4 internalroads

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The entire script

R = 4

R = 5

R = 6

R = 7

R = 8

R = 9

R = 10

Unit size

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A rigid unit system responding to future city ideals was cre-ated, incorporating the The next stage of the current 2d script will be to add the vertical dimension, making it 3d. The end script should become a fully functional software that enables the citizens of Hong Kong to design their own future home.

The software should provide an opposite alternative to a masterplan, allowing for a collective effort by the inhabitants, the developer and the designer. In this way the structure can be created in a evolutionary way, which maintains efficien-cy through enabling inhabitants to contribute to the process without even having to meet.

While the final configuration is unknown in the initial stages- as inhabitants begin to use the software and units are added to the system - the final structure emerges over time. This is enhanced by the various characteristics that encourage and attract more people to use the software.

Citizens, as individual users, only need to focus on their own needs and desires as the softwares built-in calculator (the script) will compile the overall structure.

The software should be based on all the acquired knowledge of how parameters affect the emerging structure in order to create a rigid system which improves as it is used.

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hoW is it being solveD

The project

9.

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Before potential users can begin to use the software, a few general settings will be have to be customised. According to an urban analysis of the area, rules and constrains such as location, boundaries, building shape and overall building envelope will shape the development.

The parameters are set by the primary developer, which in this case, is the government of Hong Kong.

Today the site is an old industrial area located amongst the old urban environment, industrial use, and new large scale hyper block developments.

SITE

Urban environmentLarge scale hyper block development Residential Industrial environment Recreational area

General settings

The following section demonstrates a tutorial of how a site can be developed by using the future software.

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After selecting and analysing the site, the software requires some general settings to be customised. The first setting defines the 3 dimensional boundaries in accordance with the surrounding environment. Existing roads, buildings, functions, sun-light and viewsheds are taken into consideration; the boundary is lower in areas of low industrial use and is higher near the recreational area.

3D BOUNDARIES

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CONNECTION OF ROADS

Second setting defines the internal roads within the site and synchronises them with the existing road system: In order to create a successful urban environment, smaller roads are dividing the site, creating pedestrian shortcuts and linking the old and new typologies together.

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INTERN CIRCULATION

The final general setting defines the vertical circulation along internal roads in compliance with local needs and regula-tions: lifts and escalators create the possibility of vertical a circulation system.

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3.0

1.0

1.Select max distance from lift and escalator

8.Select view

9.Select hours of direct sunlight

9.Overall structure level

Lift

View Sunlight level

MAX

MAX

Escalator

7.Select function

Commercial4.0

Public service5.0

Community6.0

Public institutions

7.0

Leisure8.0

Industrial

9.0

Office

3.0

Service2.0

Residential1.0

Brick Glass

3.0

Wood Tiles

6.Select desired material of unit

4.0

2.01.0

5.Select desired unit design

Top terrace

Small balcony

Large balcony

4.0

2.0

4.Select desired level of unit

1st

3rd3.0

2nd2.01.0

3.Select desired unit size

4.0 5.0

6.0 7.0 8.0 9.0

3.02.01.0

2.Select location on desired circulation form

Walk-through

Walk-to2.0

1.0

With the general settings established, future inhabitants can begin to use the software to choose their ideal requirements for their future home and its uses.

USER SETTINGS

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USER ALLOCATION

Important user settings for three different future inhabitants

According to the users preferences, the software calculates the location and price of each unit, taking into account a set of parameters including view, daylight, size, balcony, accessibility, and material. If the price exceeds the budget, alter-ations can be made by selecting less expensive solutions.

I drea

Vertical Diversity

Documents

hong kong analysis3

new form of hong kong

hong kongs urban fabric

properties of hong kong5

unit structure

project renderings

individual inhabitants

monika bilska2this project