28.0 Is Bali's Low Density, Low Rise Ruining Paradise?

When people hear of the Island of Bali, the immediate image is that of an exotic tropical paradise.  That is at least for those who have NOT been there recently.  Actually when I first visited the island over 20 years ago, the idealic paradise was already starting to disappear, but now days you really need to search hard! 

Typical Balinese village house surrounded by rice fields

Tanah Lot Temple

24.6 Master Planned Beach Resort Destination Checklist – Part 6 – Destination Management

This subject check list covers the fifth of the 5 main subjects from the Master Check List - Components of the Ideal Master Planned Beach Resort Destination.  These subject check lists are by no means comprehensive, but more like a shopping list with brief explanations as reminders.  This check list series actually goes hand in hand with an earlier series I posted on Integrated Master Planning for Destination Development.  This check list would actually be similar to some of the outlines for the phase of Operations Management as well as the overall Integrated Master Planning methodology (see diagram below).    

Physical planning making highest and best use and synergy among the parts.

The Destination Management Team is in fact the body or team that has to Orchestrate the Integrated Master Planning of the Destination.  Of course it has a key role in the concept and vision of the destination, but equally important it has a long term role in the day to day operations of the destination.  Much of this day to day operations will be behind the scenes and out of sight of the general public, but having everything run smoothly without notice will mean the Destination Management team is on top of things doing their job. 

24.5 Master Planned Beach Resort Destination Checklist – Part 5 – Supporting Infrastructure and Services

This subject check list covers the fourth of the 5 main subjects from the Master Check List - Components of the Ideal Master Planned Beach Resort Destination.  These subject check lists are by no means comprehensive, but more like a shopping list with brief explanations as reminders.  This check list series actually goes hand in hand with an earlier series I posted on Integrated Master Planning for Destination Development.  This check list would actually be similar to some of the outlines for the phase of Product Development in the Integrated Master Planning methodology.    

Resort infrastructure both functional and aesthetically planned.

24.4 Master Planned Beach Resort Destination Checklist – Part 4 – Development Products

This subject check list covers the third of the 5 main subjects from the Master Check List - Components of the Ideal Master Planned Beach Resort Destination.  These subject check lists are by no means comprehensive, but more like a shopping list with brief explanations as reminders.  This check list series actually goes hand in hand with an earlier series I posted on Integrated Master Planning for Destination Development.  This check list would actually be similar to some of the outlines for the phase of Product Development in the Integrated Master Planning methodology.    

International brand luxury hotels.

Local cottage hotels.

24.3 Master Planned Beach Resort Destination Checklist – Part 3 – Access / Proximity

This subject check list covers the second of the 5 main subjects from the Master Check List - Components of the Ideal Master Planned Beach Resort Destination.   These subject check lists are by no means comprehensive, but more like a shopping list with brief explanations as reminders.  This check list series actually goes hand in hand with an earlier series I posted on Integrated Master Planning for Destination Development.  This check list would actually be similar to some of the outlines for the phases of Environmental / Site Analysis  and Market Analysis   in the Integrated Master Planning methodology.    

Koh Samui Airport

24.2 Master Planned Beach Resort Destination Checklist – Part 2 – Natural Environment

This subject check list covers the first of the 5 main subjects from the Master Check List - Components of the Ideal Master Planned Beach Resort Destination.  These subject check lists are by no means comprehensive, but more like a shopping list with brief explanations as reminders.  This check list series actually goes hand in hand with an earlier series I posted on Integrated Master Planning for Destination Development.   This check list would actually be similar to some of the outlines for the phase of Environmental / Site Analysis in the Integrated Master Planning methodology.    

Clear waters and white sandy beaches the basic ingredients.

24.1 Master Planned Beach Resort Destination Checklist – Part 1 – Overview

I have spent much of my life enjoying some of the most beautiful and popular Beach Resort Destinations around the world, in Southern California, Hawaii, Bali, Phuket, Koh Samui, Lombok, Nice, Greece, Bintan, Hainan, etc.  In addition for the last almost 30 years I have been working on the design and master planning of individual buildings and large land areas associated with Beach Resort Destinations.  Having looked at it from the perspective of a designer, a consultant and an investor, I decided it was time to compile my shopping list of the components to make the Ideal Master Planned Beach Resort Destination.

