21.4 Lessons of Rome - Part 4 - Rooms

Introduction

The study of Rome through architectural themes was an excellent methodology to look at the richness and diversity of the city. It also served as an opportunity to re-examine and further clarify the basic concepts that make architecture. The themes of windows, walls, rooms, courtyards, piazzas and porticos served as the stimulators for investigation and inquiry.

Sunlight from the occulus of the Pantheon

Rooms

The room (a contained space) is given its individual qualities through its configuration, enclosing edges, scale, proportion and the way light is admitted into the space.

21.3 Lessons of Rome - Part 3 - Construction of Walls and Openings

Introduction

 

The study of Rome through architectural themes was an excellent methodology to look at the richness and diversity of the city. It also served as an opportunity to re-examine and further clarify the basic concepts that make architecture. The themes of windows, walls, rooms, courtyards, piazzas and porticos served as the stimulators for investigation and inquiry.

Construction of Walls and Openings

The ruins of Ostia, Pompeii, Hadrians Villa, the Palatine, the Forum and Trajan’s Market served as the classroom for the studying of construction techniques. The beauty of the ruins is in the expression of their construction.

Left to Right 1-4.  1. Opening using a stone sill and lintel.  2. Flat arch over a door opening.  3. Relieving arch with opening, flat arch and door opening. 4. Masonry lintel.

21.2 Lessons of Rome - Part 2 - Windows

Introduction

The study of Rome through architectural themes was an excellent methodology to look at the richness and diversity of the city. It also served as an opportunity to re-examine and further clarify the basic concepts that make architecture. The themes of windows, walls, rooms, courtyards, piazzas and porticos served as the stimulators for investigation and inquiry.

 

Windows

Openings in walls serve two fundamental purposes. They allow light into and order the interior space. Also they give organization to the wall belonging to the street or piazza. The conception of these openings belong to the basic categories with countless variations and combinations.

1. Blank windows give scale to the wall of a piazza or street.

21.1 Lessons of Rome - Part 1 - Experiencing the City

Experiencing the City

Rome City Plan Diagram



The city of Rome owes much of the Baroque planning ideas of monuments set along lines of vistas. In this city witn no regular planning grid, its monuments, meeting places, major streets and river serve as the elements that allow people to locate themselves in the city. These elements Kevin Lynch calls paths, edges, nodes and landmarks.

20.0 Iskander Malaysia development approach, will it work?

Johor Bahru is a compact border city across the causeway from Singapore.  When I first went there 20 years ago, I walked across the causeway and once passing immigration on the other side, you were right there in the city.  This reminded me of walking across the border from San Diego into Tiajuana and for me it possessed a certain border town charm. 

A number of years ago, Johore State along with the Federal Government launched the Iskander Malaysia development which would transform this border city of Singapore into a major city on its own.  It promised to have the perfect environment to live, work and play. 

Iskandar Malaysia Development Plan (source: Iskandar Malaysia Web Site)

19.0 Tebet Jakarta a Planned Community Organically Transformed by Residents!

Some 30 years on after its conception and execution, the Tebet district of South Jakarta should be evaluated to review how it was planned and how it ended up.  What are the lessons that can be learned. 

The district of Tebet in South Jakarta covers an area of approximately 280ha and is located a short 1.6km to the Kuningan business district and 3.8km to the Sudirman business district. It was originally master planned and developed in the mid 1960’s as a relocation area for the residents of Senayan who needed to be relocated in order to build the Senayan Sports complex where the national stadium is presently located.  One long time Tebet residents tells me when they were first moved in, roads were all unpaved and the location seemed to be far outside of Jakarta while today it sits virtually at the heart of the business district.

Tebet District stretching left to right the width of the yellow line approximately 1.5km and between the top and bottom main roads approximately 1.8km.

The original master plan as designed and executed has evolved and grown organically over the years and for a mix of good and bad, but essentially a result of short falls of the original master plan for today's needs.  (It may have been well suitable for the time it was built.)

18.0 Kalibata City a New Model for Jakarta?

Kalibata City is a joint venture between the government and a private developer.  Originally set up as a joint project so the government can draw on the expertise of the private developers to develop and build low cost housing.  Approximately 13,000 units will ultimately sit on the approximately 13 ha site spread over 3 classes of development in a total of 18 blocks, all sitting on a basement of retail and parking.

Kalibata City ground level a "sea of parking"

 

What is good about Kalibata City, What is the attraction?

17.10 Integrated Master Planning for Destination Development - Part 10 – Review and Revise

First before getting into the Review and Revise 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.

17.9 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.

17.8 Integrated Master Planning for Destination Development - Part 8 – Site Execution

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

17.7 Integrated Master Planning for Destination Development - Part 7 – Business Master Plan

First before getting into the Business Master Plan 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.

17.6 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.

17.2 Integrated Master Planning for Destination Development - Part 2 – Environmental / Site Analysis

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

17.1 Integrated Master Planning for Destination Development - Part 1 – Why the Need for a Methodology?

Why the Need for a Methodology? 

Before I get to answer this critical question, I think other important questions firstly need to be answered.  What is destination development? And what is a master plan?

Let’s start with the question, What is Destination Development?

16.0 The Need for a Mix of Small Developers and Operators

As Asia proceeds on the fast pace to development there is an abundance of “Mega Projects” usually by private developers and they target to bring in the big chains and branded outlets.  Every mall in Asia has a Watsons, Guardian, Giordano, Nike, Adidas, etc, etc.  For anchor tenants it’s usually one of the department stores and of course a chain supermarket, while the fast food you’ll always find KFC and McDonalds and for coffee Starbucks.

Typical Asian Shopping Mall has become almost comodity of space with "standard" tenants.

15.0 Can Money Alone Develop a City Overnight?

With recent "experiments" in city development such as Dubai and the beginning of Iskandar Malaysia in the State of Johor, the ongoing question is can development go from greenfield to first world overnight?  Another way to put it is can you induce a city’s growth with development steroids?

Burj Al Arab, Dubai a sole landmarke does not make a city.

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: