10 tropical public spaces

Seminar :

TROPICAL PUBLIC SPACESStudio Social Culture – 21st Century Tropical Fishing Village

MBEA 1119 | Sem 1 2012/2013

Siti ‘Aishah Binti Ahmad Kamil | MB 121046

DEFINITION

Tropical – climate to mean warm to hot and moist year-round, often with the sense of lush vegetation.

Public – Exposed to general view, of or relating to people in general , of or relating to business or community interests as opposed to private affairs, accessible to or shared by all members of the community [1]

Space – The three dimensional field in which objects and events occur and have relative position and direction esp. a portion of that field set apart in a given instance or for a particular purpose [2]

So…

Tropical public space is a free-accessible area for any purposes that

inclines with features (architectural) that comply to the tropical (esthetic) values.

[1] (Merriam-Websterr Dictionary)

[2] . (D.K. Ching-Architecture: Form, Space & Order)

Public spaces can be limited to only few options of utilizing it….

DEFINITION

…and public spaces also

can be fully occupied to any functions

and fulfill any certain needs of the

people.

DEFINITION

What are the values in the architecture of

tropical public spaces ?

What are the tropical public

spaces that suits the fishing village?

How to relate/connect the tropical

public spaces with the people?

ISSUES

Background

The name Dataran Merdeka or Merdeka

Square is formed when the Union Jack was

lowered and Malayan Flag hoisted at 12.01am on

August 31, 1957, marking Malaysia's independence

from the British rule. A 100 metre high flagpole,

one of the tallest in the world, was erected at the

very place on the independence day, proudly flies

the Malaysian flag.

Formerly known as Selangor Club Padang,

Location plan with context

CASE STUDY 1 | MERDEKA SQUARE


Contextual Map

Conceptual Approaches

The square is not just an assembly area

but also ‘witnessed’ the country’s most

historical development.

- Purposes : various events like national events

(National Day celebrations, police parades and street

parades ), open air concerts, carnivals, starting/finishing

point for marathons, and the field here was the venue

for and cricket matches etc.

- Beneath the Dataran Merdeka house a food, leisure

and entertainment complex called Plaza Putra and an

underground parking bay.


Perceptual Approaches

Centralized - surrounded by

many remarkable historical

buildings or landmarks.

-Used to be the focal point

of Kuala Lumpur.

-Located in the middle of the

town; strategic place to recognize

it as one of the significant

landmark.

- Connected to its context by

pedestrian walkways.


SWOT Analysis

Strength – the open space (field/realm) provides variety to public in utilize the

area without any limitation caused by architectural element (hardscapes).

Weakness – No shelter to cover from the unpredictable climatic changes

Opportunity – Revelation to many types of public-gathered activities.

Threat – Cleanliness will not be at its best without proper management (since it is

open for anyone).


Background

This all-year opened for public is a park

located at KLCC, Kuala Lumpur

operated by KLCC Properties.

Total area – 20 hectares

Designed by - The park was designed by

Roberto Burle Marx.

It is said that it was the last work

undertaken by the Brazilian architect.

When the park was designed, the aim

was to "leave the world a little more

sensitive and a little more educated to

the importance of nature"

CASE STUDY 2 | KLCC PARK

The park was designed to showcase a

heritage of tropical greenery by

integrating man's creation with nature.

The park itself contrasts as a calm

environment in the midst of the hustle

and bustle of the city.

The park features many combinations of

man-made design such as cements,

water features and also natural features

such as trees, shrubs, stones and wood.

Elements of shape and topography were

created to give an illusion of space. The

combination of trees, shrubs and

sculptures were arranged to provide

color and form to the park.



Main attractions

Playground

Swimming pool (for kids only)

Jogging/walking pathways

‘Wakaf’/gazebo

Fountains


SWOT Analysis

Strength –Vegetation at the specific area can attract people to enjoy outdoors activities because it provides shelters to the people.

Weakness – Maintenance cost can increase because of the many inhabitant elements used as a part of the park (lake, trees). Hardscapes can sometimes limiting the opportunity of expanding the space’s function.

Opportunity – Specific design of hardscapes can encourage people to ‘go out and play’.

Threat – Less CPTED. Not enough congestion – not enough people at the area (women and men are not balance) is a threat for the women.

Movement to Space

o Public space is located outside the private area

o Method of approaching the space - frontal, oblique, spiral [3]

o Clearly segregated public with private/semi-private space

o i.e.: Soccer field, ice-skating park

[3] . (D.K. Ching-Architecture: Form, Space & Order)

ANALYSIS

ANALYSISMovement through Space

o Public space is located within/interconnected the private/semi-

private area

o Movement is inwards the space but do not exceed to disturb any

private/semi-private boundaries.

o Public and private/semi-private space can sometimes located within

each other

o i.e.: Butterfly park, Lake park etc.



ANALYSIS

Preserving the nature of their everyday life

routine – architecturally.

Architectural features that fits the climatic changes

to be considered in the design.

- Pedestrian walkways that specifically designed

for long walk.

- Good air circulation and thermal control as this

climate is hot and humid.

- Sheltered as the rain can come like cats and

dogs.



ANALYSIS

Good crime surveillance and crime prevention through

environmental design should be in consideration (practice).

- Better lighting, better sightlines, addition of food/beverage

kiosk or any human operational structure

- Programmed events to create activity and attract more

people [4]

[4] . D. Jerke, D.R. Porter,T.J. Lassar; Urban Design and the Bottom Line.

ANALYSIS



The public space is not too far from

their house compound.

Public space is what public desire to have,

not only what we think of what they

desire to/should have.

- Study on what sort of reasoning they

are in the needs of public spaces.

ANALYSIS



The public space is generating new

economy for the villagers.

- Open-air fishing museum that

participated by the villagers

- Bicycle park for the tourists to

go around the village

COMPARISON

Tropical Communal Space

• Spaces can cater to a

smaller network of

neighbors or exist as larger

gathering space for a

community

Tropical Public Space

• a free-accessible area for

any purposes that inclines

with features

(architectural) that comply

to the tropical (esthetic)

values.

ANALYSIS

What are the tropical public spaces that suits the fishing village?

THE END.

10 tropical public spaces

Design

Transcript of 10 tropical public spaces