Hawaii Ala Moana beach to Waikiki and Diamond Head

This list started off as a master list then became more detailed in the 5 main subjects, Natural Environment, Access/Proximity, Development Products, Supporting Infrastructure and Services and Destination Management as shown in the table below.  This master list and subsequent subject lists are by no means detailed, but more like a shopping list with brief explanations as reminders.  I am sure somewhere on the net there is probably a similar exercise done by someone else but perhaps done in a different order? 

17.9 Integrated Master Planning for Destination Development - Part 9 – Operations Management

First before getting into the Operations Management lets remind ourselves what Integrated Master Planning is all about.

17.6 Integrated Master Planning for Destination Development - Part 6 – Cost Plan

First before getting into the Cost Plan lets remind ourselves what Integrated Master Planning is all about.

17.5 Integrated Master Planning for Destination Development - Part 5 – Physical Planning / Design

First before getting into Physical Planning / Design lets remind ourselves what Integrated Master Planning is all about.

Integrated Master Planning - the process of Orchestrating the vast range of technical and professional disciplines in order to execute a development. This includes marketing, environmental analysis, programing, physical planning, economic planning, social planning, execution and operations planning.

17.4 Integrated Master Planning for Destination Development - Part 4 – Product Development

First before getting into Product Development lets remind ourselves what Integrated Master Planning is all about.

Integrated Master Planning - the process of Orchestrating the vast range of technical and professional disciplines in order to execute a development. This includes marketing, environmental analysis, programing, physical planning, economic planning, social planning, execution and operations planning.

17.3 Integrated Master Planning for Destination Development - Part 3 – Market Analysis

First before getting into Market Analysis lets remind ourselves what Integrated Master Planning is all about.

14.0 Los Angeles – the Good, the Bad, the Future?

There is no there There! This has been the description of LA by a mix of people for a long time. So what is already there, what should be done and the most important question is what can be done? This perspective comes from the eyes trained in Architecture and Urban Design and having worked internationally for 28 years both sitting on the design side as well as the development side and working closely with governments.

 Let me first start by asking myself the question, what do I like and dislike of LA? The top of my list would look like this:

9.0 Tourism Development as Environmental Protection

The age old question does Tourism Development protect or harm the natural environment?  Of course the answer is yes and no.  It is dependent on a number of factors such as the specifics of the ecosystem involved, the type of tourism, the carrying capacity of the ecosystem based on the type of tourism and the actual planning, design and execution of the tourism.

One example I can sight that was planned, designed and executed successfully to manage this sensitive ecosystem is the Bintan Resorts Mangrove Discovery Tour which was subsequently awarded a PATA Gold Award in 2003.

1.2 Urban Planning, Lifestyle, Natural Resources and the Environment - Part 2 of 2

Looking at the diagram above of the current world order, the cycle we are in now is an addiction driven by an Extravagant Lifestyle that shapes the Urban Planning to be self-centered on personal private space as the only concern which is achievable because we can afford to exploit the available natural resources and most importantly there is no one making us pay to offset or repair the environmental impact cost! This ultimately can only be done if there is international regulation that everyone follows which is virtually impossible! End result is this lifestyle will only change when resource depletion and competition because of the growing demand will force prices to skyrocket. What shall we do, just wait? No, as professionals leading development we must make efforts towards change and continue to propose the direction that will put us on track for both a sustainable lifestyle and hence model of Urban Planning.

1.1 Urban Planning, Lifestyle, Natural Resources and the Environment - Part 1 of 2

As much as we know about the impacts of the Greenhouse Effect to the earth and the direction the environment is heading the world population particularly in the developed countries continue to drag its feet at taking aggressive concrete action. This seems to be a result of the ingrained Capitalist view of life, “Money Talks and Bullshit Walks”. Having grown up in suburban America and living the last 20 years in Asia and watching countries like China and Indonesia develop physically and mentally along the same path as suburban America, I can only have nightmares regularly of where the world environment is heading!